Bicentennial Man & Other Stories, The - Isaac Asimov

8/11/2019 Bicentennial Man & Other Stories, The - Isaac Asimov

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THE BICENTENNIAL MAN

and Other Stories

Isaac Asimov

Contents

The Prime of Life.................................................................................................................2

Feminine Intuition...............................................................................................................4Waterclap...........................................................................................................................16

That Thou Art indful of !im..........................................................................................""

Stran#er in Paradise...........................................................................................................46

The life and Times of ulti$ac.........................................................................................6%The Winno&in#.................................................................................................................6'

The (icentennial an........................................................................................................'2

archin# In.......................................................................................................................)2Old*fashioned....................................................................................................................)6

The Tercentenar+ Incident...............................................................................................1%1

(irth of a ,otion..............................................................................................................1%)

Dedicated to:

Judy-Lynn del Rey,

And the swath she is cutting in our field

!ere I am &ith another collection of science fiction stories- and I sit here and thin- &ith more than a little

astonishment- that I ha$e /een &ritin# and pu/lishin# science fiction no& for 0ust three*ei#hths of a

centur+. This isnt /ad for someone &ho onl+ admits to /ein# in his late +outh*or a little o$er thirt+- if

pinned do&n.It seems lon#er than that- I ima#ine- to most people &ho ha$e tried to follo& me from /oo to

/oo and from field to field. As the flood of &ords continues +ear after +ear &ith no $isi/le si#ns of lettin#

up- the most peculiar misapprehensions naturall+ arise.

ust a fe& &ees a#o- for instance- I &as at a li/rarians con$ention si#nin# /oos- and some ofthe indl+ remars I recei$ed &ere3

I cant /elie$e +oure still ali$e5

(ut ho& can +ou possi/l+ loo so +oun#7Are +ou reall+ onl+ one person7It #oes e$en /e+ond that. In a re$ie& of one of m+ /oos 8ASIO9 O, :!;IST?ou/leda+-

1)'4@- and it &as a $er+ fa$ora/le re$ie&. in the ?ecem/er 1)'B Scientific American, I &as descri/ed as3

Once a (oston /iochemist- no& la/el and linchpin of a ,e& =or corporate authorship**

?ear me5 Corporate authorship7 erel+ the linchpin and la/el7Its not so. Im sorr+- if m+ copious output maes it seem impossi/le- /ut Im ali$e- Im +oun#-

and Im onl+ one person.

In fact- Im an a/solutel+ one*man operation. I ha$e no assistants of an+ ind. I ha$e no a#ent- no

/usiness mana#er- no research aides- no secretar+- no steno#rapher. I do all m+ o&n t+pin#- all m+ o&n


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proofreadin#- all m+ o&n indeCin#- all m+ o&n research- all m+ o&n letter &ritin#- all m+ o&n telephone

ans&erin#.

I lie it that &a+. Since I dont ha$e to deal &ith other people- I can concentrate more properl+ on

m+ &or- and #et more done.I &as alread+ &orr+in# a/out this misapprehension concernin# m+self ten +ears a#o. At that time-

The aga!ine of "antasy and Science "iction > commonl+ no&n as" D S"# &as plannin# a special Isaac

Asimo$ issue for Octo/er 1)66. I &as ased for a ne& stor+ to /e included and I o/li#ed 8That stor+ &as

T!; E;=- and it appears in m+ collection ASIO9S =ST;?ou/leda+- 1)6@. - /ut I also &rote a shortpoem on m+ o&n initiati$e.

That poem appeared in the special issue and it has ne$er appeared an+&here else*until no&. Im

#oin# to include it here /ecause its appropriate to m+ thesis. Then- too- se$en +ears after the poem

appeared- I recited it to a charmin# maiden- &ho- &ithout an+ si#n of mental effort- immediatel+ su##esteda chan#e that &as so ine$ita/le- and so #reat an impro$ement- that I ha$e to #et the poem into print a#ain in

order to mae that chan#e.

I ori#inall+ called the poem I I, T!; P


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+ hair is thic and dar.

!is smile- in /rief- spelled dis/elief-

So this is &hat I didI sco&led- +ou no&- and &ith one /lo&-

I illed that rotten id.

The chan#e I mentioned occurs in the first line of the second stanHa. I had it read- ori#inall+-Wh+- stars a/o$e- its Asimo$- /ut the aforementioned maiden sa& at once it ou#ht to /e maHel to$.

This is a !e/re& phrase meanin# #ood fortune and it is used /+ e&s as a 0o+ful #reetin# on 0u/ilant

occasions**as a meetin# &ith me should surel+ /e. .

Ten +ears ha$e passed since I &rote the poem and- of course- the impression of incredi/le a#e&hich I lea$e amon# those &ho no& me onl+ from m+ &ritin#s is no& e$en stron#er. When this poem

&as &ritten- I had pu/lished a mere 66 /oos- and no&- ten +ears later- the score stands at 1'B- so that its

/een a decade of constant mental confla#ration.

ust the same- I$e ept m+ old*time spar e$en +et. + step is still li#ht and m+ e+e is still /ri#ht.Whats more- Im as sua$e in m+ con$ersations &ith +oun# &omen as I ha$e e$er /een >&hich is $er+

sua$e indeed@. That /it a/out m+ hair /ein# thic and dar must /e modified- ho&e$er. There is no

dan#er of /aldness /ut- oh me- I am turnin# #ra+. In recent +ears- I ha$e #ro&n a #enerous pair of fluff+

side/urns- and the+ are almost &hite.

And no& that +ou no& the &orst a/out me- lets #o on to the stories themsel$es or- rather >for+ou are not Juite throu#h &ith me@- to m+ introductor+ comments to the first stor+.

The /e#innin# of F;I,I,; I,TGITIO, is tied up &ith ud+*L+nn (en0amin- &hom I met at the World

Science Fiction :on$ention in ,e& =or :it+ in 1)6'. ud+*L+nn has to /e seen to /e /elie$ed*an

incredi/l+ intelli#ent- Juic*&itted- hard*dri$in# &oman &ho seems to /e /urnin# constantl+ &ith a /ri#ht

radioacti$e #lo&.She &as mana#in# editor of $ala%y in those da+s.

On arch 21- 1)'1- she married that lo$a/le old curmud#eon Lester del


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#o to me, +ou dumm+. =ou dont sell them to the competition.

She &ent on to eCpound on that theme for a/out half an hour and m+ attempts to eCplain that ;d

had ased me for a stor+ &efore the time of the su##estion and that she had ne$er Juite made it clear that

she &anted the stor+ for herself &ere /rushed aside &ith scorn.An+&a+- ud+*L+nn- heres the stor+ a#ain- and Im freel+ admittin# that the su##estion of a

female ro/ot &as +ours. ?oes that mae e$er+thin# all ri#ht7 >,o- I didnt thin so.@

Feminine Intuition

The Three Laws ofRo&otics:

'( A ro&ot may not in)ure a human &eing or, through inaction, allow a human &eing to come to harm(

*( A ro&ot must o&ey the orders gi+en it &y human &eings e%cept where such orders would conflict with the

"irst Law(( A ro&ot must protect its own e%istence as long as such protection does not conflict with the "irst or

Second Law(

For the first time in the histor+ of Gnited States


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!e had /een in his ne& post eCactl+ one da+ &hen he initiated the , pro0ect.

It had meant the lar#est commitment of funds to one pro0ect that Gnited States


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+ou suppose the pu/lic reaction &ill /e to that7

?o +ou plan to mae that pu/lic7 said adarian. !e thou#ht a /it and then said- Loo. One

thin# the #eneral pu/lic /elie$es is that &omen are not as intelli#ent as men.

There &as an instant apprehensi$e loo on the face of more than one man at the ta/le and a Juicloo up and do&n as thou#h Susan :al$in &ere still in her accustomed seat.

adarian said- If &e announce a female ro/ot- it doesnt matter &hat she is. The pu/lic &ill

automaticall+ assume she is mentall+ /ac&ard. We 0ust pu/liciHe the ro/ot as ane*1 and &e dont ha$e to

sa+ another &ord. Were safe.Actuall+- said Peter (o#ert Juietl+- theres more to it than that. adarian and I ha$e #one o$er

the mathematics carefull+ and the , series- &hether ohn or ane- &ould /e Juite safe. The+ &ould /e less

compleC and intellectuall+ capa/le- in an orthodoC sense- than man+ another series &e ha$e desi#ned and

constructed. There &ould onl+ /e the one added factor of- &ell- lets #et into the ha/it of callin# itintuition.

Who no&s &hat it &ould do7 muttered


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The+ &ent on for a lon# time after that.

The funds #ranted &ere Juite insufficient- /ut adarian counted on the ha/it of thro&in# #ood

mone+ after /ad. With t&o hundred million a/out to /e lost irre$oca/l+ &hen another hundred million

could sa$e e$er+thin#- the other hundred million &ould surel+ /e $oted.ane*1 &as finall+ /uilt and put on displa+. Peter (o#ert studied it **her**#ra$el+. !e said- Wh+

the narro& &aist7 Surel+ that introduces a mechanical &eaness7

adarian chucled. Listen- if &ere #oin# to call her ane- theres no point in main# her loo

lie TarHan.(o#ert shoo his head. ?ont lie it. =oull /e /ul#in# her hi#her up to #i$e the appearance of

/reasts neCt- and thats a rotten idea. If &omen start #ettin# the notion that ro/ots ma+ loo lie &omen- I

can tell +ou eCactl+ the ind of per$erse notions the+ll #et- and +oull really ha$e hostilit+ on their part.

adarian said- a+/e +oure ri#ht at that. ,o &oman &ants to feel replacea/le /+ somethin#&ith none of her faults. Oa+.

ane*2 did not ha$e the pinched &aist. She &as a som/er ro/ot &hich rarel+ mo$ed and e$en more

rarel+ spoe.

adarian had onl+ occasionall+ come rushin# to (o#ert &ith items of ne&s durin# herconstruction and that had /een a sure si#n that thin#s &ere #oin# poorl+. adarians e/ullience under

success &as o$erpo&erin#. !e &ould not hesitate to in$ade (o#erts /edroom at " A.. &ith a hot*flash

item rather than &ait for the mornin#. (o#ert &as sure of that.

,o& adarian seemed su/dued- his usuall+ florid eCpression nearl+ pale- his round chees

someho& pinched. (o#ert said- &ith a feelin# of certaint+- She &ont tal.Oh- she tals. adarian sat do&n hea$il+ and che&ed at his lo&er lip. Sometimes- an+&a+- he

said.

(o#ert rose and circled the ro/ot. And &hen she tals- she maes no sense- I suppose. Well- if shedoesnt tal- shes no female- is she7

adarian tried a &ea smile for siHe and a/andoned it. !e said- The /rain- in isolation- checed

out.

I no&- said (o#ert. (ut once that /rain &as put in char#e of the ph+sical apparatus of thero/ot- it &as necessaril+ modified- of course.

Of course- a#reed (o#ert unhelpfull+. (ut unpredicta/l+ and frustratin#l+. The trou/le is that

&hen +oure dealin# &ith n*dimensional calculus of uncertaint+- thin#s are**

Gncertain7 said (o#ert. !is o&n reaction &as surprisin# him. The compan+ in$estment &asalread+ most siHa/le and almost t&o +ears had elapsed- +et the results &ere- to put it politel+- disappointin#.

Still- he found himself 0a//in# at adarian and findin# himself amused in the process.Almost furti$el+- (o#ert &ondered if it &erent the a/sent Susan :al$in he &as 0a//in# at.

adarian &as so much more e/ullient and effusi$e than Susan could e$er possi/l+ /e**&hen thin#s &ere#oin# &ell. !e &as also far more $ulnera/l+ in the dumps &hen thin#s &erent #oin# &ell- and it &as

precisel+ under pressure that Susan ne$er craced. The tar#et that adarian made could /e a neatl+

punctured /ulls*e+e as recompense for the tar#et Susan had ne$er allo&ed herself to /e.

adarian did not react to (o#erts last remar an+ more than Susan :al$in &ould ha$e done notout of contempt- &hich &ould ha$e /een Susans reaction- /ut /ecause he did not hear it

!e said ar#umentati$el+- The trou/le is the matter of reco#nition. We ha$e ane*2 correlatin#

ma#nificentl+. She can correlate on an+ su/0ect- /ut once shes done so- she cant reco#niHe a $alua/le

result from a $alueless one. Its not an eas+ pro/lem- 0ud#in# ho& to pro#ram a ro/ot to tell a si#nificantcorrelation &hen +ou dont no& &hat correlations she &ill /e main#.

I presume +ou$e thou#ht of lo&erin# the potential at the W*21 diode 0unction and sparin#

across the**,o- no- no- no** adarian faded off into a &hisperin# diminuendo. =ou cant 0ust ha$e it spe&out e$er+thin#. We can do that for oursel$es. The point is to ha$e it reco#niHe the crucial correlation and

dra& the conclusion. Once that is done- +ou see- a ane ro/ot &ould snap out an ans&er /+ intuition. It

&ould /e somethin# &e couldnt #et oursel$es eCcept /+ the oddest ind of luc.

It seems to me- said (o#ert dr+l+- that if +ou had a ro/ot lie that- +ou &ould ha$e her doroutinel+ &hat- amon# human /ein#s- onl+ the occasional #enius is capa/le of doin#.

adarian nodded $i#orousl+. ;Cactl+- Peter. Id ha$e said so m+self if I &erent afraid of

fri#htenin# off the eCecs. Please dont repeat that in their hearin#.?o +ou reall+ &ant a ro/ot #enius7


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What are &ords7 Im tr+in# to #et a ro/ot &ith the capacit+ to mae random correlations at

enormous speeds- to#ether &ith a e+*si#nificance hi#h*reco#nition Juotient. And Im tr+in# to put those

&ords into positronic field eJuations. I thou#ht I had it- too- /ut I dont. ,ot +et.

!e looed at ane*2 discontentedl+ and said- Whats the /est si#nificance +ou ha$e- ane7ane*2s head turned to loo at adarian /ut she made no sound- and adarian &hispered &ith

resi#nation- Shes runnin# that into the correlation /ans.

ane*2 spoe tonelessl+ at last. Im not sure. It &as the first sound she had made.

adarians e+es rolled up&ard. Shes doin# the eJui$alent of settin# up eJuations &ithindeterminate solutions.

I #athered that- said (o#ert. Listen- adarian- can +ou #o an+&here at this point- or do &e pull

out no& and cut our losses at half a /illion7

Oh- Ill #et it- muttered adarian.ane*" &asnt it. She &as ne$er as much as acti$ated and adarian &as in a ra#e.

It &as human error. !is o&n fault- if one &anted to /e entirel+ accurate. =et thou#h adarian &as

utterl+ humiliated- others remained Juiet. Let he &ho has ne$er made an error in the fearsomel+ intricate

mathematics of the positronic /rain fill out the first memo of correction.,earl+ a +ear passed /efore ane*4 &as read+. adarian &as e/ullient a#ain. She does it- he

said. Shes #ot a #ood hi#h*reco#nition Juotient.

!e &as confident enou#h to place her on displa+ /efore the (oard and ha$e her sol$e pro/lems.

,ot mathematical pro/lems an+ ro/ot could do that /ut pro/lems &here the terms &ere deli/eratel+

misleadin# &ithout /ein# actuall+ inaccurate.(o#ert said after&ard- That doesnt tae much- reall+.

Of course not. Its elementar+ for ane*4 /ut I had to sho& them somethin#- didnt I7

?o +ou no& ho& much &e$e spent so far7:ome on- Peter- dont #i$e me that. ?o +ou no& ho& much &e$e #ot /ac7 These thin#s dont

#o on in a $acuum- +ou no&. I$e had o$er three +ears of hell o$er this- if +ou &ant to no&- /ut I$e

&ored out ne& techniJues of calculation that &ill sa$e us a minimum of fift+ thousand dollars on e$er+

ne& t+pe of positronic /rain &e desi#n- from no& on in fore$er.


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stars and tr+in# to calculate the pro/a/ilit+ of ha/ita/le planets- isnt it7

I no& that- /ut its on ;arth.

Well- and I surel+ no& that.


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&ere chauffeured from the airport to the main administration /uildin# at Fla#staff- &e uncrated ane and

she stepped out of the /oC. When that happened- e$er+ man in the place stepped /ac. Scared5 ,it&its5 If

e$en scientists cant understand the si#nificance of the La&s of


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adarian and the pilot &ere reduced to #o//ets of /lood+ flesh and no usa/le remnant of ane &as

reco$ered.

The #loom at G. S.


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consent to Pro/in#. (ut theres nothin# to lea$e room for an eCcuse- and to Pro/e t&o doHen men &ho

mae their li$in# from their /rains cant /e done. !onestl+- it &ouldnt help. If ane had mentioned three

stars and said the+ had ha/ita/le planets- it &ould ha$e /een lie settin# up s+ rocets in their /rains. !o&

could an+one of them for#et7Then ma+/e one of them is l+in#- said


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(o#ert said- Well- let me #o on**

When he &as Juite done- Susan said- a+ I ha$e the pri$ate use of this office for an hour or

t&o7

=es- /ut**She said- I &ant to #o o$er the $arious records**anes pro#rammin#- adarians calls- +our

inter$ie&s at fla#staff. I presume I can use that /eautiful ne& shielded laser*phone and +our computer

outlet if I &ish.

=es- of course.Well- then- #et out of here- Peter.

It &as not Juite fort+*fi$e minutes &hen she ho//led to the door- opened it- and called for (o#ert.

When (o#ert came-


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he called from the plane- she must clearl+ ha$e sol$ed the pro/lem after he had left Fla#staff.

(ut then**

Let me finish. Let me finish. Was adarian not taen from the airport to Fla#staff in a hea$+-

enclosed #round car7 And ane- in her crate- &ith him7=es.

And presuma/l+- adarian and the crated ane returned from Fla#staff to the airport in the same

hea$+- enclosed #round car. Am I ri#ht7

=es- of course5And the+ &ere not alone in the #round car- either. In one of his calls- adarian said- We &ere

chauffeured from the airport to the main administration /uildin#- and I suppose I am ri#ht in concludin#

that if he &as chauffeured- then that &as /ecause there &as a chauffeur- a human dri$erin the car.

Kood Kod5The trou/le &ith +ou- Peter- is that &hen +ou thin of a &itness to a planetolo#ical statement- +ou

thin of planetolo#ists. =ou di$ide up human /ein#s into cate#ories- and despise and dismiss most. A ro/ot

cannot do that. The First La& sa+s- A ro/ot ma+ not in0ure a human &eing or- throu#h inaction- allo& a

human &eing to come to harm.Any human /ein#. That is the essence of the ro/otic $ie& of life. A ro/otmaes no distinction. To a ro/ot- all men are trul+ eJual- and to a ro/ops+cholo#ist &ho must perforce deal

&ith men at the ro/otic le$el- all men are trul+ eJual- too.

It &ould not occur to adarian to sa+ a truc dri$er had heard the statement. To +ou a truc

dri$er is not a scientist /ut is a mere animate ad0unct of a truc- /ut to adarian he &as a man and a

&itness. ,othin# more. ,othin# less.(o#ert shoo his head in dis/elief. (ut +ou aresure/.

Of course Im sure. !o& else can +ou eCplain the other point adarians remar a/out the

startlin# of the &itness7 ane &as crated- &asnt she7 (ut she &as notdeacti$ated. Accordin# to therecords- adarian &as al&a+s adamant a#ainst e$er deacti$atin# an intuiti$e ro/ot. oreo$er- ane*B- lie

an+ of the anes- &as eCtremel+ non*talati$e. Pro/a/l+ it ne$er occurred to adarian to order her to

remain Juiet &ithin the crate and it &as &ithin the crate that the pattern finall+ fell into place. ,aturall+

she /e#an to tal. A /eautiful contralto $oice suddenl+ sounded from inside the crate. If +ou &ere the trucdri$er- &hat &ould +ou do at that point7 Surel+ +oud /e startled. Its a &onder he didnt crash.

(ut if the truc dri$er &as the &itness- &h+ didnt he come for&ard**

Wh+7 :an he possi/l+ no& that an+thin# crucial had happened- that &hat he heard &as

important7 (esides- dont +ou suppose adarian tipped him &ell and ased him not to sa+ an+thin#7Would +ou want the ne&s to spread that an acti$ated ro/ot &as /ein# transported ille#all+ o$er the ;arths

surface.Well- &ill he remem/er &hat &as said7

Wh+ not7 It mi#ht seem to +ou- Peter- that a truc dri$er- one step a/o$e an ape in +our $ie&-cant remem/er. (ut truc dri$ers can ha$e /rains- too. The statements &ere most remara/le and the

dri$er ma+ &ell ha$e remem/ered some. ;$en if he #ets some of the letters and num/ers &ron#- &ere

dealin# &ith a finite set- +ou no&- the fift+*fi$e hundred stars or star s+stems &ithin ei#ht+ li#ht*+ears or

so**I ha$ent looed up the eCact num/er. =ou can mae the correct choices. And if needed- +ou &ill ha$ee$er+ eCcuse to use the Ps+cho*pro/e**

The t&o men stared at her. Finall+ (o#ert- afraid to /elie$e- &hispered- (ut ho& can +ou /e

sure/.

For a moment- Susan &as on the point of sa+in#3 (ecause I$e called Fla#staff- +ou fool- and/ecause I spoe to the truc dri$er- and /ecause he told me &hat he had heard- and /ecause I$e checed

&ith the computer at Fla#staff and #ot the onl+ three stars that fit the information- and /ecause I ha$e those

names in m+ pocet.(ut she didnt. Let him #o throu#h it all himself. :arefull+- she rose to her feet- and saidsardonicall+- !o& can I /e sure7...:all it feminine intuition.

?o not fear- Kentle


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Sometime in mid*1)6)- ?ou/leda+ called me up to as if I &ould &rite a science fiction stor+ that could

ser$e as the /asis of a mo$ie. I didnt &ant to- /ecause I dont lie to #et tan#led up &ith the $isual media

directl+. The+$e #ot mone+- /ut thats all the+$e #ot. (ut ?ou/leda+ pressed me and I dont lie to refuse?ou/leda+. I a#reed.

Then e$entuall+ I had dinner &ith a $er+ pleasant #entleman &ho &as in$ol$ed &ith the motion

picture compan+ and &ho &anted to discuss the stor+ &ith me.

!e told me he &anted an undersea settin# and that suited me. !e then &ent on to descri/e &ithconsidera/le enthusiasm the nature of the characters he &anted in the stor+- and the e$ents he thou#ht

&ould /e necessar+. As he spoe- m+ spirits san. The fact &as that I didnt &ant the hero he descri/ed I

didnt &ant- &ith e$en #reater intensit+- the heroine he descri/ed and most of all- I didnt &ant the e$ents

he descri/ed.I ha$e al&a+s found m+self una/le- ho&e$er- to eCpress a ne#ati$e reaction to people- especiall+

face to face. I did m+ /est to smile and act interested.

The neCt da+ I called up ?ou/leda+. It mi#ht not /e too late. I ased if the contract had /een

si#ned. =es- indeed- it had- and a lar#e ad$ance had /een paid o$er- of &hich most &as to /e turned o$er tome.

I didnt thin there &as room for m+ spirits to sin lo&er- /ut the+ did. I had to &rite the stor+.

Well- then- I said- if &hat I &rite is not accepta/le- &ould +ou return the ad$ance7

We dont ha$e to- I &as told. The ad$ance is unconditional. If the+ dont lie +our stor+- &e

still eep the ad$ance.,o- I said. I dont &ant it that &a+. If &hat I do is unaccepta/le- I &ant the entire ad$ance

returned. Tae +our share of it out of m+ ro+alties.

?ou/leda+ doesnt lie to refuse me an+thin# either- so the+ a#reed- althou#h the+ made it plainthe+ &ould return their share and not tae an+thin# out of m+ ro+alties.

That meant I &as under no o/li#ation to do an+thin# /ut m+ /est- as I concei$ed that /est to /e.

On Septem/er 1- 1)6)- I /e#an to &rite WAT;


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thic- all of them- and too their short- lo& steps &ith ease. !e himself had to feel his footsteps- #uide them

throu#h the air e$en the impalpa/le /ond that held him to the #round &as teCtured.

Im read+- he said. !e too a deep /reath and deli/eratel+ repeated his earlier #lance at the Sun.

It &as lo& in the mornin# s+- &ashed out /+ dust+ air- and he ne& it &ouldnt /lind him. !e didnt thinhe &ould e$er see it a#ain.

!e had ne$er seen a /ath+scaphe /efore. ?espite e$er+thin#- he tended to thin of it in terms of

protot+pes- an o/lon# /alloon &ith a spherical #ondola /eneath. It &as as thou#h he persisted in thinin# of

space fli#ht in terms of tons of fuel spe&ed /ac&ard in fire- and an irre#ular module feelin# its &a+-spiderlie- to&ard the Lunar surface.

The /ath+scaphe &as not lie the ima#e in his thou#hts at all. Gnder its sin- it mi#ht still /e

/uo+ant /a# and #ondola- /ut it &as all en#ineered sleeness no&.

+ name is a$an- said the ferr+ pilot. Omar a$an.a$an7

ueer name to +ou7 Im Iranian /+ descent ;arthman /+ persuasion. Once +ou #et do&n there-

there are no nationalities. !e #rinned and his compleCion #re& darer a#ainst the e$en &hiteness of his

teeth. If +ou dont mind- &ell /e startin# in a minute. =oull /e m+ onl+ passen#er- so I #uess +ou carr+&ei#ht.

=es- said ?emerest dr+l+. At least a hundred pounds more than Im used to.

=oure from the oon7 I thou#ht +ou had a Jueer &al on +ou. I hope its not uncomforta/le.

Its not eCactl+ comforta/le- -/ut I mana#e. We eCercise for this.

Well- come on /oard. !e stood aside and let ?emerest &al do&n the #an#plan. I &ouldnt #oto the oon m+self.

=ou #o to Ocean*?eep.

A/out fift+ times so far. Thats different.?emerest #ot on /oard. It &as cramped- /ut he didnt mind that. It mi#ht /e a space module eCcept

that it &as more**&ell- teCtured. There &as that &ord a#ain. There &as the clear feelin# e$er+&here that

mass didnt matter. ass &as held up it didnt ha$e to /e hurled up.

The+ &ere still on the surface. The /lue s+ could /e seen #reenishl+ throu#h the clear thic #lass.a$an said- =ou dont ha$e to /e strapped in. Theres no acceleration. Smooth as oil- the &hole thin#. It

&ont tae lon# 0ust a/out an hour. =ou cant smoe.

I dont smoe- said ?emerest.

I hope +ou dont ha$e claustropho/ia.oon*men dont ha$e claustropho/ia.

All that open**,ot in our ca$ern. We li$e in a**he #roped for the phrase **a Lunar*?eep- a hundred feet deep.

A hundred feet5 The pilot seemed amused- /ut he didnt smile. Were slippin# do&n no&.The interior of the #ondola &as fitted into an#les /ut here and there a section of &all /e+ond the

instruments sho&ed its /asic sphericit+. To a$an- the instruments seemed to /e an eCtension of his arms

his e+es and hands mo$ed o$er them li#htl+- almost lo$in#l+.

Were all checed out- he said- /ut I lie a last*minute loo*o$er &ell /e facin# a thousandatmospheres do&n there. !is fin#er touched a contact- and the round door closed massi$el+ in&ard and

pressed a#ainst the /e$eled rim it met.

The hi#her the pressure- the ti#hter that &ill hold- said a$an. Tae +our last loo at sunli#ht-

r. ?emerest.The li#ht still shone throu#h the thic #lass of the &indo&. It &as &a$erin# no& there &as &ater

/et&een the Sun and them no&.

The last loo7 said ?emerest.a$an snicered. ,ot the last loo. I mean for the trip. ...I suppose +ou$e ne$er /een- on a/ath+scaphe /efore.

,o- I ha$ent. !a$e man+7

9er+ fe&- admitted a$an. (ut dont &orr+. Its 0ust an under&ater /alloon. We$e introduced a

million impro$ements since the first /ath+scaphe. Its nuclear*po&ered no& and &e can mo$e freel+ /+&ater 0et up to certain limits- /ut cut it do&n to /asics and its still a spherical #ondola under /uo+anc+

tans. And its still to&ed out to sea /+ a mother ship /ecause it needs &hat po&er it carries too /adl+ to

&aste it on surface tra$el.


17/106

The supportin# ca/le of the mother ship fliced a&a+ and the /ath+scaphe settled lo&er then

lo&er still- as sea &ater fed into the /uo+anc+ tans. For a fe& moments- cau#ht in surface currents- it

s&a+ed- and then there &as nothin#. The /ath+scaphe san slo&l+ throu#h a deepenin# #reen.

a$an relaCed. !e said- ohn (er#en is head of Ocean*?eep. =oure #oin# to see him7Thats ri#ht.

!es a nice #u+. !is &ifes &ith him.

She is7

Oh- sure. The+ ha$e &omen do&n there. Theres a /unch do&n there- fift+ people. Some sta+for months.

?emerest put his fin#er on the narro&- nearl+ in$isi/le seam &here door met &all. !e too it a&a+

and looed at it. !e said- Its oil+.

Silicone- reall+. The pressure sJueeHes some out. Its supposed to. ...?ont &orr+. ;$er+thin#sautomatic. ;$er+thin#s fail*safe. The first si#n of malfunction- an+ malfunction at all- our /allast is

released and up &e #o.

=ou mean nothin#s e$er happened to these /ath+scaphes7

What can happen7 The pilot looed side&a+s at his passen#er. Once +ou #et too deep forsperm &hales- nothin# can #o &ron#.

Sperm &hales7 ?emerests thin face creased in a fro&n.

Sure- the+ di$e as deep as half a mile. If the+ hit a /ath+scaphe**&ell- the &alls of the /uo+anc+

cham/ers arent particularl+ stron#. The+ dont ha$e to /e- +ou no&. The+re open to the sea and &hen the

#asoline- &hich supplies the /uo+anc+- compresses- sea &ater enters.It &as dar no&. ?emerest found his #aHe fastened to the $ie&port. It &as li#ht inside the #ondola-

/ut it &as dar in that &indo&. And it &as not the darness of space it &as a thic darness.

?emerest said sharpl+- Lets #et this strai#ht- r. a$an. =ou are not eJuipped to &ithstand theattac of a sperm &hale. Presuma/l+ +ou are not eJuipped to &ithstand the attac of a #iant sJuid. !a$e

there /een an+ actual incidents of that sort7

Well- its lie this**

,o #ames- please- and dont tr+ ra##in# the #reenhorn. I am asin# out of professional curiosit+.I am head safet+ en#ineer at Luna :it+ and I am asin# &hat precautions this /ath+scaphe can tae a#ainst

possi/le collision &ith lar#e creatures.

a$an looed em/arrassed. !e muttered- Actuall+- there ha$e /een no incidents.

Are an+ eCpected7 ;$en as a remote possi/ilit+7An+thin# is remotel+ possi/le. (ut actuall+ sperm &hales are too intelli#ent to mone+ &ith us

and #iant sJuid are too sh+.:an the+ see us7

=es- of course. Were lit up.?o +ou ha$e floodli#hts7

Were alread+ past the lar#e*animal ran#e- /ut &e ha$e them- and Ill turn them on for +ou.

Throu#h the /lac of the &indo& there suddenl+ appeared a sno&*storm- an in$erted up&ard*

fallin# sno&storm. The /lacness had come ali$e &ith stars in three*dimensional arra+ and all mo$in#up&ard.

?emerest said- Whats that7

ust crud. Or#anic matter. Small creatures. The+ float- dont mo$e much- and the+ catch the li#ht.

Were #oin# do&n past them. The+ seem to /e #oin# up in conseJuence.?emerests sense of perspecti$e ad0usted itself and he said- Arent &e droppin# too Juicl+7

,o- &ere not. If &e &ere- I could use the nuclear en#ines- if I &anted to &aste po&er or I could

drop some /allast. Ill /e doin# that later- /ut for no& e$er+thin# is fine.


18/106

&a+ I loo at it- r. ?emerest- &here man can #o- he &ill #o and he should #o. The ;arth is ours to

populate and &e &ill populate it. All &e need to mae the deep sea ha/ita/le are completel+ maneu$era/le

scaphes. The /uo+anc+ cham/ers slo& us- &eaen us- and complicate the en#ineerin#.

(ut the+ also sa$e +ou- dont the+7 If e$er+thin# #oes &ron# at once- the #asoline +ou carr+ &illstill float +ou to the surface*. What &ould do that for +ou if +our nuclear en#ines #o &ron# and +ou had no

/uo+anc+7

If it comes to that- +ou cant eCpect to eliminate the chances of accident alto#ether- not e$en fatal

ones.I no& that $er+ &ell- said ?emerest feelin#l+.

a$an stiffened. The tone of his $oice chan#ed. Sorr+. ?idnt mean an+thin# /+ that. Tou#h a/out

that accident.

=es- said ?emerest. Fifteen men and fi$e &omen had died. One of the indi$iduals listed amon#the men had /een fourteen +ears old. It had /een pinned do&n to human failure. What could a head

safet+ en#ineer sa+ after that7

=es- he said.

A pall dropped /et&een the t&o men- a pall as thic and as tur#id as the pressuriHed sea &ateroutside. !o& could one allo& for panic and for distraction and for depression all at once7 There &ere the

oon*(lues**stupid name**/ut the+ struc men at incon$enient times. It &asnt al&a+s noticea/le &hen the

oon*(lues came /ut it made men torpid and slo& to react.

!o& man+ times had a meteorite come alon# and /een a$erted or smothered or successfull+

a/sor/ed7 !o& man+ times had a oonJuae done dama#e and /een held in chec7 !o& man+ times hadhuman failure /een /aced up and compensated for7 !o& man+ times had accidents not happened7

(ut +ou dont pa+off on accidents not happenin#. There &ere t&ent+ dead**

a$an said >ho& man+ lon# minutes later7@- There are the li#hts of Ocean*?eep5

?emerest could not mae them out at first. !e didnt no& &here to loo. T&ice /efore-

luminescent creatures had fliced past the &indo&s at a distance and &ith the floodli#hts off a#ain-

?emerest had thou#ht them the first si#n of Ocean*?eep. ,o& he sa& nothin#.?o&n there- said a$an- &ithout pointin#. !e &as /us+ no&- slo&in# the drop and ed#in# the

scaphe side&a+s.

?emerest could hear the distant si#hin# of the &ater 0ets- steam*dri$en- &ith the steam formed /+

the heat of momentar+ /ursts of fusion po&er.?emerest thou#ht diml+3 ?euterium is their fuel and its all around them. Water is their eChaust

and its all around them.a$an &as droppin# some of his /allast- too- and /e#an a ind of distant chatter. The /allast used

to /e steel pellets and the+ &ere dropped /+ electroma#netic controls. An+&here up to fift+ tons of it &ereused in each trip. :onser$ationists &orried a/out spreadin# rustin# steel o$er the ocean floor- so &e

s&itched to metal nodules that are dred#ed up from the continental shelf. We put a thin la+er of iron o$er

them so the+ can still /e electroma#neticall+ handled and the ocean /ottom #ets nothin# that &asnt su/*

ocean to /e#in &ith. :heaper- too. ...(ut &hen &e #et out real nuclear scaphes- &e &ont need /allast atall.

?emerest scarcel+ heard him. Ocean*?eep could /e seen no&. a$an had turned on the floodli#hts

and far /elo& &as the mudd+ floor of the Puerto


19/106

It &ould if there &ere air on the other side- /ut there isnt. Theres sea &ater- and that has to /e

dri$en out. Then &e enter.

?emerest did not miss this point. !e had come here on this- the last da+ of his life- to #i$e that

same life meanin# and he intended to miss nothin#.!e said- Wh+ the added step7 Wh+ not eep the air loc- if thats &hat it is- a real air loc- and

ha$e air in it at an times7

The+ tell me its a matter of safet+- said a$an. 23our specialt+. The interface has eJual pressure

on /oth sides at all times- e%cept &hen men are mo$in# across. This door is the &eaest point of the &holes+stem- /ecause it opens and closes it has 0oints it has seams. =ou no& &hat I mean7

I do- murmured ?emerest. There &as a lo#ical fla& here and that meant there &as a possi/le

chin throu#h &hich**/ut later.

!e said- Wh+ are &e &aitin# no&7The loc is /ein# emptied. The &ater is /ein# forced out.

(+ air.

!ell- no. The+ cant afford to &aste air lie that. It &ould tae a thousand atmospheres to empt+

the cham/er of its &ater- and fillin# the cham/er &ith air at that densit+- e$en temporaril+- is more air thanthe+ can afford to eCpend. Steam is &hat does it.

Of course. =es.

a$an said cheerfull+- =ou heat the &ater. ,o pressure in the &orld can stop &ater from turnin# to

steam at a temperature of more than "'4 :. And the steam forces the sea &ater out throu#h a one*&a+

$al$e.Another &ea point- said ?emerest. I suppose so. Its ne$er failed +et. The &ater in the loc is

/ein# pushed out no&. When hot steam starts /u//lin# out the $al$e- the process automaticall+ stops and

the loc is fun of o$erheated steam.And then7

And then &e ha$e a &hole ocean to cool it &ith. The temperature drops and the steam condenses.

Once that happens- ordinar+ air can /e let in at a pressure of one atmosphere and then the door opens.

!o& lon# must &e &ait7,ot lon#. If there &ere an+thin# &ron#- thered /e sirens soundin#. At least- so the+ sa+. I ne$er

heard one in action.

There &as silence for a fe& minutes- and then there &as a sudden sharp clap and a simultaneous

0er.a$an said- Sorr+- I should ha$e &arned +ou. Im so used to it I for#ot. When the door opens- a

thousand atmospheres of pressure on the other side forces us hard a#ainst the metal of Ocean*?eep. ,oelectroma#netic force can hold us hard enou#h to pre$ent that last hundredth*of*an*inch slam.

?emerest unclenched his fist and released his /reath. !e said- Is e$er+thin# all ri#ht7The &alls didnt crac- if thats &hat +ou mean. It sounds lie doom- thou#h- doesnt it7 It sounds

e$en &orse &hen I$e #ot to lea$e and the air loc fills up a#ain. (e prepared for that.

(ut ?emerest &as suddenl+ &ear+. Lets #et on &ith it- he thou#ht. I dont &ant to dra# it out. !e

said- ?o &e #o throu#h no&7We #o throu#h.

The openin# in the scaphe &all &as round and small e$en smaller than the one throu#h &hich

the+ had ori#inall+ entered. a$an &ent throu#h it sinuousl+- mutterin# that it al&a+s made him feel lie a

cor in a /ottle.?emerest had not smiled since he entered the scaphe. ,or did he reall+ smile no&- /ut a comer of

his mouth Juired as he thou#ht that a sinn+ oon*man &ould ha$e no trou/le.

!e &ent throu#h also- feelin# a$ans hands firml+ at his &aist- helpin# him throu#h.a$an said- Its dar in here. ,o point in introducin# an additional &eaness /+ &irin# forli#htin#. (ut thats &h+ flashli#hts &ere in$ented.

?emerest found himself on a perforated &al- its stainless metallic surface #leamin# dull+. And

throu#h the perforations he could mae out the &a$erin# surface of &ater.

!e said- The cham/er hasnt /een emptied.=ou cant do an+ /etter- r. ?emerest. If +oure #oin# to use steam to empt+ it- +oure left &ith

that steam- and to #et the pressures necessar+ to do the empt+in# that steam must /e compressed to aQut

one*third the densit+ of liJuid &ater. When it condenses- the cham/er remains one*third full of &ater**/utits &ater at 0ust one*atmosphere pressure. ... :ome on- r. ?emerest.


20/106

ohn (er#ens face &asnt entirel+ unno&n to ?emerest. alread+

traditional7@ Lunar pattern of ph+siolo#+. !e &as fairer than a$an /+ a #ood deal and his face &asnoticea/l+ as+mmetrical- &ith his some&hat thic nose leanin# 0ust a little to the ri#ht.

!e &as not handsome. ,o oon*man &ould thin he &as- /ut then (er#en smiled and there &as a

sunniness a/out it as he held out his lar#e hand.

?emerest placed his o&n thin one &ithin- steelin# himself for a hard #rip- /ut it did not come.(er#en too the hand and let it #o- then said- Im #lad +oure here. We dont ha$e much in the &a+ of

luCur+- nothin# that &ill mae our hospitalit+ stand out- &e cant e$en declare a holida+ in +our honor**/ut

the spirit is there. Welcome5

Than +ou- said ?emerest softl+. !e remained unsmilin# no&- too. !e &as facin# the enem+and he ne& it. Surel+ (er#en must no& it also and- since he did- that smile of his &as h+pocris+.

And at that moment a clan# lie metal a#ainst metal sounded deafenin#l+ and the cham/er

shuddered. ?emerest leaped /ac and sta##ered a#ainst the &all.

(er#en did not /ud#e. !e said Juietl+- That &as the /ath+scaphe unhitchin# and the &aterclap of

the air loc fillin#. a$an ou#ht to ha$e &arned +ou.?emerest panted and tried to mae his racin# heart slo&. !e said- a$an did &arn me. I &as

cau#ht /+ surprise an+&a+.

(er#en said- Well- it &ont happen a#ain for a &hile. We dont often ha$e $isitors- +ou no&.Were not eJuipped for it and so &e fi#ht off all inds of /i# &heels &ho thin a trip do&n here &ould /e

#ood for their careers. Politicians of all inds- chiefl+. =our o&n case is different of course.

Is it7 thou#ht ?emerest. It had /een hard enou#h to #et permission to mae the trip do&n. !is

superiors /ac at Luna :it+ had not appro$ed in the first place and had scouted the idea that a diplomaticinterchan#e &ould /e of an+ use. > ?iplomatic interchan#e &as &hat the+ had called it. @ And &hen he

had o$er/orne them- there had /een Ocean*?eeps o&n reluctance to recei$e him.

It had /een sheer persistence alone that had made his present $isit possi/le. In &hat &a+ then &as

?emerests case different7(er#en said- I suppose +ou ha$e +our 0unetin# pro/lems on Luna :it+- too7

9er+ little- said ?emerest. =our a$era#e politician isnt as anCious to tra$el a half*million*mileround trip as he is to tra$el a ten*mile one.

I can see that- a#reed (er#en- and its more eCpensi$e out to the oon- of course. ...In a &a+-this is the first meetin# of inner and outer space. ,o Ocean*man has e$er #one to the oon as far as I no&

and +oure the first oonman to $isit a su/*sea station of an+ ind. ,o oon*man has e$er /een to one of

the settlements on the continental shelf.

Its a historic meetin#- then- said ?emerest- and tried to eep the sarcasm out of his $oice.If an+ leaed throu#h- (er#en sho&ed no si#n. !e rolled up his slee$es as thou#h to emphasiHe his

attitude of informalit+ >or the fact that the+ &ere $er+ /us+- so that there &ould /e little time for $isitors7@

and said- ?o +ou &ant coffee7 I assume +ou$e eaten. Would +ou lie to rest /efore I sho& +ou around7

?o +ou &ant to &ash up- for that matter- as the+ sa+ euphemisticall+7For a moment- curiosit+ stirred in ?emerest +et not entirel+ aimless curiosit+. ;$er+thin#

in$ol$in# the interface of Ocean*?eep &ith the outside &orld could /e of importance. !e said- !o& are

sanitar+ facilities handled here7Its c+cled mostl+ as it is on the oon- I ima#ine. We can e0ect if &e &ant to or ha$e to. an hasa /ad record of foulin# the en$ironment- /ut as the onl+ deep*sea station- &hat &e e0ect does no percepti/le

dama#e. Adds or#anic matter. !e lau#hed.

?emerest filed that a&a+- too. atter &as e0ected there &as therefore e0ection tu/es. Their

&orin#s mi#ht /e of interest and he- as a safet+ en#ineer- had a ri#ht to /e interested.,o- he said- I dont need an+thin# at the moment. If +oure /us+**

Thats all ri#ht. Were al&a+s /us+- /ut Im the least /us+- if +ou see &hat I mean. Suppose I

sho& +ou around. We$e #ot o$er fift+ units here- each as /i# as this one- some /i##er**?emerest looed a/out. A#ain- as in the scaphe- there &ere an#les e$er+&here- /ut /e+ond the


21/106

furnishin#s and eJuipment there &ere si#ns of the ine$ita/le spherical outer &all. Fift+ of them5

(uilt up- &ent on (er#en- o$er a #eneration of effort. The unit &ere standin# in is actuall+ the

oldest and theres /een some tal of demolishin# and replacin# it. Some of the men sa+ &ere read+ for

second*#eneration units- /ut Im not sure. It &ould /e eCpensi$e**e$er+thin#s eCpensi$e do&n here**and#ettin# mone+ out of the Planetar+ Pro0ect :ouncil is al&a+s a depressin# eCperience.

?emerest felt his nostrils flare in$oluntaril+ and a spasm of an#er shot throu#h him. It &as a

thrust surel+. Luna :it+s misera/le record &ith the PP: must /e &ell no&n to (er#en.

(ut (er#en &ent on- unnoticin#. Im a traditionalist- too**0ust a little /it. This is the first deep*seaunit e$er constructed. The first t&o people to remain o$erni#ht on the floor of an ocean trench slept here

&ith nothin# else /e+ond this /are sphere eCcept for a misera/le porta/le fusion unit to &or the escape

hatch. I mean the air loc- /ut &e called it the escape hatch to /e#in &ith**and 0ust enou#h controls for the

purpose.


22/106

she eeps sa+in#*Well- thats &h+ shes pre#nant. =ou thin its lo$e- seC mania- +earnin# for motherhood7

,othin# of the sort. Shes #oin# to ha$e a /a/+ do&n here to mae a philosophical point.

Annette said cooll+- Wh+ not7 ;ither this is #oin# to /e home for humanit+ or it isnt #oin# to /e.

If it is, then &ere #oin# to ha$e /a/ies here- thats all. I &ant a /a/+ /orn in Ocean*?eep. There are /a/ies/orn in Luna :it+- arent there- r. ?emerest7

?emerest too a deep /reath. 21 &as /orn in Luna :it+- rs. (er#en.

And &ell she ne& it- muttered (er#en.

And +ou are in +our late t&enties- I thin7 she said.I am t&ent+*nine- said ?emerest.

And &ell she ne& that- too- said (er#en &ith a short lau#h. =ou can /et she looed up all

possi/le data on +ou &hen she heard +ou &ere comin#.

That is Juite /eside the point- said Annette. The point is that for t&ent+*nine +ears at leastchildren ha$e /een /orn in Luna :it+ and no children ha$e /een /orn in Ocean*?eep.

Luna :it+- m+ dear- said (er#en- is lon#er*esta/lished. It is o$er half a centur+ old &e are not

+et t&ent+.

T&ent+ +ears is Juite enou#h. It taes a /a/+ nine months.?emerest interposed- Are there an+ children in Ocean*?eep7

,o- said (er#en. ,o. Someda+- thou#h.

In t&o months- an+&a+- said Annette (er#en positi$el+.

The tension #re& inside ?emerest and &hen the+ returned to the unit in &hich he had first met(er#en- he &as #lad to sit do&n and accept a cup of coffee.

Well eat soon- said (er#en matter*of*factl+. I hope +ou dont mind sittin# here mean&hile. As

the prime unit- it isnt used for much eCcept- of course- for the reception of $essels- an item I dont eCpect&ill interrupt us for a &hile. We can tal- if +ou &ish.

I do &ish- said ?emerest.

I hope Im &elcome to 0oin in- said Annette.

?emerest looed at her dou/tfull+- /ut (er#en said to him- =oull ha$e to a#ree. Shes fascinated/+ +ou and /+ oon*men #enerall+. She thins the+re**uh--you0re a ne& /reed- and I thin that &hen

shes Juite throu#h /ein# a ?eep*&oman she &ants to /e a oon*&oman3

I 0ust &ant to #et a &ord in ed#e&ise- ohn- and &hen I #et that in- Id lie to hear &hat r.

?emerest has to sa+. What do +ou thin of us- r. ?emerest7?emerest said cautiousl+- I$e ased to come here- rs. (er#en- /ecause Im a safet+ en#ineer.

Ocean*?eep has an en$ia/le safet+ record**,ot one fatalit+ in almost t&ent+ +ears- said (er#en cheerfull+. Onl+ one death /+ accident in

the :*shelf settlements and none in transit /+ either su/ or scaphe. I &ish I could sa+- thou#h- that this &asthe result of &isdom and care on our part. We do our /est- of course- /ut the /reas ha$e /een &ith us**

ohn- said Annette- I reall+ &ish +oud let r. ?emerest spea.

As a safet+ en#ineer- said ?emerest- I cant afford to /elie$e in luc and /reas. We cannot

stop oon*Juaes or lar#e meteroites out at Luna :it+- /ut &e are desi#ned to minimiHe the effects e$en ofthose. There are no eCcuses or there should /e none for human failure. We ha$e not a$oided that on Luna

:it+ our record recentl+ has /een**his $oice dropped**/ad. While humans are imperfect- as &e all no&-

machiner+ should /e desi#ned to tae that imperfection into account. We lost t&ent+ men and &omen**

I no&. Still- Luna :it+ has a population of nearl+ one thousand- doesnt it7 =our sur$i$al isnt indan#er.

The people on Luna :it+ num/er nine hundred and se$ent+*t&o- includin# m+self- /ut our

sur$i$al is in dan#er. We depend on ;arth for essentials. That need not al&a+s /e so it &ouldnt /e so ri#htno& if the Planetar+ Pro0ect :ouncil could resist the temptation to&ard p+#m+ economies**There- at least- r. ?emerest- said (er#en- &e see e+e to e+e. We are not self*supportin# either-

and &e could /e. Whats more- &e cant #ro& much /e+ond our present le$el unless nuclear scaphes are

/uilt. As lon# as &e eep that /uo+anc+ principle- &e are limited. Transportation /et&een ?eep and Top is

slo& slo& for men slo&er still for materiel and supplies. I$e /een pushin#- r. ?emerest- for**=es- and +oull /e #ettin# it no&- r. (er#en- &ont +ou7

I hope so- /ut &hat maes +ou so sure7

r. (er#en- lets not pla+ around. =ou no& $er+ &ell that ;arth is committed to spendin# afiCed amount of mone+ on eCpansion pro0ects*on pro#rams desi#ned to eCpand the human ha/itat*and that


23/106

it is not a terri/l+ lar#e amount. ;arths population is not #oin# to la$ish resources in an effort to eCpand

either outer space or inner space if it thins this &ill cut into the comfort and con$enience of ;arths prime

ha/itat- the land surface of the planet. Annette /roe in. =ou mae it sound callous of ;arthmen- r.

?emerest- and thats unfair.. Its onl+ human- isnt it- to &ant to /e secure7 ;arth is o$erpopulated and it isonl+ slo&l+ re$ersin# the ha$oc inflicted on the planet /+ the ad T&entieth. Surel+ mans ori#inal home

must come first- ahead of either Luna :it+ or Ocean*?eep. !ea$ens- Ocean*?eep is almost home to me-

/ut I cant &ant to see it flourish at the eCpense of ;arths land.

Its not an either*or- rs. (er#en- said ?emerest earnestl+. If the ocean and outer space arefirml+- honestl+- and intelli#entl+ eCploited- it can onl+ redound to ;arths /enefit. A small in$estment &ill

/e lost /ut a lar#e one &ill redeem itself &ith profit.

(er#en held up his hand. =es- I no&. =ou dont ha$e to ar#ue &ith me on that point. =oud /e

tr+in# to con$ert the con$erted. :ome- lets eat. I tell +ou &hat. Well eat here. If +oull sta+ &ith uso$erni#ht- or se$eral da+s for that matter*+oure Juite &elcome*there &ill /e ample time to meet

e$er+/od+. Perhaps +oud rather tae it eas+ for a &hile- thou#h.

uch rather- said ?emerest. Actuall+- I &ant to sta+ hereRI &ould lie to as- /+ the &a+-

&h+ I met so fe& people &hen &e &ent throu#h the units.,o m+ster+- said (er#en #eniall+. At an+ #i$en time- some fifteen of our men are asleep and

perhaps fifteen more are &atchin# films or pla+in# chess or- if their &i$es are &ith them**

=es- ohn- said Annette.

**And its customar+ not to distur/ them. The Juarters are constricted and &hat pri$ac+ a man

can ha$e is cherished. A fe& are out at sea three ri#ht no&- I thin. That lea$es a doHen or so at &or inhere and +ou met them.

Ill #et lunch- said Annette- risin#.

She smiled and stepped throu#h the door- &hich closed automaticall+ /ehind her.(er#en looed after her. Thats a concession. Shes pla+in# &oman for +our sae. Ordinaril+- it

&ould /e 0ust as liel+ for me to #et the lunch. The choice is not defined /+ seC /ut /+ the striin# of

random li#htnin#.

?emerest said- The doors /et&een units- it seems to me- are of dan#erousl+ limited stren#th.Are the+7

If an accident happened- and one unit &as punctured**

,o meteorites do&n here- said (er#en- smilin#.

Oh +es- &ron# &ord. If there &ere a lea of an+ sort- for an+ reason- then could a unit or a #roupof units /e sealed off a#ainst the full pressure of the ocean7

=ou meanin the &a+ that Luna :it+ can ha$e its component units automaticall+ sealed off incase of meteorite puncture in order to limit dama#e to a sin#le unit.

=es- said ?emerest &ith a faint /itterness. As did not happen recentl+.In theor+- &e could do that- /ut the chances of accident are much less do&n here. As I said- there

are no meteorites and- &hats more- there are no currents to spea of. ;$en an earthJuae centered

immediatel+ /elo& us &ould not /e dama#in# since &e mae no fiCed or solid contact &ith the #round

/eneath and are cushioned /+ the ocean itself a#ainst the shocs. So &e can afford to #am/le on no massi$einfluC.

=et if one happened7

Then &e could /e helpless. =ou see- it is not so eas+ to seal off component units here. On the

oon- there is a pressure differentia of 0ust one atmosphere one atmosphere inside and the Heroatmosphere of $acuum outside. A thin seal is enou#h. !ere at Ocean*?eep the pressure differential is

rou#hl+ a thousand atmospheres. To secure a/solute safet+ a#ainst that differentia &ould tae a #reat deal

of mone+ and +ou no& &hat +ou said a/out #ettin# mone+ out of PP:. So &e #am/le and so far &e$e/een luc+.And &e ha$ent- said ?emerest.

(er#en looed uncomforta/le- /ut Annette distracted /oth /+ comin# in &ith lunch at this

moment.

She said- I hope- r. ?emerest- that +oure prepared for Spartan fare. All our food in Ocean*?eep is prepaca#ed and reJuires onl+ heatin#. We specialiHe in /landness and nonsurprise here- and the

non*surprise of the da+ is a /land chicen a la in#- &ith carrots- /oiled potatoes- a piece of somethin# that

loos lie a /ro&nie for dessert- and- of course- all the coffee +ou can drin. ?emerest rose to tae his tra+ and tried to smile. It sounds $er+ lie oon fare- rs. (er#en- and


24/106

I &as /rou#ht up on that. We #ro& our o&n micro*or#anismic food. It is patriotic to eat that /ut not

particularl+ en0o+a/le. We hope to eep impro$in# it- thou#h.

Im sure +ou will impro$e it...

?emerest said- as he ate &ith a slo& and methodical che&in#- I hate to ride m+ specialt+- /ut ho&secure are +ou a#ainst mishaps in +our air*loc entr+7

It is the &eaest point of Ocean*?eep- said (er#en. !e had finished eatin#- &ell ahead of the

other t&o- and &as half throu#h &ith his first cup of coffee. (ut theres #ot to /e an interface- ri#ht7 The

entr+ is as automatic as &e can mae it and as fail*safe. ,um/er one3 there has to /e contact at e$er+ pointa/out the outer loc /efore the fusion #enerator /e#ins to heat the &ater &ithin the loc. Whats more- the

contact has to /e metallic and of a metal &ith 0ust the ma#netic permea/ilit+ &e use on our scaphes.

Presuma/l+ a roc or some m+thical deep*sea monster mi#ht drop do&n and mae contact at 0ust the ri#ht

places /ut if so- nothin# happens.Then- too- the outer door doesnt open until the steam has pushed the &ater out and then

condensed in other &ords- not till /oth pressure and temperature ha$e dropped /elo& a certain point. At

the moment the outer door /e#ins to open- a relati$el+ sli#ht increase in internal pressure- as /+ &ater entr+-

&ill close it a#ain.?emerest said- (ut then- once men ha$e passed throu#h the loc- the inner door closes /ehind

them and sea &ater must /e allo&ed into the loc a#ain. :an +ou do that #raduall+ a#ainst the full pressure

of the ocean outside7

,ot $er+. (er#en smiled. It doesnt pa+ to fi#ht the ocean too hard. =ou ha$e to roll &ith the

punch. We slo& it do&n to a/out one*tenth free entr+ /ut e$en so it comes in lie a rifle shot*louder- athunderclap- or &aterclap- if +ou prefer. The inner door can hold it- thou#h- and it is not su/0ected to the

strain $er+ often. Well- &ait- +ou heard the &aterclap &hen &e first met- &hen a$ans scaphe too off

a#ain.


25/106

or has the s+stem /een co$ered &ith +our fria/le plastic for t&ent+ +ears to the point &here it has all

deca+ed into uselessness &ith no one noticin#7

,ot at all. Its periodicall+ checed- as all our eJuipment is. Thats not m+ 0o/ personall+- /ut I

no& it is done. If an+ electrical or electronic circuit is out of its normal &orin# condition- li#hts flash-si#nals sound- e$er+thin# happens /ut a nuclear /last. - ..=ou no&- r. ?emerest- &e are as curious a/out

Luna :it+ as +ou are a/out Ocean*?eep. I presume +ou &ould /e &illin# to in$ite one of our +oun# men**

!o& a/out a +oun# &oman7 interposed Annette at once.

I am sure +ou mean +ourself- dear- said (er#en- to &hichI can onl+ ans&er that +ou are determined to ha$e a /a/+ here and to eep it here for a period of

time after /irth- and that effecti$el+ eliminates +ou from consideration.

?emerest said stiffl+- We hope +ou &ill send men to Luna :it+. We are anCious to ha$e +ou

understand our pro/lems.=es- a mutual eCchan#e of pro/lems and of &eepin# on each others shoulders mi#ht /e of #reat

comfort to all. For instance- +ou ha$e one ad$anta#e on Luna :it+ that I &ish &e could ha$e. With lo&

#ra$it+ and a lo& pressure differential- +ou can mae +our ca$erns tae on an+ irre#ular and an#ular

fashion that appeals to +our aesthetic sense or is reJuired for con$enience. ?o&n here &ere restricted tothe sphere- at least for the foreseea/le future- and our desi#ners de$elop a hatred for the spherical that

surpasses /elief. Actuall+ it isnt funn+. It /reas them do&n. The+ e$entuall+ resi#n rather than continue to

&or sphericall+.

(er#en shoo his head and leaned his chair /ac a#ainst a microfilm ca/inet. =ou no&- he

continued- &hen William (ee/e /uilt the first deep*set cham/er in histor+ in the 1)"%s**it &as 0ust a#ondola suspended from a mother ship /+ a half*mile ca/le- &ith no /uo+anc+ cham/ers and no en#ines-

and if the ca/le /roe- #ood ni#ht- onl+ it ne$er did. ...An+&a+- &hat &as I sa+in#7 Oh- &hen (ee/e /uilt

his first deep*sea cham/er- he &as #oin# to mae it c+lindrical +ou no&- so a man &ould fit in itcomforta/l+. After all- a man is essentiall+ a tall- sinn+ c+linder. !o&e$er- a friend of his ar#ued him out

of that and into a sphere on the $er+ sensi/le #rounds that a sphere &ould resist pressure more efficientl+

than an+ other possi/le shape. =ou no& &ho that friend &as7

,o- Im afraid I dont.The man &ho &as President of the Gnited States at the time of (ee/es descents*Franlin ?.


26/106

manind /ut has patience- &e &ill reach the stars. We5 We5 It is onl+ &e oon*men- used to space- used to

a &orld in a ca$ern- used to an en#ineered en$ironment- &ho could endure life in a spaceship that ma+ ha$e

to tra$el centuries to reach the stars.

Wait- &ait- ?emerest- said (er#en- holdin# up his hand. (ac up5 What do +ou mean- ifOcean*?eep allo&s it7 What ha$e &e to do &ith it7

=oure competin# &ith us- r. (er#en. The Planetar+ Pro0ect :ommission &ill s&in# +our &a+-

#i$e +ou more- #i$e us less- /ecause in the short term- as +our &ife sa+s- the ocean is ali$e and the oon-

eCcept for a thousand men- is not /ecause +ou are a half*doHen miles a&a+ and &e a Juarter of a million/ecause +ou can /e reached in an hour and &e onl+ in three da+s. And /ecause +ou ha$e an ideal safet+

record and &e ha$e had*misfortunes.

The last- surel+- is tri$ial. Accidents can happen an+ time- an+&here.

(ut the tri$ial can /e used- said ?emerest an#ril+. It can /e made to manipulate emotions. Topeople &ho dont see the purpose and the importance of space eCploration- the death of oon*men in

-accidents is proof enou#h that the oon is dan#erous- that its coloniHation is a useless fantas+. Wh+ not7

Its their eCcuse for sa$in# mone+ and the+ can then sal$e their consciences /+ in$estin# part of it in

Ocean*?eep instead. Thats &h+ I said the accident on the oon had threatened the sur$i$al of Luna :it+e$en thou#h it illed onl+ t&ent+ people out of nearl+ a thousand.

I dont accept +our ar#ument. There has /een enou#h mone+ for /oth for a score of +ears.

,ot enou#h mone+. Thats eCactl+ it. ,ot enou#h in$estment to mae the oon self*supportin#

in all these +ears- and then the+ use that lac of self*support a#ainst us. ,ot enou#h in$estment to mae

Ocean*?eep self*supportin# either. ... (ut no& the+ can #i$e +ou enou#h if the+ cut us out alto#ether.?o +ou thin that &ill happen7

Im almost sure it &ill- unless Ocean*?eep sho&s a statesmanlie concern for mans future.

!o&7(+ refusin# to accept additional funds. (+ not competin# &ith Luna :it+. (+ puttin# the #ood of

the &hole race ahead of self*interest.

Surel+ +ou dont eCpect us to dismantle**

=ou &ont ha$e to. ?ont +ou see7 oin us in eCplainin# that Luna :it+ is essential- that spaceeCploration is the hope of manind that +ou &ill &ait- retrench- if necessar+.

(er#en looed at his &ife and raised his e+e/ro&s. She shoo her head an#ril+. (er#en said- =ou

ha$e a rather romantic $ie& of the PP:- I thin. ;$en if I made no/le- self*sacrificin# speeches- &hos to

sa+ the+ &ould listen7 Theres a #reat deal more in$ol$ed in the matter of Ocean*?eep than m+ opinion andm+ statements. There are economic considerations and pu/lic feelin#. Wh+ dont +ou relaC- r. ?emerest7

Luna :it+ &ont come to an end. =oull recei$e funds- Im sure of it. I tell +ou- Im sure of it. ,o& lets/rea this up

,o- I$e #ot to con$ince +ou one &a+ or another that Im serious. If necessar+- Ocean*?eep mustcome to a halt unless the PP: can suppl+ ample funds for /oth.

(er#en said- Is this some sort of official mission- r. ?emerest7 Are +ou speain# for Luna :it+

officiall+- or 0ust for +ourself7

ust for m+self- /ut ma+/e thats enou#h- r. (er#en.I dont thin it is. Im sorr+- /ut this is turnin# out to /e unpleasant. I su##est that- after all- +ou

had /etter return Topside on the first a$aila/le scaphe.

,ot +et5 ,ot +et5 ?emerest looed a/out &ildl+- then rose unsteadil+ and put his /ac a#ainst

the &all. !e &as a little too tall for the room and he /ecame conscious of life recedin#. One more step andhe &ould ha$e #one too far to /ac out.

!e had told them /ac on the oon that there &ould /e no use talin#- no use ne#otiatin#. It &as

do#*eat*do# for the a$aila/le funds and Luna :it+s destin+ must not /e a/orted not for Ocean*?eep not*for ;arth no- not for all of ;arth- since manind and the Gni$erse came e$en /efore the ;arth. an mustout#ro& his &om/ and

?emerest could hear his o&n ra##ed /reathin# and the inner turmoil of his &hirlin# thou#hts. The

other t&o &ere looin# at him &ith &hat seemed concern. Annette rose and said- Are +ou ill- r.

?emerest7I am not ill. Sit do&n. Im a safet+ en#ineer and I &ant to teach +ou a/out safet+. Sit down, rs.

(er#en.

Sit do&n- Annette- said (er#en. Ill tae care of him. !e rose and too a step for&ard.(ut ?emerest said- ,o. ?ont +ou mo$e either. I ha$e somethin# ri#ht here. =oure too nai$e


27/106

concernin# human dan#ers- r. (er#en. =ou #uard a#ainst the sea and a#ainst mechanical failure and +ou

dont search +our human $isitors- do +ou7 I ha$e a &eapon- (er#en.

,o& that it &as out and he had taen the final step- from &hich there &as no returnin#- for he &as

no& dead &hate$er he did- he &as Juite calm.Annette said- Oh- ohn- and #rasped her hus/ands arm. !es**

(er#en stepped in front of her. A &eapon7 Is that &hat that thin# is7 ,o& slo&l+- ?emerest-

slo&l+. Theres nothin# to #et hot o$er. If +ou &ant to tal- &e &ill tal. What is that7

,othin# dramatic. A porta/le laser /eam.(ut &hat do +ou &ant to do &ith it7

?estro+ Ocean*?eep.

(ut +ou cant- ?emerest. =ou no& +ou cant. Theres onl+ so much ener#+ +ou can pac into

+our fist and an+ laser +ou can hold cant pump enou#h heat to penetrate the &alls.I no& that. This pacs more ener#+ than +ou thin. Its oon*made and there are some

ad$anta#es to manufacturin# the ener#+ unit in a $acuum. (ut +oure ri#ht. ;$en so- its desi#ned onl+ for

small 0o/s and reJuires freJuent rechar#in#. So I dont intend to tr+ to cut throu#h a foot*plus of allo+ steel.

...(ut it &ill do the 0o/ indirectl+. For one thin#- it &ill eep +ou t&o Juiet. Theres enou#h ener#+ in m+fist to ill t&o people.

=ou &ouldnt ill us- said (er#en e$enl+. =ou ha$e no reason.

If /+ that- said ?emerest- +ou impl+ that I am an unreasonin# /ein# to /e someho& made to

understand m+ madness- for#et it. I ha$e e$er+ reason to ill +ou and I will ill +ou. (+ laser /eam if I ha$e

to- thou#h I &ould rather not. .What #ood &ill illin# us do +ou7 ae me understand. Is it that I ha$e refused to sacrifice

Ocean*?eep funds7 I couldnt do an+thin# else. Im not reall+ the one to mae the decision. And if +ou ill

me- that &ont help +ou force the decision in +our direction- &ill it7 In fact- Juite the contrar+. If a oon*man is a murderer- ho& &ill that reflect on Luna :it+7 :onsider human emotions on ;arth.

There &as 0ust an ed#e of shrillness in Annettes $oice as she 0oined in. ?ont +ou see there &ill

/e people &ho &ill sa+ that Solar radiation on the oon has dan#erous effects7 That the #enetic

en#ineerin# &hich has reor#aniHed +our /ones and muscles has affected mental sta/ilit+7 :onsider the&ord lunatic- r. ?emerest. en once /elie$ed the oon /rou#ht madness.

I am not mad- rs. (er#en.

It doesnt matter- said (er#en- follo&in# his &ifes lead smoothl+. en &ill sa+ that +ou &ere

that all oon*men are and Luna :it+ &ill /e closed do&n and the oon itself closed to all furthereCploration- perhaps fore$er. Is that &hat +ou &ant7

That mi#ht happen if the+ thou#ht I illed +ou- /ut the+ &ont. It &ill /e an accident. With hisleft el/o&- ?emerest /roe the plastic that co$ered the manual controls.

I no& units of this sort- he said. I no& eCactl+ ho& it &ors. Lo#icall+- /reain# that plasticshould set up a &arnin# flash**after all- it mi#ht /e /roen /+ accident**and then someone &ould /e here to

in$esti#ate- or- /etter +et- the controls should loc until deli/eratel+ released to mae sure the /rea &Q not

merel+ accidental.

!e paused- then said- (ut Im sure no one &ill come that no &arnin# has taen place. =ourmanual s+stem is not failsafe /ecause in +our heart +ou &ere sure it &ould ne$er /e used.

What do +ou plan to do7 said (er#en.

!e &as tense and ?emerest &atched his nees carefull+- and said- If +ou tr+ to 0ump to&ard me-

Ill shoot at once- and then eep ri#ht on &ith &hat Im doin#.I thin ma+/e +oure #i$in# me nothin# to lose.

=oull lose time. Let me #o ri#ht on &ithout interference and +oull ha$e some minutes to eep

on talin#. =ou ma+ e$en /e a/le to tal me out of it. Theres m+ proposal. ?ont interfere &ith me and I&ill #i$e +ou +our chance to ar#ue.(ut &hat do +ou plan to do7

This- said ?emerest. !e did not ha$e to loo. !is left hand snaed out and closed a contact.

The fusion unit &ill no& pump heat into the air loc and the steam &ill empt+ it. It &ill tae a fe&

minutes. When its done- Im sure one of those little red*#lass /uttons &ill li#ht.Are +ou #oin# to**

?emerest said- Wh+ do +ou as7 =ou no& that I must /e intendin#- ha$in# #one this far- to


28/106

(ecause it &ill /e mared do&n as an accident. (ecause +our safet+ record &ill /e spoiled.

(ecause it &ill /e a complete catastrophe and &ill &ipe +ou out. And PP: &ill then turn from +ou- and the

#lamor of Ocean*?eep &ill /e #one. 4e &ill #et the funds we &ill continue. If I could /rin# that to pass in

some other &a+- I &ould- /ut the needs of Luna :it+ are the needs of manind and those are paramount.=ou &ill die- too- Annette mana#ed to sa+.

Of course. Once I am forced to do somethin# lie this- &ould I want to li$e7 Im not a murderer.

(ut +ou &ill /e. If +ou flood this unit- +ou &ill flood all of Ocean*?eep and ill e$er+one in it**

and doom those &ho are out in their su/s to slo&er death. Fift+ men and &omen **an un/orn child**That is not m+ fault- said ?emerest- in clear pain. I did not eCpect to find a pre#nant &oman

here- /ut no& that I ha$e- I cant stop /ecause of that.

(ut +ou must stop- said (er#en. =our plan &ont &or unless &hat happens can /e sho&n to /e

an accident. The+ll find +ou &ith a /eam emitter in +our hand and &ith the manual controls clearl+tampered &ith. ?o +ou thin the+ &ont deduce the truth from that7

?emerest &as feelin# $er+ tired. r. (er#en- +ou sound desperate. Listen*When the outer door

opens- &ater under a thousand atmospheres of pressure &ill enter. It &ill /e a massi$e /atterin# ram that

&ill destro+ and man#le e$er+thin# in its path. The &alls of the Ocean*?eep units &ill remain /ute$er+thin# inside &ill /e t&isted /e+ond reco#nition. !uman /ein#s &ill /e man#led into shredded tissue

and splintered /one and death &ill /e instantaneous and unfelt. ;$en if I &ere to /urn +ou to death &ith the

laser there &ould /e nothin# left to sho& it had /een done- so I &ont hesitate- +ou see. This manual unit

&ill /e smashed an+&a+ an+thin# I can do &ill /e erased /+ the &ater .

(ut the /eam emitter- the laser #un. ;$en dama#ed- it &ill /e reco#niHa/le- said Annette.We use such thin#s on the oon- rs. (er#en. It is a common tool it is the optical analo#ue of a

0acnife. I could ill +ou &ith a 0acnife- +ou no&- /ut one &ould not deduce that a man carr+in# a

0acnife- or e$en holdin# one &ith the /lade open- &as necessaril+ plannin# murder. !e mi#ht /e&hittlin#. (esides- a oon*made laser is not a pro0ectile #un. It doesnt ha$e to &ithstand .an internal

eCplosion. It is made of thin metal- mechanicall+ &ea. After it is smashed /+ the &aterclap I dou/t that it

&ill mae much sense as an o/0ect.

?emerest did not ha$e to thin to mae these statements. !e had &ored them out &ithin himselfthrou#h months of self*de/ate /ac on the oon.

In fact- he &ent on- ho& &ill the in$esti#ators e$er no& &hat happened in here7 The+ &ill

send scaphes do&n to inspect &hat is left of Ocean*?eep- /ut ho& can the+ #et inside &ithout first

pumpin# the &ater out7 The+ &illin effect- ha$e to /uild a ne& Ocean*?eep and that &ould tae**ho&lon#7 Perhaps- #i$en pu/lic reluctance to &aste mone+- the+ mi#ht ne$er do it at all and content themsel$es

&ith droppin# a laurel &reath on the dead &alls of the dead Ocean*?eep.(er#en said- The men on Luna :it+ &ill no& &hat +ou ha$e done. Surel+ one of them &ill ha$e

a conscience. The truth &ill /e no&n.One truth- said ?emerest- is that I am not a fool. ,o one on Luna :it+ no&s &hat I planned to

do or &ill suspect &hat I ha$e done. The+ sent me do&n here to ne#otiate cooperation on the matter of

financial #rants. I &as to ar#ue and nothin# more. Theres not e$en a laser*/eam emitter missin# up there. I

put this one to#ether m+self out of scrapped parts. ...And it &ors. I$e tested it.Annette said slo&l+- =ou ha$ent thou#ht it throu#h. ?o +ou no& &hat +oure doin#7

I$e thou#ht it throu#h. I no& &hat Im doin#. ...And I no& also that +ou are /oth conscious of

the lit si#nal. Im a&are of it. The air loc is empt+ and times up- Im afraid.


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While the &ater &as /ein# pushed out.

ust let me sa+ this. A minute. A minute( I said +ou didnt no& &hat +ou &ere doin#. =ou dont.

=oure destro+in# the space pro#ram- thespacepro#ram. Theres more to space thanspace(. !er $oice had

#ro&n shrill.?emerest fro&ned. What are +ou talin# a/out7 ae sense- or Ill end it all. Im tired. Im

fri#htened. I &ant it o$er.

Annette said- =oure not in the inner councils of the PP:. ,either is m+ hus/and. (ut I am. ?o

+ou thin /ecause I am a &oman that Im secondar+ here7 Im not. =ou- r. ?emerest- ha$e +our e+esfiCed on Luna :it+ onl+. + hus/and has his fiCed on Ocean*?eep. ,either of +ou no& anything(

Where do +ou eCpect to #o- r. ?emerest- if +ou had all the mone+ +ou &anted7 ars7 The

asteroids7 The satellites of the #as #iants7 These are all small &orlds all dr+ surfaces under a /lan s+. It

ma+ /e #enerations /efore &e are read+ to tr+ for the stars and till then &ed ha$e onl+ p+#m+ real estate.Is that +our am/ition7

+ hus/ands am/ition is no /etter. !e dreams of pushin# mans ha/itat o$er the ocean (oor- a

surface not much lar#er in the last anal+sis than the surface of the oon and the other p+#m+ &orlds. We of

the PP:- on the other hand- &ant more than either of +ou- and if +ou push that /utton- r. ?emerest- the#reatest dream manind has e$er had &ill come to nothin#.

?emerest found himself interested despite himself- /ut he said- =oure 0ust /a//lin#. It &as

possi/le- he ne&- that someho& the+ had &arned others in Ocean*?eep- that an+ moment someone &ould

come to interrupt- someone &ould tr+ to shoot him do&n. !e &as- ho&e$er- starin# at the onl+ openin#-

and he had onl+ to close one contact- &ithout e$en looin#- in a seconds mo$ement.Annette said- Im not /a//lin#. =ou no& it too more than rocet ships to coloniHe the oon.

To mae a successful colon+ possi/le- men had .to /e altered #eneticall+ and ad0usted to lo& #ra$it+. =ou

are a product of such #enetic en#ineerin#.Well 7

And mi#ht not #enetic en#ineerin# also help men to #reater #ra$itational pull7 What is the lar#est

planet of the Solar S+stem- r. ?emerest7

upi**=es- upiter. ;le$en times the diameter of the ;arth fort+ times the diameter of the oon. A

surface a hundred and t&ent+ times that of the ;arth in area siCteen hundred times that of the oon.

:onditions so different from an+thin# &e can encounter an+&here on the &orlds the siHe of ;arth or less

that an+ scientist of an+ persuasion &ould #i$e half his life for a chance to o/ser$e at close ran#e.(ut upiter is an impossi/le tar#et.

Indeed7 said Annette- and e$en mana#ed a faint smile. As impossi/le as fl+in#7 Wh+ is itimpossi/le7 Kenetic en#ineerin# could desi#n men &ith stron#er and denser /ones- stron#er and more

compact muscles. The same principles that enclose Luna :it+ a#ainst the $acuum and Ocean*?eep a#ainstthe sea can also enclose the future upiter*?eep a#ainst its ammoniated surroundin#s.

The #ra$itational field**

:an /e ne#otiated /+ nuclear*po&ered ships that are no& on the dra&in# /oard. =ou dont no&

that /ut I do.Were not e$en sure a/out the depth of the atmosphere. The pressures**

The pressures5 Thepressures5 r. ?emerest- loo a/out +ou. Wh+ do +ou suppose Ocean*?eep

&as really/uilt7 To eCploit the ocean7 The settlements on the continental shelf are doin# that Juite

adeJuatel+. To #ain no&led#e of the deep*sea /ottom7 We could do that /+ scaphe easil+ and &e couldthen ha$e spared the hundred /illion dollars in$ested in Ocean*?eep so far.

?ont +ou see- r. ?emerest- that Ocean*?eep must mean somethin# more than that7 The

purpose of Ocean*?eep is to de$ise the ultimate $essels and mechanisms that &ill suffice to eCplore andcoloniHeJupiter( Loo a/out +ou and see the /e#innin#s of a o$ian en$ironment the closest approach &ecan come to it on ;arth. It is onl+ a faint ima#e of mi#ht+ upiter- /ut its a /e#innin#.

?estro+ this- r. ?emerest- and +ou destro+ an+ hope for upiter. On the other hand- let us li$e

and &e &ill- to#ether- penetrate and settle the /ri#htest 0e&el of the Solar S+stem. And lon# /efore &e can

reach the limits of upiter- &e &ill /e read+ for the stars- for the ;arth*t+pe planets circlin# them- and theupiter*t+pe planets- too. Luna :it+ &ont /e a/andoned /ecause &oth are necessar+ for this ultimate aim.

For the moment- ?emerest had alto#ether for#otten a/out that last /utton. !e said- ,o/od+ on

Luna :it+ has heard of this.

23ou ha$ent. There are those on Luna :it+ &ho no&. If +ou had told them of +our plan of


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destruction- the+ &ould ha$e stopped +ou. ,aturall+- &e cant mae this common no&led#e and onl+ a

fe& people an+&here can no&. The pu/lic supports onl+ &ith difficult+ the planetar+ pro0ects no& in

pro#ress. If the PP: is parsimonious it is /ecause pu/lic opinion limits its #enerosit+. What do +ou suppose

pu/lic opinion &ould sa+ if the+ thou#ht &e &ere aimin# to&ard upiter7 What a super*/oondo##le that&ould /e in their e+es. (ut &e continue and &hat mone+ &e can sa$e and mae use of &e place in the

$arious facets of Pro0ect (i# World.

Pro0ect (i# World7

=es- said Annette. =ou no& no& and I ha$e committed a serious securit+ /reach. (ut itdoesnt matter- does it7 Since &ere all dead and since the pro0ect is- too.

Wait. no&- rs. (er#eh.

If +ou chan#e +our mind no&- dont thin +ou can e$er tal a/out Pro0ect (i# World. That &ould

end the pro0ect 0ust as effecti$el+ as destruction here &ould. And it &ould end /oth +our career and mine. Itmi#ht end Luna :it+ and Ocean*?eep- too**so no& that +ou no&- ma+/e it maes no difference an+&a+.

=ou mi#ht 0ust as &ell push that /utton.

I said &ait** ?emerests /ro& &as furro&ed and his e+es /urned &ith an#uish. I dont no&**

(er#en #athered for the sudden 0ump as ?emerests tense alertness &a$ered into uncertainintrospection- /ut Annette #rasped her hus/ands slee$e.

A timeless inter$al that mi#ht ha$e /een ten seconds lon# follo&ed and then ?emerest held out his

laser. Tae it- he said. Ill consider m+self under arrest.

=ou cant /e arrested- said Annette- &ithout the &hole stor+ comin# out. She too the laser

and #a$e it to (er#en. It &ill /e enou#h that +ou return to Luna :it+ and eep silent. Till then &e &ill eep+ou .under #uard.

(er#en &as at the manual controls. The inner door slid shut and after that there &as the thunderous

&aterclap of the &ater returnin# into the loc.

!us/and and &ife &ere alone a#ain. The+ had not dared sa+ a &ord until ?emerest &as safel+ put

to sleep under the &atchful e+es of t&o men detailed for the purpose. The uneCpected &aterclap had roused

e$er+/od+ and a sharpl+ /o&dleriHed account of the incident had /een #i$en out.The manual controls &ere no& loced off and (er#en said- From this point on- the manuals 3&ill

ha$e to /e ad0usted to fail*safe. And $isitors &ill ha$e to /e searched.

Oh- ohn- said Annette. I thin people are insane. There &e &ere- facin# death for us and for

Ocean*?eep 0ust the end of e$er+thin#. And I ept thinin#*1 must eep calm I mustnt ha$e amiscarria#e.

=ou ept calm all ri#ht. =ou &ere ma#nificent. I mean- Pro0ect (i# World5 I ne$er concei$ed ofsuch a thin#- /ut /+ */+--Jo+e, its an attracti$e thou#ht. Its &onderful.

Im sorr+ I had to sa+ all that- ohn. It &as all a fae- of course. I made it up- ?emerest &antedme to mae somethin# up reall+. !e &asnt a iller or destro+er he &as- accordin# to his o&n o$erheated

li#hts- a patriot- and I suppose he &as tellin# himself he must destro+ in order to sa$e *a common enou#h

$ie& amon# the small*minded. (ut hesaid he &ould #i$e us time to tal him out of it and I thin he &as

pra+in# &e &ould mana#e to do so. !e &anted us to thin of somethin# that &ould #i$e him the eCcuse tosa$e in order to sa$e- and I #a$e it to him. Im sorr+ I had to fool +ou- ohn.

=ou didnt fool me.

I didnt7

!o& could +ou7 I ne& +ou &erent a mem/er of PP:.What made +ou so sure of that7 (ecause Im a &oman7

,ot at all. (ecause10m a mem/er- Annette- and that0s confidential. And- if +ou dont mind- I &ill

/e#in a mo$e to initiate eCactl+ &hat +ou su##ested*Pro0ect (i# World.Well5 Annette considered that and- slo&l+- smiled. Well5 Thats not /ad. Women do ha$e theiruses.

Somethin#- said (er#en- smilin# also- I ha$e ne$er denied.

;d Ferman of" D S" and (arr+ alH/er#- one of the /ri#htest of the ne& #eneration of science fiction

&riters- had it in mind in earl+ 1)'" to prepare an antholo#+ in &hich a num/er of different science fiction

themes &ere carried to their ultimate conclusion. For each stor+ the+ tapped some &riter &ho &asassociated &ith a particular theme- and for a stor+ on the su/0ect of ro/otics- the+ &anted me- naturall+.


31/106

I tried to /e# off &ith m+ usual eCcuses concernin# the state of m+ schedule- /ut the+ said if I

didnt do it there &ould /e no stor+ on ro/otics at all- /ecause the+ &ouldnt as an+one else. That shamed

me into a#reein# to do it.

I then had to thin up a &a+ of reachin# an ultimate conclusion. There had al&a+s /een one aspectof the ro/ot theme I had ne$er had the coura#e to &rite- althou#h the late ohn :amp/ell and I had

sometimes discussed it.

In the first t&o La&s of


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manind. Secondl+- true prosperit+ is impossi/le &ithout ro/ots on ;arth. We at G. S.


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,o- said !arriman- shain# his head $iolentl+. We ha$e /een hampered /+ the $er+ fact that

our ro/ots ha$e /een used onl+ in specialiHed en$ironments out in space- &here the men &ho dealt &ith

them &ere eCperts in their field. There &ere no children- no idiots- no criminals- no &ell*meanin#

i#noramuses present. ;$en so- there &ere occasions &hen dama#e &as done /+ foolish or merel+unthinin# orders. Such dama#e in specialiHed and limited en$ironments could /e contained. On ;arth-

ho&e$er- ro/ots must ha$e 0ud#ment. So those a#ainst ro/ots maintain- and- damn it- the+ are ri#ht.

Then +ou must insert the capacit+ for 0ud#ment into the positronic /rain.

;Cactl+. We ha$e /e#un to reproduce K models in &hich the ro/ot can &ei#h e$er+ human/ein# &ith re#ard to seC- a#e- social and professional position- intelli#ence- maturit+- social responsi/ilit+

and so on.

!o& &ould that affect the Three La&s7

The Third La& not at all. ;$en the most $alua/le ro/ot must destro+ himself for the sae of themost useless human /ein#. That cannot /e tampered &ith. The First La& is affected onl+ &here alternati$e

actions &ill all do harm. The Jualit+ of the human /ein#s in$ol$ed as &ell as the Juantit+ must /e

considered- pro$ided there is time for such 0ud#ment and the /

Documents

Bicentennial Man & Other Stories, The - Isaac Asimov