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Yeah! But jeering didn t drive off the frightened, helpless feeling, the
feeling of being invaded and used.
1 suppose that s the source of this dream, he thought, trying to
comfort himself. I ve been moved and manipulated from the
beginning.
The next time he walked into the Friends Lounge, Korolenko brought
him Dr. Li and an unsmiling. athletic young man with the look of
eagles in his eyes.
 Yes? Derec said to the stranger.
 This is Special Agent Donovan, said Dr. Li, frowning slightly.  Of
the Terrestrial Bureau of Investigation.
CHAPTER 11
QUESTIONS!
The Terry followed him and Dr. Li to a more private conference room,
where Dr. Li left them.
The special agent looked Derec over intently, but not in a hostile
manner. Derec braced himself, shaky. Above all, he mustn t mention
Robot City. Neither could he mention Aranimas and Wolruf. They d
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consider him crazy.
Any break in his story would mean endless questioning, queries to the
Spacer worlds, questions about Dr. Avery, the discovery of Wolruf in
orbit about Kappa Whale, perhaps the discovery of all that Dr. Avery
was doing...not all of that bad, but it would take time! Worst of all, the
investigation would ultimately uncover Robot City...and that secret
had to be kept at all costs.
Derec and Ariel had to get back there.
 I must warn you that this conversation is being recorded, and that
anything you say may be used against you. Further, you have the right
to remain silent, if you feel that your interests might be threatened by
answering. On the other hand, we have as yet no positive evidence
that any crime has been committed. The Bureau has been called in
primarily because you are allegedly a Spacer...diplomatic reasons,
that is,
Derec nodded, throat tight.
 Who are you? the agent asked abruptly.
 Derec.
 And your last name?
Derec debated, decided not, and said,  I sit mute.
 That is your right. Do you wish a witness that you have not been
coerced?
 Waived, but, uh, Derec could not quite remember the Spacer legal
formula so far it had seemed close to Earth s. If anything, Earth was
more fanatical about preserving the individual s rights than the
Spacer worlds were.  Oh, I wish to retain the right to ask for a witness
later.
 Waived right to a witness pro tern, said Donovan, nodding shortly
once, in faint approval.  I assume then that you do not mean to sit
mute to all questions. Therefore, I ask you: have you ever had
Burundi s disease, popularly known as amnemonic plague?
 I don t remember. Derec smiled faintly at the other and received a
faint smile back.
 Do you remember your last visit to Towner Laney Memorial
Hospital, two days ago, and the blood sample that was taken at that
time?
Derec remembered the visit, but not the blood sample. Even when
Donovan pointed at the red scab inside his left elbow, he still didn t
remember the sample being taken.
Concerned, Donovan said,  Do you assert that it was taken without
your knowledge; particularly, do you accuse anyone of using
anesthesia on you against your will?
 Is that a crime on Earth? No, I make no such uh assertion. I just
don t remember...I was probably in a fog. I usually am, these days.
The agent looked at him.  Isn t unauthorized anesthesia a crime on
the Spacer worlds?
 It might be, but I doubt it. I doubt that it happens often enough for
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anyone to pass a law against it. The robots would prevent it, usually.
 Hmmm, said the Terry, possibly reflecting that a robot-saturated
society might have its points.  In any case, I now inform you that a
blood sample was taken from you on that occasion and carefully
studied. The conclusion of the doctors here, and at the Mayo, and in
Bethesda, is that though you have antitoxins to Burundi s, you have
never had the disease in its severe form.
Derec stared at him.
Donovan continued,  Yet, something you said to the Spacer plague
victim, and which she answered, indicates that your memory was lost
in the characteristic fashion of this disease. Can you elucidate that, or
do you wish to sit mute?
The robots. thought Derec. Furniture to a Spacer, he had paid no
attention. And usually a robot s discretion was proverbial, so much so
that their testimony was rarely heard even in Spacer courts. But these
had been instructed to record and play back everything that Ariel
said. Derec couldn t remember what she and he had said, but they d
given the game away more than an Earthly week ago.
Had they mentioned Robot City?
 Why do you ask? he asked warily.
 Do you suffer from amnesia? the other countered.
Derec ought to sit mute. He considered that seriously, wondered if
perhaps it was already too late, then thought of a possible way
around.
 Why do you ask? Surely it s no crime to suffer amnesia. Nor would I
expect the Terries to be called in even if a Spacer suffered. The
condition isn t contagious, you know.
 There are laws against harboring certain diseases, nevertheless,
said Donovan automatically, but he waved that aside.  Public policy. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]