‘At first I did, but it seemed to me a useless task. I relied on the claims of U.S. Robots. The absurd-uh-changes were made only in the last quarter of the book after the robot, I presume, had learned enough about sociology—’
‘Never mind your presumptions!’ said Defense. ‘I understood your colleague, Dr Baker, saw the later galleys on at least one occasion. Do you remember testifying to that effect?’
‘Yes, sir. As I said, he told me about seeing one page, and even there, the robot had changed a word.’
Again Defense broke in. ‘Don’t you find it strange, sir, that after over a year of implacable hostility to the robot, after having voted against it in the first place and having refused to put it to any use whatever, you suddenly decided to put your book, your magnum opus, into its hands?’
‘I don’t find that strange. I simply decided that I might as well use the machine.’
‘And you were so confident of Robot EZ-27 – all of a sudden – that you didn’t even bother to check your galleys?’
‘I told you I was – uh – persuaded by U.S. Robots’ propaganda.’
‘So persuaded that when your colleague, Dr Baker, attempted to check on the robot, you berated him soundly?’
‘I didn’t berate him. I merely did not wish to have him – uh – waste his time. At least, I thought then it was a waste of time, I did not see the significance of that change in the word at the—’
Defense said with heavy sarcasm, ‘I have no doubt you were instructed to bring up that point in order that the word change be entered in the record—’ He altered his line to forestall objection and said, ‘The point is that you were extremely angry with Dr Baker.’
‘No, sir. Not angry.’
‘You didn’t give him a copy of your book when you received it.’
‘Simple forgetfulness. I didn’t give the library its copy, either.’ Ninheimer smiled cautiously. ‘Professors are notoriously absentminded.’
Defense said, ‘Do you find it strange that, after more than a year of perfect work, Robot EZ-27 should go wrong on your book? On a book, that is, which was written by you, who were, of all people, the most implacably hostile to the robot?’
‘My book was the only sizable work dealing with mankind that it had to face. The Three Laws of Robotics took hold then.’
‘Several times, Dr Ninheimer,’ said Defense, ‘you have tried to sound like an expert on robotics. Apparently you suddenly grew interested in robotics and took out books on the subject from the library. You testified to that effect, did you not?’
‘One book, sir. That was the result of what seems to me to have been – uh – natural curiosity.’
‘And it enabled you to explain why the robot should, as you allege, have distorted your book?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Very convenient. But are you sure your interest in robotics was not intended to enable you to manipulate the robot for your own purposes?’
Ninheimer flushed. ‘Certainly not, sir!’
Defense’s voice rose. ‘In fact, are you sure the alleged altered passages were not as you had them in the first place?’
The sociologist half rose. ‘That’s – uh – uh – ridiculous! I have the galleys—’
He had difficulty speaking and Prosecution rose to msert smoothly, ‘With your permission, Your Honor, I intend to introduce as evidence the set of galleys given by Dr Ninheimer to Robot EZ-27 and the et of galleys mailed by Robot EZ-27 to the publish. I will do so now if y esteemed colleague so desires, and will be willing to, allow a recess in order that the two sets of galleys may be compared.
Defense waved his hand impatiently. ‘That is not necessary. My honored opponent can introduce those galleys whenever he chooses. I m sure they will show whatever discrepancies are claimed by the plaintiff to exist. What I would like to know of the witness, however, is whether he also has in his possession Dr Baker’s galleys.
‘Dr Baker’s galleys?’ Ninheimer frowned. He was not yet quite master of himself.
‘Yes, Professor! I mean Dr Baker’s galleys. You testified to the effect that Dr Baker had received a separate copy of the galleys. I will have the clerk read your testimony if you are suddenly a sel ctive type of amnesiac. Or is it just that professors are, as you say, notonously absent-minded?’
Ninheirner said, ‘I remember Dr Baker’s galleys. The werent necessary once the job was placed in the care of the proofreadmg machine—
‘So you burned them?’
‘No. I put them in the waste basket.’
‘Burned them, dumped them – what’s the difference? The point is you got rid of them.’
‘There’s nothing wrong – ’ began Nmhe1mer weakly.
‘Nothing wrong?’ thundered Defense. ‘Nothing wrong except that there is now no way we can check to see if, on certain crucial galley sheets, you might not have substituted a harmless blank one from Dr Baker’s copy for a sheet in your own copy which you had deliberately mangled in such a way as to force the robot to—’
Prosecution shouted a furious objection. Justice Shane leaned forward, his round face doing its best to assume an expression of anger equivalent to the intensity of the emotion felt by the man.
The judge said, ‘Do you have any evidence, Counselor, for the extraordinary statement you have just made?’
Defense said quietly, ‘No direct evidence, Your Honor. But I would like to point out that, viewed properly, the sudden conversion of the plaintiff from anti-roboticism, his sudden interest in robotics, his refusal to check the galleys or to allow anyone else to check them, his careful neglect to allow anyone to see the book immediately after publication, all very clearly point—’
‘Counselor,’ interrupted the judge impatiently, ‘this is not the place for esoteric deductions. The plaintiff is not on trial. Neither are you prosecuting him. I forbid this line of attack and I can only point out that the desperation that must have induced you to do this cannot help but weaken your case. If you have legitimate questions to ask, Counselor, you may continue with your cross-examination. But I warn you against another such exhibition in this courtroom.’
‘I have no further questions, Your Honor.’
Robertson whispered heatedly as council for the Defense returned to his table, ‘What good did that do, for God’s sake? The judge is dead set against you now.’
Defense replied calmly, ‘But Ninheimer is good and rattled. And we’ve set him up for tomorrow’s move. He’ll be ripe.’
