Я, Робот

           "Herenow,Herbie.Listentome!"

           Therobotbroughthiseyessharplydownupontheageddirector,"Yes,Dr.Lanning."

           "HaveyoudiscussedmewithDr.Bogert?"

           "No,sir."Theanswercameslowly,andthesmileonBogert’sfaceflashedoff.

           "What’sthat?"Bogertshovedinaheadofhissuperiorandstraddledthegroundbeforetherobot."Repeatwhatyoutoldmeyesterday."

           "Isaidthat"Herbiefellsilent.Deepwithinhimhismetallicdiaphragmvibratedinsoftdiscords.

           "Didn’tyousayhehadresigned?"roaredBogert."Answerme!"

           Bogertraisedhisarmfrantically,butLanningpushedhimaside,"Areyoutryingtobullyhimintolying?"

           "Youheardhim,Lanning.Hebegantosay’Yes’andstopped.Getoutofmyway!Iwantthetruthoutofhim,understandl"

           "I’llaskhim!"Lanningturnedtotherobot."Allright,Herbie,takeiteasy.HaveIresigned?"

           Herbiestared,andLanningrepeatedanxiously,"HaveIresigned?"Therewasthefaintesttraceofanegativeshakeoftherobot’shead.Alongwaitproducednothingfurther.

           Thetwomenlookedateachotherandthehostilityintheireyeswasallbuttangible.

           "Whatthedevil,"blurtedBogert,"hastherobotgonemute?Can’tyouspeak,youmonstrosity?"

           "Icanspeak,"camethereadyanswer.

           "Thenanswerthequestion.Didn’tyoutellmeLanninghadresigned?Hasn’theresigned’

           Andagaintherewasnothingbutdullsilence,untilfromtheendoftheroom,SusanCalvin’slaughrangoutsuddenly,high-pitchedandsemi-hysterical.