Part 15 (2/2)

'But there are several hundred people here, Drathro.'

'The work-units exist only to serve me. Without me they would have no function.'

'You can't see beyond your tin nose, can you,' said the Doctor exasperatedly.

'Is that abuse, Doctor?'

The Doctor made a mighty effort to keep calm. Robots responded to logic, not emotion. 'Listen, Drathro...'

'I am listening, Doctor.'

'Drathro, you are only a robot. Those people out there, the work-units, the organics, whatever you call them, are living creatures. They have a right to their lives.'

'Explain, why?'

The Docor sighed. 'I don't think I can, not in your terms. Whoever programmed you forgot to include moral values.'

'I understand values, Doctor. Is it your claim that organics are of greater value than robots?'

'Yes, if you care to look at it that way.'

'Then why should I be in command of organics?'

'You shouldn't. Without organics, there would be no robots, no one to create them.'

'Accepted,' said Drathro triumphantly. 'This proves that robots are more advanced than organics, therefore of greater value.'

The Doctor buried his head in his hands.

'Is there another way into the Castle, Merdeen?' demanded Peri. 'A back door or something.'

He shook his head. 'There are only the big doors.'

'There must be some other way in. The Doctor may need help. I've got to get in there.'

'There's the ration chute,' said Balazar.

'Ration chute?'

'Of course,' said Merdeen. 'Every day the Immortal sends out food to the work units. The chute must lead into the Castle.'

'Merdeen, you're a pal,' said Peri. 'You're both pals.

Now, lead me to this chute.'

The Doctor was still continuing his extraordinary debate.

He knew he had no chance of overcoming Drathro physically. He just had to win him over.

Robots were logical beings, and the course the Doctor was advocating was strictly logical. Surely Drathro must understand?

'Your trouble is, Drathro,' said the Doctor, 'you have no real concept of what life is!'

'I have studied my work-units for five centuries, Doctor.

I understand all their responses.'

'Understanding isn't knowing, Drathro. Your work-units are the result of millions of years of development.

Life!'

'I understand evolution.'

'But you don't. If you understood anything of what life was about, you would want to help me save those people out there.'

'But why. Doctor? I have said that without me they have no purpose.'

'Everything in life has purpose, Drathro. Every creature plays its part. The purpose of life is too big to be knowable.

A million computers couldn't solve that one.'

'This discussion is of no value,' said Drathro dismissively. 'I do not wish my work-units to continue when I have ceased to function.'

'Oh, so that's it, is it,' said the Doctor softly. 'Hubris!'

'Hubris!? What is hubris?'

'Overwhelming arrogance. Insolent conceit. A human sin. You've controlled your pointless little empire far too long. Now you can't see anything beyond it.'

Dibber and Glitz were studying the Castle doors.

'We'll have to blast through them, Dibber.'

'Don't like it, Mr Glitz.'

'Why not? Five rounds rapid should do the trick.'

'What if the L3 robot is still functioning? And what if he's got an emergency backup support system?'

Glitz frowned. 'There's a lot of ”What ifs” in there, lad!'

'Yeah, I know, said Dibber. 'And the most important of all is, what if I'm right?'

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