Barrington Bayley - Barrington Bayley SF Gateway Omnibus - The Soul of the Robot, The Knights of the Limits, The Fall of Chronopolis

‘Here I am. I have returned to become your leader,’ Jasperodus said rashly. ‘Are you not tired of living like animals, without rights?’

He was now provoking some puzzlement, even consternation among the gathering. ‘What do you suggest?’ asked one.

‘I suggest nothing. When the time comes, I shall command.’

The robots crowded round him. Jasperodus was introduced to the more prominent among those he did not already know. He received a pointed question from one with graceful mannerisms, deep and thoughtful eyes, and called (for robots’ nicknames were sometimes strange and wonderful) Belladonna.

‘You hint at activities going far beyond the bounds of the law. Frankly, what have we to gain? Robots by themselves can achieve little. As it is the existence of our tiny enclave is a perplexing example of human tolerance, to my mind, since if the humans decided to trespass here we could not stop them.’

A neural pattern generator box was thrust before Jasperodus.

‘A jag, great leader?’

He accepted three shots in quick succession. Feeling warmed and stimulated, he turned to reply to Belladonna.

‘The reason for it is thuswise. Any beggar can tell you that he receives his alms from the poor, rarely from the rich, because only the poor understand poverty. So it is with you. The people of Subuh respect your little refuge out of a feeling for your plight, much as they will throw coins to a beggar. Besides, many of them are too ignorant to understand properly that robots are not human, and accord them more equality than their makers intended. Try establishing a robot quarter in a better district, such as Tenure or Elan, and see what happens.’

He quickly tired of answering questions and called for newspapers, as many as could be found. He immersed himself in these, ignoring for a time the social life around him, but kept Mark V and one or two others by him to fill in the gaps in the news.

It was all much as he had anticipated. The outlook for the Empire was once again precarious. Encouraged by the success of the second Mars venture, Charrane had attempted to follow it up with much more costly interplanetary projects, including the founding of small colonies on the Jovian satellites. He had failed to appreciate that these extravagant gestures should wait until further expansion and consolidation on Earth.

At home events were proceeding in an alarming direction. The politics of the court had become corrosive and corrupt – the newspapers did not state this in so many words, naturally, but with his special knowledge Jasperodus was able to guess at it. Meanwhile social unrest grew. The slums had spread, sprawling beyond Subuh to encompass a good part of the city. For the moment everything was quiet, but Jasperodus could see that if a leader should arise there was a powder-keg waiting to be lit, unsuspected, perhaps, by the self-interested politicians surrounding Charrane.

Most disturbing was the military situation. The major divisions of the imperial armies were in the north, close to the borders of the revived and stronger Borgor Alliance. They were guarding a structure that was increasingly rotten and unable to back them up, that was overburdened with the costly outspace territories, and more than likely they were already outclassed by the enemy they faced. It angered Jasperodus to see so much of his work to make the Empire safe thrown away by the ineptness of others.

I could have averted all this , he thought. But as it’s here, Charrane, let’s see if I can use it against you…

He remembered those far-off days in Okrum. He recalled how easy it was to be a king. How much easier it would be then, here among the rabble and the robots

He fell to reflecting, considering this strategy and that.

At length he stirred. ‘We will have a debate after all,’ he boomed. ‘The subject of our debate will be – Freedom.’

He gazed around at them. ‘Let me be the first to speak…’

‘I can’t say I care for it, Jasperodus. I don’t like it at all.’

Cree Inwing stared grumpily out of the window of his room in a building near the enclave, where Jasperodus had installed him.

Jasperodus laughed lightly. ‘You are not alone. Those robots were not easy to persuade either. But once set on a new course they are totally committed to it. That is the nature of the machine.’

‘Well, I am not a machine,’ Cree snapped irritably. ‘And I am not set on new courses without good reason. In this case I see none. Why can’t you let things be?’

‘I understand your misgivings. You served the Empire faithfully for many years, and now you find yourself involved in treason. It goes against the grain. But you served the Empire no less faithfully than I.’ Jasperodus’ voice rose slightly. ‘How was my service repaid?’

‘It’s easier for you,’ Cree grumbled. ‘Being a robot you took no oath of loyalty, as I did.’

‘What difference if I had? Deeds, not words, are the proof of intentions. Besides, why castigate me for what is happening? This Empire will crumble without my help. I am merely kicking the shorings from under an edifice rotted within. Never mind the robots; my real source is human discontent. Ask the mob that one day soon will discover its strength.’

‘To go pillaging, burning, killing.’ Cree looked glum. ‘They are even more your dupes than those poor constructs.’

‘How so?’ Jasperodus suddenly displayed indignation. ‘The state is giving them bread. I promise them land! That is the lure that is bringing them forth ready to fight!’

This boast elicited only a scornful grunt from Inwing. ‘Most of them imagine they will be allotted some valuable property as a reward for their part in the rebellion and be able to live thereafter on the rent! You know very well that is not how you intend to arrange matters. You have preyed on their ignorance.’

Jasperodus laughed again, placatingly.

‘Nevertheless the affair may give the Empire the new start it needs,’ he suggested.

‘Don’t try to fool me with your dissembling arguments,’ Inwing retorted bluntly. ‘Your motives are entirely destructive – I am as well aware as you are of that. For one thing the rebellion can’t succeed. It will merely create havoc for a while, there being no armed presence strong enough to oppose it. Then the imperial forces will enter the city – and all who have been so foolish as to follow you will be annihilated, robots and people together. You and I both know this. But it doesn’t matter to you, does it? You only want to prove to the Emperor that he can’t treat you badly and get away with it. It’s a bad show.’

At this Jasperodus dropped the badinage with which he had been trying to cover his feelings, and allowed his true surliness to appear. ‘Perhaps you are wrong,’ he said sullenly, turning away. ‘I have done surprising things before.’

‘This time without my help. I’m leaving. Back to the west, perhaps.’ Inwing looked older than Jasperodus had ever seen him.

Jasperodus drifted to the door, his head lowered stubbornly, a baleful glow in his red eyes. ‘What of it all?’ he said curtly. ‘Am I not entitled to reassert myself? As for you, you are going nowhere. You are a wanted man; I have placed a guard upon this house and you will remain here until further notice. This is for your own protection.’

‘Or because you fear I will inform on you?’ Inwing said acidly.

Not looking back, Jasperodus left.

A time came which Jasperodus saw as a favourable opportunity. There were no sizeable military forces within easy distance of the capital. The city guard was understrength. Most important of all, the Emperor Charrane was absent, away on an inspection tour of the Martian dominion.