human
It's only reasonable, the uncle went on,
gpt
You could hardly call the Belphins foreigners; they've been on Earth longer than even the oldest of us.
human
You seem to be pretty chummy with 'em,
gpt
No more so than any other loyal citizen,
human
Don't you think it's funny they can breathe our air so easily?
gpt
Why shouldn't they? Ludovick bit into an apple that Corisande handed him from one of the dishes of fruit and other delicacies strewn about the courtyard.
human
It's excellent air, he continued through a full mouth,
gpt
Yes, the uncle said,
human
No coincidence at all, said Ludovick shortly, no longer able to pretend he didn't know what the other was getting at. He had heard the ugly rumor before. Of course sacrilege was not illegal, but it was in bad taste.
gpt
Only one combination of elements spawns intelligent life.
human
They say, the uncle continued, impervious to Ludovick's unconcealed dislike for the subject,
gpt
Nonsense! Ludovick was goaded to irritation at last.
human
How could a robot have that delicate play of expression, that subtle economy of movement?
gpt
But they are absolutely blank, the uncle began hesitantly.
human
Perhaps, with your rich poetic imagination....
gpt
See? old Osmond remarked with satisfaction.
human
The kid's brain-washed. I told you so.
gpt
Even if The Belphin is a single entity, Ludovick went on,
human
I won't listen to any more of this twaddle. Benevolent, bah! He or she or it or them is or are just plain exploiting us! Taking our mineral resources away--I've seen 'em loading ore on the spaceships--and----
gpt
Ludovick said tightly,
human
It's not the stuff they bring in from outside that runs this technology, the uncle said.
gpt
It's some power they've got that we can't seem to figure out. Though Lord knows we've tried,
human
Of course they have their own source of power, Ludovick informed them, smiling to himself, for his old Belphin teacher had taken great care to instill a sense of humor into him.
gpt
A Belphin was explaining that to me only today.
human
Tell us, dear boy, the uncle said, grabbing Ludovick's glass from the plinth and filling it,
gpt
He said the Belphins rule through the power of love.
human
And I suppose it was love that killed Mieczyslaw and George when they tried to storm the Blue Tower----