Я, Робот
Evidence
ItwaswhattheFundamentalistswerewaitingfor.Theywerenotapoliticalparty;theymadepretensetonoformalreligion.EssentiallytheywerethosewhohadnotadaptedthemselvestowhathadoncebeencalledtheAtomicAge,inthedayswhenatomswereanovelty.Actually,theyweretheSimple-Lifers,hungeringafteralife,whichtothosewholivedithadprobablyappearednotsoSimple,andwhohadbeen,therefore,Simple-Lifersthemselves.
TheFundamentalistsrequirednonewreasontodetestrobotsandrobotmanufacturers;butanewreasonsuchastheQuinnaccusationandtheCalvinanalysiswassufficienttomakesuchdetestationaudible.
ThehugeplantsoftheU.S.Robotamp;MechanicalMenCorporationwasahivethatspawnedarmedguards.Itpreparedforwar.
WithinthecitythehouseofStephenByerleybristledwithpolice.
Thepoliticalcampaign,ofcourse,lostallotherissues,andresembledacampaignonlyinthatitwassomethingfillingthehiatusbetweennominationandelection.
StephenByerleydidnotallowthefussylittlemantodistracthim.Heremainedcomfortablyunperturbedbytheuniformsinthebackground.Outsidethehouse,pastthelineofgrimguards,reportersandphotographerswaitedaccordingtothetraditionofthecaste.Oneenterprising’visorstationevenhadascannerfocusedontheblankentrancetotheprosecutor’sunpretentioushome,whileasyntheticallyexcitedannouncerfilledinwithinflatedcommentary.
Thefussylittlemanadvanced.Heheldforwardarich,complicatedsheet.
