More Than Superhuman Read online

  'Oh, my God, Dan!' she sobbed. 'I needed you so. Where have you been?'

  After a little, Dan gently disengaged himself. Her words had unfortunately reminded him of one of Peter's complaints: that in the course of a sentence or two Anita always turned blame away from herself.

  He sat there, remembering her refusal to see him at the hospital, her departure from the hospital without notifying him, her disappearance, his subsequent attempts to find her — and now these words making him totally responsible for his failure to comfort her, when, as a matter of fact, she had behaved like a maniac throughout.

  There was a time — before Peter's story — when he might not have considered the significance of what she had done so swiftly; would simply have tucked it away with the scores of other times when she had somehow irritated or enraged him.

  Now he felt a heated sensation rising up from some choleric depth. But, remembering, he restrained himself — remembering that Anita, his only sister, had proved herself an easy pickup. For any man. Absolutely any.

  He recalled how she hadn't even glanced at him, had herself made all the moves; had shown no interest in who the man was or what he looked like.

  The bloodcurdling recollection of her manner and approach had an abrupt, subduing effect on him.

  'Anita, you need help.'

  'I'll be all right'

  'Don't be a stupe!' he said with a brother's privileged rudeness. 'You ought to see a psychiatrist.'

  'I've already seen one,' said Anita. 'Dr Schneiter. He's a cute little man. He thinks Peter is a rat, too.'

  The picture, her words evoked of the doctor confirmed Dan's previous low opinion. By agreeing with her, the psychiatrist had barred her from the need to question her own madness.

  So it was up to him. So he would have to drum some sense into her. So be it

  Sitting there, he told her Peter's complaints. He was aware of her blue eyes staring at him. When he had finished, tears suddenly misted the blue: her eyes took on a dark, mottled look.

  She said with a sob, 'So you're on his side? You've turned against me, too.'

  Dan was impatiently convinced that she had not heard most of what he had said.

  'Look,' he argued, 'let's just take one item of Peter's complaint: is it true that you phoned him twelve or more times a day at his office?'

  'I never phoned him at all.' Her tone was angry. The tears had dried, and her eyes flashed with blue sparks. 'I hate him. why would I phone a man I hate?'

  'You didn't hate him then,' Dan pointed out

  'I've always hated him. I never liked him.'

  Dan looked into her eyes. They were sky blue again, but staring. He thought: There's nobody home.

  He remembered an android at college physics class that had been deliberately damaged. It's basic stability gone, it began to answer questions with partially associated answers only. Anita's response resembled that.

  Dan had half-turned away as he had these disturbing thoughts. Before he could face her again, or deduce her intention, she was gone. He saw her hurrying among the tables. Then she was at the table of a man who had come in moments before; Dan recalled observing his entrance with an idle glance.

  As he watched in dismay, Anita tried to pick up the man. But the man shook his head. She argued with him and tried to sit in his lap. As he continued to resist, abruptly she left him, made a wide turn around the far end of the room, and a moment later settled back beside Dan.

  And, as if the interlude had not occurred, said, 'There's another woman, isn't there?'

  Since Dan felt no obligation to Peter, he answered without thinking, 'Yes.'

  'I thought so,' she said. A vindictive look came into her face. 'So that's it.'

  'Just a minute,' said Dan in a groping tone.

  He made a vague gesture with his hand. And then he sat there, stunned. He thought: The truth is, I believe Peter, that the woman came later. What struck him was that now the whole thing would be twisted even more in Anita's mind.

  'Hey, wait a minute,' he said hoarsely. 'That isn't it. That isn't it at all.'

  He saw that she was not listening. The vindictive look was still on her face.

  He said, 'What about these men you've been picking up?'

  'Oh, that!' she said. A shrug of her slender shoulder dismissed his question. She added, 'What a woman does, doesn't count. Women are just objects.'

  The vindictive look had complete possession of her face as she uttered these words.

  Dan gulped, and decided that this was the moment for the real questions he wanted to ask.

  'Maybe we can find out who this woman is,' he said. 'Listen, when you were with that android who played Peter — '

  'I don't want to talk about it!'

  ' — Did you ever go with him anyplace that struck you as unusual?'

  The question seemed to penetrate. 'Just once,' said Anita. 'It was the street with those queer places.'

  'What queer places?' said Dan, who suspected that that was key information and that his idiot sister was going to spoil things by not remembering.

  'You know!' said Anita, waving vaguely. 'I was there once before to a meeting.'

  'With whom? What kind of a meeting?'

  'Ohhh!' she said, and yawned.

  Whereupon she put her arms on the bar, lowered her head onto them, and went to sleep.

  The barkeeper came over. "You'll have to get her out of here,' he said. 'We can't have anybody as drunk as her in here.'

  Dan said, 'Give me a hand.'

  The man promptly helped him carry her into a seat in the cabin of his combo-cruiser. Dan landed on the roof of her apartment building and took her down to her room on a dolly that he had.

  Then, thoughtful, he departed.

  * *

  At three o'clock in the morning, Dan's phone rang.

  He grabbed it, and after a little made out from what the man was saying that Anita was being held at the police station.

  'For what?' he yelled into the mouthpiece.

  'For trying to destroy an android with a hammer.'

  'I'll be over in a few minutes!' Dan yelled.

  And he was.

  Anita and the handsome duplicate android of Peter were brought into the anteroom where Dan waited. It took a little while to get the story.

  It seemed the android had turned Anita in for trying to damage someone else's property: himself.

  The android, who identified himself as Peter II, said with dignity, 'I was lying in my box and I felt this blow on my shoulder padding, I opened my eyes, and there was Anita with a hammer raised for a second blow. Naturally, I removed the destructive instrument from her hand and called the police at once.'

  Quietly Dan bailed her out and took her off to his combo. As he headed, groundside, for the apartment building where she had her room, he was aware of Anita sprawled beside him, head back, eyes closed. Her body seemed limp and helpless; her hair and clothes were disheveled. It seemed useless to upbraid her in her present state.

  'What happened?' he asked finally, glumly. What was all that about?'

  After what must have been a minute, a tired voice answered him. 'I followed him,' she said.

  'Who?'

  'Peter, of course.'

  It still made no sense.

  'Do you know who he's living with?' Anita asked.

  Dan's mind grappled now with a developing feeling that the conversation was getting away from him. 'Why would you follow an android?' he asked peevishly. 'A robot under present law cannot be guilty of a crime, and it doesn't matter who it lives with.'

  Silence greeted his words. Dan took his eyes off the street to glance at her. He nearly went off the road at what he saw.

  Her eyes were open. They were glaring at him with a blue rage. 'Still my stupid little brother,' she hissed. 'I'm talking about Peter. Who else?'

  Her hand came up and slapped him in the face. It was like childhood days. Dan swung about and grabbed at her neck with both hands, and was choking her — whe
n a grinding sound snapped him out of his passion.

  He caught at the wheel. But it was unnecessary. The combo's automatic control mechanism had brought the machine to a halt.

  The bright deserted street was almost like day around them, as brother and sister sat there glaring at each other.

  'All right, who is he living with?' Dan shouted.

  'Me. An android that looks like me.'

  The anger went out of Dan. He recalled what Sutter had told him, that Peter had said that he didn't love the woman he was living with. And, of course, that was now obviously true.

  Dan was patient. Now, look, Anita. You can't be jealous of an android.'

  She sat sullen, staring past him; the way the light fell on her eyes, they seemed slate blue.

  'An android,' said Dan, 'is — well' — he groped — 'it's an android, that's all.'

  Those perfect lips parted and spoke: 'Then why does she have to resemble me? That's degrading.'

  For Dan, hers was an unhappy choice of words. He remembered her behavior at the bar.

  'But just a minute,' he said. 'Why take a hammer to Peter II because Peter I is living with Anita II?'

  'Oh, you men!' said Anita. 'Take me home.'

  Her brother did so, silently.

  * *

  Officer A. Sutter, while cruising on duty the following morning, wrote in his daybook: 'Presumably, during the night, Peter I, II, and III Copeland, Peter I's estranged wife, Anita Copeland, and his brother-in-law, Dan Thaler, continued their various reactions to each other. But I have no additional reports. It is a beautiful day this 1/23/2287.'

  As Sutter finished his account, he grew aware that Inspector Ingrath's face was forming on the screen in front of him. Seeing the man, Sutter wrote mentally, 'On a small screen, he looks almost human.'

  'Uh, Sutter.'

  'Yes, sir.'

  'The Copeland matter.'

  "Yes, Inspector.'

  'I have two reports, uh, before me. The first states that Anita Copeland was in police custody during the night for attempting to, uh, destroy an android — with a hammer.'

  Officer Sutter felt a strange guilt, as if he should have anticipated and prevented such an attack. He said, 'Has the, uh, brother been informed, Inspector?'

  Later he wrote: He'll have me, uh, communicating that way, uh, soon.'

  At the moment, Ingrath said, 'Yes, uh, he obtained her release during the night. However, I have a feeling that you should contact Mr. Thaler now that another interview with the real Peter Copeland is indicated.'

  'Very well, sir. Now, what is the second report?'

  'It says here that Anita Copeland is again in custody.'

  'Uh —' said Officer Sutter. 'You mean, again.'

  'Yes, uh!'

  'What is the charge?'

  'Attacking an android with a hammer.'

  Officer Sutter's face must have shown bewilderment, because Inspector Ingrath said hastily, 'I think you and Mr. Thaler should straighten out this confusion, because I am not clear as to whether it's the same android or another. Will you, uh, attend to the matter?'

  'Of course, sir.'

  As Sutter and Dan Thaler entered the police waiting room, Dan saw Anita sitting in a chair in a comer.

  He hurried Over to her. 'You nut!' he said rudely. 'What's the idea this time?'

  The blue eyes gazed up at him, puzzled. 'Do you know me, sir?'

  Dan felt a chill.

  'I — I — Anita, don't be an idiot!' he stuttered.

  Officer Sutter touched his arm. He had been studying a report. 'Just a moment, Mr. Thaler. I think you've jumped to a false conclusion.

  'Eh?'

  Sutter addressed Anita. Will you describe the attack?'

  The seated woman said, 'Shall I stand up?'

  'No, no.'

  'Very well. Shortly after Peter left for work this morning, the doorbell rang. When I answered it, this woman with the hammer, in whose image I have apparently been constructed, rushed in and attacked me. Naturally, I took the instrument away from her and called the police.'

  Dan Thaler was staring at the perfect duplicate of his sister. 'You — you're the other woman!'

  He turned to Sutter, 'Where's my sister?'

  Sutter indicated the paper he held. 'According to this, she's in custody.'

  Dan's eyes lighted hopefully. 'Look, Officer,' he said, 'This is the one bright feature. This could well be the frame in which we can solve the entire problem.'

  How do you mean?'

  'Before I get Anita I released, why don't we go see Peter I.'

  Peter I was in his office, and he listened with a faraway expression on his face. Finally he said, 'I can guess what is now going on in that woman's noodle. And she's all wrong. The duplication of her body in Anita II doesn't mean that I am constantly longing for her. No person in his right mind would involve himself with Anita I. She is completely impossible. You must make that absolutely clear to her. Impossible.'

  Dan persisted, and as Sutter reported it, stated that 'I must have your explanation.'

  Peter Copeland spread his hands in a dismissing gesture.

  'It's very simple,' he said quietly. 'Physically, I was always attracted to Anita. So I just had an android made to look like her, but otherwise to act like a normal woman should.'

  His eyes grew dreamy.

  'There she is, waiting for me when I get home. Anita II always has my slippers and robe laid out. Dinner is cooking and is served just right at exactly the proper time without histrionics. After dinner, I have brandy, while she washes the dishes without argument. If I want to read or watch TV, I do. And if presently I realize that she's in the bedroom, and I retire, there's still no argument. Now, it happens that I'm a real man with strong needs, and so if I wake up three times during the night, do I get the story about being tired or sleepy? Not at all.' His expression hardened. Why should a woman be tired? If she would have a little consideration for her husband, she would naturally conserve her energies during the day instead of expending them on useless activities. All I ever wanted is just a normal wife behaving in a normal fashion. That's the truth, Dan.'

  He sighed, and reaching into his pocket, drew out a key ring. He removed a key from it and handed it to Dan.

  'I wish you'd check on Peter. II. I'm kind of worried. Did he go back to his box after he was released last night?'

  'Why don't you check it yourself?' asked Dan, merely curious.

  Peter shook his head. 'I'm. staying away from there. I have a feeling if Anita were to pot me with her .38 — yes, she's got one — it would be considered justifiable homicide.'

  Dan took the key; and Sutter and he cruised over and found the android box empty.

  Eagerly, Dan examined his camera. The film had of course developed itself. As he ran it over the spool and peered at it through an opening he saw on the film a small man enter the shot from the direction of the stairway and open the case containing Peter II. There was Peter, much as Dan had left him.

  The little man reached down, turned Peter II on, and said, 'What happened to you? You were to report.'

  Peter II climbed with dignity out of the box and said, 'Dr. Schneiter, I have no programming to that effect.'

  The little man stared at him with a frown; then, thoughtfully: 'Tell me what's happened to you since that first night.'

  Peter II described the arrival of the police and of Anita's brother, and of the brother consigning him to storage. His only memory after that was of Anita hitting him with a hammer and of his turning her over to the police.

  The little man remained thoughtful. 'Theoretically, that hammer blow could have damaged your programming, but that wouldn't explain your failure to leave here on the night you revealed who you were and gave her that sleeping potion. So I'd better check you.'

  He Proceeded to do so, but presently turned the android on again; now the psychiatrist was visibly shaken.

  'Whoever tampered with you,' he said, 'was an expert. I've accordingly programmed y
ou to kill that woman in some secret way, and I'll do the same for Peter III.'

  'Kill Anita?'

  'Yes. I suspected we were in danger when she broke out of all that conditioning and escaped from the hospital. I still can't figure that, but the simplest solution is' — he shrugged — 'death.'

  He broke off. 'You'd better leave here right after I depart.' With that, he turned and walked out of the camera's eye. A minute later, Peter II followed him.

  Dan looked up presently from the film and said to Officer Sutter, 'At the time, it didn't occur to me to ask you, but who ordered the ambul-air that took my sister to the hospital? Did you?'

  'No, the android had already phoned for it. Why?'

  Dan did not reply at once. In his mind a lot of things were falling into place.

  * *

  The dozen men in the dark room watched silently as the film unrolled. After the lights went on, everyone waited; all eyes, including Dan's, fixed on the thoughtful countenance of a stern-looking man who appeared to be in his mid-forties. His name was Edward Jarris, and he was the assistant chief of National Security.

  This individual presently straightened in his chair and shook his head.

  'We can't get away with it,' he said with finality. He turned to Dan. 'A very good effort,' he said, 'but that film could too easily have been doctored; it wouldn't stand in a court.'

  Dan waited. He had attended similar meetings in the past where evidence was reasoned to nothing by a process of legal logic.

  The great man addressed him again: Who else has actually seen one of these super — as you call them — androids?'

  Dan parted his lips to identify officers Sutter and Black, and Peter and Anita.

  But something in the other's tone of voice stopped that instant answer. He said, after a moment, courteously, 'Why don't I prepare a report for you, sir, listing such details?'

  'Yes, of course,' was the testy reply. 'That's the proper method.'

  Whereupon Assistant Chief of National Security Jarris stood up and strode from the room without a backward glance.

  Dan's immediate superior came over and shook his hand admiringly. 'I think you made a big impression,' he said. 'Jarris isn't usually interested in such details.'

  Dan thanked him, hurried to the projection room to secure his film and departed. Once outside, he ran most of the way to his combo, and did not feel safe till he was in the air again.