Я, Робот
Little Lost Robot
Shecontinuedhastily,"Don’tyousupposehecouldtellfromthetoneusedthatthewordsweren’tcomplimentary?Don’tyonsupposehe’sheardthewordsusedbeforeandnoteduponwhatoccasions?"
"Well,then,"shoutedBogert,"willyoukindlytellmeonewayinwhichamodifiedrobotcanharmahumanbeing,nomatterhowoffendeditis,nomatterhowsickwithdesiretoprovesuperiority?"
"IfItellyouoneway,willyoukeepquiet?"
"Yes."
Theywereleaningacrossthetableateachother,angryeyesnailedtogether.
Thepsychologistsaid,"Ifamodifiedrobotweretodropaheavyweightuponahumanbeing,hewouldnotbebreakingtheFirstLaw,ifhedidsowiththeknowledgethathisstrengthandreactionspeedwouldbesufficienttosnatchtheweightawaybeforeitstrucktheman.Howeveroncetheweightlefthisfingers,hewouldbenolongertheactivemedium.Onlytheblindforceofgravitywouldbethat.Therobotcouldthenchangehismindandmerelybyinaction,allowtheweighttostrike.ThemodifiedFirstLawallowsthat."
"That’sanawfulstretchofimagination."
"That’swhatmyprofessionrequiressometimes.Peter,let’snotquarrel.Let’swork.Youknowtheexactnatureofthestimulusthatcausedtherobottolosehimself.Youhavetherecordsofhisoriginalmentalmake-up.IwantyoutotellmehowpossibleitisforourrobottodothesortofthingIjusttalkedabout.Notthespecificinstance,mindyou,butthatwholeclassofresponse.AndIwantitdonequickly."
