Emperor

8

As they descended the stairs, Steve glanced over the other travelers seated at the tables. He had no idea what their clothing signified, except that all of the other patrons appeared fairly well-to-do. Certainly none of them were peasants.

Steve found an empty table in the comer. The other patrons had taken tables closer to the fire. In a moment, the innkeeper hurried out to bring them a pot of tea and teacups, pouring for all of them.

“Are all of these people Chinese?” Jane asked. “Or are some of them Mongols?”

“I don’t see any Turks in this group,” Steve said with a grin. “At least I can tell that much.”

“I would say by their clothing that they are all Chinese,” Marcia said quietly. “Here along the border, a lot of genetic mixing has taken place over the years, so you can’t really tell by personal appearance.”

Steve inclined his head toward a couple of men who wore swords in scabbards at their belts. “Soldiers?”

“Yes,” said Marcia. “But they’re Chinese soldiers in the army of the Chinese empire, not Mongols.”

“What about the others?” Hunter asked. “How much can you tell from their appearance?”

“The three men in plain black silk robes are probably government scholars,” said Marcia. “Or the youngest one might still be a student. The men in the colorful silk robes with all the embroidery are most likely rich merchants.”

“I know we’ve talked about it before, but I feel so much safer in this society than I did on our other missions,” said Jane. “Even in a place like this. In Port Royal, an inn like this would have been full of buccaneers ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Here I feel that we can just eat dinner and go to sleep.”

“And those dinosaurs won’t show up to trample us, either.” Steve laughed.

“It fascinates me,” said Marcia. “After so many years studying this era-”

“You just can’t believe you’re really here,” Steve finished for her.

“Well, yes,” Marcia said stiffly, glaring at him. “something wrong with that?”

“Of course not,” said Jane. “It’s just that all the historians we’ve worked with said something like that at one time or another. But I know you mean it.”

“Take this inn for instance,” said Marcia, turning to Jane. “Many Chinese folktales are set at roadside inns just like this one.”

“Really?” Jane asked, sipping her tea.

“Some were fairy tales about ghosts, spirits, and monsters; others told of mysterious disappearances.” Marcia smiled. “I guess these inns weren’t completely safe.”

“The people in those stories didn’t have positronic robots guarding them under the First Law,” said Steve.

Stiff and uncomfortable, Wayne sat in an old, worn saddle on a weary horse, with Ishihara riding behind him on their mount’s bare rump. Their peasant friends had somehow bought the horse for them and the saddle and bridle, as well. They were following Hunter’s team on the road north out of Khanbaliq. When Hunter’s team had first bought their horses, Xiao Li had hidden nearby and watched.

Ishihara had suggested that they let Hunter and his team leave Khanbaliq while they stayed behind to look for MC 5 in the city. However, Wayne had insisted that this kind of logic had ruined his plans before. As soon as Hunter found out that the Polos had not taken the road north, he would come right back. This time, Wayne wanted to sabotage Hunter’s team more thoroughly, but he did not know how yet.

The peasants had volunteered to come with them, wanting to earn the goodwill of the spirits they had befriended. Ishihara would not allow it, feeling that a trip of that length would be too disruptive to the village. Wayne wanted their help, but he understood that arguing with Ishihara over this particular interpretation of the First Law was a waste of time.

In the end, Wayne and Ishihara had hidden with Xiao Li to watch Hunter’s team ride out of the city. After that, Wayne and Ishihara had waited for Hunter’s team to get a head start before following them. They did not want to risk being seen. Ishihara tracked them, instead.

All day on the road, Wayne considered what to do once they caught up to Hunter that night. The best way to distract Hunter had to be to separate him from his human companions up here, far from Khanbaliq. Then both Hunter and his human team would spend their time and energy trying to reunite. That would leave Wayne and Ishihara a clear opportunity to hurry back to Khanbaliq ahead of them and search for MC 5 without Hunter’s interference.

The sunlight in the mountains was fading quickly when they passed a small inn. Ishihara observed that the tracks left by Hunter’s team stopped outside but then continued. He and Wayne rode on and reached a much larger inn as night fell. Overhead, however, a high, bright moon offered light of its own.

Wayne reined in. In a small stable off to one side of the main building, he could see a man grooming a horse by lantern light. Flickering light leaked from cracks around shutters on the windows of the inn.

“Did they stop here?” Wayne asked quietly.

“Yes. With my vision altered to maximum light sensitivity, I can just recognize their horses’ tracks.”

“All right. Now we have to come up with a plan.”

“I suggest we move back down the road a short distance to talk. If Hunter turns up his aural sensitivity, he could conceivably overhear us.”

Without another word, Wayne turned their mount and slowly rode around a bend.

“This is far enough,” said Ishihara. “The wind is slight, but rustles the trees sufficiently to cover our voices from here.”

“Good.”

“Our own horse has slowed considerably,” Ishihara added. “I believe he needs a good night’s rest after this trip carrying both of us.”

“All right. That’s important. It means we can’t just jump on and ride him back to the city tonight.”

“No. I do not believe he can make it.”

“Well…we still have to distract Hunter somehow.”

“I must remind you that I cannot allow any plan that would harm or allow harm to the human members of Hunter’s team.”

“I know, I know,” Wayne said with exaggerated resignation. “Telling me that is hardly necessary. Besides, I don’t want to hurt anybody.”

“Another rider is coming up behind us,” Ishihara whispered. “I hear light hoofbeats. If we are planning a ruse of some kind, perhaps we do not want to be seen here.”

Wayne led their mount into the trees by the side of the road, ducking low under the branches. In the darkness, they did not have to move far to hide themselves. They waited silently. Their horse lowered his head to graze.

Several minutes passed before Wayne heard slow, plodding hoofbeats. Finally the combined silhouette of a small mount and a smaller rider came slowly up the road in the moonlight. Wayne tensed, waiting for the single rider to pass.

“Xiao Li,” Ishihara said loudly. “It is the boy Xiao Li.”

Xiao Li’s shadow jerked in surprise. However, Wayne understood that Ishihara was now worried. They had induced Xiao Li to take an unnecessary risk in following them. Wayne yanked on the reins to pull his horse away from what he was grazing on, and they returned to the road. In the moonlight, Wayne saw that Xiao Li was riding bareback on a donkey, using only a halter and reins.

Ishihara spoke to Xiao Li in Chinese. The boy relaxed, recognizing them. After a moment of conversation, Ishihara switched back to English.

“His relatives pooled their cash from the morning’s market sales,” said Ishihara. “They bought this donkey for him. All the peasants want to help us. They are absolutely trusting that we will take care of Xiao Li.”

“But you told them they couldn’t come with us,” said Wayne. “What happened? Are the others coming?”

“No. Apparently the villagers decided just to send Xiao Li. They told him to help us out with little errands or anything else he can do for us.”

“Well, we’llhave to take care of him, of course. And maybe we can think of a way for him to help, too.”

“I am alarmed by this. I am afraid that we have caused too much change regarding that village already.”

“I don’t see what we can do at the moment,” said Wayne. “We obviously can’t send the him away all alone. And we can’t just turn around and ride all night back to Khanbaliq tonight, either, on this poor horse of ours. Xiao Li will be safest staying with us.”

“Yes, that is true.”

“Look, I may have an idea,” said Wayne. “But I want to ask you some questions to find out if your interpretation of the First Law will make it objectionable.”

“Proceed.”

“All right. Will separating Hunter from his human team members harm them?”

“Not necessarily. Of course, that depends on the circumstances.”

“Not in and of itself.”

“No.”

“Will sending Hunter on a diversionary errand be objectionable, in and of itself?” Wayne asked

“Again, not necessarily.”

“Good. I thought so. Then I instruct you to think up a diversion that will separate Hunter from his team and still be acceptable to you.”

“I do not have a precise plan yet, but I can describe the condition our diversion must meet.”

“All right. What is it?”

“After we distract Hunter and send him away, I must be in a position to watch over his team, so that I can protect those humans, instead of Hunter.”

“Uh, what about me? And Xiao Li?”

“Ideally, you will not be in danger or very far away. But I must know that you are safe, too.”

“Okay. Let’s see what we can come up with. Suppose Xiao Li goes into the inn and tells another story to Hunter. It worked to get them all up here. Maybe we can split them up somehow that way.”

“Hunter has the ability to radio his team for help,” said Ishihara. “We will have to take that into consideration also. What should Xiao Li say?”

“As a roboticist, I think the best way to engage Hunter in action will be to repeat what I attempted before-kidnap one of the members of his team. As a robot, do you agree?”

“Yes,” said Ishihara. “The First Law requires him to take action, and if I am present to prevent harm to the victim, I can accept this.”

“All right. Then, to satisfy you under the First Law, I suggest that you conduct the kidnapping.”

“I must agree to the overall circumstances, as well. What will they be?”

“I’m not sure yet, but we’ll need Xiao Li to speak to Hunter inside the inn…Tell you what-ask the man in the stable to go inside and see if some other guests will come outside. Maybe we can enlist their help.”

Hunter ate lightly at dinner, just enough to maintain his appearance as a human. Since his energy came from the sun, he did not require food. Even after his team finished dinner, they remained at the table, drinking hot tea.

Marcia had been lecturing them on areas of Mongol and Chinese history that were not immediately pertinent. No one else had spoken for some time. Hunter noticed that the hostler came in and requested that the guests at the other tables go outside with him; Hunter supposed that some minor problem with their horses had developed. Since the hostler had not addressed their table, Hunter gave no importance to the matter.

Steve sat with his arms folded, his cup of hot tea on the table in front of him.

“Most people think the Mongols overwhelmed their enemies by sheer numbers,” Marcia was saying. “That’s not true at all. In fact, they were often outnumbered in their military campaigns. They won through speed and efficiency.”

“Nobody cares,” Steve muttered. “And it doesn’t make any difference to our mission.”

“Well, pardon me.” Marcia straightened in her chair. “Perhaps I was mistaken. I thought you might want to learn something for a change.”

Steve rolled his eyes and started to get up.

Hunter heard the front door open and saw Steve suddenly freeze in place. When Hunter turned, he recognized the boy from the market coming inside. The boy glanced around and then shyly walked toward them.

“That’s the same kid, isn’t it?” Steve asked quietly, sitting down again. “I mean, I’m not confusing him with someone else, am I?”

“That’s him,” said Marcia, folding her arms.

“Yes, it is,” said Hunter.

Xiao Li stopped in front of Hunter and bowed politely. He started to speak, but nervously fumbled for words. His face was flushed and he glanced uncomfortably around the table.

“May I help you?” Hunter asked. “I am surprised to see you here, so far from Khanbaliq.”

“My family followed you up here from the city,” Xiao Li said carefully. “They captured the man you wanted.”

“Really? Where are they now?” Jane asked. “Are they outside?”

“They are down the road,” said Xiao Li, turning to address her. “At first we told the man to come with us and he did. Then someone must have said something he did not like, because he tried to run away. My family has grabbed him, but he is much stronger than he looks. I rode up here on my donkey to find you.”

Hunter noticed that the boy’s speech was slow and very mannered, as though he was repeating something he had memorized. That would make sense if the villagers had sent him on ahead with this message. Further, his explanation fit the Laws of Robotics. Initially, if MC 5 had understood he was being ordered to cooperate and come with the villagers, he would have been required to obey. Later, he might have made an interpretation under the First Law from something he saw or heard that gave him the freedom to flee.

“Let’s go,” said Steve, getting up from the table. “We’ll ride down there, grab him, and be done with it.”

Xiao Li’s eyes widened. “I can’t wait for the hostler to prepare your horses. Your friend might escape.” He looked at Hunter with large, hopeful eyes. “Please come right away on my donkey with me. Your friends can ride down after their mounts are saddled.”

“Good idea,” said Hunter, rising also.

“You sure?” Jane asked, as she and Marcia left the table to join him.

“Yeah, what about not splitting up?” Steve grinned as they walked out of the inn with Xiao Li.

“The situation has changed. We are no longer conducting a random search. Now the necessity of apprehending MC 5 while I can is critically important.”

“What about our horses?” Jane asked, as they stepped outside into the chilly darkness. “Are we just going to leave them up here?”

Hunter paused. “No. We will give them as gifts to the villagers. They will not return the horses to the city, I realize, but the horses will be back in the same vicinity.”

“You better go,” said Jane. “We’ll ride right down after you as soon as the horses are ready.”

“Do not bother,” said Hunter. “You will be safer here than riding down this rough mountain road in the moonlight. I will come back with MC 5 and the villagers.”

“Whatever.” Steve shrugged.

“Our mission appears to be nearly complete,” said Hunter. “I suggest that you move up to one of the rooms together and switch on your lapel pins. That way I can communicate with you freely without our being overheard by anyone else.”

“That’s a good idea,” said Steve. “Let’s get this finished and go home.” He turned and went back into the inn with Marcia and Jane.