Я, Робот
Robbie
"Wemayfindhimsoon.We’llkeeplookingforhim.Andmeanwhileyoucanplaywithyournicenewdoggie.Lookathim!HisnameisLightningandhecan-"
ButGloria’seyelidshadoverflown,"Idon’twantthenastydog–IwantRobbie.IwantyoutofindmeRobbie."Herfeelingsbecametoodeepforwords,andshesplutteredintoashrillwail.
Mrs.Westonglancedatherhusbandforhelp,buthemerelyshuffledhisfeetmoroselyanddidnotwithdrawhisardentstarefromtheheavens,soshebenttothetaskofconsolation,"Whydoyoucry,Gloria?Robbiewasonlyamachine,justanastyoldmachine.Hewasn’taliveatall."
"Hewasnotnomachine!"screamedGloria,fiercelyandungrammatically."Hewasapersonjustlikeyouandmeandhewasmyfriend.Iwanthimback.Oh,Mamma,Iwanthimback."
HermothergroanedindefeatandleftGloriatohersorrow.
"Letherhavehercryout,"shetoldherhusband."Childishgriefsareneverlasting.Inafewdays,she’llforgetthatawfulroboteverexisted."
ButtimeprovedMrs.Westonabittoooptimistic.Tobesure,Gloriaceasedcrying,butsheceasedsmiling,too,andthepassingdaysfoundherevermoresilentandshadowy.Gradually,herattitudeofpassiveunhappinessworeMrs.Westondownandallthatkeptherfromyieldingwastheimpossibilityofadmittingdefeattoherhusband.
Then,oneevening,sheflouncedintothelivingroom,satdown,foldedherarmsandlookedboilingmad.
Herhusbandstretchedhisneckinordertoseeheroverhisnewspaper,"Whatnow,Grace?"
