“Debating with you is exhausting,” said Steve. “I see the logic in all the particulars. But if I look at the whole picture, I’m just not convinced that moving four ordinary horses will matter in the long run.”
“I have no idea how these horses will spend the remainder of their lives,” said Hunter. “I do know that leaving them here might help someone here, or hinder someone in Khanbaliq, at some indeterminate point in the future.”
“I can’t believe we’re arguing endlessly about this in the middle of the night on the edge of Mongolia,” said Marcia. “Where are we going tosleep? Andwhen?”
“Why can’t we do what Wayne did?” Steve asked suddenly. “However he managed to do it.”
“What, exactly?” Hunter asked.
“We’ve already figured out that Wayne has somehow rigged his belt unit to move him and Ishihara in time without returning to the institute.”
“That is the case,” said Hunter.
“Well, can’t you adjust our unit the same way?” Steve asked. “If Wayne could do it, you must be able to. Then we can all return, even with the horses, because the sphere won’t be involved at all.”
“Yes, I assume I can figure it out,” said Hunter. “However, I do not want to further develop time travel technology. If humans gain wide use of it, they will do irreparable harm to themselves.”
“You mean that’s the only reason you haven’t done it already?” Marcia asked in amazement.
“Yes. The First Law imperative.”
“I don’t get it.” Steve sighed loudly. “Hunter, the technologyalready exists; we agreed a long time ago Wayne knows how to do it.”
“Even so, the more this knowledge is confined, the better off humans will be.”
“Hunter, look,” Steve said impatiently, “the faster we grab Wayne and MC 5, the better off humans will be. How aboutthat line of argument?”
“It is also logical.”
“Good,” said Steve. “Hunter, the time travel technology is going to be a problem no matter what we do tonight. You acknowledge that? “
“Yes, of course.”
“Then suppose you figure out how to make us competitive with Wayne now, and we worry about how to handle the secret of time travel after we’ve finished our missions?”
“This has some logic, too,” said Hunter.
“Now that Wayne has a two-day head start on us, I’d say it’s extremely logical.”
“All right.” Hunter said nothing more, remaining completely motionless.