Я, Робот

           Shelearnedtocalculatetheparametersnecessarytofixthepossiblevariableswithinthe"positronicbrain";toconstruct"brains"onpapersuchthattheresponsestogivenstimulicouldbeaccuratelypredicted.

           In2008,sheobtainedherPh.D.andjoinedUnitedStatesRobotsasa"Robopsychologist,"becomingthefirstgreatpractitionerofanewscience.LawrenceRobertsonwasstillpresidentofthecorporation;AlfredLanninghadbecomedirectorofresearch.

           Forfiftyyears,shewatchedthedirectionofhumanprogresschangeandleapahead.

           Nowshewasretiring–asmuchassheevercould.Atleast,shewasallowingsomeoneelse’snametobeinsetuponthedoorofheroffice.

           That,essentially,waswhatIhad.Ihadalonglistofherpublishedpapers,ofthepatentsinhername;Ihadthechronologicaldetailsofherpromotions.InshortIhadherprofessional"vita"infulldetail.

           Butthatwasn’twhatIwanted.

           IneededmorethanthatformyfeaturearticlesforInterplanetaryPress.Muchmore.

           Itoldherso.

           "Dr.Calvin,"Isaid,aslushlyaspossible,"inthemindofthepublicyouandU.S.Robotsareidentical.Yourretirementwillendaneraand-"

           "Youwantthehuman-interestangle?"Shedidn’tsmileatme.Idon’tthinksheeversmiles.Buthereyesweresharp,thoughnotangry.IfeltherglanceslidethroughmeandoutmyocciputandknewthatIwasuncommonlytransparenttoher;thateverybodywas.