"I know you are not. But from your mind, I know there are some like you and we will build with those. I will see to it and now that I know clearly the path that must be followed, I will prepare other robots like myself - and they will see to it."
Baley said suddenly, "You mean that mind-reading robots will come to Earth?"
"No, I do not. And you are right to be alarmed. Involving robots directly will mean the construction of the very walls that are dooming Aurora and the Spacer worlds to paralysis. Earthmen will have to settle the Galaxy without robots of any kind. It will mean difficulties, dangers, and harm without measure - events that robots would labor to prevent if they were present - but, in the end, human beings will be better off for having worked on their own. And perhaps someday - some long away day in the future - robots can intervene once more. Who can tell?"
Baley said curiously, "Do you see the future?"
"No sir, but studying minds as I do, I can tell dimly that there are laws that govern human behavior as the Three Laws of Robotics govern robotic behavior; and with these it may be that the future will be dealt with, after a fashion - someday. The human law's are far more complicated than the Laws of Robotics are and I do not have any idea as to how they may be organized. They may be statistical in nature, so that they might not be fruitful expressed except when dealing with huge populations. They may be loosely binding, so that they might not make sense unless those huge populations are unaware of the operation of those laws."
"Tell me, Giskard, is this what Dr. Fastolfe refers to as the future science of 'psychohistory'?"
"Yes, sir. I have gently inserted it into his mind, in order that the process of working it out begin. It will be needed someday, now that the existence of the Spacer worlds as a long-lived robotized culture is coming to an end and a new wave of human expansion by short-lived human beings - without robots - will be beginning.
"And now" - Giskard rose to his feet - "I think, sir, that we must go to Dr. Fastolfe's establishment and prepare for your leave taking. All that we have said here will not be repeated, of course."
"It is strictly confidential, I assure you," said Baley.
"Indeed," said Giskard calmly. "But you need not fear the responsibility of having to remain silent. I will allow you to remember, but you will never have the urge to repeat the matter - not the slightest."
Baley lifted his eyebrows in resignation over that and said, "One thing, though, Giskard, before you clamp down on me. Will you see to it that Gladia is not disturbed on this planet, that she is not treated unkindly because she is a Solarian and has accepted a robot as her husband, and - and that she will accept the offers of Gremionis?"
"I heard your final conversation with Miss Gladia, sir, and I understand. It will be taken care of. Now, sir, may I take my leave of you while no other is watching?" Giskard thrust out his hand in the most human gesture Baley had ever seen him make.
Baley took it. The fingers were hard and cool in his grip. "Good-bye - friend Giskard."
Giskard said, "Good-bye, friend Elijah, and remember that, although people apply the phrase to Aurora, it is, from this point on, Earth itself that is the true World of the Dawn."