Я, Робот
Little Lost Robot
Whatmakeshimslavish,then?OnlytheFirstLawlWhy,withoutit,thefirstorderyoutriedtogivearobotwouldresultinyourdeath.Unstable?Whatdoyouthink?"
"Susan,"saidBogert,withanairofsympatheticamusement."I’lladmitthatthisFrankensteinComplexyou’reexhibitinghasacertainjustification-hencetheFirstLawinthefirst,place.ButtheLaw,Irepeatandrepeat,hasnotbeenremoved–merelymodified."
"Andwhataboutthestabilityofthebrain?"
Themathematicianthrustouthislips,"Decreased,naturally.Butit’swithintheborderofsafety.ThefirstNestorsweredeliveredtoHyperBaseninemonthsago,andnothingwhateverhasgonewrongtillnow,andeventhisinvolvesmerelyfearofdiscoveryandnotdangertohumans."
"Verywell,then.We’llseewhatcomesofthemorningconference."
Bogertsawherpolitelytothedoorandgrimacedeloquentlywhensheleft.Hesawnoreasontochangehisperennialopinionofherasasourandfidgetyfrustration.
SusanCalvin’strainofthoughtdidnotincludeBogertintheleast.Shehaddismissedhimyearsagoasasmoothandpretentioussleekness.
GeraldBlackhadtakenhisdegreeinethericphysicstheyearbeforeand,incommonwithhisentiregenerationofphysicists,foundhimselfengagedintheproblemoftheDrive.HenowmadeaproperadditiontothegeneralatmosphereofthesemeetingsonHyperBase.Inhisstainedwhitesmock,hewashalfrebelliousandwhollyuncertain.