Я, Робот

           "Thatwouldmakenodifference,"criedHerbie,"sinceyouwouldknowanywaythatitwasIthatwassupplyingtheanswer."

           Calvinresumed,"Butyouunderstand,Herbie,thatdespitethat,Drs.LanningandBogertwantthatsolution."

           "Bytheirownefforts!"insistedHerbie.

           "Buttheywantit,andthefactthatyouhaveitandwon’tgiveithurtsthem.Youseethat,don’tyou?"

           "Yes!Yes!"

           "Andifyoutellthemthatwillhurtthem,too"

           "Yes!Yes!"Herbiewasretreatingslowly,andstepbystepSusanCalvinadvanced.Thetwomenwatchedinfrozenbewilderment.

           "Youcan’ttellthem,"dronedthepsychologistslowly,"becausethatwouldhurtandyoumustn’thurt.Butifyoudon’ttellthem,youhurt,soyoumusttellthem.Andifyoudo,youwillhurtandyoumustn’t,soyoucan’ttellthem;butifyoudon’t,youhurt,soyoumust;butifyoudo,youhurt,soyoumustn’t;butifyoudon’t,youhurt,soyoumust;butifyoudo,you-"

           Herbiewasupagainstthewall,andherehedroppedtohisknees."Stop!"heshrieked."Closeyourmind!Itisfullofpainandfrustrationandhate!Ididn’tmeanit,Itellyou!Itriedtohelp!Itoldyouwhatyouwantedtohear.Ihadto!"

           Thepsychologistpaidnoattention."Youmusttellthem,butifyoudo,youhurt,soyoumustn’t;butifyoudon’t,youhurt,soyoumust;but-"

           AndHerbiescreamed!

           Itwaslikethewhistlingofapiccolomanytimesmagnified–shrillandshrillertillitkeenedwiththeterrorofalostsoulandfilledtheroomwiththepiercingnessofitself