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This time the pause was briefer. 'In spite of all her conditioning, she was going out of our control. I
wanted to find out why.'
'What conditioning did she have?'
'The three stages. Complete android simulation.'
'In what way was she out of control?'
'We merely wanted to use her  as we have other women  to force her husband to buy an expensive
android. That's how we get funds. But, somehow, Anita got out of control and became a threat.'
'A threat  how?'
Since she was out of control, we couldn't be sure of her.'
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'Did she know she was supposed to simulate an android and respond only to programming?'
'Normally they know it only when it's being done, but the memory fades; but we began to believe that
she did know. whether she did or not, she resisted it, and we couldn't take a chance with her.'
'Did you find out why?'
No, she got out of the hospital before I could determine the problem. I have a theory  ' His gaze
questioned Dan.
Dan said, 'Yes, tell me.'
' The only comparison I can think of,' said Dr Schneiter, 'is the "running-amok" situation which we had
in most recent historical times in Asia, but prior to that it occurred among slaves and other abused
persons,'
'Yes?' said Dan.
'It suggests to me,' continued the doctor, 'that a certain kind of rebel personality should not be subjected
to android simulation. They must be won over on the basis of the ideal.'
Dan looked straight into those glittering eyes. 'What ideal?' he asked, softly.
'I'm a supporter of GALS,' said Dr Schneiter in a quiet voice, as if that explained everything.
He took a deep breath and said earnestly: 'You're in a battle you can't win. Almost everybody has some
use for an android  as a perfect servant, to keep from being lonely, as a protector  there's almost no
limit. Of course, at present they're still purchased like dogs or objects, but the next step will be that you
can buy one on a basis that he must be freed after you have got some equivalent of your money back in
terms of service.
He shrugged. 'I hope you realize you're not going to escape from this building with what I've told you.'
'Jarris called you?'
'Yes,' said Schneiter simply.
Dan said, 'I can't believe you've had time to take precautions.'
Schneiter said, 'This hospital, except for the doctors, is operated by androids. The nurses, the
maintenance people  ' He broke off. 'It was when I gradually realized how tireless, uncomplaining,
undeviating, and, oh, all good things, the androids were that I became a complete supporter of their civil
rights.'
Dan said, 'Let me tell you my strengths. I have the film.'
'That's your greatest strength. Where is it?'
'If anything happens to me,' said Dan, 'people who are against GALS will get it.'
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'What are your weaknesses?' asked the inexorable, calm voice.
'Undoubtedly, Jarris is a secret GALS supporter, so that means I'll be taken off the case. Knowing that,
I should tell you that I'm really here on a personal matter and willing to bargain. My sister  '
'Yes,' said Dr Schneiter softly. 'What about your sister?'
"I want androids Peter II and III reprogrammed not to kill her.'
'It shall be done,' said the psychiatrist.
Dan stared into those bright eyes and said, 'Let me put it like this:You figure out how to convince me that
you mean that  and that'll be the end of the matter. I'll get in touch with you within twenty-four hours.
And now, just so youdon't act against me in the next few minutes  '
He fired three times into the small body in front of him.
Since his gun was a gas injector unit constructed to resemble a bullet-firing automatic, the shots
consisted of anesthetic gas, which induced unconsciousness. The psychiatrist slumped in his chair.
Dan walked out of the same private entrance, where he had originally caught Dr Schneiter, and headed
rapidly down the corridor to the elevators.
One of the two men who entered the elevator with Dan was first at the controls. This individual turned
and asked Dan politely, 'Which floor, sir?'
Fingering the gun in his pocket, Dan told him.
He was alert to danger, and so he had a minimum of thoughts.
But a simple awareness underlay them.
It was an accident that he, the principal government agent investigating the android conspiracy, had
proved to be the brother of someone being manipulated. And an even bigger accident that that someone
was Anita.
But as a result, he, an expert, had seen a superandroid.
These supers were, for the most of their behavior, normally programmed; thus Peter II and the others
lived in the human society, their identities concealed for one reason or another by their owners.
The conspiracy would continue to develop in the same substantially unnoticed fashion only if his film
were destroyed, and a few people killed or disposed of.
Among the people who would have to be dealt with were the two police officers, Black and Sutter  at [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]