The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov Page A

Commissioner, like most non-indulgers, was petty about tobacco smoke.
    “I hope you didn’t tell him Daneel was a robot.”
    “Of course I didn’t.”
    The Commissioner did not relax. One hand remained aimlessly busy with the automatic calendar on his desk.
    “How is it?” he asked, without looking at Baley. “Middling rough.”
    “I’m sorry, Lije.”
    Baley said, firmly, “You might have warned me that he looked completely human.”
    The Commissioner looked surprised. “I didn’t?” Then, with sudden petulance, “Damn it, you should have known. I wouldn’t have asked you to have him stay at your house if he looked like R. Sammy. Now would I?”
    “I know, Commissioner, but I’d never seen a robot like that and you had. I didn’t even know such things were possible. I just wished you’d mentioned it, that’s all.”
    “Look, Lije, I’m sorry. I should have told you. You’re right. It’s just that this job, this whole deal, has me so on edge that half the time I’m just snapping at people for no reason. He, I mean this Daneel thing, is a new-type robot. It’s still in the experimental stage.”
    “So he explained himself.”
    “Oh. Well, that’s it, then.”
    Baley tensed a little. This was it, now. He said, casually, teeth clenched on pipestem, “R. Daneel has arranged a trip to Spacetown for me.”
    “To Spacetown!” Enderby looked up with instant indignation.
    “Yes. It’s the logical next move, Commissioner. I’d like to see the scene of the crime, ask a few questions.”
    Enderby shook his head decidedly. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Lije. We’ve gone over the ground. I doubt there’s anything new to be learned. And they’restrange people. Kid gloves! They got to be handled with kid gloves. You don’t have the experience.”
    He put a plump hand to his forehead and added, with unexpected fervor, “I hate them.”
    Baley inserted hostility into his voice. “Damn it, the robot came here and I should go there. It’s bad enough sharing a front seat with a robot; I hate to take a back seat. Of course, if you don’t think I’m capable of running this investigation, Commissioner—”
    “It isn’t that, Lije. It’s not you, it’s the Spacers. You don’t know what they’re like.”
    Baley deepened his frown, “Well, then, Commissioner, suppose you come along.” His right hand rested on his knee, and two of his fingers crossed automatically as he said that.
    The Commissioner’s eyes widened. “No, Lije. I won’t go there. Don’t ask me to.” He seemed visibly to catch hold of his runaway words. More quietly, he said, with an unconvincing smile, “Lots of work here, you know. I’m days behind.”
    Baley regarded him thoughtfully. “I tell you what, then. Why not get into it by trimension later on. Just for a while, you understand. In case I need help.”
    “Well, yes. I suppose I can do that.” He sounded unenthusiastic.
    “Good.” Baley looked at the wall clock, nodded, and got up. “I’ll be in touch with you.”
    Baley looked back as he left the office, keeping the door open for part of an additional second. He saw the Commissioner’s head begin bending down toward the crook of one elbow as it rested on the desk. The plain-clothes man could almost swear he heard a sob.
    Jehoshaphat! he thought, in outright shock.
    He paused in the common room and sat on the corner of a nearby desk, ignoring its occupant, wholooked up, murmured a casual greeting, and returned to his work.
    Baley unclipped the baffle from the bowl of the pipe and blew into it. He inverted the pipe itself over the desk’s small ash vacuum and let the powdery white tobacco ash vanish. He looked regretfully at the empty pipe, readjusted the baffle, and put it away. Another pipeful gone forever!
    He reconsidered what had just taken place. In one way, Enderby had not surprised him. He had expected resistance to any attempt on his own part to enter Spacetown. He had learned the Commissioner