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.I thought about it andrealized I couldn t just walk away.It s true that I don t know who I am.Evenso, I know that s not the kind of person I want to be. There was a studied silence, which Derec finally broke. Part friends? Her eyes flicked upward and her gaze met his. No, she said, shaking herhead. Because if you re staying, I m staying, too. It was his turn to protest. You don t have to do that.They re my causes, notyours.This is a safe world.I ll be fine alone. You don t like my company? He shrugged. We get on all right. Then are you trying to tell me that this is something a girl can t handle orshouldn t worry her head about? Of course not. Then it s okay if I stay just because I want to? Derec surrendered. Sure. Then let s go tell Euler and Rydberg. After you, he said, bowing with a flourish of his hand.Wearing a contented smile, Katherine led the way back to the office.As thedoor opened, she turned and whispered back over her shoulder. Just tell methis when do our lives turn normal again? Derec laughed aloud, startling the robots. Maybe never, Katherine, he said. Why are you complaining? You said your life was dull, didn t you? Dull isn t so bad, she said wistfully. Dull has its good points. Chuckling to himself, Derec picked out a chair and settled in it as thoughPage 116 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlplanning to stay for a while. We ll do what we can to help, he said toRydberg. Tell us the story.Who re the suspects? But the robot s dispassionate answer erased the smiles from both their facesso thoroughly it was as though they had never been there.Like a bitteraftertaste to a sweet drink, it stole all the pleasure that had come before. Yes, David Derec, Rydberg said. There are two suspects.Yourself andKatherine Burgess.We are most curious to learn which of you committed theact, and why. file:///D|/Isaac%20Asimov/Asimov,%20Isaac%20-%20Robot%20City%201%20-%20Odyssey.txt (89 of 91) [2/9/03 10:57:11 AM]file:///D|/Isaac%20Asimov/Asimov,%20Isaac%20-%20Robot%20City%201%20-%20Odyssey.txtDATA BANKIllustrations by Paul RivocheDerec: An amnesiac who awakens inside a Massey survival pod, marooned on anasteroid composed of ice, his past and identity are total mysteries to him.Despite his amnesia, his intelligence remains unaffected, and he knows a greatdeal about robotics.He has adopted the name found in his clothing, apparentlythe name of the manufacturer.ARANIMAS: Like all Erani, he is ambitious, aggressive, inventive andacquisitive.The Erani are the dominant species in their solar system andtreat all other races as their servants and inferiors, including humans, whomthey have only recently encountered.Aranimas is the youngest member of one of the larger, more powerful Eraniclans, which are organized into trading groups.Aranimas is a perfect exemplarof one of his race s most important traits: he is a technical genius.Heinvented the hyperdrive that powers his patched-together mega-vessel.Due to the politics of Erani, he didn t share his invention with otherErani clans, or even within his own clan.He kept it to himself in hopes ofenriching his trading house and enhancing his personal prestige.Aranimas isalso a gifted astronomer.His invention of a special long-range telescopehelped him discover the asteroid where he encountered Derec.Physically, Erani are tall and slender with pale, hairless skin.Their eyesare large, set in the sides of their heads, and are capable of independentfunctioning, like a chameleon s.Their voices are high-pitched, and whenspeaking Galactic Standard they trill their r s.CARGO PORTER ROBOT: There are various classes of non-supervisor robotswithin the asteroid community.The one shown here is the basic porter, alarge, wheeled robot with a forward cargo platform and articulated loadingarms.Their intelligence is limited and non-positronic.AUGMENTED WORKSUIT: This is a self-contained field-reparable hardsuit forhumans working in hostile environments.The suit sports high-intensityworklamps and a radio equipped with an omnidirectional antenna.The suitsystems are completely computerized and include diagnostic computers foron-the-spot trouble-shooting and field repairs.The name derives from the fact that the suit augments the worker s movements.In addition to greatly amplifying human strength, the suits are extremelyflexible.They carry extra hands for the tips of the extensors, which arestored in re-sealable pockets on the thighs of the suit.The basic hands are multi-purpose grapples, but the suit also comes equipped with illuminatedmicro-manipulators, for fine work in darkness, and laser spot-welders, amongothers.THE KEYS TO PERIHELION: The Keys are transport devices capable of transportingthe user toPerihelion, the place nearest all other places in the universe.Keys aremetallic silver in color, mirror-smooth and seamless.They are operated bypressing each of the four corners, one after another, which makes thePage 117 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmloperating button appear in the last corner touched.When used properly, theKey will first transport the user to Perihelion, then to the selecteddestination.Rather than being preprogrammed for different species, the Keys are initialized when first used, and thereafter will only work for that type oforganism, although it is possible to reset a key to an uninitialized state.The Keys can be used by any species, even robots, so robots don t needa robot specific Key.BREATHER: These masks are made of gray plastic and designed to fit over themiddle third of the face, like a pair of wraparound sunglasses.The breathersstraps are hollow elastic tubes that meet behind the neck.A flexible gasdelivery tube leads from the back of the neck to the cartridge pack, which issmall enough to strap to the upper arm.The bottom edge of this particularstyle of mask does not fit flush with the wearer s upper lip, creating animperfect seal that allows outside atmosphere to mix with the pure oxygen flowproduced by the cartridges.This arrangement not only reduces the size of the cartridge pack, but leavesthe wearer s sense of smell unimpeded.MASSEY G-85 SURVIVAL POD: This is a limited-duration, self-contained emergencysurvival pod equipped with a positronic companion.file:///D|/Isaac%20Asimov/Asimov,%20Isaac%20-%20Robot%20City%201%20-%20Odyssey.txt (90 of 91) [2/9/03 10:57:11 AM]file:///D|/Isaac%20Asimov/Asimov,%20Isaac%20-%20Robot%20City%201%20-%20Odyssey.txtThe G-85 provides a complete environment for stranded survivors, includingfood, water, oxygen, a viewing screen, and entertainment facilities
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