"You are aware that you would be forced to keep your end of the bargain even if you did not wish to; and Solcom would not come to your assistance because of the fact that you dared to make such a bargain."

"Do you speak as one who considers this to be a pos- sibility. or as one who knows?"

"As one who knows."

They came to rest in the place once known as Califor- nia. The time was near sunset. In the distance, the surf struck steadily upon the rocky shoreline. Frost released Mordel and considered his surroundings.

"Those large plants . . . ?"

"Redwood trees."

"And the green ones are ... ?"

"Grass."

"Yes- it is as I thought. Why have we come here?"

"Because it is a place which once delighted Man."

"In whal ways?"

"It is scenic, beautiful. . . ."

224.

"Oh."

A humming sound began within Frost, followed by a

series of sharp clicks.

"What are you doing?"

Frost dilated an opening, and two great eyes regarded Mordel from within it.

"What are those?"

"Eyes," said Frost. "I have constructed analogues of the human sensory equipment, so that I may see and smell and taste and hear like a Man. Now, direct my attention to an object or objects of beauty."

"As I understand it, it is all around you here," said

Mordel.

The purring noise increased within Frost, followed by

more clickings.

"What do you see, hear, taste, smell?" asked Mordel.

"Everything I did before," replied Frost, "but within a more limited range."

"You do not perceive any beauty?"

"Perhaps none remains after so long a time," said

Frost.

"It is not supposed to be the sort of thing which gets

used up," said Mordel.

"Perhaps we have come to the wrong place to test the

new equipment. Perhaps there is only a little beauty and

I am overlooking it somehow. The first emotions may be

too weak to detect."

"How do you-feel?"

"I test out at a normal level of function."

"Here comes a sunset," said Mordel. "Try that."

Frost shifted his bulk so that his eyes faced the setting

sun. He caused them to blink against the brightness.

After it was finished, Mordel asked, "What was it

like?"

"Like a sunrise, in reverse."

"Nothing special?"

"No."

"Oh," said Mordel. "We could move to another part of the Earth and watch it again-or watch it in the ris- ing."

"No."

Frost looked at the great trees. He looked at the shad- ows. He listened to the wind and to the sound of a bird.

In the distance, he heard a steady clanking noise.

225.