Я, Робот

           "Idon’tsupposeyoucangoanyfurtherthanthat?"

           "Idaren’ttry.YouareabettermathematicianthanI,and–well,I’dhatetocommitmyself."

           TherewasashadeofcomplacencyinBogert’ssmile,"Iratherthoughtthatwouldbethecase.Itisdeep.We’llforgetit."Hecrumpledthesheets,tossedthemdownthewasteshaft,turnedtoleave,andthenthoughtbetterofit.

           "Bytheway-"

           Therobotwaited.

           Bogertseemedtohavedifficulty."Thereissomething-thatis,perhapsyoucan-"Hestopped.

           Herbiespokequietly."Yourthoughtsareconfused,butthereisnodoubtatallthattheyconcernDr.Lanning.Itissillytohesitate,forassoonasyoucomposeyourself,I’llknowwhatitisyouwanttoask."

           Themathematician’shandwenttohissleekhairinthefamiliarsmoothinggesture."Lanningisnudgingseventy,"hesaid,asifthatexplainedeverything.

           "Iknowthat."

           "Andhe’sbeendirectoroftheplantforalmostthirtyyears."Herbienodded.

           "Well,now,"Bogert’svoicebecameingratiating,"youwouldknowwhether...whetherhe’sthinkingofresigning.Health,perhaps,orsomeother-"

           "Quite,"saidHerbie,andthatwasall.

           "Well,doyouknow?"

           "Certainly."

           "Then-uh-couldyoutellme?"

           "Sinceyouask,yes."Therobotwasquitematter-of-factaboutit."Hehasalreadyresigned!"

           "What!"Theexclamationwasanexplosive,almostinarticulate,sound.Thescientist’slargeheadhunchedforward,"Saythatagain!"

           "Hehasalreadyresigned,"camethequietrepetition,"butithasnotyettakeneffect.