William Wu - Dictator

“Yes. They look simple enough. But Jane and I have scarves for our heads. You two should have fur hats.”

“I have considered this,” said Hunter. “Animal fur is not available to us here and we dare not take synthetic fur back with us. I can tolerate the temperature without one. If Steve requires such a hat, we shall obtain one back in that time.”

“Got it,” said Judy.

“Steve,” said Hunter, pointing to a canvas bag on the counter. “That is an imitation duffel bag of the Soviet Red Army from this period. If Judy passes it, too, then you can carry a change of clothes for each team member and some hard rolls and dried beef strips in it. These duffel bags will be common at the time, and we can explain its possession if necessary. We know food will be scarce, but what we take must not attract attention.”

“That’s good enough,” Steve said quietly.

“I’m sure it’s fine,” said Judy, pulling it open to look inside.

“We must assume that our opponents could be a factor,” said Hunter. “Jane, would you brief Judy on them-very briefly.”

“Dr. Wayne Nystrom created the experimental Governors,” said Jane. “However, he is not willing to let us simply reconstruct MC Governor and turn him over to the Governor Robot Oversight Committee. Wayne has also gone back into the past and is trying to get the component robots away from us.”

“To what end?” Judy asked.

“He wants to dismantle and study them himself,” said Hunter. “To find and fix the source of the malfunction on his own. We have prevented him from getting the first three, but we have not been able to grab Wayne. He has the ability to move in time without returning here and he has a robot named R. Ishihara helping him.”

“I see,” said Judy quietly.

“Please change into your costumes,” said Hunter.

While Judy took the first turn in the adjoining room, Hunter called the Security detail. He assigned a new Security robot, R. Daladier, to replace Ishihara. When Jane stepped out after her turn, now dressed as a Muscovite woman of 1941, Hunter turned to Jane.

“Jane, this is Daladier; he will guard the room.” Hunter turned to Daladier. “You must understand that our mission involves potential harm to all humans in the world today. Ishihara, failing to be certain of that, failed his instructions. What I say to you constitutes a First Law imperative. Nothing any human, such as Dr. Wayne Nystrom, says can be allowed to deter your adherence to the assignment I am about to give you.”

“Acknowledged,” said Daladier.

“You must take custody of Dr. Wayne Nystrom and R. Ishihara if they reappear in this room through the sphere. As soon as we have gone, you will shut off your hearing and radio reception so that if Wayne returns here, he cannot use the Second Law to control you or to argue this First Law imperative with you. You will not read anything Wayne tries to show you; you can blur your vision slightly to avoid this if necessary, while still maintaining enough sight to stop them. The moment you see Or. Nystrom, you will apprehend him, prevent him from leaving the room, and immediately call for help from the rest of the Security detail that is assigned to guard the Institute.”

“Agreed,” said Daladier. “Is R. Ishihara of equal importance?”

“No, he isn’t,” said Jane. “Or. Nystrom is critically important. Ishihara is only important in that he is helping Wayne Nystrom.”

“I do not expect them,” Hunter added. “This is merely a contingency, in the event that you have the opportunity to act.”

Steve should have taken his turn to change. Instead, looking unusually grim, he had not moved. Jane frowned at him, puzzled.

“Those who are ready, please enter the sphere,” said Hunter. “I shall set the timer and the console controls.”

“You don’t need me,” said Steve. “I’m not going.”

Steve looked around at all of them, knowing he would get an argument.

“What?” Jane demanded angrily.

“I don’t think I should go,” said Steve.

“I am surprised,” said Hunter, studying his face. “Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. But I’m not necessary. I started thinking about this when I woke up this morning, but I didn’t really decide until now.”

“What are you talking about?” Jane glared at him. “Decide what?”

“You don’t need me this time. Look, in the Late Cretaceous, maintaining our camp out in the wild was critical to survival. I made a real contribution. On the trip to Jamaica, well, I went because I had agreed to-you could have managed without me.”

“Not after Rita took off on her own,” said Jane.

“And last time, as I think back on the trip to Roman Germany, we spent most of our energy trying to find each other after we split up. I don’t think I added anything.”

“Not true,” said Hunter. “You helped carry our belongings and accompanied Jane, allowing us to divide the team when it seemed advisable.”

“Well, anyhow, you really don’t need me in a more recent human era like 1941.” Steve turned to Judy. “Aren’t all the necessities for human life going to be available in Moscow at that timer’

“Well, generally. But it’s in the middle of a war, where everyone has hardships-some of them severe.” She shrugged. “It’s hard to say exactly what life will be like for us on a given day.”

“I can’t help with that. Anything that’s happened because of wartime conditions is beyond my help, anyway. And Hunter can protect everyone. He can also carry the duffel bag more easily than I can.”

Jane looked at Hunter helplessly.

“It is true that your duties have changed with each mission,” said Hunter. “However, your help has sometimes occurred in situations that were not predictable beforehand. You understand the challenges and the constraints under which the team works. I believe we still need your participation.”

Steve shook his head. “I doubt it. You can keep Jane and Judy with you and concentrate on MC 4 and Wayne. I’d like to take my pay for the earlier trips and go on home.”

“How can you just walk away like this?” Jane shouted. “We’ve all been working together. And you didn’t say anything at breakfast this morning to me. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was still thinking about it,” said Steve, surprised at her vehemence.

“You’re betraying all of us.” She turned her back angrily and folded her arms.

“You hired me, remember? I didn’t take any special oath of loyalty. It’s a job. And you don’t need me to do it.” Steve turned to Hunter. “You remember when you came up to my place on the mountain?”

“Of course,” said Hunter.

“You needed someone familiar with the outdoors to make and maintain camp for your team in the age of dinosaurs. That was your basis for hiring me.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“You don’t need that in Moscow in 1941. And you didn’t really need it in Jamaica.”

“We needed you in Port Royal!” Jane whirled around again, making her long coat swirl. “Don’t you remember what we did together-sneaking up on pirate ships and getting into those sword fights? And jumping off to row ashore? What if I’d been alone, Steve?”

“You wouldn’t have been in that situation without me to start with,” said Steve. “I’m glad I helped. But you know every mission is different.”

“Your skills could have been necessary in Germany of A.D. 9, as well,” said Hunter. “The wilderness had many dangers. You did accompany Jane at important times. We did not utilize most of your skills, I admit, but we might have needed them.”

“All right, granted,” said Steve. “But not in Moscow. Not in the time you’re going to visit now.”