were identical, and where Mach would be likely to wander, and go there. Simple enough, surely; he could step outside and study the landscape. He knew the features of his world, and could normally locate his position by a simple survey of the horizon.
But where was outside? This building seemed endless!
He set about it methodically: finding his way out. If he went in any single direction far enough, he had to come to the edge of the building. Then he would follow that edge until he found an exit. It was like locating water in the wilderness: keep going down, and sooner or later water would appear, for it also sought the lowest regions.
But when he tried, he discovered that the halls did not go in single directions. They curved this way and that, and made right-angle turns, and took magically moving stairs to upper floors, and magically descending chambers to nether regions. It was like one huge labyrinth that threatened to get him hopelessly lost before he really got started. In the wilderness he could have coped readily enough; this foreign environment had him baffled.
He would have to inquire. But the others thought he was Mach, who should know the way out; to ask would only get laughter, or perhaps some interaction like that with Tilly, the opportunist female machine. Better to avoid that.
So he continued to walk the halls, his frustration mounting. The others he passed glanced at him with increasing perplexity, but did not interfere.
Then a young woman approached. She had flowing red hair, very full breasts, and a kind of rippling walk that forced him to avert his eyes lest he suffer an embarrassing reaction. He hoped she would not try to talk with him.
'Oh, Mach!' she cried. 'They said you were here! Please, if I may conversationally merge-'
He was stuck for it. Bane faced her. The pupils of her eyes were so dark they were like the water of deep wells. 'Of course,' he said guardedly.
She took a breath, and her flesh jiggled. Bane set his tongue between his teeth and bit down, trying to distract himself by the controlled pain-but there was no pain, just a kind of electrical tingle of warning. He locked his eyes on her face, trying to tune out the peripheral vision.
'I felt it needful to express my sorrow,' she said, bringing her beautiful face close. Her complexion was so clear it almost shone. 'I did not mean to be the agent of your loss of woman.'
Loss of woman? That must refer to the way Mach had gotten dumped by the cyborg. Maybe he could learn something useful. 'I really remember not.'
'But it was only this noon!' she protested. 'We met in the pool, and Narda exchanged companions, taking Rory while you had to take me. Then Doris caught you together with me, and made a dramatic exclamation, and Ware came to her aid, and you lost her, and it was all because of me!'
There were too many names in a rush, but this did help clarify things. Tilly the robot had told him he had been dumped by Doris the cyborg, who had gone to an android male. Apparently it had been because of a misunderstanding involving this female. An easy misunderstanding to have, considering her appearance! And this one was apologetic. Maybe she could help him.
'I bear thee no malice,' he said carefully, still keeping his eyes clear of dangerous territory. If only she had some clothing on! 'I know it was an-an accident. I-I misremember thy name.'
'Agape,' she said quickly. 'I chose it because it means instant love, such as I feel for this society, that lets me participate though I am an alien. Perhaps I should have chosen more carefully, but I was so eager-'
'It's a perfect name,' he said, looking down the hall. 'Thou art-alien? From-elsewhere?'
'You know I am alien!' she exclaimed. 'You saw me imbibe! And you did not wince! I am so grateful! I arrived only yesterday, and you helped me so much! And then I hurt you so much, without ever knowing! I wish there could be some recompense I could offer, but-' She spread her arms in a helpless gesture that attracted his gaze before he could stop it. He turned away.
'As it happens, there is,' Bane said, realizing his opportunity. 'If thou couldst show me the way outside.'
'Outside? But that is unlivable!'
'I be a machine. Methinks I can survive it.'
She smiled. 'That must be so. Mach, I do not know the way, but surely I can find it. We have but to inquire of a maintenance unit.'
'Maintenance unit?'
She glanced at him with the same perplexity the others had. 'Why do you act as if you do not know? And why do you avert your gaze from my body? Have I become repulsive to you because of what you saw at noon?'
He had tried to tell the truth to Tilly, and had made no headway. He decided to try again. 'Agape, I must tell thee something thou mayst believe not.'
'I will believe!' she exclaimed.
'I be not Mach. I be his other self, a living person using his body. I be called Bane.'
'You are not making humor?' she inquired. 'I am not supposed to laugh?'
'No humor. No laugh,' he agreed.
'Then this is the reason you cannot find your way around these premises,' she said. 'You are totally new here!'
'That be it exactly.'
'Just as I was yesterday.'
'So does it seem.'
'But why don't you look at me?'
Time for more honesty. 'I be accustomed not to seeing women without clothing. I fear embarrassment.'
'From
'Thou art an extremely, uh, attractive creature.'
'Oh, what delight!' she exclaimed. 'I never imagined! But I confess I do not know exactly how your species manifests this type of interaction.'
Bane started walking, wishing that he could get away from this subject. Agape came right along with him. 'I be sure I know not how thy species does, either,' he said. 'But if thou canst help me get outside-'
'Oh, yes!' she said enthusiastically. 'Let me inquire of a menial!' She crossed to a panel set into the wall, and touched a button. 'Please, some directions?'
'Aid required?' a voice came.
'We wish to find the outside.'
'Follow the mouse.'
A small panel slid aside at the level of the floor, and a thing very like a mouse emerged. But instead of legs it had little wheels, and instead of a tail it had an upward spike. It zipped down the hall.
They followed. The mouse careened around a corner, then moved to a blank section of wall. Its spike emitted a beeping sound.
'This must be it,' Agape said. She touched the wall with her hand, and it fogged. They stepped through it,
into a chamber containing bulky suits suspended on frames.
A large wheeled object approached them. 'Serfs wish egress?' Its voice came from a grille on top.
'Wish to go outside,' Agape said. 'Is this permissible?'
'Permissible,' the machine agreed. 'The robot can go as is; the android must don protective gear.'
'Oh, he is not really a robot, and I am not an android,' Agape said.
The machine considered. 'What definitions are applicable?'
'Call me robot,' Bane said quickly. 'I be the only one who needs to go out.'
Agape turned to him, her lovely face seeming to melt a little. 'You do not wish my company? I had understood that you found me attractive.'
There seemed to be another misunderstanding here! 'Thou dost wish to come outside?'
'I wish to help you, as you in your other guise helped me. And if you continue to find me attractive, I wish to do with you what the females of your species do with the males.'
Bane paused. It was evident that the mores of Proton differed somewhat from those of Phaze. But the fact
