Summary and Analysis: Chapter 14
Summary
The three friends, Stratton, Roy and Irmgard Baty, huddle together for a
private conversation while Isidore watches uncomfortably. Stratton introduces
everyone and Isidore confirms that Roy and Irmgard are indeed from Mars.
Isidore explains that he lives upstairs, and Roy responds by confessing that he
had assumed Stratton and Isidore were living together. Roy turns to Stratton
and announces that Polokov has been killed. He then lists the others who have
been also been killed. Irmgard then declares that they are the only ones
remaining. Roy describes how a bounty hunter named Holden almost got Polokov,
but that Polokov managed to injure Holden before escaping. Irmgard then
interjects to provide a summary of the day’s events involving the new bounty
hunter, Deckard, and his retirement of the Garland and Luba. Stratton nervously
inquires about whether or not this bounty hunter has their names. Roy responds
that the bounty hunter probably has them on his list and that this is the
reason he and Irmgard have come to find Pris.
The discussion then turns towards the topic of Stratton moving in with Isidore because he would offer her some protection. Stratton refuses to move in with a chickenhead. Roy then explains that Stratton should move in with Isidore and he and Irmgard will stay in Stratton ’ apartment. According to Roy, this will enable him to hook up a system of security alarms and two-way bugs so all of them can hear each other inside the two apartments. Roy then speculates that the reason they haven’t been killed already is because the bounty hunter doesn’t know their location. Isidore interrupts with the suggestion that Stratton do exactly as Roy has ordered, and Isidore offers to take some vacation time away from work so he can stay home with all of them. Isidore then imagines that a bounty hunter must be an emotionless, dark being who lacks a face; a machine-like being that is replaced by another, almost immediately, if it gets killed. Isidore silently questions why the police are incapable of taking care of such a being. He then considers the possibility that the three people in his company must have committed some sort of crime.
Roy and Irmgard decide that the next course of action should be to hook up Roy’s security devices and have Stratton collect some items to take with her to Isidore’s apartment, a proposal to which Stratton now agrees. While Stratton is gathering items, Isidore asks if either Roy or Irmgard have any pre-colonial fiction that he can read. They reply that they were not able to bring any books with them, to which Isidore responds by stating that he will go to the library tomorrow to borrow some books for all of them to read while they wait for the bounty hunter to arrive.
Isidore then leads Stratton up to his apartment. She expresses no emotion when she compliments Isidore on his apartment. She explains that she thinks Roy has given her drugs that have induced her to believe that they are being followed by a bounty hunter. Stratton continues that her belief is based upon the fact the she and all of her fiends came from a psychiatric hospital on the east coast where they were all classified as schizophrenic and all had group hallucinations. With great relief, Isidore confesses that he didn’t really believe Roy’s claims about the bounty hunter because the government doesn’t allow for anything to be killed; everything from humans down to insects are protected by law.
Roy enters Isidore’s apartment and sets up his security equipment. He explains...
(This entire section contains 1036 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
that he has included a Penfield unit that will render the bounty hunter’s mood as panicky when he enters the apartment. Roy says that the Penfield unit will also affect Isidore and that the ensuing chaos of two humans in a panicked state will afford them all more time to react. Moreover, Isidore’s mental capabilities render him incapable of triggering the Penfield unit, which means that an additional human is required to set it off. To this Isidore exclaims that he knows the three strangers are androids. Roy admits that his use of the term “human” was a mistake and gave him away. Isidore replies that as a special he is also treated like a second-class citizen and that it doesn’t matter to him that they are androids. Stratton then asks Isidore about the way in which they, the androids, differ from humans. Isidore explains that they are very intellectual and that this makes him feel as though they are superior to him and that they might even be able to teach him things. Irmgard, who has made her way to Isidore’s apartment, declares that she is confident that Isidore will not be a problem to them because Isidore needs them; he is emotionally starved and needs interactions with others. Roy offers his gratitude for Isidore’s compassion and hospitality. Irmgard adds that Isidore is probably the only human on Earth willing to accept them, and that this is what makes him special. Roy then decides that they must have a vote to determine whether or not to stay put.
Analysis
In Chapter Fourteen a hierarchy is established amongst Isidore and the
androids. The intellectual superiority of the androids over Isidore’s
deteriorated mental capabilities results in Isidore’s status as servant to the
androids. Here the relationship between servant and master has become reversed.
The original purpose of the invention of androids was to serve humans who
immigrated from Earth to colonies on Mars. The treatment of androids as
enslaved workers on Mars resulted in androids escaping to Earth as illegal
immigrants. Isidore’s isolated living situation is perpetuated by his
classification as a special, which has earned him the status of second-class
citizen. Isidore accepts his role as servant to the androids because he
realizes that the androids can provide him with companionship, and the sense of
usefulness inherent to his role as servant gives him a sense of importance.
Isidore’s eagerness to please the androids enables them to gain a sense of
satisfaction from feeling superior to this special human.