The Hard Way Up - A. Bertram Chandler [71]
"I'll not forget, sir," Grimes informed him.
He was, in fact, looking forward to it. He enjoyed the sailing excursions in stout little wooden ships as much as any Skandian, already had proved himself capable of handling a schooner under a full press of canvas quite competently, and was realizing that seamanship and spacemanship, the skilled balancing of physical forces, have much in common.
He sat down again when Andersen had left the almost deserted wardroom, then saw Hollister coming towards him. The telepath said in a low voice, "I'm afraid you'll not be taking that sail, Captain."
Grimes was going to make some cutting remark about psionic snooping, then thought better of it. He asked, "Why not, Mr. Hollister?"
The psionic communications officer grinned wryly. "Yes, I've been snooping, Captain. I admit it. But not only on you. Not that it was really snooping. I've maintained contact of a sort with John . . ."
"The tin telepath . . ."
"You can call him that. He's very lonely in the Palace, and he's going to be lonelier . . ."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"She has been getting on very well with the King. She has persuaded him to release us, even though the Council of Earls is not altogether in approval. We should get the word this afternoon, and we shall be on our way shortly afterwards. Adder is completely space worthy."
" I know. Captain Andersen's as good as told me. But why is John so lonely that he's spilling all these beans to you?"
"She wanted to make a farewell gift to His Majesty—and he, it seems, has always wanted a robot valet. Humanoid robots are not manufactured on Skandia, as you know."
"And so John's been sold down the river. My heart fair bleeds for him."
"No, Captain. Not John—James. John's 'brother.' They think of each other as brothers. They feel affection, a real affection, for each other . . ."
"Incredible."
"Is it, Captain? I've heard about the Mr. Adam affair, and how a mere machine was loyal to you."
"Then not so incredible . . ."
One of the wall speakers crackled into life. "Will Lieutenant Grimes, captain of the Federation Survey Service Courier Adder, please come at once to telephone booth 14? Will Lieutenant Grimes, captain of the Federation Survey Service Courier Adder, please come at once to telephone booth 14?"
"Coming," grumbled Grimes. "Coming."
He was not surprised to see Andersen's face in the little screen, to hear him say, "Orders from the Palace, Lieutenant. You're to get your show on the road at 1500 hours Local. Mrs. Dalwood will board at 1430. You, your officers, and Miss Rosaleen Boyle will board at 1330. You will find all in order, all in readiness."
"Thank you, Captain."
Andersen grinned. "Don't thank me. Thank His Majesty—or Commissioner Dalwood."
Grimes returned to the table where he had left Hollister. He said, "You were right."
"Of course I was right. And now, if I may, I'll give you a warning."
"Go ahead."
"Watch John. Watch him very carefully. He's bitter, revengeful."
"Are you in touch with him now?"
"Yes." The telepath's face had the faraway expression that made it obvious that he was engaged in conversation with a distant entity. Suddenly he smiled. "It's all right. He has assured me that even though he feels that Mrs. Dalwood has betrayed him and his brother he is quite incapable of physically harming any human being. The built-in safeguards are too strong for him to overcome."
"Then that's all right." Grimes knew that he should be worrying nonetheless, but the Commissioner was a big girl and could look after herself. And how could the robot harm her in any way but physically? "You've been snooping in its—his—mind, so you know how he ticks."
"Yes, Captain."
Grimes strode to the reception desk and asked the attractive, blonde petty officer to have Adder's crew paged.
Mrs. Dalwood looked well. She was softer, somehow, and she seemed to have put on a little weight!—although not as much as