Chapter 3 Chapter 3 The Edge of Riot

There were not as many people gathered inside the store as there were outside.The manager had the foresight to activate the pressure door when the dispute first broke out, so as to prevent troublemakers from coming in to make trouble.But this also makes the parties involved in the dispute unable to get out. But this is only a secondary issue. Bailey took out the police passer and passed through the pressure door.He was surprised to find that R. Daniel was still following him.The robot is pocketing its passer.His pass is thinner, smaller than the standard police pass, and more delicate and beautiful.

The manager immediately ran towards them and shouted: "Officer! My clerk was appointed by the city government, and I am absolutely right!" Three robots stood inside like poles, and there were six other people near the pressure door, all women. "Okay." Bailey said clearly and advantageously, "What's going on? What are you arguing about?" "I'm here to buy shoes," shrieked a woman. "Why can't I have a decent clerk serve me? Don't I deserve respect?" Her clothes, especially her hat, were like her The attitude is just as exaggerated.Her face was flushed with anger, but she still couldn't hide the overly thick make-up.

The manager said, "I'll call on her if I have to. But, officer, how can I call on so many of them all by myself? There's nothing wrong with my people, they're all registered and licensed. I have Their function manual, with warranty” "Functional instructions!" the woman screamed, letting out a piercing laugh, and turned to the others: "Listen! He actually said it was his "person"! Are you okay? Those things aren't people! They're robots! "She deliberately stretched out each syllable. "In case you don't know what good things they do, let me tell you! They steal people's jobs! That's why the government keeps protecting them, because they don't need money for their work, they don't need anything. How many people do it for this reason , moved to barracks-like communal quarters, and ate raw sourdough. Those were decent, noble, hard-working families. If I were the boss, I'd let everyone smash all the robots. I tell you!"

The other women chattered and quarreled, and the crowd outside the pressure door became louder and louder. Bailey knew very well that R. Daniel Oliva was standing next to him, and he was very nervous and anxious.He looked at the clerks behind him.They are products of the earth, and cheap products at that.They're just robots that do a few simple jobs.They know all the shoe numbers, prices, and sizes for each shoe.They can keep an eye on the amount of stock at any time, perhaps better than people, because they have no interest in other things.They can also calculate the purchase quantity and measure the size of the customer's footboard.

Harmless on their own, they can be incredibly dangerous when plentiful. The day before, no, just two hours ago Baley couldn't believe that he felt so sorry for this woman. But at this moment, he knew very well that R. Daniel was by his side, and he was very suspicious. Could it be that R. Daniel could not replace a C-5 plainclothes criminal policeman?At the thought of this, the image of the public quarters flashed before his eyes. The taste of yeast syrup welled up in his mouth.He thought of his father. His father had been a nuclear physicist with a high status in New York City.Later, an accident occurred in the power plant, and his father was responsible for the accident, and was deprived of his status as a result.The details of what happened to Bailey are unclear; he was just over a year old when it happened.

However, he clearly remembers his childhood living in public housing estates. The overall life of hardship and hardship has reached the limit of human endurance.He had lost all memory of his mother, who died shortly after her arrival in the public quarters. But his memory of his father is still very clear.He drank heavily, was drunk all day long, and was in a daze. Occasionally, he would talk about the past with the children in a harsh and hoarse voice. When Bailey was eight years old, his father died, still a disenfranchised man.Bailey and his two older sisters moved to the Orphan Section, known as the "Children's Floor."Their Uncle Boris was too poor to change that fact.

It was still hard life in the orphanage.And, because his father didn't have any status privileges, Bailey had a hard time at school. And now, standing here, in the midst of an increasingly agitated crowd, he must suppress those people, those men and women, who are only afraid of being deprived of their identities for themselves and those they love. Status, just like what he was afraid of. He said to the woman who had spoken in a monotonous tone: "Ma'am, don't make trouble anymore, these shop assistants didn't hurt you." "Of course they didn't hurt me!" the woman cried. "They can't hurt me either! Do you think I'll let those cold, greasy fingers touch me? I'm here to be treated like a human being. I I'm a citizen. I have the right to demand that my reception be human. And, listen to me, I have two kids at home waiting for dinner. They can't go to the district restaurant without me, and I don't want them to be like orphans Same. I have to go."

Bai Lai felt that his anger was gradually becoming uncontrollable: "If you were willing to let people greet you, you would have gone home by now. It's really troublesome and troublesome!" "What?" The woman looked shocked: "What did you say? Do you think you can talk to me like a bum? I think it's time for the government to show that it's time to make it clear that there are only robots on the earth and nothing else. No more? I'm a hard working woman and I have my rights..." She kept saying, endlessly. Bailey was caught in a dilemma, caught between a rock and a hard place.The situation got out of hand.Now even if this woman is willing to accept the service in the store, those waiting outside will not give up.The masses can do anything by showing their ugly faces.

At least a hundred people had gathered outside the window.Since the two plainclothes criminals entered the shoe store, the number of people outside has doubled. "When encountering such a case, what is the general procedure?" R. Daniel asked suddenly. Bailey almost jumped up in fright. "Just to be clear," he said, "this is not an ordinary case." "What about legally?" "These robots are legally assigned here. They're licensed shop assistants, nothing illegal." They whispered in low voices.Bailey pretended to be very businesslike, dignified.Daniel is still full of emotions.

"In that case," said R. Daniel, "put this woman into service, or let her go!" The corner of Bailey's mouth twitched slightly: "What we have to deal with is a group of rioting people, not this woman. I think we have to call the riot team to deal with it, there is no other way." "Since they are all citizens, it shouldn't and is unnecessary to mobilize a senior law enforcement officer to direct everyone what to do." Daniel said, turning his broad face to the manager of the shoe store. "Sir, release the pressure door." Bailey wanted to reach out to pull R. Daniel, but stopped halfway.At this juncture, if two law enforcement officials clash openly, all chances for a peaceful resolution will inevitably be dashed.

The manager looked at Bale protestingly, and Bale looked away. R. Daniel did not hesitate. "I order you by the authority of the law!" The manager complained in a low voice reluctantly: "If any goods or equipment in the store are damaged, I will be held responsible by the city government for all losses. I made a statement first, and I followed orders." Barriers removed, men and women poured in.The crowd cheered.They feel they have won. Bailey had heard of similar riots.He had even witnessed such a riot once.He had seen the robot being lifted up by a dozen hands, and the heavy, still body fell on the muscular arms and was lifted out. People pulled and twisted these human imitations made of metal vigorously, and even iron, pressure needles, and needles came in handy.In the end, the poor thing was all reduced to a pile of metal sheets and wires.And the most intricate and expensive electronic brains created by human brains are thrown around in people's hands like footballs, and they are smashed into waste in an instant. At this moment, amidst the elation, the destructive force finally exploded, and it could not be restrained.The moving crowd will target anything that can be dismantled or smashed. The robot shop assistants in the shoe store may not know what happened to their own kind, but when the crowd poured into the shoe store, they all screamed and raised their hands in front of them, as if trying to avoid it in the most primitive way. Danger. And the woman who caused the turmoil, seeing the scene suddenly evolve far beyond her original expectations, opened her mouth wide in fear and trembled all over. "Hey, wait a minute! Hey, don't do that!" she yelled. The woman's hat was squeezed askew and slid down over her face.She couldn't speak, just a series of meaningless screams. The manager was also yelling, "Stop them! Officer, tell them to stop!" R. Daniel spoke.It was completely impossible to see that he was exerting force, his voice suddenly rose, and the decibels were higher than the normal human range.Bailey thought again, of course, he wasn't "Anyone who dares to move again, shoot immediately!" R. Daniel said. A man in the back yelled, "Beat him!" However, for a while, no one moved. R. Daniel jumped on a chair very quickly, and stepped from the chair to a display case.The slightly colored fluorescent light seeping out from the gap of the polarized molecular membrane made his indifferent and smooth face into something gloomy and unearthly. Not of this world, Bailey thought. R. Daniel waits there, the scene is still.He was like a silent, formidable giant. Then R. Daniel spoke.He articulated clearly: "You will say that this guy is just a nerve whip or a scratcher in his hand. If everyone rushes forward together, we can pin him to the ground, at most one or two people Hurt, and the wounded will heal. Then we can do what we want, send law and order to die in the outer world!" His voice was neither fierce nor angry, but full of authority.It was a confident, commanding tone.He continued: "You're wrong! What I'm holding is neither a nerve whip nor a scratcher. It's a blaster, a deadly weapon. I'll use it, and I won't just point it at the top of your heads Shoot. Before you know what's going on, I'll kill many of you, maybe everyone. I mean what I say. Does anyone doubt?" There was a commotion outside the crowd, but the number of people was not increasing.Although there were still people approaching the store entrance to watch the excitement, the people in the store were scrambling to disperse.Those closest to R. Daniel held their breath and struggled to keep themselves from being pushed forward by those behind. Woman in hat breaks the ice.Suddenly she burst into tears and yelled, "He's going to kill us! I didn't do anything. Oh! Let me out! Let me out!" She turned around and faced a crowded wall of men and women. A wall of people who can't move.Her knees gave way and she knelt down. The silent crowd gradually retreated, and the signs of movement became more obvious. R. Daniel jumped out of the display case, "I'm going to the door now." He said, "Whoever touches me will suffer, men and women are the same. When I get to the door, if anyone doesn't go back to work on himself I'll shoot him. This woman..." "No! Don't!" cried the woman in the hat. "I tell you I didn't do anything, I meant no harm. I don't want to buy shoes, I just want to go home!" "This woman," Daniel ignored her, and continued: "This woman stays, and the clerk will greet her." He started to walk forward. The crowd stared blankly at him.Bailey closed his eyes.It's over!He thought in a turmoil.People are bound to die, and things are getting worse and worse.This is not my fault.It was they who forced a robot to be my companion, it was he who gave him my rank. But what kind of excuse is this?Even he couldn't convince himself.He should have stopped R. Daniel in the first place.He should have seized the time to call the riot squad.But he let R. Daniel decide, and was even cowardly relieved.How much he hated himself for wanting to tell himself that R. Daniel was charming enough to control the scene.A robot actually dominates... But those voices shouting, cursing, moaning, and shouting did not appear.He opened his eyes. The crowd is dispersing. The shoe store manager gradually calmed down.With his crooked coat in order and his unruly hair smooth, he threatened the crowd in a low voice angrily. The siren of the patrol car was approaching from a distance, and stopped suddenly outside the shoe store. Bailey thought: What a quick move, it's all over. The manager tugged at his sleeve: "Let's not make any more trouble, officer." "There won't be any trouble," Bailey replied. It's easy to dismiss patrol car officers.They came after receiving reports from the public that a large number of talents had gathered on the street.They didn't know the whole story, and the crowd had dispersed when they arrived. Bailey narrated the incident lightly, and never mentioned the role played by R. Daniel in the incident. R. Daniel stood aside, looking uninterested in the matter. Afterwards, Bailey pulled R. Daniel aside and leaned against the reinforced concrete column of the building. "Listen," he said, "you know, I don't mean to claim credit." "Strive for merit? Is this a slang term for you people on Earth?" "I did not report your role in this matter." "I don't know much about your customs. In our world, presentations are usually complete. Maybe not in your world. Anyway, riots were avoided, and that's the point, isn't it?" "Really? Well, now you hear clearly." Bailey was angry, but not too loud, so he tried to use strong words. "You are not allowed to do such a thing again!" "No longer obeying the law? If I don't do this kind of thing, then what's the purpose of my existence?" "Don't threaten humans with blasting guns again!" "Ilya, you should know that under no circumstances would I shoot. I'm not capable of harming a human being at all. And, you know, I don't need to shoot. necessary." "It's just a fluke that you didn't have to shoot. Never take that risk again. It's not like I can't perform your deadly stunts" "Desperate stunt? What is a desperate stunt?" "Forget it, let's not talk about it. Think about what I said. I may also point a blaster at the crowd. I have a blaster. But I can't play this kind of gambling game, and neither can you. Call the riot squad It's much safer to deal with it than to act out individual heroism." R. Daniel thought about it seriously, then shook his head. "I don't think you're right, partner Ilya. According to the information I've received on the personality traits of Earthlings, Earthlings are not like outsiders. They are trained to obey authority from the day they are born. Obviously Yes, this is the result of your way of life. I have also proved that as long as you represent authority with a firm enough attitude, one person is more than enough. In fact, the mentality you want to call the riot squad is also a manifestation of You intuitively want a higher authority to take responsibility for you. However, I admit that the actions I have taken would be irrational in our world." Bailey flushed with anger: "If they recognize you as a robot" "They will never recognize it." "Anyway, you have to remember that you are a robot, just a robot, just like the clerk in that shoe store." "Of course, I'm a robot." "You are not human." Bailey found himself becoming cruel involuntarily. R. Daniel seemed to be thinking about his words. "The difference between humans and robots may not be as important as whether they are intelligent or not," he said. "Maybe it's true in your world," Bailey replied, "but it's not true on our Earth." He looked at his watch and saw that he was an hour and fifteen minutes late.His throat was dry and sore at the thought that R. Daniel had won the first round, and had won it while he stood helpless and stupefied. He thought of Barrett, the boy who had been replaced by R. Sammy.He thought of himself too, Elia Belle. He may also be replaced by R. Daniel.Hell, at least his dad was fired for an accident that caused damage and casualties.Maybe the accident was indeed his fault, Baley didn't know.However, assuming his father was replaced by a robot physicist, just for that, and for no other reason than that, what would his father do?Is there really nothing they can do? He said coldly: "Let's go! I have to take you home." "You know," R. Daniel said, "it's not right, we shouldn't bother discussing unimportant things, what matters is wisdom..." Bailey raised his voice. "Okay! That's all for now. Jessie is waiting for us." He walked towards the nearest intercom. "I'd better give her a heads up and tell her we're going up." "Jessie?" "My wife." well!I'm in a good mood to face Jessie, Bailey thought.