Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
Let’sgetstarted."
Powellfeltuncommonlylikeaconspiratorashewoundhiswayoverthecraggylandscape.Hissub-gravitywalkteeteredacrossthebrokenground,kickingrockstorightandleftunderhisweightinnoiselesspuffsofgraydust.Mentally,though,itwasthecautiouscrawloftheplotter.
Hesaid,"Doyouknowwheretheyare?"
"Ithinkso,Greg."
"Allright,"Powellsaidgloomily,"butifany’finger’getswithintwentyfeetofus,we’llbesensedwhetherweareinthelineofsightornot.Ihopeyouknowthat."
"WhenIneedanelementarycourseinrobotics,I’llfileanapplicationwithyouformally,andintriplicate.Downthroughhere."
Theywereinthetunnelsnow;eventhestarlightwasgone.Thetwohuggedthewalls,flashesflickeringoutthewayinintermittentbursts.Powellfeltforthesecurityofhisdetonator.
"Doyouknowthistunnel,Mike?"
"Notsogood.It’sanewone.IthinkIcanmakeitoutfromwhatIsawinthevisiplate,though-"
Interminableminutespassed,andthenMikesaid,"Feelthat!"
TherewasaslightvibrationthrummingthewallagainstthefingersofPowell’smetal-incasedhand.Therewasnosound,naturally.
"Blasting!We’reprettyclose."
"Keepyoureyesopen,"saidPowell.
Donovannoddedimpatiently.
Itwasuponthemandgonebeforetheycouldseizethemselves–justabronzeglintacrossthefieldofvision.Theyclungtogetherinsilence.
Powellwhispered,"Thinkitsensedus?"
"Hopenot.Butwe’dbetterflankthem.Takethefirstsidetunneltotheright."
