Я, Робот
Little Lost Robot
Bogertwaswaitingforherandlookedexpectantasshedroppedtherecordingspoolwithaclangupontheplasticofthedesk.
Sheshookherhead,"Allsixty-threeseemedthesametome.Icouldn’ttell-"
Hesaid,"Youcouldn’texpecttotellbyear,Susan.Supposeweanalyzetherecordings."
Ordinarily,themathematicalinterpretationofverbalreactionsofrobotsisoneofthemoreintricatebranchesofroboticanalysis.Itrequiresastaffoftrainedtechniciansandthehelpofcomplicatedcomputingmachines.Bogertknewthat.Bogertstatedasmuch,inanextremeofunshownannoyanceafterhavinglistenedtoeachsetofreplies,madelistsofworddeviations,andgraphsoftheintervalsofresponses.
"Therearenoanomaliespresent,Susan.Thevariationsinwordingandthetimereactionsarewithinthelimitsofordinaryfrequencygroupings.Weneedfinermethods.Theymusthavecomputershere.No."Hefrownedandnibbleddelicatelyatathumbnail."Wecan’tusecomputers.Toomuchdangerofleakage.Ormaybeifwe-"
Dr.Calvinstoppedhimwithanimpatientgesture,"Please,Peter.Thisisn’toneofyourpettylaboratoryproblems.Ifwecan’tdeterminethemodifiedNestorbysomegrossdifferencethatwecanseewiththenakedeye,onethatthereisnomistakeabout,we’reoutofluck.Thedangerofbeingwrong,andoflettinghimescapeisotherwisetoogreat.It’snotenoughtopointoutaminuteirregularityinagraph.Itellyou,ifthat’sallI’vegottogoon,I’ddestroythemalljusttobecertain.
