Я, Робот

           TheywanttheHyperatomicDriveandtheethericphysicistswantrobotsthatwon’tinterferewiththem.TheyweregoingtogetthemevenifitdidmeantwistingtheFirstLaw.Wehadtoadmititwaspossiblefromaconstructionstandpointandtheysworeamightyoaththattheywantedonlytwelve,thattheywouldbeusedonlyatHyperBase,thattheywouldbedestroyedoncetheDrivewasperfected,andthatfullprecautionswouldbetaken.Andtheyinsistedonsecrecy–andthat’sthesituation."

           Dr.Calvinspokethroughherteeth,"Iwouldhaveresigned."

           "Itwouldn’thavehelped.Thegovernmentwasofferingthecompanyafortune,andthreateningitwithantirobotlegislationincaseofarefusal.Wewerestuckthen,andwe’rebadlystucknow.Ifthisleaksout,itmighthurtKallnerandthegovernment,butitwouldhurtU.S.Robotsadevilofalotmore."

           Thepsychologiststaredathim."Peter,don’tyourealizewhatallthisisabout?Can’tyouunderstandwhattheremovaloftheFirstLawmeans?Itisn’tjustamatterofsecrecy."

           "Iknowwhatremovalwouldmean.I’mnotachild.Itwouldmeancompleteinstability,withnononimaginarysolutionstothepositronicFieldEquations."

           "Yes,mathematically.Butcanyoutranslatethatintocrudepsychologicalthought.Allnormallife,Peter,consciouslyorotherwise,resentsdomination.Ifthedominationisbyaninferior,orbyasupposedinferior,theresentmentbecomesstronger.Physically,and,toanextent,mentally,arobot-anyrobot-issuperiortohumanbeings.