Я, Робот
Little Lost Robot
Hiseyesgrewroundandappalled,"ButIcan’t."
"Youmust."
"Suppose,"saidBogert,withill-hiddenamusement,"youaddressme.Youmayfinditeasier."
Theyoungman’sscarletfaceturnedtoBogert.Heswallowed."Isaid"Hisvoicefadedout.Hetriedagain,"Isaid-"
Andhedrewadeepbreathandspeweditouthastilyinonelongsuccessionofsyllables.Then,inthechargedairthatlingered,heconcludedalmostintears,"...moreorless.Idon’tremembertheexactorderofwhatIcalledhim,andmaybeIleftoutsomethingorputinsomething,butthatwasaboutit."
Onlytheslightestflushbetrayedanyfeelingonthepartoftherobopsychologist.Shesaid,"Iamawareofthemeaningofmostofthetermsused.Theothers,Isuppose,areequallyderogatory."
"I’mafraidso,"agreedthetormentedBlack.
"Andinamongit,youtoldhimtolosehimself."
"Imeantitonlyfiguratively."
"Irealizethat.Nodisciplinaryactionisintended,Iamsure."Andatherglance,thegeneral,who,fivesecondsearlier,hadseemednotsureatall,noddedangrily.
"Youmayleave,Mr.Black.Thankyouforyourcooperation."
IttookfivehoursforSusanCalvintointerviewthesixty-threerobots.Itwasfivehoursofmulti-repetition;ofreplacementafterreplacementofidenticalrobot;ofQuestionsA,B,C,D;andAnswersA,B,C,D;ofacarefullyblandexpression,acarefullyneutraltone,acarefullyfriendlyatmosphere;andahiddenwirerecorder.
Thepsychologistfeltdrainedofvitalitywhenshewasfinished.
