Я, Робот
Escape!
Thenhesaid,savagely,"Ifitdoes,letit.ButIwishwecouldfight.It’shumiliatingtohavetowaitforit."
Anhourlater,perhaps,Powelllookedathishandonthemetalchair-armandsaidwithfrozencalm,"Feelthewall,Mike."
Donovandid,andsaid,"Youcanfeelitshake,Greg."
Eventhestarsseemedblurred.Fromsomewherecamethevagueimpressionofahugemachinegatheringpowerwiththewalls,storingupenergyforamightyleap,throbbingitswayupthescalesofstrength.
Itcamewithasuddennessandastabofpain.Powellstiffened,andhalf-jerkedfromhischair.HissightcaughtDonovanandblankedoutwhileDonovan’sthinshoutwhimperedanddiedinhisears.Somethingwrithedwithinhimandstruggledagainstagrowingblanketofice,thatthickened.
Somethingbrokelooseandwhirledinablazeofflickeringlightandpain.Itfell
–andwhirled
–andfellheadlong
–intosilence!
Itwasdeath!
Itwasaworldofnomotionandnosensation.Aworldofdim,unsensingconsciousness;aconsciousnessofdarknessandofsilenceandofformlessstruggle.
Mostofallaconsciousnessofeternity.
Hewasatinywhitethreadofego–coldandafraid.
Thenthewordscame,unctuousandsonorous,thunderingoverhiminafoamofsound:
"Doesyourcoffinfitdifferentlylately?WhynottryMorbidM.Cadaver’sextensiblecaskets?Theyarescientificallydesignedtofitthenaturalcurvesofthebody,andareenrichedwithVitaminB1.UseCadaver’scasketsforcomfort.
