Little Lost Robot

           WhenIdidseeSusanCalvinagain,itwasatthedoorofheroffice.Fileswerebeingmovedout.

           Shesaid,"Howareyourarticlescomingalong,youngman?"

           "Fine,"Isaid.Ihadputthemintoshapeaccordingtomyownlights,dramatizedthebarebonesofherrecital,addedtheconversationandlittletouches,"WouldyoulookoverthemandseeifIhaven’tbeenlibellousortoounreasonablyinaccurateanywhere?"

           "Isupposeso.ShallweretiretotheExecutives’Lounge?Wecanhavecoffee."

           Sheseemedingoodhumor,soIchanceditaswewalkeddownthecorridor,"Iwaswondering,Dr.Calvin-"

           "Yes?"

           "Ifyouwouldtellmemoreconcerningthehistoryofrobotics."

           "Surelyyouhavewhatyouwant,youngman."

           "Inaway.ButtheseincidentsIhavewrittenupdon’tapplymuchtothemodernworld.Imean,therewasonlyonemind-readingroboteverdeveloped,andSpace-Stationsarealreadyoutmodedandindisuse,androbotminingistakenforgranted.Whataboutinterstellartravel?It’sonlybeenabouttwentyyearssincethehyperatomicmotorwasinventedandit’swellknownthatitwasaroboticinvention.Whatisthetruthaboutit?"

           "Interstellartravel?"Shewasthoughtful.Wewereinthelounge,andIorderedafulldinner.Shejusthadcoffee.

           "Itwasn’tasimpleroboticinvention,youknow;notjustlikethat.But,ofcourse,untilwedevelopedtheBrain,wedidn’tgetveryfar.Butwetried;wereallytried.