It was not difficult to locate Airlee-which was fortunate, for the robot could guide him no further. Alvin had expected this, and felt a little glad to have discovered some limits to its powers. It was unlikely that it would ever have heard of Airlee, so the position of the village would never have been stored in its memory cells.
After a little experimenting, Alvin brought his ship to rest on the hillside that had given him his first glimpse of Lys. It was quite easy to control the machine; he had only to indicate his general desires and the robot attended to the details. It would, he imagined, ignore dangerous or impossible orders, though he had no intention of giving any if he could avoid it. Alvin was fairly certain that no one could have seen his arrival. He thought this rather important, for he had no desire to engage in mental combat with Seranis again. His plans were still somewhat vague, but he was running no risks until he had established friendly relations. The robot could act as his ambassador, while he remained safely in the ship.
He met no one on the road to Airlee. It was strange to sit in the spaceship while his field of vision moved effortlessly along the familiar path, and the whispering of the forest sounded in his ears. As yet he was unable to identify himself fully with the robot, and the strain of controlling it was still considerable.
It was nearly dark when he reached Airlee, and the little houses were floating in pools of light. Alvin kept to the shadows and had almost reached Seranis’s home before he was discovered. Suddenly there was an angry, high-pitched buzzing and his view was blocked by a flurry of wings. He recoiled involuntarily before the onslaught; then he realized what had happened. Krif was once again expressing his resentment of anything that flew without wings.
Not wishing to hurt the beautiful but stupid creature, Alvin brought the robot to a halt and endured as best he could the blows that seemed to be raining upon him. Though he was sitting in comfort a mile away, he could not avoid flinching and was glad when Hilvar came out to investigate.
At his master’s approach Krif departed, still buzzing balefully. In the silence that followed, Hilvar stood looking at the robot for a while. Then he smiled.
«Hello, Alvin,» he said. «I’m glad you’ve come back. Or are you still in Diaspar?»
Not for the first time, Alvin felt an envious admiration for the speed and precision of Hilvar’s mind.
«No,» he said, wondering as he did so how clearly the robot echoed his voice. «I’m in Airlee, not very far away. But I’m staying here for the present.»
Hilvar laughed.
I think that’s just as well. Seranis has forgiven you, but as for the Assembly-well, that is another matter. There is a conference going on here at the moment-the first we have ever had in Airlee.,,
«Do you mean,» asked Alvin, «that your councilors have actually come here? With your telepathic powers, I should have thought that meetings weren’t necessary.»
«They are rare, but there are times when they are felt desirable. I don’t know the exact nature of the crisis, but three Senators are already here and the rest are expected soon.»
Alvin could not help smiling at the way in which events in Diaspar had been mirrored here. Wherever he went, he now seemed to be leaving a trail of consternation and alarm be,hind him.
I think it would be a good idea,» he said, «if I could talk to this Assembly of yours-as long as I can do so in safety.»
«It would be safe for you to come here yourself,» said Hilvar, «if the Assembly promises not to try and take over your mind again. Otherwise, I should stay where you are. I’ll lead your robot to the Senators-they’ll be rather upset to see it.»
Alvin felt that keen but treacherous sense of enjoyment and exhilaration as he followed Hilvar into the house. He was meeting the rulers of Lys on more equal terms now; though he felt no rancor against them, it was very pleasant to know that he was now master of the situation, and in command of powers which even yet he had not fully turned to account.
The door of the conference room was locked, and it was some time before Hilvar could attract attention. The minds of the Senators, it seemed, were so completely engaged that it was difficult to break into their deliberations. Then the walls slid reluctantly aside, and Alvin moved his robot swiftly forward into the chamber.
The three Senators froze in their seats as he floated toward them, but only the slightest flicker of surprise crossed Seranis’s face. Perhaps Hilvar had already sent her a warning, or perhaps she had expected that, sooner or later, Alvin would return.
«Good evening,» he said politely, as if this vicarious entry were the most natural thing in the world. «I’ve decided to come back.»
Their surprise certainly exceeded his expectations. One of the Senators, a young man with graying hair, was the first to recover.
«How did you get here?» he gasped.
The reason for his astonishment was obvious. Just as Diaspar had done, so Lys must also have put the subway out of action.
«Why, I came here just as I did last time,» said Alvin, unable to resist amusing himself at their expense.
Two of the Senators looked fixedly at the third, who spread his hands in a gesture of baffled resignation. Then the young man who had addressed him before spoke again.
«Didn’t you have any-difficulty?» he asked.
«None at all,» said Alvin, determined to increase their confusion. He saw that he had succeeded.
«I’ve come back,» he continued, «under my own free will, and because I have some important news for you. However, in view of our previous disagreement I’m remaining out of sight for the moment. If I appear personally, will you promise not to try to restrict my movements again?»
No one said anything for a while, and Alvin wondered what thoughts were being silently interchanged. Then Seranis spoke for them all.
«We won’t attempt to control you again-though I don’t think we were very successful before.»
«Very well,» replied Alvin. «1 will come to Airlee as quickly as I can.»
He waited until the robot had returned; then, very carefully, he gave the machine its instructions and made it repeat them back to him. Seranis, he was quite sure, would not break her word; nevertheless he preferred to safeguard his line of retreat.
The air lock closed silently behind him as he left the ship. A moment later there was a whispering «hiss…» like a long-drawn gasp of surprise, as the air made way for the rising ship. For an instant a dark shadow blotted out the stars; then the ship was gone.
Not until it had vanished did Alvin realize that he had made a slight but annoying miscalculation of the kind that could bring the best-laid plans to disaster. He had forgotten that the robot’s senses were more acute than his own, and the night was far darker than he had expected. More than once he lost the path completely, and several times he barely avoided colliding with trees. It was almost pitch-black in the forest, and once something quite large came toward him through the undergrowth. There was the faintest crackling of twigs, and two emerald eyes were looking steadfastly at him from the level of his waist. He called softly, and an incredibly long tongue rasped across his hand. A moment later a powerful body rubbed affectionately against him and departed without a sound. He had no idea what it could be.
Presently the lights of the village were shining through the trees ahead, but he no longer needed their guidance for the path beneath his feet had now become a river of dim blue fire. The moss upon which he was walking was luminous, and his footprints left dark patches which slowly disappeared behind him. It was a beautiful and entrancing sight, and when Alvin stooped to pluck some of the strange moss it glowed for minutes in his cupped hands before its radiance died.