The Caves of Steel

Daneel immediately states that Lije’s assertion is false. Lije ignores him, telling Dr. Gerrigel that he has arranged a laboratory to test whether Daneel has been programmed with the First Law. Gerrigel laughs, stating that he can test Daneel right there. Lije asks him to explain. Gerrigel tells him it would be as easy as checking if someone was blond or dead. The First Law is a base program on which all other functionality is predicated. The fact that Daneel meets basic functional requirements would prove that he is First-Law compliant. Lije continues to argue, asking if Daneel could have falsified the results. Gerrigel explains that robot brains do not function that way; they are binary. Daneel then invites Lije to inspect his blaster. Lije discovers that the blaster does not contain an ignition bud. It is incapable of firing.

Once Lije is proven wrong again, he retires to lunch, treating himself to chicken. He cannot eat it, though, and he sits mulling over the events of the last two days. His mind circles possibilities but reaches no conclusions. He has brief conversations with colleagues. He even posits the idea of new colonies to one of them, who dismisses the idea as lunacy.