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"That's different."
"No, it isn't. It's the same. The sound here is the melting together of the rumble of machinery and the
various noises people make, but the principle is precisely the same as the natural nonhuman noises of a
field. You're used to fields, so you don't hear the noise there. You're not used to this, so you hear it and
probably find it annoying. Earthpeople don't hear it except on the rare occasions when they come fresh in
from the countryside-and then they are very glad indeed to greet it. Tomorrow you won't hear it either."
Gladia looked about thoughtfully from their position on a small balcony. "So many buildings!"
"That's true enough. Structures in every direction stretching outward for miles. And up-and down, too.
This is not just a city, in the fashion of Aurora or Baleyworld. It is a City -capital 'C' -of the kind that
exists only on Earth."
"These are the Caves of Steel," said Gladia. "I know. We're underground, aren't we?"
"Yes. Absolutely. I must tell you that it took me time to get used to this sort of thing the first time I visited
Earth. Wherever you go in a City, it looks like a crowded city scene. Walkways and roadways and
storefronts and mobs of people, with the soft and universal lights of fluorescents making everything seem
bathed in soft shadowless sunshine-but it isn't sunshine and, up above the surface, I don't know if the sun
is really shining at the moment, or is covered by clouds, or is absent altogether, leaving this part of the
world plunged, in night and darkness."
"It makes the City enclosed. People breathe each other's air."
"We do anyway-on any world- anywhere."
"Not like this." She sniffed. "It smells."
"Every world smells. Every City on Earth smells differently. You'll get used to it."
"Do I want to? Why don't people suffocate?"
"Excellent ventilation."
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"What happens when it breaks down?"
"It never does."
Gladia looked about again and said. "Every building seems loaded with balconies."
"It's a sign of status. Very few people have apartments facing out and if they do have one they want the
advantage of it. Most Citypeople live inside windowless apartments."
Gladia shuddered, "Horrible! What's the name of this City, D.G.?"
"It's New York. It's the chief City, but not the, largest. On this continent, Mexico City and Los Angeles
are the largest and there are Cities larger than New York on other continents."
"What makes New York the chief City, then?"
"The usual reason. The Global Government is located here. The United Nations."
"Nations?" She pointed her finger triumphantly at D.G. "Earth was divided into several independent
political units. Right?"
"Right. Dozens of them. But that was before hyperspatial. Travel prehyper times. The name- remains,
though. That's what's wonderful about Earth. It's frozen history. Every other world is new and shallow.
Only Earth is humanity in its essence.
D.G. said it in a hushed whisper and then retreated back into the room. It was not a large one and its
furnishings were skimpy.
Gladia said, disappointed, "Why isn't there anyone about?"
D.G. laughed. "Don't worry, dear. If it's parades and attention you want, you'll have them. It's just that I
asked them to leave us alone for a while. I want a little peace and rest and I imagine you do, too. As for
my men, they have to berth the ship, clean it up, renew supplies, tend to their devotions----"
"Women?"
"No, that's not what I mean, though I suppose women will play a role later. By devotions, I mean that
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Earth still has its religions and these comfort the men somehow. Here on Earth, anyway. It seems to have
more meaning here."
"Well," said Gladia half-contemptuously. "Frozen history, as you say. -Do you suppose we can get out
of the building and walk about a bit?"
"Take my advice, Gladia, and don't jump into that sort of thing just now. You'll get plenty of it when the
ceremonies begin."
"But that -will be so formal. Could we skip the ceremonies?"
"No chance at all. Since you insisted on making yourself a heroine on Baleyworld, you'll have to be one
on Earth as well. Still, the ceremonies will be through eventually. When you recover from them, we will
get a guide and we'll really see the City."
"Will we have any trouble taking my robots with us?" She gestured toward Daneel and Giskard at the
other end of the room. "I don't mind being without them when I'm with you on the ship, but if I'm going to
be with crowds of strangers I'll feel more secure having them with me."
"There'll be no problem with Daneel, certainly. He's a hero in his own right. He was the Ancestor's
partner and he passes for human. Giskard, who is an obvious robot, should, in theory, not be allowed
inside the city borders, but they've made an exception in his case and I hope they will continue to do so.
It is too bad, in a way, that we must wait here and can't step outside."
"You say I should not be exposed to all that noise just yet," said Gladia.
"No, no. I'm not referring to the public squares and roadways. I would just like to take you out into the
corridors within this particular building. There are miles and miles of them literally -and they're a small bit
of City in themselves: shopping recesses, dining halls, amusement areas, Personals, elevators, transways,
and so on. There's more color and variety on one floor in one building in one City on Earth than in a
whole Settler town or in a whole Spacer world."
"I should think everyone would get lost."
"Of course not. Everyone knows his own neighborhood here, as anywhere else. Even strangers need
only follow the signs."
"I suppose all the walking, that people are forced to do must be very good for them physically," said
Gladia dubiously.
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"Socially, too. There are people in the corridors at all times and the convention is that you stop to
exchange words with anyone you - know and that you greet even those you don't know. Nor is walking
absolutely necessary. There are elevators everywhere for vertical travel. The main corridors are
transways and move for horizontal travel. Outside the building, of course, there is a feeder line to the
Expressway network. That's something. You'll get to ride it."
"I've heard of them. They have strips that you walk across and that drag you along faster and faster-or
slower and slower-as you move from one to another. I couldn't do that. Don't ask me to."
"Of course you'll be able to do it," said D.G. genially. "I'll help you. If necessary, I'll carry you, but all it
takes is a little practice. Among the Earthpeople, kindergarten children manage and so do old people
with canes. I admit Settlers tend to be clumsy about it. I'm no miracle of grace myself, but I manage and
so will you."
Gladia heaved an enormous sigh. "Well, then, I'll try if I have to. But I tell you what, D.G., dear. We
must have a reasonably quiet room for the night. I want your 'Drone of the City' muted."
"That can be arranged, I'm sure."
"And I don't want to have to eat in the Section kitchens."
D.G. looked doubtful. "We can arrange to have food brought in, but really it would do you -good to
participate in the social life of Earth. I'll be with you, after all."
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