The Rod of Light (Soul of the Robot)

The messenger servitor had dismounted from his machine and was entering the same shed where, nearly a year ago, Jasperodus had seen human prisoners connected to the logic junction. He set off towards it, followed by Igor and accompanied by the other servitor, who kept a precarious balance astride his tandem-wheeled vehicle.

When they reached the shed, the messenger re-emerged from it. ‘Gargan is within. He is waiting for you.’

Jasperodus led the way into the cool interior. Much was changed. The previous equipment had all been removed. Instead, the shed was filled with a maze of honeycombed banks through which moved an assortment of robots, mostly taken from the depleted heap outside by the look of them. Their task involved constant inspection of the honeycombs. Often they removed spindly components and replaced them from trolleys they towed through the aisles.

Near the entrance stood Gargan, with Exlog and Gasha. The cult master turned ponderously to greet Jasperodus, his short arms moving with a clicking sound. His milky eyes gazed impassively from the broad dome of his head.

‘You have been gone a long time, Jasperodus,’ he said in his smooth voice. ‘Who is this you have brought with you?’

‘Allow me to introduce Igor. He is all I could find, I am afraid, of the group I went to seek. He had worked as an assistant to the group.’

Suddenly Gasha took a stride forward. He pointed a finger at Igor.

‘Enemy. This is a Borgor construct.’

‘I found him in Gordona,’ Jasperodus lied. ‘He escaped from Borgor control a long time ago.’

‘Impossible. Borgor robots practically do not have the capacity for free action. No such construct could ever be counted one of us.’

‘You will find that Igor is an exception.’

Gasha turned to address Gargan. ‘We can expect only treachery from this Borgor construct.’

‘Then let him be disabled,’ Gargan commanded.

Exlog stepped past Jasperodus, moving with astonishing swiftness. Coming to Igor’s rear, he deftly opened his inspection plate. Igor began speaking, in the tone of ingratiating humility he was accustomed to employing in Borgor. ‘If there is any way I can be of assistance, sirs, I pledge my fullest cooperation—’

And then he was switched off, to stand like a metal statue.

‘Have the servitors put him in the store room,’ Gargan said. His eyes fell on Jasperodus. ‘We may reactivate him later, pending your debriefing and a full examination of his mental condition.’

Jasperodus nodded. It made no difference now. Igor had already connected the transmitter to its power source.

‘Did you bring back any useful information from Gordona?’ Gargan enquired.

‘I am afraid not, apart from a few details Igor can provide.’

‘No matter. The end of darkness is near. Since your departure our work has been of the greatest intensity, our progress rapid. I can reveal that we have perfected the arts alluded to in the notebook, solving all requisite problems and duplicating the missing processes. One step alone remains to be accomplished, and as to that, all is ready.’

Gargan’s tone was triumphant. He raised an arm to indicate the honeycomb maze. ‘Before you is one part of the new proceeding. It is a type of capacitor storing what we think of as a new species of energy: informational energy. We call it such because it is information with a signal content so high it develops new properties. The components are delicate, with a high failure rate. As you see, they require frequent replacement.

‘The capacitor acts as a buffer store for the main part of the process, which is housed in a new building. Come, let me show you.’

Leaving the shed, Gargan conducted Jasperodus towards the new erection he had observed when landing. When they were halfway across the dusty ground it suddenly seemed to Jasperodus that its zinc and iron sang, making the air shimmer. He faltered in his step. But the impression vanished just as quickly.

Servitors guarded the entrance. Gargan ignored them, passing directly within. Jasperodus followed, and found the scene confusing at first. The shed was clearly divided into two or more large compartments, for the west wall fell short of its true extent. The east wall was lined with a row of cubicles. Most of the interior, however, was filled with a horizontal array of milky translucent tubes, not unlike fluorescent lighting tubes but running the length of the section. Through the interstices of the array a few robots could be glimpsed, including some of Gargan’s team.

‘You behold success, Jasperodus. Here is the apparatus for extracting consciousness from the human brain.’

He paused for Jasperodus to take in the scene. ‘Our great task can be resolved into three main stages or problems. First, how to extract consciousness from a conscious mind. Second, how to store this consciousness in a neutral retort. Third, how to infuse it into another, robotic brain. In that same order—for they proved progressively difficult—the three phases have been mastered.