Я, Робот

           NumberTwenty-eightentered,diffidently.

           Sheforcedherselfintoreasonablecalm."AndwhoareYou?"

           Therobotrepliedinalow,uncertainvoice,"Ihavereceivednonumberofmyownyet,ma’am.I’manNS-2robot,andIwasNumberTwenty-eightinlineoutside.IhaveaslipofpaperherethatI’mtogivetoyou."

           "Youhaven’tbeeninherebeforethistoday?"

           "No,ma’am."

           "Sitdown.Rightthere.Iwanttoaskyousomequestions,NumberTwenty-eight.WereyouintheRadiationRoomofBuildingTwoaboutfourhoursago?"

           Therobothadtroubleanswering.Thenitcameouthoarsely,likemachineryneedingoil,"Yes,ma’am."

           "Therewasamanwhoalmostcametoharmthere,wasn’tthere?"

           "Yes,ma’am."

           "Youdidnothing,didyou?"

           "No,ma’am."

           "Themanmighthavebeenhurtbecauseofyourinaction.Doyouknowthat?"

           "Yes,ma’am.Icouldn’thelpit,ma’am."Itishardtopicturealargeexpressionlessmetallicfigurecringing,butitmanaged.

           "Iwantyoutotellmeexactlywhyyoudidnothingtosavehim."

           "Iwanttoexplain,ma’am.Icertainlydon’twanttohaveyou...haveanyone...thinkthatIcoulddoathingthatmightcauseharmtoamaster.Oh,no,thatwouldbeahorrible...aninconceivable-"

           "Pleasedon’tgetexcited,boy.I’mnotblamingyouforanything.Ionlywanttoknowwhatyouwerethinkingatthetime."

           "Ma’am,beforeitallhappenedyoutoldusthatoneofthemasterswouldbeindangerofharmfromthatweightthatkeepsfallingandthatwewouldhavetocrosselectriccablesifweweretotrytosavehim.