That meant that his formidable task of finding a useful resolution of the crisis (if that were possible at all) would not be hampered by at least one particular misperception of Auroran society.
Baley wondered if he ought to question Giskard, in order to confirm the conclusions he reached from his conversation with Daneel - and, without much hesitation, decided not to. Giskard's simple and rather unsubtle mind would be of no use. He would "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" to the end. It would be like questioning a recording.
Well, then, Baley decided, he would continue with Daneel, who was at least capable of responding with something approaching subtlety.
He, said, "Daneel, let us consider the case of Jander Panell, which I assume, from what you have said so far, is the first case of roboticide in the history of Aurora. The human being responsible - the killer - is I take it, not known."
"If," said Daneel, "one assumes that a human being was responsible, then his identity is not known. In that, you are right, Partner Elijah."
"What about the motive? Why was Jander Panell killed?"
"That, too, is not known."
"But Jander Panell was a humaniform robot, one like yourself and not one like, for instance, R. Gis - I mean, Giskard."
"That is so. Jander was a humaniform robot like myself."
"Might it not be, then, that no case of roboticide was intended?"
"I do not understand, Partner Elijah."
Baley said, a little impatiently, "Might not the killer have thought this Jander was a human being, that the intention was homicide, not roboticide?"
Slowly, Daneel shook his head. "Humaniform robots are quite like human beings in appearance, Partner Elijah, down to the hairs and pores in our skin. Our voices are thoroughly natural, we can go through the motions of eating, and so on. And yet, in our behavior there are noticeable differences. There may be fewer such differences with time and with refinement of technique, - but as yet they are many. You - and other Earthmen not used to humaniform robots - may not easily notes these differences, but Aurorans would. No Auroran would mistake Jander - or me - for a human being, not for a moment."
"Might some Spacer, other than an Auroran, make the mistake?"
Daneel hesitated. "I do not think so. I do not speak from personal observation or from direct programmed knowledge, but I do have the programming to know that all Spacer worlds are as intimately acquainted with robots as Aurora is - some, like Solaria, even more so - and I deduce, therefore, that no Spacer would miss the distinction between human and robot."
"Are there humaniform robots on the other Spacer worlds?"
"No, Partner Elijah, they exist only on Aurora so far."
"Then other Spacers would not be intimately acquainted with humaniform robots and might well miss the distinctions and mistake them for human beings."
"I do not think that is likely. Even humaniform robots will behave in robotic fashion in certain definite ways that any Spacer would recognize."
"And yet surely there are Spacers who are not as intelligent as most, not as experienced, not as mature. There are Spacer children, if nothing else, who would miss the distinction."
"It is quite certain, Partner Elijah, that the - roboticide was not committed by anyone unintelligent, inexperienced, or young. Completely certain."
"We're making eliminations. Good, If no Spacer would miss the distinction, what about an Earthman? Is it possible that - "
"Partner Elijah, when you arrive in Aurora, you will be the first Earthman to set foot on the planet since the period of original settlement was over. All Aurorans now alive were born on Aurora or, in a relatively few cases, on other Spacer worlds.
"The first Earthman," muttered Baley. "I am honored. Might not an Earthman be present on Aurora without the knowledge of Aurorans?"
"No!" said Daneel with simple certainty.
"Your knowledge, Daneel, might not be absolute."
"No!" came the repetition, in tones precisely similar to the first.
"We conclude, then," said Baley with a shrug, "that the roboticide was intended to be roboticide and nothing else."
"That was the conclusion from the start."
Baley said, "Those Aurorans who concluded this at the start had all the information to begin with. I am getting it now for the first time."
"My remark, Partner Elijah, was not meant in any pejorative manner. I know better than to belittle your abilities."
"Thank you, Daneel. I know there was no intended sneer in your remark. - You said just a while ago that the roboticide was not committed by anyone unintelligent, - inexperienced, or young and that this is completely certain. Let us consider your remark - "
Baley knew that he was taking the long route. He had to. Considering his lack of understanding of Auroran ways and of their manner of thought, he could not afford to make assumptions and skip steps. If he were dealing with an intelligent human being in this way, that person would be likely to grow impatient and blurt out information - and consider Baley an idiot into the bargain. Daneel, however, as a robot, would follow Baley down the winding road with total patience.
That was one type of behavior that gave away Daneel as a robot, however humaniform he might be. An Auroran might be able to judge him a robot from a single answer to a single question. Daneel was right as to the subtle distinctions.
Baley said, "One might eliminate children, perhaps also most women, and many male adults by presuming that the method of roboticide involved great strength - that Jander's head was perhaps crushed by a violent blow or that his chest was smashed inward. This would not, I imagine, be easy for anyone who was not a particularly large and strong human being." From what Demachek had said on Earth, Baley knew that this was not the manner of the roboticide, but how was he to tell that Demachek herself had not been misled?