“Are you able to restore the function of the propulsion system in full order?”
“I’ve disrupted it,” Pucky pressed his point, “and therefore I know how to put it back in order.”
“Then do it!”
“And what are you going to do with us?” Pucky’s question was superfluous. He knew that he would no longer depend on the mercy of the robot once he gave it its freedom of movement. He could teleport himself instantly to Azgola or to the Sirius and this was equally true for Tako and Ras who were still lying on the floor and watching the critical negotiations with wide open eyes.
“I’ll take you to my masters as soon as I have finished my task. But if you refuse to obey my order you’ll die.” “And you can circle over Azgola for all eternity!” There was a pause. The picture faded from the screen.
Pucky took a deep breath and looked confidently at his 2 friends. “Don’t worry, I’ll soften him up.”
“I’d like to see a soft robot,” Ras commented, causing Tako to grin.
After a few minutes elapsed Rabotax returned with its next question. “How did you manage to get into the ship? You are capable of transporting yourself thru the 5th dimension. The logical conclusion is that you can leave again anytime you desire. Why don’t you do it?”
“I also have a question. Did your masters make a law forbidding the abuse of all intelligent beings who might be detrimentally affected by your harvesting activities?”
The answer was unequivocal: “The growth of spores frequently takes place on planets which are populated. The inhabitants don’t know how to regulate the intake of this food and become as fat as you. But I get there in sufficient time to make the harvest which eliminates all further danger. Yes, there is such a law.”
Pucky sighed with relief. He knew that the robot had to observe the law whether it wanted to or not. It was empowered to defeat its attackers but was not permitted to destroy entire civilizations. This had to be avoided under any circumstances if possible. “Are you obligated to undertake the harvest of all planets which have been seeded by the planting ship of your masters?”
“Yes, if there is a civilization that is in peril of destruction.”
“Very well then. I know of a distant planet whose natives are suffering from these spores. The harvest is overdue and each hour you spend here increases their danger. The planet Azgola where we’re now is uninhabited. Under your laws this makes it of secondary importance to the other planet. Do you follow me?”
“I have received another order which takes precedence.”
“Even if the world I have brought to your attention perishes?”
There was a long pause. Obviously Pucky’s questions and arguments had created some confusion in the rational decisions of the robot commander. Unfortunately Pucky had not yet become aware that both of them had talked about the same planet, Arkon 2.
“If you don’t restore the power of my propulsion system, I won’t be able to help you.”
“If I do, will you let me lead you to the endangered planet?”
“No, I can’t do that. I’ll interrupt my present work but only to carry out a new assignment I have received from my masters. I have no choice but to obey the command impulses.”
Pucky perked up. “Command impulses? Did you receive a radio message from your masters?”
“Yes, I did.” “When was that?”
Rabotax mentioned a time which was unfamiliar to Pucky. Nevertheless it was unmistakable that it was very recently. Pucky was suddenly struck by the revelation and was imbued with new hope. “Can you tell me the coordinates of the planet where you have to go next?”
“It would be too difficult. But I can show you the direction. Look…!”
A picture of the universe appeared on the screen. Most of the constellations were unknown to Pucky but he easily recognized the Azgos star. A beam of light drew a line thru the cosmos toward a concentration of stars in a region where the Arkonide empire was located. His assumption was confirmed and the ruse had worked. The robot had received Rhodan’s transmitter impulses, mistaking them as hoped for the command of its masters.
Pucky maintained an outward calm as he replied: “Very well, I agree that you first carry out your mission. I’ll restore the connection between you and the power drive.”
Rabotax 3 showed no sign of relief or satisfaction. “Your 2 companions will remain paralyzed till we start.” Pucky had to give his consent since he saw no other
possibilities at the moment. As soon as the screen of the pictorial communicator went dark Pucky could feel his paralysis wane. He was able to move freely again and to receive Betty’s thought impulses from the Sirius.
Undeterred by the mobile communication set, he said to Ras and Tako: “Don’t worry. The robot will release you as soon as I connect the cable again. It better or I’ll rip it apart! “
His friends could barely blink their eyes to show their appreciation.
Without further delay he left the room and teleported himself to the spot where he had disrupted the cable. Attention, Betty! he called.
Yes, Pucky?
The robot has received the signals of the special transmitter. I’m going to repair the connection to the propulsion system. Follow the ship but don’t interfere unless it deviates from its course to Arkon. Is that clear?
After a short interval she came back with the authorization: All clear, Pucky. Good luck!
Pucky gave no answer. He concentrated completely on his task. It was easy enough to find the break altho it was invisible to the naked eye. The thick cables had been loosened at a coupling and separated from making contact by a millimeter. It required an enormous effort to pull the cables together so that the contact surfaces touched once more and reestablished the connection. He satisfied himself that it would be simple to break the connection again if it would turn out to be necessary. The experience had taught him moreover that the propulsion system could function independently which meant that it would continue to respond to the last signals from the robot before another interruption occurred.
Pucky carefully examined the black cable. It was only partly concealed under a metal channel. The unmanned ship lacked unnecessary beauty, having been built for the purpose of bare utility. It would have been much more difficult to find such an important link in a terrestrial vessel.
Somewhere in the aft section of the vessel the vibration and humming of machinery increased. Pucky noticed a slight shift of equilibrium as the ship changed course. Then the antigrav field became activated. Pucky was impressed. The rule of law did not allow the robot to destroy the life of organic beings without valid reasons. If he had failed to activate the antigrav field Ras, Tako and Pucky would have been mercilessly crushed by the imminent pressure of acceleration. Their lives were not in jeopardy.
The ship was not equipped with windows and Pucky had no way of observing the course it followed. He could only hope that his guess was correct and that the command impulse the robot had cited had indeed come from Rhodan.
Could it have come from anyone else? The lizards had died out long ago.
As the harvestship accelerated and embarked on its course toward distant Arkon, a small craft departed from the Sirius. It carried the special transmitter to Earth where it could be put back in operation. The commander of the swift reconnaissanceship was given instructions to fly to Arkon as soon as the craft was usable again. Rhodan was hopeful that it would get there in time to let him control the harvestship.
Then he took up the pursuit of the robot.
5/ PUCKY’S PRIDE PERPLEXES
More than 50,000 lightyears from the stellar cluster M-13 an isolated red and virtually burned-out sun traversed the starless space. It was circled by 3 lifeless planets of which only the 2d showed the remnants of a former civilization, which had sprung up far from all inhabitated worlds and then declined again. Nobody had the slightest inkling of its existence until the Terrans discovered it accidentally. They called the sun Outside and the planet Mechanica.
Mechanica had been the home of an illfated race that had made desperate attempts to survive. Their 3 robotpiloted ships had ventured into the neighboring Galaxy and sought out planets to sow and reap the moss which provided their staff of life. They had become totally dependent on these 3 ships and all work on their planet was performed by fully-automated servants. Then a mishap occurred in the central impulse station and the connection with the 3 ships was lost. They were deprived of the nutrient mash made from the spores of the moss and were condemned to languish and die, leaving behind the planet of automation, Mechanica.