Abraham Grace Merritt

“ All were one with Narodny in indifference to the world; each with him in his viewpoint on life; and each and all lived in his or her own Eden among the hundred caverns except when it interested them to work with each other. Time meant nothing to them. Their researches and discoveries were solely for their own uses and enjoyments. If they had given them to the outer world they would have only been ammunition for warfare either between men upon Earth or men against some other planet. Why hasten humanity’s suicide? ”

“ Down in the chambers of the screens, Narodny laughed and laughed again. He said: “Lao, is it that we have advanced so in these few years? Or that men have retrogressed? No, it is the curse of mechanization that destroys imagination. For look you, how easy is this problem of the robots. They began as man-made machines. Mathematical, soulless, insensible to any emotion. So was primal matter of which all on earth are made, rock and water, tree and grass, metal, animal, fish, worm, and men. ”

“ On Beauty’s grave a gaunt cat sprawls!
Beside some sage’s stone their lusts are fed—
They stalk each other through the ragged grass;
Snakelike they crawl where heroes long have lain;
With playful paw they pat the mouldering dead. ”

“ Lao, the Chinese, said: “Many men died, but many are left. They may not understand – but to them it was worth it.”
Narodny mused: “It drives home the lesson, what man does not pay for, he values little. Our friends aloft will have little opposition now I think.”
He shook his head, doubtfully, “but I still do not like that Wrongness of Space. I do not want my music spoiled again by him, Lao. Shall we hurl the moon out of the universe, Lao?”
Lao laughed: “And what then would you do for moon-music?”
Narodny said: “True. Well, let us see what men can do. There is always time – perhaps.” ”

“ The metal splintered.
Narodny said: “Well, there is the frequency for the rhythm of our robots. The destructive unison. I hope for the sake of the world outside it is not also the rhythm of many of their buildings and bridges. But after all in any war there must be casualties on both sides.”
Lao said: “Earth will be an extraordinary spectacle for a few days.”
Narodny said: “It’s going to be an extraordinarily uncomfortable earth for a few days, and without doubt many will die and many more go mad. ”

“ Time meant nothing to them because they could live as long as they desired – barring accident. And while there was rock in the world, Narodny could convert it into energy to maintain his Paradise – or to create others. ”

“ Narodny did not hate mechanization. He was indifferent to it. Being truly intelligent he hated nothing. Also he was indifferent to the whole civilization man had developed and into which he had been born. He had no feeling of kinship to humanity. ”

“ Narodny said: “By tomorrow we can amplify the sonor to make it effective in a 3000 mile circle. We will use the upper cavern, of course. Equally of course, it means we must take the ship out again. In three days, Marinoff, you should be able to cover the other continents. See to it that the ship is completely proof against the vibrations. To work. We must act quickly – before the robots can discover how to neutralize them.”
It was exactly at noon next day that over all North America a deep inexplainable droning was heard. It seemed to come not only from deep within earth, but from every side. ”

“ Life established its rhythm – and its rhythm being different in rock and crystal, metal, fish, and so on, and man, we have these varying things.
“Well, it seems that life has begun to establish its rhythm in the robots. Consciousness has touched them. ”

“ They will see to it that we are destroyed before we can give our message and our warning to the world. They control the governments – or at least control them sufficiently to seize us upon landing. And if we should escape and gather men around us, then it means civil war and that in turn means fatal delay in the building of the space fleet – even if we should win. ”

“ Martin said: “Whoever you are, wherever you are, we trust you. Here is the story—“
For fifteen minutes Narodny and the Chinese listened to the tale, from the reception of the mysterious message, through the struggle against the robots, to the escape and to the blasting of Copernicus in the effort of the Wrongness of Space to prevent the return of the planetary delegates.
Narodny said: “Enough. Now I understand. How long can you remain in space? I mean – what are your margins of power and food?” ”

“ Martin said: “We must land safely – escape the robots – find some way to control or destroy them. God, Tarvish – you saw what that devil they call the Wrongness of Space can do. He threw the side of the crater out of our dimension as a boy would throw a stone into a pond!”
Bartholomew said: “He could take the Earth and break it up piecemeal—“
Narodny and Lao looked at each other. Narodny said: “That is enough. We know.” The Chinese nodded. Narodny said: “I estimated that they would reach earth in four hours.” Again Lao nodded. Narodny said: “We will talk to them, Lao ”

“ It mounted rapidly through a tempest of tingling crystalline notes into a shrill piping and was gone... then back it rushed from piping to the drone... then up and out and down... again and again. And all over North America the hordes of robots stopped in whatever they were doing. ”

“ They adjusted it, and upon it appeared the moon, rapidly growing larger as though it were hurtling toward them. Then upon the screen appeared a space ship speeding earthward. They focused upon it, and opened it to their vision; searching it until they came to the control room where were Bartholomew, James Tarvish and Martin, their gaze upon the Earth rapidly and more rapidly expanding in the heavens. Narodny and the Chinese watched them, reading their lips. Tarvish said, “Where can we land, Martin? The robots will be watching for us everywhere. ”

“ In the airship half a dozen other men slumped to the floor, smiled, and died.
There were a full score of robots in the ship. They stood, looking at the dead men and at each other. Out of the tunnel came two figures swathed in metallic glimmering robes. They entered the ship. One said: “Robots, assemble.”
The metal men stood, motionless. Then one sent out a shrill call. From all parts of the ship the metal men moved. ”

“ They have established the idea of common identity – group consciousness. That in itself involved emotions. But they have gone further. They have attained the instinct of self-preservation. And that, my wise friend, connates fear – fear of extinction. ”

“ The robots, in short, have become emotional to a degree. And therefore vulnerable to whatever may amplify and control their emotions. They are no longer mechanisms.
“So, Lao, I have in mind an experiment that will provide me study and amusement through many years. Originally, the robots are the children of mathematics. I ask – to what is mathematics most closely related. I answer – to rhythm – to sound – to sounds which will raise to the nth degree the rhythms to which they will respond. Both mathematically and emotionally.”
Lao said: “The sonic sequences?”
Narodny answered: “Exactly. ”