The Evitable Conflict

           Theco-ordinator,inhisprivatestudy,hadthatmedievalcuriosity,afireplace.Tobesure,themedievalmanmightnothaverecognizeditassuch,sinceithadnofunctionalsignificance.Thequiet,lickingflamelayinaninsulatedrecessbehindclearquartz.

           Thelogswereignitedatlongdistancethroughatriflingdiversionoftheenergybeamthatfedthepublicbuildingsofthecity.Thesamebuttonthatcontrolledtheignitionfirstdumpedtheashesofthepreviousfire,andallowedfortheentranceoffreshwood.-Itwasathoroughlydomesticatedfireplace,yousee.

           Butthefireitselfwasreal.Itwaswiredforsound,sothatyoucouldhearthecrackleand,ofcourse,youcouldwatchitleapintheairstreamthatfedit.

           TheCo-ordinator’sruddyglassreflected,inminiature,thediscreetgambolingoftheflame,and,inevenfurtherminiature,itwasreflectedineachofhisbroodingpupils.

           Andinthefrostypupilsofhisguest,Dr.SusanCalvinofU.S.Robotsamp;MechanicalMenCorporation.

           TheCo-ordinatorsaid,"Ididnotaskyouhereentirelyforsocialpurposes,Susan."

           "Ididnotthinkyoudid,Stephen,"shereplied.

           "-AndyetIdon’tquiteknowhowtophrasemyproblem.Ontheonehand,itcanbenothingatall.Ontheother,itcanmeantheendofhumanity."

           "Ihavecomeacrosssomanyproblems,Stephen,thatpresentedthesamealternative.Ithinkallproblemsdo."

           "Really?Thenjudgethis-WorldSteelreportsanoverproductionoftwentythousandlongtons.TheMexicanCanalistwomonthsbehindschedule.