The Status Civilization

"Was there evidence against me?" "Yes." "Who gave it?" "I cannot reveal his name." "You must!" Barrent said. "Times are changing on Earth. The prisoners are coming back. Did you know that?" "I expected it," the robot-confessor said. "I must have the informer's name," Barrent said. He took the needlebeam out of his pocket and advanced toward the panel. "A machine cannot be coerced," the robot-confessor told him. "Give me the name!" Barrent shouted. "I should not, for your own good. The danger would be too great. Believe me, Will...." "The name!" "Very well. You will find the informer at Thirty-five Maple Street. But I earnestly advise you not to go there. You will be killed. You simply do not know--" Barrent pressed the trigger, and the narrow beam scythed through the panel. Lights flashed and faded as he cut through the intricate wiring. At last all the lights were dead, and a faint gray smoke came from the panel. Barrent left the booth. He put the needlebeam back in his pocket and walked to Maple Street. He had been here before. He knew this street, set upon a hill, rising steeply between oak and maple trees. Those lampposts were old friends, that crack in the pavement was an ancient landmark. Here were the houses, heavy with familiarity. They seemed to lean expectantly toward him, like spectators waiting for the final act of an almost forgotten drama. He stood in front of 35 Maple Street. The silence which surrounded that plain white-shuttered house struck him as ominous. He took the needlebeam out of his pocket, looking for a reassurance he knew he could not find. Then he walked up the neat flagstones and tried the front door. It opened. He stepped inside.