inner office. The chief was standing up in front ofthe map of the galaxy, his hands in his pockets, his eyes an icy blue.
"I've been hearing about you," he said without a greeting.
Jordan sat down. He was tense and jumpy but tried not to show it. "Isuppose you have," he said, adding, after a moment, "Sir."
"How did that robot manage to break out of his cell and get to the powersource on the ship in the first place?"
"He didn't break out," Jordan said slowly. "I let him out."
"I see," the chief said, nodding. "You let him out. I see. No doubt youhad your reasons."
"Yes, I did. Look--" Jordan wanted to explain, but he could not find thewords. It would have been different if the robots' messages had reachedGrismet; he would not have had to justify himself then. But they hadnot, and he could not find a way to tell this cold old man of what hehad learned about the robots and their unity with men. "I did it becauseit was the only decent thing to do."
"I see," the chief said. "You did it because you have a heart." Heleaned suddenly forward, both hands on his desk. "It's good for a man tohave a heart and be compassionate. He's not worth anything if he isn't.But"--and he shook his finger at Jordan as he spoke--"that man is goingto be compassionate at his own expense, not at the expense of theagency. Do you understand that?"
"I certainly do," Jordan answered, "but you have me wrong if you thinkI'm here to make excuses or to apologize. Now, if you will get on withmy firing, sir, I'll go home and have my supper."
The chief looked at him for a long minute. "Don't you care about yourposition in the agency?" he asked quietly.
"Sure I do," Jordan said almost roughly. "It's the work I wanted to doall my life. But, as you said, what I did, I did at my own expense.Look, sir, I don't like this any better than you do. Why don't you fireme and let me go home? Your prisoner's safely locked up in the ship."
For answer the chief tossed him a stellogram. Jordan glanced at thefirst few words and saw that it was from Galactic Headquarters on Earth.He put it back on the desk without reading it through.
"I know that I must have kicked up a fuss. You don't have to spell itout for me."
"Read it," the chief said impatiently.
Jordan took back the stellogram and examined it. It read.
To: Captain Lawrence Macrae Detection Agency, Grismet.
From: Prantal Aminopterin Delegate from Casseiopeia Chairman, Grismet Peace Committee of the Galactic Senate.
Message: You are hereby notified that the committee by a vote of 17-0 has decided to rescind its order of January 18, 2214, directing the disposal of the permallium robots of Grismet. Instead, the committee directs that you remove from their confinement all the robots and put them in some safe place where they will be afforded reasonable and humane treatment.
The committee will arrive in Grismet some time during the next month to decide on permanent disposition.
Jordan's heart swelled as he read the gram. "It worked," he said. "Theyhave changed their minds. It won't be so bad being discharged now." Heput the paper back on the desk and arose to go.
The chief smiled and it was like sunlight suddenly flooding over anarctic glacier. "Discharged? Now who's discharging you? I'd sooner dowithout my right arm."
He reached in a desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of old Earth bourbonand two glasses. He carefully poured out a shot into each glass, andhanded one to Jordan.
"I like a man with a heart, and if you get away with it, why then youget away with it. And that's just what you've done."
He sat down and started sipping his whisky. Jordan stood uncertainlyabove him, his glass in his hand.
"Sit down, son," the old man said. "Sit down and tell me about youradventures on Earth."
Jordan sat down, put his feet on the desk and took a sizable swallow ofhis whisky.
"Well, Larry," he started, "I got into Earth atmosphere about 2:40o'clock--"
THE END
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Astounding Science Fiction_ April 1955.Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyrighton this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errorshave been corrected without note.
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