Я, Робот

           "Frankly,"Ashescrapedhischaircloserandloweredhisvoiceintoaconfidentialwhisper,"thehouseisn’ttobeonlyformyself.I’mgettingmarried!"

           Andthenhejumpedoutofhisseat,"What’sthematter?"

           "Nothing!"Thehorriblespinningsensationhadvanished,butitwashardtogetwordsout."Married?Youmean-"

           "Why,sure!Abouttime,isn’tit?Yourememberthatgirlwhowasherelastsummer.That’sshe!Butyouaresick.You-"

           "Headache!"SusanCalvinmotionedhimawayweakly."I’ve...I’vebeensubjecttothemlately.Iwantto...tocongratulateyou,ofcourse.I’mveryglad-"Theinexpertlyappliedrougemadeapairofnastyredsplotchesuponherchalk-whiteface.Thingshadbegunspinningagain."Pardonme-please-"

           Thewordswereamumble,asshestumbledblindlyoutthedoor.Ithadhappenedwiththesuddencatastropheofadream–andwithalltheunrealhorrorofadream.

           Buthowcoulditbe?Herbiehadsaid-

           AndHerbieknew!Hecouldseeintominds!

           Shefoundherselfleaningbreathlesslyagainstthedoorjamb,staringintoHerbie’smetalface.Shemusthaveclimbedthetwoflightsofstairs,butshehadnomemoryofit.Thedistancehadbeencoveredinaninstant,asinadream.

           Asinadream!

           AndstillHerbie’sunblinkingeyesstaredintohersandtheirdullredseemedtoexpandintodimlyshiningnightmarishglobes.

           Hewasspeaking,andshefeltthecoldglasspressingagainstherlips.Sheswallowedandshudderedintoapertainawarenessofhersurroundings.