Я, Робот
Robbie
"Iknowwhywe’regoingtothecity,Mamma."
"Doyou?"Mrs.Westonwaspuzzled."Why,dear?"
"Youdidn’ttellmebecauseyouwantedittobeasurprise,butIknow."Foramoment,shewaslostinadmirationatherownacutepenetration,andthenshelaughedgaily."We’regoingtoNewYorksowecanfindRobbie,aren’twe?-Withdetectives."
ThestatementcaughtGeorgeWestoninthemiddleofadrinkofwater,withdisastrousresults.Therewasasortofstrangledgasp,ageyserofwater,andthenaboutofchokingcoughs.Whenallwasover,hestoodthere,ared-faced,water-drenchedandvery,veryannoyedperson.
Mrs.Westonmaintainedhercomposure,butwhenGloriarepeatedherquestioninamoreanxioustoneofvoice,shefoundhertemperratherbent.
"Maybe,"sheretorted,tartly."Nowsitandbestill,forHeaven’ssake."
NewYorkCity,1998A.D.,wasaparadiseforthesightseermorethaneverinitshistory.Gloria’sparentsrealizedthisandmadethemostofit.
Ondirectordersfromhiswife,GeorgeWestonarrangedtohavehisbusinesstakecareofitselfforamonthorso,inordertobefreetospendthetimeinwhathe,termed"dissipatingGloriatothevergeofruin."LikeeverythingelseWestondid,thiswasgoneaboutinanefficient,thorough,andbusiness-likeway.Beforethemonthhadpassed,nothingthatcouldbedonehadnotbeendone.
Shewastakentothetopofthehalf-miletallRooseveltBuilding,togazedowninaweuponthejaggedpanoramaofrooftopsthatblendedfaroffinthefieldsofLongIslandandtheflatlandsofNewJersey.
