Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
Foreightdays,onalternatefour-hourshifts,hewatchedwithachingandblearyeyesthoseglintymetallicformsmoveagainstthevaguebackground.Andforeightdaysinthefour-hourin-betweens,hecursedUnitedStatesRobots,theDVmodels,andthedayhewasborn.
Andthenontheeighthday,whenPowellenteredwithanachingheadandsleepyeyesforhisshift,Donovanstoodupandwithverycarefulanddeliberateaimlaunchedaheavybookendfortheexactcenterofthevisiplate.Therewasaveryappropriatesplinteringnoise.
Powellgasped,"Whatdidyoudothatfor?"
"Because,"saidDonovan,almostcalmly,"I’mnotwatchingitanymore.We’vegottwodaysleftandwehaven’tfoundoutathing.DV-5isalousyloss.He’sstoppedfivetimessinceI’vebeenwatchingandthreetimesonyourshift,andIcan’tmakeoutwhatordershegave,andyoucouldn’tmakeitout.AndIdon’tbelieveyoucouldevermakeitoutbecauseIknowIcouldn’tever."
"JumpingSpace,howcanyouwatchsixrobotsatthesametime?Onemakeswiththehands,andonewiththefeetandonelikeawindmillandanotherisjumpingupanddownlikeamaniac.Andtheothertwo...devilknowswhattheyaredoing.Andthentheyallstop.So!So!"
"Greg,we’renotdoingitright.Wegottogetupclose.We’vegottowatchwhatthey’redoingfromwherewecanseethedetails."
Powellbrokeabittersilence."Yeah.andwaitforsomethingtogowrongwithonlvtwodavstogo."
"Isitanybetterwatchingfromhere?"
"It’smorecomfortable."
