Я, Робот
Little Lost Robot
"Andmeanwhile-"
"Andmeanwhile,we’llhavetotryperformancetestsdirectlyontheresponsetoFirstLaw."
GeraldBlack,athisownrequest,wassupervisingthemushroomingwoodenpartitionsthatwerespringingupinabellyingcircleonthevaultedthirdfloorofRadiationBuilding2.Thelaborersworked,inthemain,silently,butmorethanonewasopenlya-wonderatthesixty-threephotocellsthatrequiredinstallation.
OneofthemsatdownnearBlack,removedhishat,andwipedhisforeheadthoughtfullywithafreckledforearm.
Blacknoddedathim,"How’sitdoing,Walensky?"
Walenskyshruggedandfiredacigar,"Smoothasbutter.What’sgoingonanyway,Doc?First,there’snoworkforthreedaysandthenwehavethismessofjiggers."Heleanedbackwardonhiselbowsandpuffedsmoke.
Blacktwitchedhiseyebrows,"AcoupleofrobotmencameoverfromEarth.Rememberthetroublewehadwithrobotsrunningintothegammafields.beforewepoundeditintotheirskullsthattheyweren’ttodoit."
"Yeah.Didn’twegetnewrobots?"
"Wegotsomereplacements,butmostlyitwasajobofindoctrination.Anyway,thepeoplewhomakethemwanttofigureoutrobotsthataren’thitsobadbygammarays."
"Sureseemsfunny,though,tostopalltheworkontheDriveforthisrobotdeal.IthoughtnothingwasallowedtostoptheDrive."
"Well,it’sthefellowsupstairsthathavethesayonthat.Me-IjustdoasI’mtold.Probablyallamatterofpull-"
"Yeah,"theelectricianjerkedasmile,andwinkedawiseeye."SomebodyknewsomebodyinWashington.
