possibility? How do you eliminate the other part? Better yet, how do you establish a possibility?"
Baley said, "By finding it impossible to eliminate a possibility, a beginning is made at establishing one."
"And if you find it impossible to eliminate the other part of the possibility you mysteriously mentioned?"
Baley shrugged. "Before we waste our time considering that, I must see your daughter."
Fastolfe looked dejected. "Well, Mr. Baley, I did as, you asked me to do and tried to contact her. It was necessary to awaken her."
"You mean she is in part of the planet where it is night? I hadn't thought of that." Baley felt chagrined. "I'm afraid I'm fool enough to imagine I'm on Earth still. In underground Cities, day and night lose their meaning and time tends to be uniform."
"It's not that bad. Eos is the robotics center of Aurora and you'll find few roboticists who live out of it. She was simply sleeping and being awakened did not improve her temper, apparently. She would not speak to me."
"Call again," said Baley urgently.
"I spoke to her secretarial robot and there was an uncomfortable relaying of messages. She made it quite plain she will not speak to me in any fashion. She was a little more flexible with you. The robot announced that she would give you five minutes on her private viewing channel, if you call - Fastolfe consulted the time-strip on the wall in half an hour. She will not see you in person under any conditions."
"The conditions are insufficient and so is the time. I must see her in person for as long as is needed. Did you explain the importance of this, Dr. Fastolfe?"
"I tried. - She is not concerned."
"You are her father. Surely - "
"She is less inclined to bend her decision for my sake than for a randomly chosen stranger. I knew this, so I made use of Giskard."
"Giskard?"
"Oh yes. Giskard is a great favorite of hers. When she was studying robotics at the university, she took the liberty of adjusting some minor aspects of his programming - and nothing makes for a closer relationship with a robot than that - except for Gladia's method, of course. It was almost as though Giskard were Andrew Martin - "
"Who is Andrew Martin?"
"Was, not is," said Fastolfe. "You have never heard of him?"
"Never!"
"How odd! These ancient legends of ours all have Earth as their setting, yet on Earth they are not known. - Andrew Martin was a robot who, gradually, step by step, was supposed to have become humaniform. To be sure, there have been humaniform robots before Daneel, but they were all simple toys, little - more than automatons. Nevertheless, amazing stories are told of the abilities of Andrew Martin - a sure sign of the legendary nature of the tale. There was a woman who was part of the legends who is usually known as Little Miss. The relationship is too complicated to describe now, but I suppose that every little girl on Aurora has daydreamed of being Little Miss and of having Andrew Martin as a robot. Vasilia did and Giskard was her Andrew Martin."
"Well, then?"
"I asked her robot to tell her that you would be accompanied by Giskard. She hasn't seen him in years and I thought that might lure her into agreeing to see you."
"But it didn't, I presume."
"It didn't."
"Then we must think of something else. There must be some way of inducing her to see me."
Fastolfe said, "Perhaps you will think of one. In a few minutes, you will view her on trimensic and you will have. Five minutes to convince her that she ought to see you personally."
"Five minutes! What can I do in five minutes?"
"I don't know. It is better, after all, than nothing."
35
Fifteen minutes later, Baley stood before the trimensional viewing screen, ready to meet Vasilia Fastolfe.
Dr. Fastolfe had left, saying, with a wry smile, that his presence would certainly make his daughter less amenable to persuasion. Nor was Daneel present. Only Giskard remained behind to keep Baley company.
Giskard said, "Dr. Vasilia's trimensic channel is open for reception. Are you ready, sir?"
"As ready as I can be," said Baley grimly. He had refused to sit, feeling he might be more imposing if he were standing. (How imposing could an Earthman be?)
The screen grew bright as the rest of the room dimmed and a woman appeared in rather uncertain focus, at first. She was standing facing him, her right hand resting, on a laboratory bench laden with sets