Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
Afinedustshowereddown.Powellliftedacautiousheadandlookedagain."Allright,Mike.They’rethere."
Theglitteringrobotsclusteredfiftyfeetdownthemainstem.Metalarmslaboredmightilyattherubbishheapbroughtdownbythelastblast.
Donovanurgedeagerly,"Don’twastetime.Itwon’tbelongbeforetheygetthrough,andthenextblastmaygetus."
"ForPete’ssake,don’trushme."Powellunlimberedthedetonator,andhiseyessearchedanxiouslyacrosstheduskybackgroundwheretheonlylightwasrobotlightanditwasimpossibletotellaprojectingboulderfromashadow.
"There’saspotintheroof,seeit,almostoverthem.Thelastblastdidn’tquitegetit.Ifyoucangetitatthebase,halftheroofwillcavein."
Powellfollowedthedimfinger,"Check!Nowfastenyoureyeontherobotsandpraytheydon’tmovetoofarfromthatpartofthetunnel.They’remylightsources.Areallseventhere?"
Donovancounted,"Allseven."
"Well,then,watchthem.Watcheverymotion!"
HisdetonatorwasliftedandremainedpoisedwhileDonovanwatchedandcursedandblinkedthesweatoutofhiseye.
Itflashed!
Therewasajar,aseriesofhardvibrations,andthenajarringthumpthatthrewPowellheavilyagainstDonovan.
Donovanyowled,"Greg,youthrewmeoff.Ididn’tseeathing."
Powellstaredaboutwildly,"Wherearethey?"
Donovanfellintoastupidsilence.Therewasnosignoftherobots.ItwasdarkasthedepthsoftheRiverStyx.
"Thinkweburiedthem?"quaveredDonovan.
"Let’sgetdownthere.Don’taskmewhatIthink."
