Я, Робот

           Thetwomathematiciansjumped,andBogertseyesnarrowed,"Youhere?What’ssofunny?"

           "Nothing’sfunny."Hervoicewasnotquitenatural."It’sjustthatI’mnottheonlyonethat’sbeencaught.There’sironyinthreeofthegreatestexpertsinroboticsintheworldfallingintothesameelementarytrap,isn’tthere?"Hervoicefaded,andsheputapalehandtoherforehead,"Butitisn’tfunny!"

           Thistimethelookthatpassedbetweenthetwomenwasoneofraisedeyebrows."Whattrapareyoutalkingabout?"askedLansingstiffly."IssomethingwrongwithHerbie?"

           "No,"sheapproachedthemslowly,"nothingiswrongwithhim–onlywithus."Shewhirledsuddenlyandshriekedattherobot,"Getawayfromme!Gototheotherendoftheroomanddon’tletmelookatyou."

           Herbiecringedbeforethefuryofhereyesandstumbledawayinaclatteringtrot.

           Lanning’svoicewashostile,"Whatisallthis,Dr.Calvin?"

           Shefacedthemandspokesarcastically,"SurelyyouknowthefundamentalFirstLawofRobotics."

           Theothertwonoddedtogether."Certainly,"saidBogert,Irritably,"arobotmaynotinjureahumanbeingor,throughinaction,allowhimtocometoharm"

           "Hownicelyput,"sneeredCalvin."Butwhatkindofharm?"

           "Why–anykind."

           "Exactly!Anykind!Butwhatabouthurtfeelings?Whataboutdeflationofone’sego?Whatabouttheblastingofone’shopes?Isthatinjury?"

           Lanningfrowned,"Whatwouldarobotknowabout-"Andthenhecaughthimselfwithagasp.

           "You’vecaughton,haveyou?Thisrobotreadsminds.