Я, Робот
Little Lost Robot
Kallner,withhisbaldnessglistening,andhisdressuniformoddlyunsuitedtothegeneralmood,beganwithuneasydirectness.
"Thisisaqueerstorytotell,sir,andmadam.Iwanttothankyouforcomingonshortnoticeandwithoutareasonbeinggiven.We’lltrytocorrectthatnow.We’velostarobot.Workhasstoppedandmuststopuntilsuchtimeaswelocateit.Sofarwehavefailed,andwefeelweneedexperthelp."
Perhapsthegeneralfelthispredicamentanticlimactic.Hecontinuedwithanoteofdesperation,"Ineedn’ttellyoutheimportanceofourworkhere.Morethaneightypercentoflastyear’sappropriationsforscientificresearchhavegonetous-"
"Why,weknowthat,"saidBogert,agreeably."U.S.Robotsisreceivingagenerousrentalfeeforuseofourrobots."
SusanCalvininjectedablunt,vinegarynote,"Whatmakesasinglerobotsoimportanttotheproject,andwhyhasn’titbeenlocated?"
Thegeneralturnedhisredfacetowardherandwethislipsquickly,"Why,inamannerofspeakingwehavelocatedit."Then,withnearanguish,"Here,supposeIexplain.Assoonastherobotfailedtoreportastateofemergencywasdeclared,andallmovementoffHyperBasestopped.Acargovesselhadlandedthepreviousdayandhaddeliveredustworobotsforourlaboratories.Ithadsixty-tworobotsofthe...uh...gametypeforshipmentelsewhere.Wearecertainastothatfigure.Thereisnoquestionaboutitwhatever."
