The Warlock's Companion by Christopher Stasheff

you the answer I have gained by experience: 'Obey, but be true to your programming.' "
    Geoffrey frowned. "What use is that to a flesh-and-blood person? What programming have we, to be true to?"
    "You will have to discover that for yourself, Geoffrey;" Fess answered. "That is a part of what adolescence is for."
    The children stared at him, trying to decide whether or not to be outraged.
    Then Magnus smiled. "Yet thou didst not know this when thou didst first awake, didst thou?"
    "I did not have subroutines for resolving conflicts between my program and the daily problems I encountered, no. But my program does allow for development of such subroutines."
    "And thou didst form these subroutines by contemplation of the events of which thou hast but now told us, didst thou not?"
    "That is an accurate statement, yes."
    "Then thou didst have an adolescence!" Cordelia crowed.
    "A period equivalent to human adolescence, yes. I am glad it pleases you to discover that, Cordelia."
    "Oh, we ever seek to learn from they who have gone o'er the road before us," Magnus said airily. "From whom didst thou learn to resolve such conflicts as these, Fess?"
    The robot was silent a moment, then said slowly, "I worked out my subroutines from principles contained in my basic program, Magnus. However, I did incorporate some concepts from one human being, who professed ideas that formed perfect loops, comparing present events to past events, enabling one to discern similarities and contrasts, and thereby judge the appropriate action to be taken."
    "And that person was?"
    "The leader of the fugitives."
    "Thy third owner?" Magnus stared. "How came he to have so great an impact on thee?"
    "Principally by the brilliance of his mind, Magnus—though he would have disclaimed such a statement. And the effects of his ideas were no doubt enhanced by his being the first of my owners to be a good human being."
    "I can credit that, from what thou hast said." Magnus frowned. "Who was he, this chief fugitive, this paragon?"
    "His name was Tod Tambourin, and he was scarcely a paragon, though certainly, at heart, a very good man."
    "Tod Tambourin!" Cordelia stared, aghast. "Dost thou mean this 'Whitey the Wino' of whom thou hast but now told us? He who aided his granddaughter out of the agony of her parents' death?"
    "The same," Fess confirmed.
    Gregory frowned. "Yet how doth he come to be the namesake of that other 'Tod Tambourin' thou hast taught us of, in our schoolroom?"
    "By the easiest of means—he was not the namesake, but the same man."
    Geoffrey's mouth dropped open, flabbergasted. " That Tod Tambourin? That weakling man of pen and ink? Him whom thou dost say was the greatest poet of the Terran sphere?"
    "That is not merely my opinion, children, but the consensus of Terran critics—and he was scarcely a weakling."
    "Yet 'tis he whose verses thou hast made us con by heart," Geoffrey objected, "whether we would or no."
    "Wast thou so reluctant, then?" Magnus jibed.
    Geoffrey frowned. "Not with 'The Rebels and the Admiral,' nay, nor with his 'Foc'sle Ballads.' Yet for his 'Decline and Fall of Liberty,' I've little use."
    "Nor I," Cordelia agreed, "yet I shall ever treasure his 'Young Wife's Rejoicing' and 'The Dandy's Courtship.' "
    "Thou wouldst," Geoffrey scoffed.
    "Every person who has read his verses has a favorite, children," Fess said quickly, forestalling mayhem, "though they frequently know not who wrote them. Yes, my third owner was Tod Tambourin. He gave me as a wedding present to his granddaughter, Lona, and I have served her family ever since."
    Magnus stared at Fess. "Thou dost not mean that we are of the blood of Tod Tambourin!"
    "You should not be so surprised," Fess chided. "Have you not found that, when your heart is light, you cannot keep from singing?"
    The children looked at one another in amazement.
    "But enough now, your parents call."
    "More, Fess. More of Tod Tambourin!" Cordelia pleaded. But the great horse shook his head, and led them