"Could Delmarre have been killed for political reasons?"
"What?"
"I've heard him called a Traditionalist."
"Oh, we all are."
"You mean there is no group of Solarians who are not Traditionalists?"
"I dare say there are some," said Quemot slowly, "who think it is dangerous to be too Traditionalist. They are over conscious of our small population, of the way the other worlds outnumber us. They think we are defenseless against possible aggression from the other Outer Worlds. They're quite foolish to think so and there aren't many of them. I don't think they're a force."
"Why do you say they are foolish? Is there anything about Solaria that would affect the balance of power in spite of the great disadvantage of numbers? Some new type of weapon?"
"A weapon, certainly. But not a new one. The people I speak of are more blind than foolish not to realize that such a weapon is in operation continuously and cannot be resisted."
Baley's eyes narrowed. "Are you serious?"
"Certainly."
"Do you know the nature of the weapon?"
"All of us must. You do, if you stop to think of it. I see it a trifle easier than most, perhaps, since I am a sociologist. To be sure, it isn't used as a weapon ordinarily is used. It doesn't kill or hurt, but it is irresistible even so. All the more irresistible because no one notices it."
Baley said with annoyance, "And just what is this non-lethal weapon?"
Quemot said, "The positronic robot."
11. A FARM IS INSPECTED
For a moment Baley went cold. The positronic robot was the symbol of Spacer superiority over Earthmen. That was weapon enough.
He kept his voice steady. "It's an economic weapon. Solaria is important to the other Outer Worlds as a source of advanced models and so it will not be harmed by them."
"That's an obvious point," said Quemot indifferently. "That helped us establish our independence. What I have in mind is something else, something more subtle and more cosmic." Quemot's eyes were fixed on his fingers' ends and his mind was obviously fixed on abstractions.
Baley said, "Is this another of your sociological theories?"
Quemot's poorly suppressed look of pride all but forced a short smile out of the Earthman.
The sociologist said, "It is indeed mine. Original, as far as I know, and yet obvious if population data on the Outer Worlds is carefully studied. To begin with, ever since the positronic robot was invented, it has been used more and more intensively everywhere."
"Not on Earth," said Baley.
"Now, now, Plainclothesman. I don't know much of your Earth, but I know enough to know that robots are entering your economy. You people live in large Cities and leave most of your planetary surface unoccupied. Who runs your farms and mines, then?"
"Robots," admitted Baley. "But if it comes to that, Doctor, Earthmen invented the positronic robot in the first place."
"They did? Are you sure?"
"You can check. It's true."
"Interesting. Yet robots made the least headway there." The sociologist said thoughtfully, "Perhaps that is because of Earth's large population. It would take that much longer. Yes... Still, you have robots even in your Cities."
"Yes," said Baley.
"More now than, say, fifty years ago."
Baley nodded impatiently. "Yes."
"Then it fits. The difference is only one of time. Robots tend to displace human labor. The robot economy moves in only one direction. More robots and fewer humans. I've studied population data very carefully and I've plotted it and made a few extrapolations." He paused in sudden surprise. "Why, that's rather an application of mathematics to sociology, isn't it?"
"It is," said Baley.
"There may be something to it, at that. I will have to give the matter thought. In any case, these are the conclusions I have come to, and I am convinced there is no doubt as to their correctness. The robot-human ratio in any economy that has accepted robot labor tends continuously to increase despite any laws that are passed to prevent it. The increase is slowed, but never stopped. At first the human population increases, but the robot population increases much more quickly. Then, after a certain critical point is reached...
Quemot stopped again, then said, "Now let's see. I wonder if the critical point could be determined exactly; if you could really put a figure to it. There's your mathematics again."
Baley stirred restlessly. "What happens after the critical point is reached, Dr. Quemot?"
"Eh? Oh, the human population begins actually to decline. A planet approaches a true social stability. Aurora will have to. Even your Earth will have to. Earth may take a few more centuries, but it is inevitable."
"What do you mean by social stability?"
"The situation here. In Solaria. A world in which the humans are the leisure class only. So there is no reason to fear the other Outer Worlds. We need only wait a century perhaps and they shall all be Solarians. I suppose that will be the end of human history, in a way; at least, its fulfillment. Finally, finally, all men will have all they can need and want. You know, there is a phrase I once picked up; I
don't know where it comes from; something about the pursuit of happiness."
Baley said thoughtfully, "All men are 'endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights... among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
"You've hit it. Where's that from?"
"Some old document," said Baley.
"Do you see how that is changed here on Solaria and eventually in all the Galaxy? The pursuit will be over. The rights mankind will be heir to will be life, liberty, and happiness. Just that. Happiness."