Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
"Ah-Butthere’ssomethingyoucandotherethatyoucan’tdohere."
"What’sthat?"
"Youcanmakethemstop–atwhatevertimeyouchooseandwhileyou’repreparedandwatchingtoseewhatgoeswrong."
Powellstartledintoalertness,"Howzzat?"
"Well,figureitout,yourself.You’rethebrainsyousay.Askyourselfsomequestions.WhendoesDV-5gooutofwhack?Whendidthat’finger’sayhedid?Whenacave-inthreatened,oractuallyoccurred,whendelicatelymeasuredexplosiveswerebeinglaiddown,whenadifficultseamwashit."
"Inotherwords,duringemergencies,"Powellwasexcited.
"Right!Whendidyouexpectittohappen!It’sthepersonalinitiativefactorthat’sgivingusthetrouble.Andit’sjustduringemergenciesintheabsenceofahumanbeingthatpersonalinitiativeismoststrained.Nowwhatisthelogicaldeduction?Howcanwecreateourownstoppagewhenandwherewewantit?"Hepausedtriumphantly–hewasbeginningtoenjoyhisrole–andansweredhisownquestiontoforestalltheobviousansweronPowell’stongue."Bycreatingourownemergency."
Powellsaid,"Mike-you’reright."
"Thanks,pal.IknewI’ddoitsomeday."
"Allright,andskipthesarcasm.We’llsaveitforEarth,andpreserveitinjarsforfuturelong,coldwinters.Meanwhile,whatemergencycanwecreate?"
"Wecouldfloodthemines,ifthisweren’tanairlessasteroid."
"Awitticism,nodoubt,"saidPowell."Really,Mike,you’llincapacitatemewithlaughter.Whataboutamildcave-in?"
Donovanpursedhislipsandsaid,"O.K.byme."
"Good.
