Я, Робот

           Thegeneral’seyesgleamedintohope."Willthatwork?"

           "Itshould.Underthoseconditions,Nestor10wouldhavetoremaininhisseat.Hecouldbeorderedtotouchthecablesanddie,fortheSecondLawofobedienceissuperiortotheThirdLawofself-preservation.Buthewon’tbeorderedto;hewillmerelybelefttohisowndevices,aswillalltherobots.Inthecaseofthenormalrobots,theFirstLawofhumansafetywilldrivethemtotheirdeathevenwithoutorders.ButnotourNestor10.WithouttheentireFirstLaw,andwithouthavingreceivedanyordersonthematter,theThirdLaw,self-preservation,willbethehighestoperating,andhewillhavenochoicebuttoremaininhisseat.Itwouldbeaforcedaction."

           "Willitbedonetonight,then?"

           "Tonight,"saidthepsychologist,"ifthecablescanbelaidIntime.I’lltelltherobotsnowwhatthey’retobeupagainst...

           Amansatinthechair,motionless,silent.Aweightdropped,crasheddownward,thenpoundedasideatthelastmomentunderthesynchronizedthumpofasuddenforcebeam.

           Onlyonce-

           Andfromhersmallcampchairintheobservingboothinthebalcony,Dr.SusanCalvinrosewithashortgaspofpurehorror.

           Sixty-threerobotssatquietlyintheirchairs,staringowlishlyattheendangeredmanbeforethem.Notonemoved.

           Dr.Calvinwasangry,angryalmostpastendurance.Angrytheworsefornotdaringtoshowittotherobotsthat,onebyone,wereenteringtheroomandthenleaving.Shecheckedthelist.Numbertwenty-eightwasdueinnow–Thirty-fivestilllayaheadofher.