Rebel by Mike Resnick Read Free Book Online

don't tell me what I want to know, I fully intend to melt what passes for your head until it is nothing but a metallic puddle."
    "I told you before, sir," said the robot. "I have no sense of self-preservation."
    "I know," said Cole. "But you've also told me that you have a sense of duty. If you don't tell me whether Val is here and, if so, what room she's in, I will melt your head down to a molten lump, do the same to any other android who stands in my way, and I will then break down every door in the house looking for Val, and I will have absolutely no respect for your patrons' privacy. Is that quite clear?"
    "That is unacceptable," said the robot.
    "Then I suggest that it is time for you to make a value judgment. Is it better to answer my question or to end your existence while not protecting the privacy of most of your patrons and the property of your owners?"
    The robot stood absolutely still for almost ten seconds. "The patron known as Val is in Room 16."
    "Can you summon her?"
    "No, sir. You must contact her yourself."
    "I have a feeling she doesn't like to be hampered by clothing or equipment," said Cole. "Can you summon the robot she's with?"
    "The android ," the robot corrected him. "She is with two of them. I can contact them, but I cannot summon them."
    "Can you patch my voice through one of them?"
    "Your message, yes. Your voice, no."
    "All right," said Cole. "Here's my message: Val, this is Cole. You've got an hour to wear out your partners and finish up your fun. Then I want you to report to me over at Duke's Place. We've got a job to do, and it can't wait."
    The robot was motionless again for a few seconds. "The message has been transmitted."
    "Fine," said Cole. "May I make a suggestion?"
    "What is it, sir?"
    "She's going to be in a foul mood when she comes out of that room. If I were you, I'd develop a sense of self-preservation in the next hour and be somewhere else when she emerges."

 
    Duke's Place was crowded, as usual.
    Cole sat at the table the Platinum Duke had reserved for him and his crew. He was joined by David Copperfield, Sharon Blacksmith, and the Duke himself. They spoke about the art galleries, the theater, and the murderball results from the Quinellus Cluster, and finally Sharon could stand it no longer.
    "Damn it, Wilson!" she said at last. "You've been indulging in small talk for forty-five minutes, which is half an hour longer than you've done it in all the time I've known you. What the hell's going on?"
    "Nothing," said Cole. "I'm just relaxing."
    "And glancing at the door every ten seconds," she continued. "Who do you think is going to walk through it?"
    "You never know," said Cole.
    "You know what I think?" said Sharon.
    "I have no idea what you think."
    "I think you're chatting away about all these things you couldn't care less about so you don't inadvertently talk about what really interests you!"
    "You want to talk about sex and food, I'll talk about sex and food," he said.
    "Bah!" Sharon got to her feet. "I'm going to get a breath of air. You'll tell us when you're ready to."
    "The air's the same out there as in here," said the Duke.
    "True," said Sharon. "But out in the corridors I don't have to listen to his bullshit."
    She turned and began walking away.
    "If you run after her, I believe you could catch her before she leaves the casino," offered Copperfield.
    "She's a free agent," said Cole.
    "Ah!" said Copperfield, his alien face alight with excitement. "You're having a lover's quarrel!"
    "I'm not quarreling with anyone."
    Val entered the casino just at that moment.
    "Excuse me, gentlemen," said Cole. "I have to speak to my Third Officer. I'll be right back."
    "Have her come over to the table and speak to her right here," suggested Copperfield.
    "She's got a crush on you, David," said Cole. "I wouldn't want her making a fool of herself in front of all these people."
    "She has?" asked the little alien, his face lighting up. "Really?"
    "Would I kid you?" said Cole, getting up and