Я, Робот

           You’rebroken,doyouunderstand?"

           Thesmileontheother’sfacebroadened,"Now,what’stheuseofthat?You’regettingnowhere.I’mholdingthetrumps.Iknowyou’veresigned.Herbietoldme,andhegotitstraightfromyou."

           Lanningforcedhimselftospeakquietly.Helookedanold,oldman,withtiredeyespeeringfromafaceinwhichtheredhaddisappeared,leavingthepastyyellowofagebehind,"IwanttospeaktoHerbie.Hecan’thavetoldyouanythingofthesort.You’replayingadeepgame,Bogert,butI’mcallingyourbluff.Comewithme."

           Bogertshrugged,"ToseeHerbie?Good!Damnedgood!"

           ItwasalsopreciselyatnoonthatMiltonAshelookedupfromhisclumsysketchandsaid,"Yougettheidea?I’mnottoogoodatgettingthisdown,butthat’sabouthowitlooks.It’sahoneyofahouse,andIcangetitfornexttonothing."

           SusanCalvingazedacrossathimwithmeltingeyes."It’sreallybeautiful,"shesighed."I’veoftenthoughtthatI’dliketo-"Hervoicetrailedaway.

           "Ofcourse,"Ashecontinuedbriskly,puttingawayhispencil,"I’vegottowaitformyvacation.It’sonlytwoweeksoff,butthisHerbiebusinesshasevervthingupintheair."Hiseyesdroppedtohisfingernails,"Besides,there’sanotherpoint–butit’sasecret."

           "Thendon’ttellme."

           "Oh,I’djustassoon,I’mjustbustingtotellsomeone–andyou’rejustaboutthebest-er-confidanteIcouldfindhere."Hegrinnedsheepishly.

           SusanCalvin’sheartbounded,butshedidnottrustherselftospeak.