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strange robots, especially of one who was capable of meddling with the human mind and who had
already badly -and perhaps permanently -damaged that of Lady Vasilia. My fear, if fear there was, was
also the result of your approach. We are not in control of our emotions and there is no reason for you to
interfere. We again order you to withdraw permanently."
Daneel said, "Your pardon, Dr. Mandamus, but I merely wish to I ascertain that we may safely follow
your orders. Was there not a blaster in Dr. Amadiro's hand when we approached-and was it not pointed
at you?"
Mandamus said, "He was explaining its workings and he was about to put it away when you took it from
him."
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"Then shall I return it, to him, sir, before I leave?"
"No," said Mandamus without a quiver, "for then you would have an excuse to remain here in order
to-as you would say-protect us. Take it with you when you go and you will have no reason to return."
Daneel said, "We have reason to think that you are here in a region which human beings are not allowed
to penetrate-"
"That is a custom, not a law, and one which, in any case, holds no force over us, since we are not
Earthpeople. For that matter, robots are not allowed to be here, either."
"We were brought here, Dr. Mandamus, by o high official of Earth's government. We have reason to
think that you are here in order to raise the level of radioactivity in Earth's crust and do grave and
irreparable damage to the planet.
"Not at all." began Mandamus.
Here Amadiro interrupted for the first time. "By what right, robot, do you cross-examine us? We are
human beings who have, given you an order. Follow it now!"
His tone of authority was overwhelming and Daneel quivered, while Giskard half-turned.
But Daneel said, "Your pardon, Dr. Amadiro. I do not cross-examine. I merely seek reassurance, in
order that I may know that I can safely follow the order. We have reason to think that---"
"You need not repeat," said Mandamus. Then, in an aside, "Dr. Amadiro, please allow me to answer."
To Daneel again, "Daneel, we are here on an anthropological mission. It is our purpose to seek the
origins of various human customs that influence behavior among Spacers. These origins can be found only
here on Earth and it is here, then, that we seek them."
"Do you have Earth's permission, for this?"
"Seven years ago, I consulted the appropriate officials on Earth and received their permission."
Daneel said in a low voice, "Friend Giskard, what do you say?"
Giskard said, "The indications in Dr. Mandamus's mind are that what he is saying is not in accord with
the situation as it is."
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"He is lying, then?" said Daneel firmly.
"That is my belief," said Giskard.
Mandamus said, his calmness untouched, "That may be your belief, but belief is not certainty. You
cannot disobey an order on the basis of mere belief. I know that and you know that.
Giskard said, "But in Dr. Amadiro's mind, rage is dammed only by emotional forces that are barely up to
the job required of them. It is quite possible to slit those forces, so to speak, and allow the, rage to pour
out.
And Amadiro cried out, "Why do you fence with these things, Mandamus?"
Mandamus shouted, "Do not say a word, Amadiro! You play into their hands!"
Amadiro paid no attention. "It is demeaning and it is useless." With violent anger, he shook off
Mandamus's restraining arm. "They know the truth, but what of that? -Robots, we are Spacers. More
than that, we are Aurorans, from the world on which you were constructed. More than that, we are high
officials on the world of Aurora and you must interpret the phrase 'human beings' in the Three Laws of
Robotics as meaning Auroran."
"If you do not obey us now, you harm us and humiliate us, so that you will be violating both the First and
Second Laws. That our actions here are intended to destroy Earthmen, even large numbers of Earthmen,
is true, but is, even so, utterly irrelevant. You might as well offer to refuse to obey us because we eat the
meat of animals we have killed. Now that I have explained this to you, leave!"
But the last words turned into a croak. Amadiro's eyes bulged and he crumpled to the ground.
Mandamus, with a wordless cry, bent over him.
Giskard said, "Dr. Mandamus, Dr. Amadiro is not dead. He is at the moment in a coma from which he
can be roused at any time. However, he will have forgotten everything in connection with this present,
project, nor will he ever be able to understand anything in connection with it-if, for instance, you tried to
explain it. In the process of doing this-which I could not have done without his own admission that he
intended today's large numbers of Earthmen-I may have permanently damaged other parts of his memory
and his thinking processes. That I regret, but F could not help it."
Daneel said, "You see, Dr. Mandamus, some time ago, on Solaria, we encountered robots who
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narrowly defined human beings as Solarians, only. We recognize the fact that if different robots are
subject to narrow definitions of one sort or another, there can only be measureless destruction. It is
useless, to try to have us define human beings as Aurorans only. We define human beings as all members
of the species Homo sapiens, which includes Earthpeople and Settlers, and we feel that the prevention of
harm to human beings in groups and to humanity as a whole comes before the prevention of harm to any
specific individual."
Mandamus said breathlessly, "That is not what the First Law says."
"It is what I call the Zeroth Law and it takes precedence."
"You have not been programmed in such a way."
"It is how I have programmed myself. And since I have known from the moment of our arrival here that
your presence is intended for harm, you cannot order me away or keep me from harming you. The
Zeroth Law takes precedence and I must save Earth. Therefore, I ask you to join me- voluntarily -in
destroying these, devices you have here. Otherwise, I will be forced to threaten harm to you, as Dr.
Amadiro did, although I would not use a blaster."
But Mandamus said, "Wait! Wait! Hear me out. Let me explain. That Dr. Amadiro has had his mind
wiped clean is a good thing. He wanted to destroy Earth, but I did not want to. That was why he held a
blaster on me."
Daneel said, "It was you, however, who originated the notion, who designed and built these devices.
Otherwise, Dr. Amadiro, would not have had to try to force you to do anything. He would have done it
himself and would not have required any help from you. Isn't that right?"
"Yes, that is right. Giskard can examine my emotions and see if I'm lying. I built these devices and I was
prepared to use them, but not in the fashion Dr. Amadiro wished. Am I telling the truth?"
Daneel looked at Giskard, who said, "As nearly as I can tell, he is telling the truth."
"Of course I am," said Mandamus. "What I am doing is to introduce a very gradual acceleration of the
natural radioactivity in the Earth's crust. There will be one hundred and fifty years during which the people
of Earth can move to other worlds. It will increase the population of the present Settler worlds and
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