Dinner was much more calm than the day before, as there were no robots. R.Daneel served the dinner himself, in the robots' absence. Lance insisted on doing things for himself.
"Just weird."he was saying. "I mean, see, these people, the ones I work with, not only do they wear weird faces and won't go near me, you see, they think it's an ideal society, or something. I think they're all gonna die from autoimmune disorders. Someone at school once was talking about it. I wasn't really paying attention. I was thinking about Kitty, but she said it's when you aren't exposed to anything that makes you sick. They're fanatics!"
"The Spacers are all in good health."said R.Daneel. "Do you suppose the autoimmune disorders are something that the longetivity, dependency on robots, and underpopulation of the Spacer Worlds will lead to their decay?"
"I'm sure they will decay. Anyway-"
"Dr.Delmarre would like to view you, Master."said a robot who entered the room.
"I can answer myself!"said Lance.
R.Daneel gestured the robot out.
"Isn't there a way to get rid of these things!"Lance asked him.
"They outnumber the Solarians one to ten thousand."
"Oh, God!"he exclaimed. "Stupid Solarians."
He went to the conversation room, where Dr.Delmarre's image was.
"I'm in the middle of dinner!"he said, irritably.
"I thought you would. So, perhaps I shall join you."said Dr.Delmarre.
"If you want."
Lance went back to the dining room. Part of the room was now gone, and in it was a different table where Dr.Delmarre sat.
"I have not viewed either of your companions."he told Lance. "Do you always view at dinner."
"We're not viewing."said Lance. "They live here."
Dr.Delmarre dropped his fork.
"You mean personal presence?"
"Of course, yo. How do you think I'd sneak slurps of Fred's dessert?"
"Hey! So that's where all the frosting went from yesterday's cake!"
Toad hopped to highest window. Fred tried to climb it.
"Just don't mind them."
"But...they are in the same room."
"Just pretend they don't exist."said Lance. "Just like I'll pretend those robots of yours don't exist. They get on my nerves!"
Dr.Delmarre dismissed what Lance said.
"Were you just gonna join us for dinner? Or is there some other reason you wanted to s-I mean, view me."
"Well, yes. You see, we found something quite interesting in your gene analysis. Could that be the reason you are so hardened?"
"Hardened?"
"You can deal with personal presence. With the children."
"I've dealt with personal presence my whole life. There's nothing to it."
Dr.Delmarre shook his head.
"It points to a mutation."
"Really?"
"Well, we're all mutants here."said Pietro, smirking, as R.Daneel tried to keep up with refilling his plate and his glass.
"Would that be why you can endure personal presence?"
"You don't have to be a mutant to endure personal presence!"said Lance. "I've known people who aren't who deal just fine with it!"
"Do you suppose you could ever do away with such a filthy habit?"
"It's not filthy, it's just normal. Is this really where we're headed, R. Please don't tell me this is the future."
"Only on Solaria, Master. The other forty nine Spacer Worlds and Earth do not have a taboo against personal presence."
"Thank God. I wouldn't be able to live knowing this is where we're headed."
"The thing is, I think your genes are necessary in the common pool. Perhaps your...friends', also. I'd like to do their gene analysis. As for where the personal presence is concerned, we can take care of that here at the farm."
"Wait a minute, what do you mean my genes are necessary in the common pool?"
Fred and Toad stopped fighting, and even Pietro stopped eating to listen.
"That you must be married, for one thing."
"I don't think that'll be possible. R!"said Lance. "I can't marry anyone. Not here! I-R!"
"I don't want to be married, yo."said Toad.
"What do you mean, married?"demanded Fred.
"It's too slow."said Pietro.
"I don't think that's gonna be possible!"said Lance.
"It is the hardest thing in life, but it must be endured."said Dr.Delmarre sternly.
"Well, I certainly won't."
"We can't!"
It was obvious that the comment made Dr.Delmarre angry.
"All good Solarians must endure it! I shall meet you at the farm tomorrow. Done viewing!"
"But wait, we are not Solarians!"cried Lance.
He looked at R.Daneel.
"R, you brought us here! Do something! I can't be married on Solaria! I don't want to be married on Solaria! I do want to be married, maybe, but in my own time! Not here! I can't be married here!"
"Kitty."said Pietro.
Everyone looked at him.
"He doesn't wanna be married here, cause he wants Kitty."he said.
"So what if that's the reason? R! You've got to do something!"