Я, Робот
Evidence
ItwillmeanpublicityforU.S.Robots–butIgaveyouyourchance."
LanningturnedimpatientlytoSusanCalvin,whentheywerealone."Whydoyouinsist-"
Andwithrealfeeling,sherespondedsharplyandinstantly,"Whichdoyouwant–thetruthormyresignation?Iwon’tlieforyou.U.S.Robotscantakecareofitself.Don’tturncoward."
"What,",saidLanning,"ifheopensupByerley,andwheelsandgearsfalloutwhatthen?"
"Hewon’topenByerley,"saidCalvin,disdainfully."ByerleyisascleverasQuinn,attheveryleast"
ThenewsbrokeuponthecityaweekbeforeByerleywastohavebeennominated.But"broke"isthewrongword.Itstaggereduponthecity,shambled,crawled.Laughterbegan,andwitwasfree.AndasthefaroffhandofQuinntighteneditspressureineasystages,thelaughtergrewforced,anelementofhollowuncertaintyentered,andpeoplebrokeofftowonder.
Theconventionitselfhadthesirofarestivestallion.Therehadbeennocontestplanned.OnlyByerleycouldpossiblyhavebeennominatedaweekearlier.Therewasnosubstituteevennow.Theyhadtonominatehim,buttherewascompleteconfusionaboutit.
Itwouldnothavebeensobadiftheaverageindividualwerenottornbetweentheenormityofthecharge,iftrue,anditssensationalfolly,iffalse.
ThedayafterByerleywasnominatedperfunctorily,hollowly–anewspaperfinallypublishedthegistofalonginterviewwithDr.SusanCalvin,"worldfamousexpertonrobopsychologyandpositronics."
Whatbrokelooseispopularlyandsuccinctlydescribedashell.
