Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
"Supposewemissthemaltogether?"
"Wellwhatdoyouwanttodo?Goback?"Donovangruntedfiercely."They’rewithinaquarterofamile.Iwaswatchingthemthroughthevisiplate,wasn’tI?Andwe’vegottwodays-"
"Oh,shutup.You’rewastingyouroxygen.Isthisasidepassagehere?"Theflashflicked."Itis.Let’sgo."
Thevibrationwasconsiderablymoremarkedandthegroundbelowshuddereduneasily.
"Thisisgood,"saidDonovan,"ifitdoesn’tgiveoutonus,though."Heflunghislightaheadanxiously.
Theycouldtouchtheroofofthetunnelwithahalfupstretchedhand,andthebracingshadbeennewlyplaced.
Donovanhesitated,"Deadend,let’sgoback."
"No.Holdon."Powellsqueezedclumsilypast."Isthatlightahead?"
"Light?Idon’tseeany.Wherewouldtherebelightdownhere?"
"Robotlight."Hewasscramblingupagentleinclineonhandsandknees.HisvoicewashoarseandanxiousinDonovan’sears."Hey,Mike,comeuphere."
Therewaslight.DonovancrawledupandoverPowell’soutstretchedlegs."Anopening?"
"Yes.TheymustbeworkingintothistunnelfromtheothersidenowIthink."
Donovanfelttheraggededgesoftheopeningthatlookedoutintowhatthecautiousflashlightshowedtobealargerandobviouslymainstemtunnel.Theholewastoosmallforamantogothrough,almosttoosmallfortwomentolookthroughsimultaneously.
There’snothingthere,"saidDonovan.
"Well,notnow.Buttheremusthavebeenasecondagoorwewouldn’thaveseenlight.Watchout!"
Thewallsrolledaboutthemandtheyfelttheimpact.
