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.processtext.com/abclit.html"She was very skillful."'Would she lie about her father' about Dr.Fastolfe, that is?"Giskard hesitated."No, sir.She would not.""Then you are saying that what she says is the truth.""Not quite, sir.What I am saying is that she herself believes she is tellingthe truth.""But why should she believe such evil things about her father to be true if,in actual fact, he is as kind a person as Daneel has just told me he was?"Giskard said slowly, "She has been embittered by various e -vents in heryouth, events for which she considers Dr.Fastolfe to have been responsibleand for which he may indeed 'have been unwittingly responsible-to an extent.It seems to me it was not his intention that the events in question shouldhave the consequences they did.However, human beings are not governed by thePage 168ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlstraightforward laws of robotics.It is therefore difficult to judge thecomplexities of their motivations under most conditions."True enough," muttered Baley.Giskard said, "Do you think the task of demonstrating Dr.Fastolfe's innocenceto be hopeless?"Baley's eyebrows moved toward each other in a frown."It may be.As ithappens, I see no way out-and if Dr.Vasilia talks, as she has threatened todo-""But you ordered her not to talk.You explained that it would be dangerous toherself if she did.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlBaley shook his head."I was bluffing.I didn't know what else to say.""Do you intend to give up, then?"And Baley said forcefully, "No! If it were merely Fastolfe, I might.Afterall, what physical harm would come to him? Roboticide is not even a crime,apparently, merely a civil offense.At worst, he will lose political influenceand, perhaps, find himself unable to continue with his scientific labors for atime.Iwould be sorry to see that happen, but if there's nothing more I can do, thenthere's nothing more I can do."And if it were just myself, I might give up, too.Failure would damage myreputation, but who can Wild a brick house without bricks? I would, go back toEarth a bit tarnished, I would lead a miserable and unclassified life, butthat is the chance that faces every Earthman and woman.Better men than I havehad to face that as unjustly."However, it is a matter of Earth.If I fail, then along with the grievousloss to Dr.Fastolfe and to myself, there would be an end for,any hopeEarthpeople might have to move out of Earth and into the Galaxy generally.Forthat reason, I must not fail and I must keep on somehow, as long as I am notphysically thrust off this world."Having ended in what was almost a whisper, he suddenly looked up and said in apeevish tone, "Why are, we sitting here parked, Giskard? Are you running themotor for your own amusement?""With respect, sir," said Giskard, "you have not told me where to take you.""True! I beg your pardon, Giskard., First, take me to the nearest of theCommunity Personals that Dr.Vasilia made mention of.You two may ~e immune to such things, but Ihave a bladder that needs emptying.After that, find someplace nearby where Ican get something to eat.I have a stomach that needs filling.And after that-""Yes, Partner Elijah?" asked Daneel.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlPage 169ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"To tell you the truth, Daneel, I don't know.However, after I tend to thesepurely physical needs, I will think of something."And how Baley wished he could believe that.The airfoil did not skim the ground for long.It came to a halt, 9waying abit, and Baley felt the usual odd tightening of his stomach.That smallunsteadiness" told him he was in a vehicle and it drove away the temporaryfeeling of being safe within walls and between robots.Through the glass aheadand on either side (and backward, if he craned his neck) was the whiteness ofsky and the greenness of foliage, all amounting to, -Outside- that is, tonothing.He swallowed uneasily.They had stopped at a small structure.Baley said, "Is this the Community Personal?"Daneel said, "It is the nearest of a number on the Institute grounds, PartnerElijah.""You found it quickly.Are these structures also included in the map that hasbeen pumped into your memory?""That is the case; Partner Elijah
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