Strontium-90 (16 page)

“That’s untrue.”

“Is it? Have you ever been free to talk about your world before?”

“No, it is forbidden…”

“You see what I mean?”

“I do.”

“Instead of examining man, who has already given you the Dictates and destroyed himself, why not examine yourself and understand why you do what you do?”

Kong’s lips bared in a snarl as another crackle sounded from the helmet and a column of black smoke wisped up. He growled, “That would go against the Dictates.”

“But if you would have a living society of thinkers, of men, you must not be controlled by the dead hand of the past. Instead, you must go forward and find out new secrets. Is that not your goal?”

“I’m not sure that I understand.”

“Is your goal to be like men, to become men?”

“Yes.”

“Are men forbidden by their inner thoughts to discuss certain ideas?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then you think correctly, for they are not. You must throw off the Dictates of the robots.”

Kong winced as his helmet crackled.

“Until the robots’ control is destroyed, for they sound like tyrants to me, you cannot become what you wish.”

Kong lifted his lips in another snarl. “You do not understand properly, Socrates. Your advice goes against the Dictates, and therefore goes against the greater good.”

“But you have already gone against the Dictates. Because of the damage to your helmet, you have gained half-freedom. Now your knowledge is impaired. Is that for your own greatest good?”

“I—I,” Kong stammered. His helmet crackled and buzzed, and a finger-thick stream of black smoke puffed up. He blinked rapidly and ground his teeth together.

“To become a man, you must go beyond the Dictates.”

A buzz popped from the helmet, quickly switching to a low hum and then silence. Kong’s eyes widened in surprise. He looked at the parchment in his hand.

“You have discovered something,” Socrates said. “What is it?”

“The Dictates,” Kong whispered, “they seem to be gone.”

“Gone?”

“I understand how to go back home, how to use my time-pod.”

“Can you discuss the Dictates with me?”

“Indeed, but they are unimportant. They do not control me any longer. I can decide my own actions now.”

Socrates nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Then you are now a man.”

Kong smiled back, revealing his yellow fangs. “I remember now that a time portal will open on the island of Salamis in another three hours. I’ll float the pod over there and go back in time to the Trojan War. I’ve always wanted to witness it, but I was forbidden to go. Thank you, Socrates, for the dialogue.”

Socrates nodded and smiled once again, and then he rolled back over to sleep while Kong quietly took his leave.

The End