Я, Робот

           Herbieturnedslowlytohisneglectednovel,buttherewasnoonetoreadhisthoughts.

           MiltonAshestretchedslowlyandmagnificently,tothetuneofcrackingjointsandachorusofgrunts,andthenglaredatPeterBogert,Ph.D.

           "Say,"hesaid,"I’vebeenatthisforaweeknowwithjustaboutnosleep.HowlongdoIhavetokeepitup?IthoughtyousaidthepositronicbombardmentinVacChamberDwasthesolution."

           Bogertyawneddelicatelyandregardedhiswhitehandswithinterest."Itis.I’monthetrack."

           "Iknowwhatthatmeanswhenamathematiciansaysit.Howneartheendareyou?"

           "Italldepends."

           "Onwhat?"Ashedroppedintoachairandstretchedhislonglegsoutbeforehim.

           "OnLanning.Theoldfellowdisagreeswithme."Hesighed,"Abitbehindthetimes,that’sthetroublewithhim.Heclingstomatrixmechanicsastheallinall,andthisproblemcallsformorepowerfulmathematicaltools.He’ssostubborn."

           Ashemutteredsleepily,"WhynotaskHerbieandsettlethewholeaffair?"

           "Asktherobot?"Bogert’seyebrowsclimbed.

           "Whynot?Didn’ttheoldgirltellyou?"

           "YoumeanCalvin?"

           "Yeah!Susieherself.Thatrobot’samathematicalwiz.Heknowsallabouteverythingplusabitontheside.Hedoestripleintegralsinhisheadandeatsuptensoranalysisfordessert."

           Themathematicianstaredskeptically,"Areyouserious?"

           "Sohelpme!Thecatchisthatthedopedoesn’tlikemath.Hewouldratherreadslushynovels.Honest!YoushouldseethetripeSusiekeepsfeedinghim:’PurplePassion’and’LoveinSpace.’"