Evidence

           "Butthatwasn’tit,either,"saidDr.Calvinthoughtfully."Oh,eventually,theshipandotherslikeitbecamegovernmentproperty;theJumpthroughhyperspacewasperfected,andnowweactuallyhavehumancoloniesontheplanetsofsomeofthenearerstars,butthatwasn’tit."

           Ihadfinishedeatingandwatchedherthroughthesmokeofmycigarette.

           "It’swhathashappenedtothepeoplehereonEarthinthelastfiftyyearsthatreallycounts.WhenIwasborn,youngman,wehadjustgonethroughthelastWorldWar.Itwasalowpointinhistory–butitwastheendofnationalism.EarthwastoosmallfornationsandtheybegangroupingthemselvesintoRegions.Ittookquiteawhile.WhenIwasborntheUnitedStatesofAmericawasstillanationandnotmerelyapartoftheNorthernRegion.Infact,thenameofthecorporationisstill’UnitedStatesRobots-.’AndthechangefromnationstoRegions,whichhasstabilizedoureconomyandbroughtaboutwhatamountstoaGoldenAge,whenthiscenturyiscomparedwiththelast,wasalsobroughtaboutbyourrobots."

           "YoumeantheMachines,"Isaid."TheBrainyoutalkedaboutwasthefirstoftheMachines,wasn’tit?"

           "Yes,itwas,butit’snottheMachinesIwasthinkingof.Ratherofaman.Hediedlastyear."Hervoicewassuddenlydeeplysorrowful."Oratleasthearrangedtodie,becauseheknewweneededhimnolonger.StephenByerley."

           "Yes,Iguessedthatwaswhoyoumeant."

           "Hefirstenteredpublicofficein2032.Youwereonlyaboythen,soyouwouldn’trememberthestrangenessofit.