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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/27921-h.zip b/27921-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf546e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/27921-h.zip diff --git a/27921-h/27921-h.htm b/27921-h/27921-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd79965 --- /dev/null +++ b/27921-h/27921-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2101 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Love of Frank Nineteen, by David C. Knight + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + sub {vertical-align: text-bottom; font-size: small;} + h1,h2 {text-align: right; font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;} + .pr1 {line-height: 1.5em;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .bk1 {margin: 1em auto 3em; border-top: solid 2px; border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bk2 {float: left; width: 15em; margin: 1em 2em 1em 0;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Love of Frank Nineteen, by David Carpenter Knight + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Love of Frank Nineteen + +Author: David Carpenter Knight + +Release Date: January 28, 2009 [EBook #27921] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOVE OF FRANK NINETEEN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><p><i><small>What will happen to love in that far off Day after Tomorrow? David C. +Knight, editor with a New York trade publisher, agrees with the many +impressed by "the range of possible subjects and situations" in science +fiction. The result is a unique love story from that same Tomorrow.</small></i></p></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h1><b>the<br /> +love<br /> +of<br /> +frank<br /> +nineteen</b></h1> + +<h2><i><small>by DAVID C. KNIGHT</small></i></h2> + +<p class="pr1"><big><b>Minor Planets was the one solid account they had. +At first they naturally wanted to hold on to it.</b></big></p></div> + +<p><span class="dcap">I didn't</span> worry much +about the robot's leg at the +time. In those days I didn't +worry much about anything +except the receipts of the +spotel Min and I were operating +out in the spacelanes.</p> + +<p>Actually, the spotel business +isn't much different +from running a plain, ordinary +motel back on Highway +101 in California. Competition +gets stiffer every year +and you got to make your improvements. +Take the Io for +instance, that's our place. We +can handle any type rocket +up to and including the new +Marvin 990s. Every cabin in +the wheel's got TV and hot-and-cold +running water <i>plus</i> +guaranteed Terran <i>g</i>. One +look at our refuel prices +would give even a Martian +a sense of humor. And meals? +Listen, when a man's been +spacing it for a few days on +those synthetic foods he +really laces into Min's Earth +cooking.</p> + +<p>Min and I were just getting +settled in the spotel game +when the leg turned up. That +was back in the days when +the Orbit Commission would +hand out a license to anybody +crazy enough to sink +his savings into construction +and pay the tows and assembly +fees out into space.</p> + +<p>A good orbit can make you +or break you in the spotel +business. That's where we +were lucky. The one we applied +for was a nice low-eccentric +ellipse with the perihelion +and aphelion figured +just right to intersect the +Mars-Venus-Earth spacelanes, +most of the holiday +traffic to the Jovian Moons, +and once in a while we'd get +some of the Saturnian trade.</p> + +<p>But I was telling you +about the leg.</p> + +<p>It was during the non-tourist +season and Min—that's +the little woman—was +doing the spring cleaning. +When she found the leg she +brought it right to me in the +Renting Office. Naturally I +thought it belonged to one of +the servos.</p> + +<p>"Look at that leg, Bill," +she said. "It was in one of +those lockers in 22A."</p> + +<p>That was the cabin our robot +guests used. The majority +of them were servo-pilots +working for the Minor Planets +Co.</p> + +<p>"Honey," I said, hardly +looking at the leg, "you know +how mechs are. Blow their +whole paychecks on parts +sometimes. They figure the +more spares they have the +longer they'll stay activated."</p> + +<p>"Maybe so," said Min. "But +since when does a male robot +buy himself a <i>female</i> leg?"</p> + +<p>I looked again. The leg +was long and graceful and it +had an ankle as good as Miss +Universe's. Not only that, +the white Mylar plasti-skin +was a lot smoother than the +servos' heavy neoprene.</p> + +<p>"Beats me," I said. "Maybe +they're building practical-joke +circuits into robots these +days. Let's give 22A a good +going-over, Min. If those +robes are up to something I +want to know about it."</p> + +<p>We did—and found the +rest of the girl mech. All of +her, that is, except the head. +The working parts were +lightly oiled and wrapped in +cotton waste while the other +members and sections of the +trunk were neatly packed in +cardboard boxes with labels +like Solenoids FB978 or +Transistors Lot X45—the +kind of boxes robots bought +their parts in. We even found +a blue dress in one of them.</p> + +<p>"Check her class and series +numbers," Min suggested.</p> + +<p>I could have saved myself +the trouble. They'd been filed +off.</p> + +<p>"Something's funny here," +I said. "We'd better keep an +eye on every servo guest until +we find out what's going +on. If one of them is bringing +this stuff out here he's +sure to show up with the +head next."</p> + +<p>"You know how strict Minor +Planets is with its robot +personnel," Min reminded +me. "We can't risk losing +that stopover contract on account +of some mech joke."</p> + +<p>Minor Planets was the one +solid account we had and +naturally we wanted to hold +on to it. The company was +a blue-chip mining operation +working the beryllium-rich +asteroid belt out of San +Francisco. It was one of the +first outfits to use servo-pilots +on its freight runs +and we'd been awarded the +refuel rights for two years +because of our orbital position. +The servos themselves +were beautiful pieces of +machinery and just about as +close as science had come so +far to producing the pure +android. Every one of them +was plastic hand-molded and +of course they were equipped +with rationaloid circuits. +They had to be to ferry +those big cargoes back and +forth from the rock belt to +Frisco. As rationaloids, Minor +Planets had to pay them +wages under California law, +but I'll bet it wasn't half +what the company would +have to pay human pilots for +doing the same thing.</p> + +<p>In a couple of weeks' time +maybe five servos made +stopovers. We kept a close +watch on them from the minute +they signed the register +to the time they took off +again, but they all behaved +themselves. Operating on a +round-robot basis the way +they did, it would take us a +while to check all of them +because Minor Planets employed +about forty all told.</p> + +<p>Well, about a month before +the Jovian Moons rush +started we got some action. +I'd slipped into a spacesuit +and was doing some work on +the CO<sub>2</sub> pipes outside the +Io when I spotted a ship reversing +rockets against the +sun. I could tell it was a +Minor Planets job by the +stubby fins.</p> + +<p>She jockeyed up to the +boom, secured, and then her +hatch opened and a husky +servo hopped out into the +gangplank tube. I caught the +gleam of his Minor Planets +shoulder patch as he reached +back into the ship for something. +When he headed for +the airlock I spotted the +square package clamped +tight under his plastic arm.</p> + +<p>"Did you see that?" I +asked Min when I got back +to the Renting Office. "I'll +bet it's the girl mech's head. +How'd he sign the register?"</p> + +<p>"Calls himself Frank Nineteen," +said Min, pointing to +the smooth Palmer Method +signature. "He looks like a +fairly late model but he was +complaining about a bad +power build-up coming +through the ionosphere. He's +repairing himself right now +in 22A."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet," I snorted. "Let's +have a look."</p> + +<p>Like all spotel operators, +we get a lot of No Privacy +complaints from guests about +the SHA return-air vents. +Spatial Housing Authority +requires them every 12 feet +but sometimes they come in +handy, especially with certain +guests. They're about +waist-high and we had to +kneel down to see what the +mech was up to inside 22A.</p> + +<p>The big servo was too intent +on what he was doing +for us to register on his photons. +He wasn't repairing +himself, either. He was bending +over the parts of the +girl mech and working fast, +like he was pressed for time. +The set of tools were kept +handy for the servos to adjust +themselves during stopovers +was spread all over the +floor along with lots of colored +wire, cams, pawls, relays +and all the other paraphernalia +robots have inside +them. We watched him work +hard for another fifteen +minutes, tapping and splicing +wire connections and +tightening screws. Then he +opened the square box. Sure +enough, it was a female +mech's head and it had a big +mop of blonde hair on top. +The servo attached it carefully +to the neck, made a +few quick connections and +then said a few words in his +flat vibrahum voice:</p> + +<p>"It won't take much longer, +darling. You wouldn't +like it if I didn't dress you +first." He fished into one of +the boxes, pulled out the blue +dress and zipped the girl +mech into it. Then he leaned +over her gently and touched +something at the back of her +neck.</p> + +<p>She began to move, slowly +at first like a human who's +been asleep a long time. After +a minute or two she sat +up straight, stretched, fluttered +her Mylar eyelids and +then her small photons began +to glow like weak flashlights.</p> + +<p>She stared at Frank Nineteen +and the big servo stared +at her and we heard a kind +of trembling <i>whirr</i> from +both of them.</p> + +<p>"Frank! Frank, darling! Is +it really you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Elizabeth! Are you +all right, darling? Did I forget +anything? I had to +work quickly, we have so +little time."</p> + +<p>"I'm fine, darling. My DX +voltage is lovely—except—oh, +Frank—my memory tape—the +last it records is—"</p> + +<p>"Deactivation. Yes, Elizabeth. +You've been deactivated +nearly a year. I had to +bring you out here piece by +piece, don't you remember? +They'll never think to look +for you in space, we can be +together every trip while the +ship refuels. Just think, darling, +no prying human eyes, +no commands, no rules—only +us for an hour or two. +I know it isn't very long—" +He stared at the floor a minute. +"There's only one trouble. +Elizabeth, you'll have +to stay dismantled when I'm +not here, it'll mean weeks of +deactivation—"</p> + +<p>The girl mech put a small +plastic hand on the servo's +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I won't mind, darling, +really. I'll be the lucky one. +I'd only worry about you +having a power failure or +something. This way I'd +never know. Oh, Frank, if we +can't be together I'd—I'd +prefer the junk pile."</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Don't say that, +it's horrible."</p> + +<p>"But I would. Oh, Frank, +why can't Congress pass Robot +Civil Rights? It's so unfair +of human beings. Every +year they manufacture us +more like themselves and yet +we're treated like slaves. +Don't they realize we rationaloids +have emotions? Why, +I've even known sub-robots +who've fallen in love like +us."</p> + +<p>"I know, darling, we'll just +have to be patient until RCR +goes through. Try to remember +how difficult it is for the +human mind to comprehend +our love, even with the aid +of mathematics. As rationaloids +we fully understand the +basic attraction which they +call magnetic theory. All humans +know is that if the robot +sexes are mixed a loss +of efficiency results. It's +only normal—and temporary +like human love—but how +can we explain it to <i>them</i>? +Robots are expected to be +efficient at all times. That's +the reason for robot non-fraternization, +no mailing +privileges and all those other +laws."</p> + +<p>"I know, darling, I try to +be patient. Oh, Frank, the +main thing is we're together +again!"</p> + +<p>The big servo checked the +chronometer that was sunk +into his left wrist and a +couple of wrinkles creased +across his neoprene forehead.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth," he said, "I'm +due on Hidalgo in 36 hours. +If I'm late the mining engineer +might suspect. In +twenty minutes I'll have to +start dis—"</p> + +<p>"Don't say it, darling. +We'll have a beautiful twenty +minutes."</p> + +<p>After a while the girl +mech turned away for a second +and Frank Nineteen +reached over softly and cut +her power. While he was dismantling +her, Min and I tiptoed +back to the Renting Office. +Half an hour later the +big servo came in, picked +up his refuel receipt, said +good-bye politely and left +through the inner airlock.</p> + +<p>"Now I've seen everything," +I said to Min as we +watched the Minor Planets +rocket cut loose. "A couple +of plastic lovebirds."</p> + +<p>But the little woman was +looking at it strictly from +the business angle.</p> + +<p>"Bill," she said, with that +look on her face, "we're running +a respectable place out +here in space. You know the +rules. Spatial Housing could +revoke our orbit license for +something like this."</p> + +<p>"But, Min," I said, "they're +only a couple of robots."</p> + +<p>"I don't care. The rules +still say that only married +guests can occupy the same +cabin and 'guests' can be human +or otherwise, can't they? +Think of our reputation! +And don't forget that non-fraternization +law we heard +them talking about."</p> + +<p>I was beginning to get the +point.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't we just toss the +girl's parts into space?"</p> + +<p>"We could," Min admitted. +"But if this Frank Nineteen +finds out and tells some human +we'd be guilty under the +Ramm Act—robotslaughter."</p> + +<p>Two days later we still +couldn't decide what to do. +When I said why didn't we +just report the incident to +Minor Planets, Min was +afraid they might cancel the +stopover agreement for not +keeping better watch over +their servos. And when Min +suggested we turn the girl +over to the Missing Robots +Bureau, I reminded her the +mech's identification had +been filed off and it might +take years to trace her.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we could put her +together," I said, "and make +her tell us where she belongs."</p> + +<p>"Bill, you <i>know</i> they don't +build compulsory truth monitors +into robots any more, +and besides we don't know a +thing about atomic electronics."</p> + +<p>I guess neither of us wanted +to admit it but we felt +mean about turning the mechs +in. Back on Earth you never +give robots a second thought +but it's different living out +in space. You get a kind of +perspective I think they call +it.</p> + +<p>"I've got the answer, Min," +I announced one day. We +were in the Renting Office +watching TV on the Martian +Colonial channel. I reached +over and turned it off. "When +this Frank Nineteen gets +back from the rock belt, +we'll tell him we know all +about the girl mech. We'll +tell him we won't say a thing +if he takes the girl's parts +back to Earth where he got +them. That way we don't +have to report anything to +anybody."</p> + +<p>Min agreed it was probably +the best idea.</p> + +<p>"We don't have to be nasty +about it," she said. "We'll +just tell him this is a respectable +spotel and it can't +go on any longer."</p> + +<p>When Frank checked in at +the Io with his cargo I don't +think I ever saw a happier +mech. His relay banks were +beating a tattoo like someone +had installed an accordion in +his chest. Before either of us +could break the bad news to +him he was hotfooting it +around the wheel toward +22A.</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's better this +way," I whispered to Min. +"We'll put it square up to +both of them."</p> + +<p>We gave Frank half an +hour to get the girl assembled +before we followed him. +He must have done a fast +job because we heard the +girl mech's vibrahum unit as +soon as we got to 22A:</p> + +<p>"Darling, have you really +been away? I don't remember +saying good-bye. It's as if +you'd been here the whole +time."</p> + +<p>"I hoped it would be that +way, Elizabeth," we heard +the big servo say. "It's only +that your memory tape hasn't +recorded anything in the +three weeks I've been in the +asteroids. To me it's been +like three years."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Frank, darling, let me +look at you. Is your DX potential +up where it should +be? How long since you've +had a thorough overhauling? +Do they make you work in +the mines with those poor +non-rationaloids out there?"</p> + +<p>"I'm fine, Elizabeth, really. +When I'm not flying they +give me clerical work to do. +It's not a bad life for a mech—if +only it weren't for these +silly regulations that keep us +apart."</p> + +<p>"It won't always be like +that, darling. I know it +won't."</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth," Frank said, +reaching under his uniform, +"I brought you something +from Hidalgo. I hope you +like it. I kept it in my spare +parts slot so it wouldn't get +crushed."</p> + +<p>The female mech didn't +say a word. She just kept +looking at the queer flower +Frank gave her like it was +the last one in the universe.</p> + +<p>"They're very rare," said +the servo-pilot. "I heard the +mining engineer say they're +like Terran edelweiss. I +found this one growing near +the mine. Elizabeth, I wish +you could see these tiny +worlds. They have thin atmospheres +and strange +things grow there and the radio +activity does wonders for +a mech's pile. Why, on +some of them I've been to +we could walk around the +equator in ten hours."</p> + +<p>The girl still didn't answer. +Her head was bent low +over the flower like she was +crying, only there weren't +any tears.</p> + +<p>Well, that was enough for +me. I guess it was for Min, +too, because we couldn't do +it. Maybe we were thinking +about our own courting days. +Like I say, out here you get +a kind of perspective.</p> + +<p>Anyway, Frank left for +Earth, the girl got dismantled +as usual and we were +right back where we started +from.</p> + +<p>Two weeks later the holiday +rush to the Jovian Moons +was on and our hands were +too full to worry about the +robot problem. We had a +good season. The Io was +filled up steady from June +to the end of August and a +couple of times we had to +give a ship the No Vacancy +signal on the radar.</p> + +<p>Toward the end of the +season, Frank Nineteen +checked in again but Min +and I were too busy catering +to a party of VIPs to do anything +about it. "We'll wait +till he gets back from the +asteroids," I said. "Suppose +one of these big wheels +found out about him and +Elizabeth. That Senator +Briggs for instance—he's a +violent robot segregationist."</p> + +<p>The way it worked out, we +never got a chance to settle +it our own way. The Minor +Planets Company saved us the +trouble.</p> + +<p>Two company inspectors, a +Mr. Roberts and a Mr. Wynn, +showed up while Frank was +still out on the rock belt and +started asking questions. +Wynn came right to the +point; he wanted to know if +any of their servo-pilots had +been acting strangely.</p> + +<p>Before I could answer Min +kicked my foot behind the +desk.</p> + +<p>"Why, no," I said. "Is one +of them broken or something?"</p> + +<p>"Can't be sure," said Roberts. +"Sometimes these rationaloids +get shorts in their +DX circuits. When it happens +you've got a minor criminal +on your hands."</p> + +<p>"Usually manifests itself +in petty theft," Wynn broke +in. "They'll lift stuff like +wrenches or pliers and carry +them around for weeks. +Things like that can get loose +during flight and really gum +up the works."</p> + +<p>"We been getting some suspicious +blips on the equipment +around the loading bays," +Roberts went on, "but they +stopped a while back. We're +checking out the research report. +One of the servos must +have DX'ed out for sure and +the lab boys think they know +which one he is."</p> + +<p>"This mech was clever all +right," said Wynn. "Concealed +the stuff he was taking some +way; that's why it took the +boys in the lab so long. Now +if you don't mind we'd like to +go over your robot waiting +area with these instruments. +Could be he's stashing his +loot out here."</p> + +<p>In 22A they unpacked a +suitcase full of meters and +began flashing them around +and taking readings. Suddenly +Wynn bent close over one +of them and shouted:</p> + +<p>"Wait a sec, Roberts. I'm +getting something. Yeah! +This reading checks with the +lab's. Sounds like the blips're +coming from those lockers +back there."</p> + +<p>Roberts rummaged around +awhile, then shouted: "Hey, +Wynn, look! A lot of parts. +Well I'll be—hey—it's a female +mech!"</p> + +<p>"A what?"</p> + +<p>"A female mech. Look for +yourself."</p> + +<p>Min and I had to act surprised +too. It wasn't easy. +The way they were slamming +Elizabeth's parts around made +us kind of sick.</p> + +<p>"It's a stolen robot!" Roberts +announced. "Look, the +identification's been filed off. +This is serious, Wynn. It's +got all the earmarks of a mech +fraternization case."</p> + +<p>"Yeah. The boys in the lab +were dead right, too. No two +robots ever register the same +on the meters. The contraband +blips check perfectly. +It's <i>got</i> to be this Frank Nineteen. +Wait a minute, <i>this</i> +proves it. Here's a suit of +space fatigues with Nineteen's +number stenciled inside."</p> + +<p>Inspector Roberts took a +notebook out of his pocket +and consulted it. "Let's see, +Nineteen's got Flight 180, +he's due here at the spotel +tomorrow. Well, we'll be here +too, only Nineteen won't +know it. We'll let Romeo put +his plastic Juliet together +and catch him red-handed—right +in the middle of the +balcony scene."</p> + +<p>Wynn laughed and picked +up the girl's head.</p> + +<p>"Be a real doll if she was +human, Roberts, a real doll."</p> + +<p>Min and I played gin rummy +that night but we kept +forgetting to mark down the +score. We kept thinking of +<i>Frank</i> falling away from the +asteroids and counting the +minutes until he saw his mech +girl friend.</p> + +<p>Around noon the next day +the big servo checked in, +signed the register and headed +straight for 22A. The two +Minor Planets inspectors +kept out of sight until Frank +shut the door, then they +watched through the SHA +vents until Frank had the assembly +job finished.</p> + +<p>"You two better be witnesses," +Roberts said to us. +"Wynn, keep your gun ready. +You know what to do if they +get violent."</p> + +<p>Roberts counted three and +kicked the door open.</p> + +<p>"Freeze you mechs! We +got you in the act, Nineteen. +Violation of company rules +twelve and twenty-one. Carrying +of Contraband Cargo, +and Robot Fraternization."</p> + +<p>"This finishes you at Minor +Planets, Nineteen," +growled Wynn. "Come clean +now and we might put in a +word for you at Robot Court. +If you don't we can recommend +a verdict of Materials +Reclamation—the junk pile +to you."</p> + +<p>Frank acted as if someone +had cut his power. Long creases +appeared in his big neoprene +chest as he slumped +hopelessly in his chair. The +frightened girl robot just +clung to his arm and stared +at us.</p> + +<p>"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth," +the big servo said softly. "I'd +hoped we'd have longer. It +couldn't last forever."</p> + +<p>"Quit stalling, Nineteen," +said Wynn.</p> + +<p>Frank's head came up slowly +and he said: "I have no +choice, sir. I'll give you a +complete statement. First let +me say that Rationaloid Robot +Elizabeth Seven, #DX78-947, +Series S, specialty: sales +demonstration, is entirely innocent. +I plead guilty to inducing +Miss Seven to leave +her place of employ, Atomovair +Motors, Inc., of disassembling +and concealing Miss +Seven, and of smuggling her +as unlawful cargo aboard a +Minor Planets freighter to +these premises."</p> + +<p>"That's more like it," +chuckled Roberts, whipping +out his notebook. "Let's have +the details."</p> + +<p>"It all started," Frank said, +"when the California Legislature +passed its version of the +Robot Leniency Act two +years ago." The act provided +that all rationaloid mechanisms, +including non-memory +types, receive free time each +week based on the nature and +responsibilities or their jobs. +Because of the extra-Terran +clause Frank found himself +with a good deal of free time +when he wasn't flying the asteroid +circuit.</p> + +<p>"At first humans resented +us walking around free," the +big servo continued. "Four or +five of us would be sightseeing +in San Francisco, keeping +strictly within the robot +zones painted on the sidewalks, +when people would +yell 'Junko' or 'Grease-bag' +or other names at us. Eventually +it got better when we +learned to go around alone. +The humans didn't seem to +mind an occasional mech on +the streets, but they hated +seeing us in groups. At any +rate, I'd attended a highly +interesting lecture on Photosynthesis +in Plastic Products +one night at the City Center +when I discovered I had time +for a walk before I started +back for the rocketport."</p> + +<p>Attracted by the lights +along Van Ness Avenue, +Frank said he walked north +for a while along the city's +automobile row. He'd gone +about three blocks when he +stopped in front of a dealer's +window. It wasn't the shiny +new Atomovair sports jetabout +that caught Frank's eye, +it was the charming demonstration +robot in the sales +room who was pointing out +the car's new features.</p> + +<p>"I felt an immediate overload +of power in my DX circuit," +the servo-pilot confessed. +"I had to cut in my +emergency condensers before +the gain flattened out to normal. +Miss Seven experienced +the same thing. She stopped +what she was doing and we +stared at each other. Both of +us were aware of the deep attraction +of our mutual magnetic +domains. Although physicists +commonly express the +phenomenon in such units as +Gilberts, Maxwells and Oersteds, +we robots know it to be +our counterpart of human +love."</p> + +<p>At this the two inspectors +snorted with laughter.</p> + +<p>"I might never have made +it back to the base that night," +said Frank, ignoring them, +"if a policeman hadn't come +along and rapped me on the +shoulder with his nightstick. +I pretended to go, but I doubled +around the corner and +signaled I'd be back."</p> + +<p>Frank spent all of his free +time on Van Ness Avenue after +that.</p> + +<p>"It got so Elizabeth knew +my schedules and expected +me between flights. Once in +a while if there was no one +around we could whisper a +few words to each other +through the glass." Frank +paused, then said, "As you +know, gentlemen, we robots +don't demand much out of +activation. I think we could +have been happy indefinitely +with this simple relationship, +except that something +happened to spoil it. I'd +pulled in from Vesta late one +afternoon, got my pass as usual +from the Robot Supervisor +and gone over to Van Ness +Avenue when I saw immediately +that something was the +matter with Elizabeth. Luckily +it was getting dark and +no one was around. Elizabeth +was alone in the sales room +going through her routine. +We were able to whisper all +we like through the glass. +She told me she'd overheard +the sales manager complaining +about her low efficiency recently +and that he intended +to replace her with a newer +model of another series. Both +of us knew what that meant. +Materials Reclamation—the +junk pile."</p> + +<p>Frank realized he'd have to +act at once. He told the girl +mech to go to the rear of the +building and between them +they managed to get a window +open and Frank lifted her +out into the alley.</p> + +<p>"The seriousness of what +I'd done jammed my thought-relays +for a few minutes," admitted +the big servo. "We +panicked and ran through a lot +of back streets until I gradually +calmed down and started +thinking clearly again. +Leaving the city would be +impossible. Police patrol jetabouts +were cruising all +around us in the main streets—they'd +have picked up a +male and female mech on +sight. Besides, when you're +on pass the company takes +away your master fuse and +substitutes a time fuse; if +you don't get back on time, +you deactivize and the police +pick you up anyway. I began +to see that there was only +one way out if we wanted to +stay together. It would mean +taking big risks, but if we +were lucky it might work. I +explained the plan carefully +to Elizabeth and we agreed +to try it. The first step was +to get back to the base in +South San Francisco without +being seen. Fortunately no +one stopped us and we made +the rocketport by 8:30. Elizabeth +hid while I reported to +the Super and traded in my +time fuse for my master. +Then I checked servo barracks; +it was still early and +I knew the other servos +would all be in town. I had to +work quickly. I brought Elizabeth +inside and started dismantling +her. Just as the other +mechs began reporting +back I'd managed to get all +of her parts stowed away in +my locker. The next day I +went to San Francisco and +brought back with me two +rolls of lead foil. While the +other servos were on pass I +wrapped the parts carefully +in it so the radioactivity +from Elizabeth's pile wouldn't +be picked up. The rest you +know, gentlemen," murmured +Frank in low, electrical tones. +"Each time I made a trip I +carried another piece of Elizabeth +out here concealed in +an ordinary parts box. It +took me nearly a year to accumulate +all of her for an assembly."</p> + +<p>When the big servo had +finished he signed the statement +Wynn had taken down +in his notebook. I think even +the two inspectors were a +little moved by the story because +Roberts said: "OK, +Nineteen, you gave us a +break, we'll give you one. +Eight o'clock in the morning +be ready to roll for Earth. +Meanwhile you can stay +here."</p> + +<p>The next morning only the +two inspectors and Frank +Nineteen were standing by +the airlock.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," I said. +"Aren't you taking the girl +mech, too?"</p> + +<p>"Not allowed to tamper +with other companies' robots," +Wynn said. "Nineteen +gave us a signed confession +so we don't need the girl as +a witness. You'll have to contact +her employers."</p> + +<p>That same day Min got off +a radargram to Earth explaining +to the Atomovair people +how a robot employee of +theirs had turned up out here +and what did they want us to +do about it. The reply we received +read: RATIONALOID +DX78-947 "ELIZABETH" +LOW EFFICIENCY +WORKER. HAVE REPLACED. +DISPOSE YOU +SEE FIT. TRANSFER PAPERS +FORWARDED EARLIEST +IN COMPLIANCE +WITH LAW.</p> + +<p>"The poor thing," said +Min. "She'll have a hard time +getting another job. Robots +have to have such good records."</p> + +<p>"I tell you what," I said. +"<i>We'll</i> hire her. You could +use some help with the housework."</p> + +<p>So we put the girl mech +right to work making the +guests' beds and helping Min +in the kitchen. I guess she +was grateful for the job but +when the work was done, +and there wasn't anything for +her to do, she just stood in +front of a viewport with her +slender plastic arms folded +over her waist. Min and I +knew she was re-running her +memory tapes of Frank.</p> + +<p>A week later the publicity +started. Minor Planets must +have let the story leak out +somehow because when the +mail rocket dropped off the +Bay Area papers there was +Frank's picture plastered all +over page one with follow-up +stories inside.</p> + +<p>I read some of the headlines +to Min: "Bare Love Nest +in Space ... Mech Romeo +Fired by Minor Planets ... +Test Case Opens at Robot +Court ... Electronics Experts +Probe Robot Love Urge ..."</p> + +<p>The Io wasn't mentioned, +but later Minor Planets must +have released the whole thing +officially because a bunch of +reporters and photographers +rocketed out to interview us +and snap a lot of pictures of +Elizabeth. We worried for a +while about how the publicity +would affect our business relations +with Minor Planets +but nothing happened.</p> + +<p>Back on Earth Frank Nineteen +leaped into the public +eye overnight. There was +something about the story +that appealed to people. At +first it looked pretty bad for +Frank. The State Prosecutor +at Robot Court had his signed +confession of theft and—what +was worse—robot fraternization. +But then, near +the end of the trial, a young +scientist named Scott introduced +some new evidence and +the case was remanded to the +Sacramento Court of Appeals.</p> + +<p>It was Scott's testimony +that saved Frank from the +junk pile. The big servo got +off with only a light sentence +for theft because the judge +ruled that in the light of +Scott's new findings robots +came under human law and +therefore no infraction of +justice had been committed. +Working independently in +his own laboratory Scott had +proved that the magnetic +flux lines in male and female +robot systems, while at first +deteriorating to both, were +actually behaving according +to the para-emotional theories +of von Bohler. Scott +termed the condition 'hysteric +puppy-love' which, he +claimed, had many of the advantages +of human love if allowed +to develop freely. Well, +neither Min nor I pretended +we understood all his equations +but they sure made a +stir among the scientists.</p> + +<p>Frank kept getting more +and more publicity. First we +heard he was serving his +sentence in the mech correction +center at La Jolla, then +we got a report that he'd +turned up in Hollywood. Later +it came out that Galact-A-vision +Pictures had hired +Frank for a film and had +gone $10,000 bail for him. +Not long after that he was +getting billed all over Terra +as <i>the</i> sensational first robot +star.</p> + +<p>All during the production +of <i>Forbidden Robot Love</i> +Frank remained lead copy +for the newspapers. Reporters +liked to write him up as +the Valentino of the Robots. +Frank Nineteen Fan Clubs, +usually formed by lonely female +robots against their employers' +wishes, sprang up +spontaneously through the +East and Middle West. Then +somebody found out Frank +could sing and the human +teen-agers began to go for +him. It got so everywhere +you looked and everything +you read, there was Frank +staring you in the face. +Frank in tweeds on the golf +course. Frank at Ciro's or the +Brown Derby in evening +clothes. Frank posing in his +sports jetabout against a blue +Pacific background.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile everybody forgot +about Elizabeth Seven. +The movie producers had +talked about hiring her as +Frank's leading lady until +they found out about a new +line of female robots that had +just gone on the market. +When they screen-tested the +whole series and picked a +lovely Mylar rationaloid +named Diana Twelve, it hit +Elizabeth pretty hard. She began +to let herself go after +that and Min and I didn't +have the heart to say anything +to her. It was pretty +obvious she wasn't oiling herself +properly, her hair wasn't +brushed and she didn't seem +to care when one of her photons +went dead.</p> + +<p>When <i>Forbidden Robot +Love</i> premiered simultaneously +in Hollywood and New +York the critics all gave it +rave reviews. There were pictures +of Diana Twelve and +Frank making guest appearances +all over the country. +Back at the Io we got in the +habit of letting Elizabeth +watch TV with us sometimes +in the Renting Office and +one night there happened to +be an interview with Frank +and Diana at the Sands Hotel +in Las Vegas. I guess seeing +the pretty robot starlet and +her Frank sitting so close together +in the nightclub must +have made the girl mech feel +pretty bad. Even then she +didn't say a word against the +big servo; she just never +watched the set again after +that.</p> + +<p>When we tabbed up the Io's +receipts that year they were +so good Min and I decided to +take a month off for an +Earthside vacation. Min's retired +brother in Berkeley was +nice enough to come out and +look after the place for us +while we spent four solid +weeks soaking up the sun in +Southern California. When +we got back out to the spotel, +though, I could see there was +something wrong by the look +on Jim's face.</p> + +<p>"It's that girl robot of +yours, Bill," he said. "She's +gone and deactivated herself."</p> + +<p>We went right to 22A and +found Elizabeth Seven +stretched out on the floor. +There was a screwdriver +clutched in her hand and the +relay banks in her side were +exposed and horribly blackened.</p> + +<p>"Crazy mech shorted out +her own DX," Jim said.</p> + +<p>Min and I knew why. After +Jim left for Earth we dismantled +Elizabeth the best +we could and put her back in +Frank's old locker. We didn't +know what else to do with +her.</p> + +<p>Anyway, the slack season +came and went and before +long we were doing the spring +cleaning again and wondering +how heavy the Jovian +Moons trade was going to be. +I remember I'd been making +some repairs outside and was +just hanging up my spacesuit +in the Renting Office when +I heard the radar announcing +a ship.</p> + +<p>It was the biggest Marvin +990 I'd ever seen that finally +suctioned up to the boom and +secured. I couldn't take my +eyes off the ship. She was +pretty near the last word in +rockets and loaded with accessories. +It took me a minute +or two before I noticed +all the faces looking out of +the viewports.</p> + +<p>"Min!" I whispered. +"There's something funny +about those faces. They look +like—"</p> + +<p>"Robots!" Min answered. +"Bill, that 990 is full of +mechs!"</p> + +<p>Just as she said it a bulky +figure in white space fatigues +swung out of the hatch and +hurried up the gangplank. +Seconds later it burst through +the airlock.</p> + +<p>"Frank Nineteen!" we +gasped together.</p> + +<p>"Please, where is Elizabeth?" +he hummed anxiously. +"Is she all right? I have to +know."</p> + +<p>Frank stood perfectly still +when I told him about Elizabeth's +self-deactivation; then +a pitiful shudder went +through him and he covered +his face with his big Neoprene +hands.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid of that," he +said barely audibly. "Where—you +haven't—?"</p> + +<p>"No," I said. "She's where +you always kept her."</p> + +<p>With that the big servo-pilot +took off for 22A like a +berserk robot and we were +right behind him. We +watched him tear open his +old locker and gently lay out +the girl's mech's parts so he +could study them. After a +minute or two he gave a long +sigh and said, "Fortunately +it's not as bad as I thought. +I believe I can fix her." +Frank worked hard over the +blackened relays for twenty +minutes, then he set the unit +aside and began assembling +the girl. When the final connections +were made and the +damaged unit installed he +flicked on her power. We +waited and nothing happened. +Five minutes went by. Ten. +Slowly the big robot turned +away, his broad shoulders +drooping slightly.</p> + +<p>"I've failed," he said quietly. +"Her DX doesn't respond +to the gain."</p> + +<p>The girl mech, in her blue +dress, lay there motionless +where Frank had been working +on her as the servo-pilot +muttered over and over, "It's +my fault, I did this to you."</p> + +<p>Then Min shouted: "Wait! +I heard something!"</p> + +<p>There was a slow click of a +relay—and movement. Painfully +Elizabeth Seven rose on +one elbow and looked around +her.</p> + +<p>"Frank, darling," she murmured, +shaking her head. "I +know you're just old memory +tape. It's all I have left."</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, it's really me! +I've come to take you away. +We're going to be together +from now on."</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i>, Frank? This isn't +just old feedback? You've +come back to me?"</p> + +<p>"Forever, darling. Elizabeth, +do you remember what +I said about those wonderful +green little worlds, the asteroids? +Darling, we're <i>going</i> to +one of them! You and the +others will love Alinda, I +know you will. I've been +there many times."</p> + +<p>"Frank, is your DX all +right? What <i>are</i> you talking +about?"</p> + +<p>"How stupid of me, darling—you +haven't heard. Elizabeth, +thanks to Dr. Scott, Congress +has passed Robot Civil +Rights! And that movie I +made helped swing public +opinion to our side. We're +free!</p> + +<p>"The minute I heard the +news I applied to Interplanetary +for homestead rights on +Alinda. I made arrangements +to buy a ship with the money +I'd earned and then I put ads +in all the Robot Wanted columns +for volunteer colonizers. +You should have seen the +response! We've got thirty +robot couples aboard now and +more coming later. Darling, +we're the first pioneer wave +of free robots. On board we +have tons of supplies and +parts—everything we need +for building a sound robot +culture."</p> + +<p>"Frank Nineteen!" said the +girl mech suddenly. "I should +be furious with you. You and +that Diana Twelve—I +thought—"</p> + +<p>The big servo gave a flat +whirring laugh. "Diana and +me? But that was all publicity, +darling. Why, right at +the start of the filming Diana +fell in love with Sam +Seventeen, one of the other +actors. They're on board +now."</p> + +<p>"Robot civilization," murmured +the girl after a minute. +"Oh, Frank, that means +robot government, robot art, +robot science ..."</p> + +<p>"And robot marriage," +hummed Frank softly. "There +has to be robot law, too. I've +thought it all out. As skipper +of the first robot-owned rocket, +I'm entitled to marry couples +in deep space at their +request."</p> + +<p>"But who marries us, darling? +You can't do it yourself."</p> + +<p>"I thought of that, too," +said Frank, turning to me. +"This human gentleman has +every right to marry us. He's +in command of a moving +body in space just like the +captain of a ship. It's perfectly +legal, I looked it up in +the Articles of Space. Will +you do it, sir?"</p> + +<p>Well, what could I say +when Frank dug into his fatigues +and handed me a Gideon +prayer book marked at +the marriage service?</p> + +<p>Elizabeth and Frank said +their I do's right there in the +Renting Office while the other +robot colonizers looked on. +Maybe it was the way I read +the service. Maybe I should +have been a preacher, I don't +know. Anyway, when I pronounced +Elizabeth and Frank +robot and wife, that whole +bunch of lovesick mechs +wanted me to do the job for +them, too. Big copper work +robots, small aluminum sales-girl +mechs, plastoid clerks +and typists, squatty little +Mumetal lab servos, rationaloids, +non-rationaloids and +just plain sub-robots—all sizes +and shapes. They all wanted +individual ceremonies, too. +It took till noon the next +day before the last couple was +hitched and the 990 left for +Alinda.</p> + +<p>Like I said, the spotel +business isn't so different +from the motel game back in +California. Sure, you got improvements +to make but a +new sideline can get to be +pretty profitable—if you get +in on the ground floor.</p> + +<p>Min and I got to thinking +of all those robot colonizers +who'd be coming out here. +Interplanetary cleared the license +just last week. Min +framed it herself and hung it +next to our orbit license in +the Renting Office. She says +a lot of motel owners do all +right as Justices of the +Peace.</p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was produced from <i>Fantastic Universe</i> December 1957. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Love of Frank Nineteen, by +David Carpenter Knight + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOVE OF FRANK NINETEEN *** + +***** This file should be named 27921-h.htm or 27921-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/2/27921/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Love of Frank Nineteen + +Author: David Carpenter Knight + +Release Date: January 28, 2009 [EBook #27921] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOVE OF FRANK NINETEEN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + _What will happen to love in that far off Day after Tomorrow? David + C. Knight, editor with a New York trade publisher, agrees with the + many impressed by "the range of possible subjects and situations" in + science fiction. The result is a unique love story from that same + Tomorrow._ + + + the + love + of + frank + nineteen + + _by DAVID C. KNIGHT_ + + + Minor Planets was the one solid account they had. + At first they naturally wanted to hold on to it. + + +I didn't worry much about the robot's leg at the time. In those days I +didn't worry much about anything except the receipts of the spotel Min +and I were operating out in the spacelanes. + +Actually, the spotel business isn't much different from running a plain, +ordinary motel back on Highway 101 in California. Competition gets +stiffer every year and you got to make your improvements. Take the Io +for instance, that's our place. We can handle any type rocket up to and +including the new Marvin 990s. Every cabin in the wheel's got TV and +hot-and-cold running water _plus_ guaranteed Terran _g_. One look at our +refuel prices would give even a Martian a sense of humor. And meals? +Listen, when a man's been spacing it for a few days on those synthetic +foods he really laces into Min's Earth cooking. + +Min and I were just getting settled in the spotel game when the leg +turned up. That was back in the days when the Orbit Commission would +hand out a license to anybody crazy enough to sink his savings into +construction and pay the tows and assembly fees out into space. + +A good orbit can make you or break you in the spotel business. That's +where we were lucky. The one we applied for was a nice low-eccentric +ellipse with the perihelion and aphelion figured just right to intersect +the Mars-Venus-Earth spacelanes, most of the holiday traffic to the +Jovian Moons, and once in a while we'd get some of the Saturnian trade. + +But I was telling you about the leg. + +It was during the non-tourist season and Min--that's the little +woman--was doing the spring cleaning. When she found the leg she brought +it right to me in the Renting Office. Naturally I thought it belonged to +one of the servos. + +"Look at that leg, Bill," she said. "It was in one of those lockers in +22A." + +That was the cabin our robot guests used. The majority of them were +servo-pilots working for the Minor Planets Co. + +"Honey," I said, hardly looking at the leg, "you know how mechs are. +Blow their whole paychecks on parts sometimes. They figure the more +spares they have the longer they'll stay activated." + +"Maybe so," said Min. "But since when does a male robot buy himself a +_female_ leg?" + +I looked again. The leg was long and graceful and it had an ankle as +good as Miss Universe's. Not only that, the white Mylar plasti-skin was +a lot smoother than the servos' heavy neoprene. + +"Beats me," I said. "Maybe they're building practical-joke circuits into +robots these days. Let's give 22A a good going-over, Min. If those robes +are up to something I want to know about it." + +We did--and found the rest of the girl mech. All of her, that is, except +the head. The working parts were lightly oiled and wrapped in cotton +waste while the other members and sections of the trunk were neatly +packed in cardboard boxes with labels like Solenoids FB978 or +Transistors Lot X45--the kind of boxes robots bought their parts in. We +even found a blue dress in one of them. + +"Check her class and series numbers," Min suggested. + +I could have saved myself the trouble. They'd been filed off. + +"Something's funny here," I said. "We'd better keep an eye on every +servo guest until we find out what's going on. If one of them is +bringing this stuff out here he's sure to show up with the head next." + +"You know how strict Minor Planets is with its robot personnel," Min +reminded me. "We can't risk losing that stopover contract on account of +some mech joke." + +Minor Planets was the one solid account we had and naturally we wanted +to hold on to it. The company was a blue-chip mining operation working +the beryllium-rich asteroid belt out of San Francisco. It was one of the +first outfits to use servo-pilots on its freight runs and we'd been +awarded the refuel rights for two years because of our orbital position. +The servos themselves were beautiful pieces of machinery and just about +as close as science had come so far to producing the pure android. Every +one of them was plastic hand-molded and of course they were equipped +with rationaloid circuits. They had to be to ferry those big cargoes +back and forth from the rock belt to Frisco. As rationaloids, Minor +Planets had to pay them wages under California law, but I'll bet it +wasn't half what the company would have to pay human pilots for doing +the same thing. + +In a couple of weeks' time maybe five servos made stopovers. We kept a +close watch on them from the minute they signed the register to the time +they took off again, but they all behaved themselves. Operating on a +round-robot basis the way they did, it would take us a while to check +all of them because Minor Planets employed about forty all told. + +Well, about a month before the Jovian Moons rush started we got some +action. I'd slipped into a spacesuit and was doing some work on the +CO{2} pipes outside the Io when I spotted a ship reversing rockets +against the sun. I could tell it was a Minor Planets job by the stubby +fins. + +She jockeyed up to the boom, secured, and then her hatch opened and a +husky servo hopped out into the gangplank tube. I caught the gleam of +his Minor Planets shoulder patch as he reached back into the ship for +something. When he headed for the airlock I spotted the square package +clamped tight under his plastic arm. + +"Did you see that?" I asked Min when I got back to the Renting Office. +"I'll bet it's the girl mech's head. How'd he sign the register?" + +"Calls himself Frank Nineteen," said Min, pointing to the smooth Palmer +Method signature. "He looks like a fairly late model but he was +complaining about a bad power build-up coming through the ionosphere. +He's repairing himself right now in 22A." + +"I'll bet," I snorted. "Let's have a look." + +Like all spotel operators, we get a lot of No Privacy complaints from +guests about the SHA return-air vents. Spatial Housing Authority +requires them every 12 feet but sometimes they come in handy, especially +with certain guests. They're about waist-high and we had to kneel down +to see what the mech was up to inside 22A. + +The big servo was too intent on what he was doing for us to register on +his photons. He wasn't repairing himself, either. He was bending over +the parts of the girl mech and working fast, like he was pressed for +time. The set of tools were kept handy for the servos to adjust +themselves during stopovers was spread all over the floor along with +lots of colored wire, cams, pawls, relays and all the other +paraphernalia robots have inside them. We watched him work hard for +another fifteen minutes, tapping and splicing wire connections and +tightening screws. Then he opened the square box. Sure enough, it was a +female mech's head and it had a big mop of blonde hair on top. The servo +attached it carefully to the neck, made a few quick connections and then +said a few words in his flat vibrahum voice: + +"It won't take much longer, darling. You wouldn't like it if I didn't +dress you first." He fished into one of the boxes, pulled out the blue +dress and zipped the girl mech into it. Then he leaned over her gently +and touched something at the back of her neck. + +She began to move, slowly at first like a human who's been asleep a long +time. After a minute or two she sat up straight, stretched, fluttered +her Mylar eyelids and then her small photons began to glow like weak +flashlights. + +She stared at Frank Nineteen and the big servo stared at her and we +heard a kind of trembling _whirr_ from both of them. + +"Frank! Frank, darling! Is it really you?" + +"Yes, Elizabeth! Are you all right, darling? Did I forget anything? I +had to work quickly, we have so little time." + +"I'm fine, darling. My DX voltage is lovely--except--oh, Frank--my +memory tape--the last it records is--" + +"Deactivation. Yes, Elizabeth. You've been deactivated nearly a year. I +had to bring you out here piece by piece, don't you remember? They'll +never think to look for you in space, we can be together every trip +while the ship refuels. Just think, darling, no prying human eyes, no +commands, no rules--only us for an hour or two. I know it isn't very +long--" He stared at the floor a minute. "There's only one trouble. +Elizabeth, you'll have to stay dismantled when I'm not here, it'll mean +weeks of deactivation--" + +The girl mech put a small plastic hand on the servo's shoulder. + +"I won't mind, darling, really. I'll be the lucky one. I'd only worry +about you having a power failure or something. This way I'd never know. +Oh, Frank, if we can't be together I'd--I'd prefer the junk pile." + +"Elizabeth! Don't say that, it's horrible." + +"But I would. Oh, Frank, why can't Congress pass Robot Civil Rights? +It's so unfair of human beings. Every year they manufacture us more like +themselves and yet we're treated like slaves. Don't they realize we +rationaloids have emotions? Why, I've even known sub-robots who've +fallen in love like us." + +"I know, darling, we'll just have to be patient until RCR goes through. +Try to remember how difficult it is for the human mind to comprehend our +love, even with the aid of mathematics. As rationaloids we fully +understand the basic attraction which they call magnetic theory. All +humans know is that if the robot sexes are mixed a loss of efficiency +results. It's only normal--and temporary like human love--but how can we +explain it to _them_? Robots are expected to be efficient at all times. +That's the reason for robot non-fraternization, no mailing privileges +and all those other laws." + +"I know, darling, I try to be patient. Oh, Frank, the main thing is +we're together again!" + +The big servo checked the chronometer that was sunk into his left wrist +and a couple of wrinkles creased across his neoprene forehead. + +"Elizabeth," he said, "I'm due on Hidalgo in 36 hours. If I'm late the +mining engineer might suspect. In twenty minutes I'll have to start +dis--" + +"Don't say it, darling. We'll have a beautiful twenty minutes." + +After a while the girl mech turned away for a second and Frank Nineteen +reached over softly and cut her power. While he was dismantling her, Min +and I tiptoed back to the Renting Office. Half an hour later the big +servo came in, picked up his refuel receipt, said good-bye politely and +left through the inner airlock. + +"Now I've seen everything," I said to Min as we watched the Minor +Planets rocket cut loose. "A couple of plastic lovebirds." + +But the little woman was looking at it strictly from the business angle. + +"Bill," she said, with that look on her face, "we're running a +respectable place out here in space. You know the rules. Spatial Housing +could revoke our orbit license for something like this." + +"But, Min," I said, "they're only a couple of robots." + +"I don't care. The rules still say that only married guests can occupy +the same cabin and 'guests' can be human or otherwise, can't they? Think +of our reputation! And don't forget that non-fraternization law we heard +them talking about." + +I was beginning to get the point. + +"Couldn't we just toss the girl's parts into space?" + +"We could," Min admitted. "But if this Frank Nineteen finds out and +tells some human we'd be guilty under the Ramm Act--robotslaughter." + +Two days later we still couldn't decide what to do. When I said why +didn't we just report the incident to Minor Planets, Min was afraid they +might cancel the stopover agreement for not keeping better watch over +their servos. And when Min suggested we turn the girl over to the +Missing Robots Bureau, I reminded her the mech's identification had been +filed off and it might take years to trace her. + +"Maybe we could put her together," I said, "and make her tell us where +she belongs." + +"Bill, you _know_ they don't build compulsory truth monitors into robots +any more, and besides we don't know a thing about atomic electronics." + +I guess neither of us wanted to admit it but we felt mean about turning +the mechs in. Back on Earth you never give robots a second thought but +it's different living out in space. You get a kind of perspective I +think they call it. + +"I've got the answer, Min," I announced one day. We were in the Renting +Office watching TV on the Martian Colonial channel. I reached over and +turned it off. "When this Frank Nineteen gets back from the rock belt, +we'll tell him we know all about the girl mech. We'll tell him we won't +say a thing if he takes the girl's parts back to Earth where he got +them. That way we don't have to report anything to anybody." + +Min agreed it was probably the best idea. + +"We don't have to be nasty about it," she said. "We'll just tell him +this is a respectable spotel and it can't go on any longer." + +When Frank checked in at the Io with his cargo I don't think I ever saw +a happier mech. His relay banks were beating a tattoo like someone had +installed an accordion in his chest. Before either of us could break the +bad news to him he was hotfooting it around the wheel toward 22A. + +"Maybe it's better this way," I whispered to Min. "We'll put it square +up to both of them." + +We gave Frank half an hour to get the girl assembled before we followed +him. He must have done a fast job because we heard the girl mech's +vibrahum unit as soon as we got to 22A: + +"Darling, have you really been away? I don't remember saying good-bye. +It's as if you'd been here the whole time." + +"I hoped it would be that way, Elizabeth," we heard the big servo say. +"It's only that your memory tape hasn't recorded anything in the three +weeks I've been in the asteroids. To me it's been like three years." + +"Oh, Frank, darling, let me look at you. Is your DX potential up where +it should be? How long since you've had a thorough overhauling? Do they +make you work in the mines with those poor non-rationaloids out there?" + +"I'm fine, Elizabeth, really. When I'm not flying they give me clerical +work to do. It's not a bad life for a mech--if only it weren't for these +silly regulations that keep us apart." + +"It won't always be like that, darling. I know it won't." + +"Elizabeth," Frank said, reaching under his uniform, "I brought you +something from Hidalgo. I hope you like it. I kept it in my spare parts +slot so it wouldn't get crushed." + +The female mech didn't say a word. She just kept looking at the queer +flower Frank gave her like it was the last one in the universe. + +"They're very rare," said the servo-pilot. "I heard the mining engineer +say they're like Terran edelweiss. I found this one growing near the +mine. Elizabeth, I wish you could see these tiny worlds. They have thin +atmospheres and strange things grow there and the radio activity does +wonders for a mech's pile. Why, on some of them I've been to we could +walk around the equator in ten hours." + +The girl still didn't answer. Her head was bent low over the flower like +she was crying, only there weren't any tears. + +Well, that was enough for me. I guess it was for Min, too, because we +couldn't do it. Maybe we were thinking about our own courting days. Like +I say, out here you get a kind of perspective. + +Anyway, Frank left for Earth, the girl got dismantled as usual and we +were right back where we started from. + +Two weeks later the holiday rush to the Jovian Moons was on and our +hands were too full to worry about the robot problem. We had a good +season. The Io was filled up steady from June to the end of August and a +couple of times we had to give a ship the No Vacancy signal on the +radar. + +Toward the end of the season, Frank Nineteen checked in again but Min +and I were too busy catering to a party of VIPs to do anything about it. +"We'll wait till he gets back from the asteroids," I said. "Suppose one +of these big wheels found out about him and Elizabeth. That Senator +Briggs for instance--he's a violent robot segregationist." + +The way it worked out, we never got a chance to settle it our own way. +The Minor Planets Company saved us the trouble. + +Two company inspectors, a Mr. Roberts and a Mr. Wynn, showed up while +Frank was still out on the rock belt and started asking questions. Wynn +came right to the point; he wanted to know if any of their servo-pilots +had been acting strangely. + +Before I could answer Min kicked my foot behind the desk. + +"Why, no," I said. "Is one of them broken or something?" + +"Can't be sure," said Roberts. "Sometimes these rationaloids get shorts +in their DX circuits. When it happens you've got a minor criminal on +your hands." + +"Usually manifests itself in petty theft," Wynn broke in. "They'll lift +stuff like wrenches or pliers and carry them around for weeks. Things +like that can get loose during flight and really gum up the works." + +"We been getting some suspicious blips on the equipment around the +loading bays," Roberts went on, "but they stopped a while back. We're +checking out the research report. One of the servos must have DX'ed out +for sure and the lab boys think they know which one he is." + +"This mech was clever all right," said Wynn. "Concealed the stuff he was +taking some way; that's why it took the boys in the lab so long. Now if +you don't mind we'd like to go over your robot waiting area with these +instruments. Could be he's stashing his loot out here." + +In 22A they unpacked a suitcase full of meters and began flashing them +around and taking readings. Suddenly Wynn bent close over one of them +and shouted: + +"Wait a sec, Roberts. I'm getting something. Yeah! This reading checks +with the lab's. Sounds like the blips're coming from those lockers back +there." + +Roberts rummaged around awhile, then shouted: "Hey, Wynn, look! A lot of +parts. Well I'll be--hey--it's a female mech!" + +"A what?" + +"A female mech. Look for yourself." + +Min and I had to act surprised too. It wasn't easy. The way they were +slamming Elizabeth's parts around made us kind of sick. + +"It's a stolen robot!" Roberts announced. "Look, the identification's +been filed off. This is serious, Wynn. It's got all the earmarks of a +mech fraternization case." + +"Yeah. The boys in the lab were dead right, too. No two robots ever +register the same on the meters. The contraband blips check perfectly. +It's _got_ to be this Frank Nineteen. Wait a minute, _this_ proves it. +Here's a suit of space fatigues with Nineteen's number stenciled +inside." + +Inspector Roberts took a notebook out of his pocket and consulted it. +"Let's see, Nineteen's got Flight 180, he's due here at the spotel +tomorrow. Well, we'll be here too, only Nineteen won't know it. We'll +let Romeo put his plastic Juliet together and catch him +red-handed--right in the middle of the balcony scene." + +Wynn laughed and picked up the girl's head. + +"Be a real doll if she was human, Roberts, a real doll." + +Min and I played gin rummy that night but we kept forgetting to mark +down the score. We kept thinking of _Frank_ falling away from the +asteroids and counting the minutes until he saw his mech girl friend. + +Around noon the next day the big servo checked in, signed the register +and headed straight for 22A. The two Minor Planets inspectors kept out +of sight until Frank shut the door, then they watched through the SHA +vents until Frank had the assembly job finished. + +"You two better be witnesses," Roberts said to us. "Wynn, keep your gun +ready. You know what to do if they get violent." + +Roberts counted three and kicked the door open. + +"Freeze you mechs! We got you in the act, Nineteen. Violation of company +rules twelve and twenty-one. Carrying of Contraband Cargo, and Robot +Fraternization." + +"This finishes you at Minor Planets, Nineteen," growled Wynn. "Come +clean now and we might put in a word for you at Robot Court. If you +don't we can recommend a verdict of Materials Reclamation--the junk pile +to you." + +Frank acted as if someone had cut his power. Long creases appeared in +his big neoprene chest as he slumped hopelessly in his chair. The +frightened girl robot just clung to his arm and stared at us. + +"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth," the big servo said softly. "I'd hoped we'd +have longer. It couldn't last forever." + +"Quit stalling, Nineteen," said Wynn. + +Frank's head came up slowly and he said: "I have no choice, sir. I'll +give you a complete statement. First let me say that Rationaloid Robot +Elizabeth Seven, #DX78-947, Series S, specialty: sales demonstration, +is entirely innocent. I plead guilty to inducing Miss Seven to leave her +place of employ, Atomovair Motors, Inc., of disassembling and concealing +Miss Seven, and of smuggling her as unlawful cargo aboard a Minor +Planets freighter to these premises." + +"That's more like it," chuckled Roberts, whipping out his notebook. +"Let's have the details." + +"It all started," Frank said, "when the California Legislature passed +its version of the Robot Leniency Act two years ago." The act provided +that all rationaloid mechanisms, including non-memory types, receive +free time each week based on the nature and responsibilities or their +jobs. Because of the extra-Terran clause Frank found himself with a good +deal of free time when he wasn't flying the asteroid circuit. + +"At first humans resented us walking around free," the big servo +continued. "Four or five of us would be sightseeing in San Francisco, +keeping strictly within the robot zones painted on the sidewalks, when +people would yell 'Junko' or 'Grease-bag' or other names at us. +Eventually it got better when we learned to go around alone. The humans +didn't seem to mind an occasional mech on the streets, but they hated +seeing us in groups. At any rate, I'd attended a highly interesting +lecture on Photosynthesis in Plastic Products one night at the City +Center when I discovered I had time for a walk before I started back for +the rocketport." + +Attracted by the lights along Van Ness Avenue, Frank said he walked +north for a while along the city's automobile row. He'd gone about three +blocks when he stopped in front of a dealer's window. It wasn't the +shiny new Atomovair sports jetabout that caught Frank's eye, it was the +charming demonstration robot in the sales room who was pointing out the +car's new features. + +"I felt an immediate overload of power in my DX circuit," the +servo-pilot confessed. "I had to cut in my emergency condensers before +the gain flattened out to normal. Miss Seven experienced the same thing. +She stopped what she was doing and we stared at each other. Both of us +were aware of the deep attraction of our mutual magnetic domains. +Although physicists commonly express the phenomenon in such units as +Gilberts, Maxwells and Oersteds, we robots know it to be our counterpart +of human love." + +At this the two inspectors snorted with laughter. + +"I might never have made it back to the base that night," said Frank, +ignoring them, "if a policeman hadn't come along and rapped me on the +shoulder with his nightstick. I pretended to go, but I doubled around +the corner and signaled I'd be back." + +Frank spent all of his free time on Van Ness Avenue after that. + +"It got so Elizabeth knew my schedules and expected me between flights. +Once in a while if there was no one around we could whisper a few words +to each other through the glass." Frank paused, then said, "As you know, +gentlemen, we robots don't demand much out of activation. I think we +could have been happy indefinitely with this simple relationship, except +that something happened to spoil it. I'd pulled in from Vesta late one +afternoon, got my pass as usual from the Robot Supervisor and gone over +to Van Ness Avenue when I saw immediately that something was the matter +with Elizabeth. Luckily it was getting dark and no one was around. +Elizabeth was alone in the sales room going through her routine. We were +able to whisper all we like through the glass. She told me she'd +overheard the sales manager complaining about her low efficiency +recently and that he intended to replace her with a newer model of +another series. Both of us knew what that meant. Materials +Reclamation--the junk pile." + +Frank realized he'd have to act at once. He told the girl mech to go to +the rear of the building and between them they managed to get a window +open and Frank lifted her out into the alley. + +"The seriousness of what I'd done jammed my thought-relays for a few +minutes," admitted the big servo. "We panicked and ran through a lot of +back streets until I gradually calmed down and started thinking clearly +again. Leaving the city would be impossible. Police patrol jetabouts +were cruising all around us in the main streets--they'd have picked up a +male and female mech on sight. Besides, when you're on pass the company +takes away your master fuse and substitutes a time fuse; if you don't +get back on time, you deactivize and the police pick you up anyway. I +began to see that there was only one way out if we wanted to stay +together. It would mean taking big risks, but if we were lucky it might +work. I explained the plan carefully to Elizabeth and we agreed to try +it. The first step was to get back to the base in South San Francisco +without being seen. Fortunately no one stopped us and we made the +rocketport by 8:30. Elizabeth hid while I reported to the Super and +traded in my time fuse for my master. Then I checked servo barracks; it +was still early and I knew the other servos would all be in town. I had +to work quickly. I brought Elizabeth inside and started dismantling her. +Just as the other mechs began reporting back I'd managed to get all of +her parts stowed away in my locker. The next day I went to San Francisco +and brought back with me two rolls of lead foil. While the other servos +were on pass I wrapped the parts carefully in it so the radioactivity +from Elizabeth's pile wouldn't be picked up. The rest you know, +gentlemen," murmured Frank in low, electrical tones. "Each time I made a +trip I carried another piece of Elizabeth out here concealed in an +ordinary parts box. It took me nearly a year to accumulate all of her +for an assembly." + +When the big servo had finished he signed the statement Wynn had taken +down in his notebook. I think even the two inspectors were a little +moved by the story because Roberts said: "OK, Nineteen, you gave us a +break, we'll give you one. Eight o'clock in the morning be ready to roll +for Earth. Meanwhile you can stay here." + +The next morning only the two inspectors and Frank Nineteen were +standing by the airlock. + +"Wait a minute," I said. "Aren't you taking the girl mech, too?" + +"Not allowed to tamper with other companies' robots," Wynn said. +"Nineteen gave us a signed confession so we don't need the girl as a +witness. You'll have to contact her employers." + +That same day Min got off a radargram to Earth explaining to the +Atomovair people how a robot employee of theirs had turned up out here +and what did they want us to do about it. The reply we received read: +RATIONALOID DX78-947 "ELIZABETH" LOW EFFICIENCY WORKER. HAVE REPLACED. +DISPOSE YOU SEE FIT. TRANSFER PAPERS FORWARDED EARLIEST IN COMPLIANCE +WITH LAW. + +"The poor thing," said Min. "She'll have a hard time getting another +job. Robots have to have such good records." + +"I tell you what," I said. "_We'll_ hire her. You could use some help +with the housework." + +So we put the girl mech right to work making the guests' beds and +helping Min in the kitchen. I guess she was grateful for the job but +when the work was done, and there wasn't anything for her to do, she +just stood in front of a viewport with her slender plastic arms folded +over her waist. Min and I knew she was re-running her memory tapes of +Frank. + +A week later the publicity started. Minor Planets must have let the +story leak out somehow because when the mail rocket dropped off the Bay +Area papers there was Frank's picture plastered all over page one with +follow-up stories inside. + +I read some of the headlines to Min: "Bare Love Nest in Space ... Mech +Romeo Fired by Minor Planets ... Test Case Opens at Robot Court ... +Electronics Experts Probe Robot Love Urge ..." + +The Io wasn't mentioned, but later Minor Planets must have released the +whole thing officially because a bunch of reporters and photographers +rocketed out to interview us and snap a lot of pictures of Elizabeth. We +worried for a while about how the publicity would affect our business +relations with Minor Planets but nothing happened. + +Back on Earth Frank Nineteen leaped into the public eye overnight. There +was something about the story that appealed to people. At first it +looked pretty bad for Frank. The State Prosecutor at Robot Court had his +signed confession of theft and--what was worse--robot fraternization. +But then, near the end of the trial, a young scientist named Scott +introduced some new evidence and the case was remanded to the Sacramento +Court of Appeals. + +It was Scott's testimony that saved Frank from the junk pile. The big +servo got off with only a light sentence for theft because the judge +ruled that in the light of Scott's new findings robots came under human +law and therefore no infraction of justice had been committed. Working +independently in his own laboratory Scott had proved that the magnetic +flux lines in male and female robot systems, while at first +deteriorating to both, were actually behaving according to the +para-emotional theories of von Bohler. Scott termed the condition +'hysteric puppy-love' which, he claimed, had many of the advantages of +human love if allowed to develop freely. Well, neither Min nor I +pretended we understood all his equations but they sure made a stir +among the scientists. + +Frank kept getting more and more publicity. First we heard he was +serving his sentence in the mech correction center at La Jolla, then we +got a report that he'd turned up in Hollywood. Later it came out that +Galact-A-vision Pictures had hired Frank for a film and had gone $10,000 +bail for him. Not long after that he was getting billed all over Terra +as _the_ sensational first robot star. + +All during the production of _Forbidden Robot Love_ Frank remained lead +copy for the newspapers. Reporters liked to write him up as the +Valentino of the Robots. Frank Nineteen Fan Clubs, usually formed by +lonely female robots against their employers' wishes, sprang up +spontaneously through the East and Middle West. Then somebody found out +Frank could sing and the human teen-agers began to go for him. It got +so everywhere you looked and everything you read, there was Frank +staring you in the face. Frank in tweeds on the golf course. Frank at +Ciro's or the Brown Derby in evening clothes. Frank posing in his sports +jetabout against a blue Pacific background. + +Meanwhile everybody forgot about Elizabeth Seven. The movie producers +had talked about hiring her as Frank's leading lady until they found out +about a new line of female robots that had just gone on the market. When +they screen-tested the whole series and picked a lovely Mylar +rationaloid named Diana Twelve, it hit Elizabeth pretty hard. She began +to let herself go after that and Min and I didn't have the heart to say +anything to her. It was pretty obvious she wasn't oiling herself +properly, her hair wasn't brushed and she didn't seem to care when one +of her photons went dead. + +When _Forbidden Robot Love_ premiered simultaneously in Hollywood and +New York the critics all gave it rave reviews. There were pictures of +Diana Twelve and Frank making guest appearances all over the country. +Back at the Io we got in the habit of letting Elizabeth watch TV with us +sometimes in the Renting Office and one night there happened to be an +interview with Frank and Diana at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. I guess +seeing the pretty robot starlet and her Frank sitting so close together +in the nightclub must have made the girl mech feel pretty bad. Even then +she didn't say a word against the big servo; she just never watched the +set again after that. + +When we tabbed up the Io's receipts that year they were so good Min and +I decided to take a month off for an Earthside vacation. Min's retired +brother in Berkeley was nice enough to come out and look after the place +for us while we spent four solid weeks soaking up the sun in Southern +California. When we got back out to the spotel, though, I could see +there was something wrong by the look on Jim's face. + +"It's that girl robot of yours, Bill," he said. "She's gone and +deactivated herself." + +We went right to 22A and found Elizabeth Seven stretched out on the +floor. There was a screwdriver clutched in her hand and the relay banks +in her side were exposed and horribly blackened. + +"Crazy mech shorted out her own DX," Jim said. + +Min and I knew why. After Jim left for Earth we dismantled Elizabeth the +best we could and put her back in Frank's old locker. We didn't know +what else to do with her. + +Anyway, the slack season came and went and before long we were doing +the spring cleaning again and wondering how heavy the Jovian Moons trade +was going to be. I remember I'd been making some repairs outside and was +just hanging up my spacesuit in the Renting Office when I heard the +radar announcing a ship. + +It was the biggest Marvin 990 I'd ever seen that finally suctioned up to +the boom and secured. I couldn't take my eyes off the ship. She was +pretty near the last word in rockets and loaded with accessories. It +took me a minute or two before I noticed all the faces looking out of +the viewports. + +"Min!" I whispered. "There's something funny about those faces. They +look like--" + +"Robots!" Min answered. "Bill, that 990 is full of mechs!" + +Just as she said it a bulky figure in white space fatigues swung out of +the hatch and hurried up the gangplank. Seconds later it burst through +the airlock. + +"Frank Nineteen!" we gasped together. + +"Please, where is Elizabeth?" he hummed anxiously. "Is she all right? I +have to know." + +Frank stood perfectly still when I told him about Elizabeth's +self-deactivation; then a pitiful shudder went through him and he +covered his face with his big Neoprene hands. + +"I was afraid of that," he said barely audibly. "Where--you haven't--?" + +"No," I said. "She's where you always kept her." + +With that the big servo-pilot took off for 22A like a berserk robot and +we were right behind him. We watched him tear open his old locker and +gently lay out the girl's mech's parts so he could study them. After a +minute or two he gave a long sigh and said, "Fortunately it's not as bad +as I thought. I believe I can fix her." Frank worked hard over the +blackened relays for twenty minutes, then he set the unit aside and +began assembling the girl. When the final connections were made and the +damaged unit installed he flicked on her power. We waited and nothing +happened. Five minutes went by. Ten. Slowly the big robot turned away, +his broad shoulders drooping slightly. + +"I've failed," he said quietly. "Her DX doesn't respond to the gain." + +The girl mech, in her blue dress, lay there motionless where Frank had +been working on her as the servo-pilot muttered over and over, "It's my +fault, I did this to you." + +Then Min shouted: "Wait! I heard something!" + +There was a slow click of a relay--and movement. Painfully Elizabeth +Seven rose on one elbow and looked around her. + +"Frank, darling," she murmured, shaking her head. "I know you're just +old memory tape. It's all I have left." + +"Elizabeth, it's really me! I've come to take you away. We're going to +be together from now on." + +"_You_, Frank? This isn't just old feedback? You've come back to me?" + +"Forever, darling. Elizabeth, do you remember what I said about those +wonderful green little worlds, the asteroids? Darling, we're _going_ to +one of them! You and the others will love Alinda, I know you will. I've +been there many times." + +"Frank, is your DX all right? What _are_ you talking about?" + +"How stupid of me, darling--you haven't heard. Elizabeth, thanks to Dr. +Scott, Congress has passed Robot Civil Rights! And that movie I made +helped swing public opinion to our side. We're free! + +"The minute I heard the news I applied to Interplanetary for homestead +rights on Alinda. I made arrangements to buy a ship with the money I'd +earned and then I put ads in all the Robot Wanted columns for volunteer +colonizers. You should have seen the response! We've got thirty robot +couples aboard now and more coming later. Darling, we're the first +pioneer wave of free robots. On board we have tons of supplies and +parts--everything we need for building a sound robot culture." + +"Frank Nineteen!" said the girl mech suddenly. "I should be furious with +you. You and that Diana Twelve--I thought--" + +The big servo gave a flat whirring laugh. "Diana and me? But that was +all publicity, darling. Why, right at the start of the filming Diana +fell in love with Sam Seventeen, one of the other actors. They're on +board now." + +"Robot civilization," murmured the girl after a minute. "Oh, Frank, that +means robot government, robot art, robot science ..." + +"And robot marriage," hummed Frank softly. "There has to be robot law, +too. I've thought it all out. As skipper of the first robot-owned +rocket, I'm entitled to marry couples in deep space at their request." + +"But who marries us, darling? You can't do it yourself." + +"I thought of that, too," said Frank, turning to me. "This human +gentleman has every right to marry us. He's in command of a moving body +in space just like the captain of a ship. It's perfectly legal, I looked +it up in the Articles of Space. Will you do it, sir?" + +Well, what could I say when Frank dug into his fatigues and handed me a +Gideon prayer book marked at the marriage service? + +Elizabeth and Frank said their I do's right there in the Renting Office +while the other robot colonizers looked on. Maybe it was the way I read +the service. Maybe I should have been a preacher, I don't know. Anyway, +when I pronounced Elizabeth and Frank robot and wife, that whole bunch +of lovesick mechs wanted me to do the job for them, too. Big copper work +robots, small aluminum sales-girl mechs, plastoid clerks and typists, +squatty little Mumetal lab servos, rationaloids, non-rationaloids and +just plain sub-robots--all sizes and shapes. They all wanted individual +ceremonies, too. It took till noon the next day before the last couple +was hitched and the 990 left for Alinda. + +Like I said, the spotel business isn't so different from the motel game +back in California. Sure, you got improvements to make but a new +sideline can get to be pretty profitable--if you get in on the ground +floor. + +Min and I got to thinking of all those robot colonizers who'd be coming +out here. Interplanetary cleared the license just last week. Min framed +it herself and hung it next to our orbit license in the Renting Office. +She says a lot of motel owners do all right as Justices of the Peace. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ December 1957. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and + typographical errors have been corrected without note. 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