Susan Calvin nodded gravely.
The rest of Prosecution’s case was mild in comparison. Dr Baker was called and bore out most of Ninheimer’s testimony. Drs. Speidell and Ipatiev were called, and they expounded most movingly on their shock and dismay at certain quoted passages in Dr Ninheimer’s book. Both gave their professional opinion that Dr Ninheimer’s professional reputation had been seriously impaired.
The galleys were introduced in evidence, as were copies of the finished book.
Defense cross-examined no more that day. Prosecution rested and the trial was recessed till the next morning.
Defense made his first motion at the beginning of the proceedings on the second day. He requested that Robot EZ-27 be admitted as a spectator to the proceedings.
Prosecution objected at once and Justice Shane called both to the bench.
Prosecution said hotly, ‘This is obviously illegal. A robot may not be in any edifice used by the general public.’
‘This courtroom,’ pointed out Defense, ‘is closed to all but those having an immediate connection with the case.’
‘A large machine of known erratic behavior would disturb my chent and my witnesses by its very presence! It would make hash out of the proceedings.’
The judge seemed inclined to agree. He turned to Defense and said rather unsympathetically, ‘What are the reasons for your request?’
Defense said, ‘It will be our contention that Robot EZ-27 could not possibly, by the nature of its construction, have behaved as it has been described as behaving. It will be necessary to present a few demonstrations.’
Prosecution said, ‘I don’t see the point, Your Honor. Demonstrations conducted by men employed at U.S. Robots are worth little as evidence when U.S. Robots is the defendant.’
‘Your Honor,’ said Defense, ‘the validity of any evidence is for you to decide, not for the Prosecuting Attorney. At least, that is my understanding.’
Justice Shane, his prerogatives encroached upon, said, ‘Your understanding is correct. Nevertheless, the presence of a robot here does raise important legal questions.’
‘Surely, Your Honor, nothing that should be allowed to ovemde the requirements of justice. If the robot is not present, we are prevented from presenting our only defense.’
The judge considered. ‘There would be the question of transporting the robot here.’
‘That is a problem with which U.S. Robots has frequently been faced. We have a truck parked outside the courtroom, constructed according to the laws governing the transportation of robots. Robot EZ-27 is in a packing case inside with two men guarding it. The doors to the truck are properly secured and all other necessary precautions have been taken.’ ‘You seem certain,’ said Justice Shane, in renewed ill-temper, ‘that judgment on this point will be in your favor.’
‘Not at all, Your Honor. If it is not, we simply turn the truck about. I have made no presumptions concerning your decision.’
The judge nodded. ‘The request on the part of the Defense is granted.’
The crate was carried in on a large dolly and the two men who handled it opened it. The courtroom was immersed in a dead silence.
Susan Calvin waited as the thick slabs of celluform went down, then held out one hand. ‘Come, Easy.’
The robot looked in her direction and held out its large metal arm. It towered over her by two feet but followed meekly, like a child in the clasp of its mother. Someone giggled nervously and choked it off at a hard glare from Dr Calvin.
Easy seated itself carefully in a large chair brought by the bailiff, which creaked but held.
Defense said, ‘When it becomes necessary, Your Honor, we will prove that this is actually Robot EZ-27, the specific robot in the employ of Northeastern University during the period of time with which we are concerned.’
‘Good,’ His Honor said. ‘That will be necessary. I, for one, have no idea how you can tell one robot from another.’
‘And now,’ said Defense, ‘I would like to call my first witness to the stand. Professor Simon Ninheimer, please.’
The clerk hesitated, looked at the judge. Justice Shane asked, with visible surprise, ‘You are calling the plaintiff as your witness?’
‘Yes, Your Honor.’
‘I hope that you’re aware that as long as he’s your witness, you will be allowed none of the latitude you might exercise if you were cross-examining an opposing witness.’
Defense said smoothly, ‘My only purpose in all this is to arrive at the truth. It will not be necessary to do more than ask a few polite questions.’
‘Well,’ said the judge dubiously, ‘you’re the one handling the case. Call the witness.’
Ninheimer took the stand and was informed that he was still under oath. He looked more nervous than he had the day before, almost apprehensive.
But Defense looked at him benignly.
‘Now, Professor Ninheimer, you are suing my clients in the amount of $750,000.’
‘That is the – uh – sum. Yes.’
‘That is a great deal of money.’
‘I have suffered a great deal of harm.’
‘Surely not that much. The material in question involves only a few passages in a book. Perhaps these were unfortunate passages, but after all, books sometimes appear with curious mistakes in them.’
Ninheimer’s nostrils flared. ‘Sir, this book was to have been the climax of my professional career! Instead, it makes me look like n incompetent scholar, a perverter of the views held by my honored friends and associates and a believer of ridiculous and – uh – outmoded v1ewpomts. My reput tion is irretrievably shattered! I can never hold up my head in any – uh – assemblage of scholars, regardless of the outcome of this trial. I certainly cannot continue in my career, which has been the whole of my life. The very purpose of my life has been – uh – aborted and destroyed.’
Defense made no attempt to interrupt the speech, but stared abstractedly at his fingernails as it went on.
