Я, Робот

           "Energyradiation,sir?"

           Thenextquestioncameinafriendly,offhandmanner,"Everworkwithgammarays?"

           "No,sir."Theanswerwasdefinite.

           "Mm-m.Well,boy,gammarayswillkillyouinstantly.They’lldestroyyourbrain.Thatisafactyoumustknowandremember.Naturally,youdon’twanttodestroyyourself."

           "Naturally."Againtherobotseemedshocked.Then,slowly,"But,sir,ifthegammaraysarebetweenmyselfandthemasterthatmaybeharmed,howcanIsavehim?Iwouldbedestroyingmyselftonopurpose."

           "Yes,thereisthat,"Bogertseemedconcernedaboutthematter."TheonlythingIcanadvise,boy,isthatifyoudetectthegammaradiationbetweenyourselfandtheman,youmayaswellsitwhereyouare."

           Therobot,wasopenlyrelieved."Thankyou,sir.Therewouldn’tbeanyuse,wouldthere?"

           "Ofcoursenot.Butifthereweren’tanydangerousradiation,thatwouldbeadifferentmatter."

           "Naturally,sir.Noquestionofthat."

           "Youmayleavenow.Themanontheothersideofthedoorwillleadyoutoyourstall.Pleasewaitthere."

           HeturnedtoSusanCalvinwhentherobotleft."Howdidthatgo,Susan?"

           "Verywell,"shesaid,dully.

           "DoyouthinkwecouldcatchNestor10byquickquestioningonethericphysics?"

           "Perhaps,butit’snotsureenough."Herhandslaylooselyinherlap."Remember,he’sfightingus.He’sonhisguard.Theonlywaywecancatchhimistooutsmarthim–and,withinhislimitations,hecanthinkmuchmorequicklythanahumanbeing."