Я, Робот

           Whatdoyousuppose?"

           Thenextquestionslippedout,"They’llbealive,then?"

           "Sure!"

           "Andtheinterstellarjumpwon’thurtthem?"

           ShefrozeasTheBrainmaintainedsilence.Thatwasit!Shehadtouchedthesorespot.

           "Brain,"shesupplicatedfaintly,"Brain,doyouhearme?"

           Theanswerwasweak,quivering.TheBrainsaid,"DoIhavetoanswer?Aboutthejump,Imean?"

           "Notifyoudon’twantto.Butitwouldbeinteresting–Imeanifyouwantedto."SusanCalvintriedtobebrightaboutit.

           "Aw-w-w.Youspoileverything."

           Andthepsychologistjumpedupsuddenly,withalookofflaminginsightonherface.

           "Oh,my,"shegasped."Oh,my."

           Andshefeltthetensionofhoursanddaysreleasedinaburst.ItwaslaterthatshetoldLanning,"Itellyouit’sallright.No,youmustleavemealone,now.Theshipwillbebacksafely,withthemen,andIwanttorest.Iwillrest.Nowgoaway."

           TheshipreturnedtoEarthassilently,asunjarringlyasithadleft.Itdroppedpreciselyintoplaceandthemainlockgapedopen.Thetwomenwhowalkedoutfelttheirwaycarefullyandscratchedtheirroughandscrubbily-stubbledchins.

           Andthen,slowlyandpurposefully,theonewithredhairkneltdownandplantedupontheconcreteoftherunwayafirm,loudkiss.

           Theywavedasidethecrowdthatwasgatheringandmadegesturesofdenialattheeagercouplethathadpiledoutofthedown-swoopingambulancewithastretcherbetweenthem.

           GregoryPowellsaid,"Where’sthenearestshower?"

           Theywereledaway.

           Theyweregathered,allofthem,aboutatable.