Я, Робот

           "Well,listen,"Donovantookanotherineffectualswipeathishair,"I’mnotworriedsomuchaboutourcast-irongeniusandhistinship.There’sthematterofmylostleave.Andthemonotony!There’snothingherebutwhiskersandfigures–thewrongkindoffigures.Oh,whydotheygiveusthesejobs?"

           "Because,"repliedPowell,gently,"we’renoloss,iftheyloseus.O.K.,relax!DocLanning’scomingthisway."

           Lanningwascoming,hisgrayeyebrowsaslavishasever,hisagedfigureunbentasyetandfulloflife.Hewalkedsilentlyuptherampwiththetwomenandoutintotheopenfield,where,obeyingnohumanmaster,silentrobotswerebuildingaship.

           Wrongtense.Hadbuiltaship!

           ForLanningsaid,"Therobotshavestopped.Notonehasmovedtoday."

           "It’scompletedthen?Definitely?"askedPowell.

           "NowhowcanItell?"Lanningwaspeevish,andhiseyebrowscurleddowninaneye-hidingfrown."Itseemsdone.Therearenosparepiecesabout,andtheinteriorisdowntoagleamingfinish."

           "You’vebeeninside?"

           "Justin,thenout.I’mnospace-pilot.Eitherofyoutwoknowmuchaboutenginetheory?"

           DonovanlookedatPowell,wholookedatDonovan.

           Donovansaid,"I’vegotmylicense,sir,butatlastreadingitdidn’tsayanythingabouthyper-enginesorwarp-navigation.Justtheusualchild’splayinthreedimensions."

           AlfredLanninglookedupwithsharpdisapprovalandsnortedthelengthofhisprominentnose.

           Hesaidfrigidly,"Well,wehaveourenginemen."