Я, Робот
The Evitable Conflict
ThemercuryminesatAlmadenhaveexperiencedaproductiondeficiencysincelastspring,whiletheHydroponicsplantatTientsinhasbeenlayingmenoff.Theseitemshappentocometomindatthemoment.Thereismoreofthesamesort."
"Arethesethingsserious?I’mnoteconomistenoughtotracethefearfulconsequencesofsuchthings."
"Inthemselves,theyarenotserious.MiningexpertscanbesenttoAlmaden,ifthesituationweretogetworse.HydroponicsengineerscanbeusedinJavaorinCeylon,iftherearetoomanyatTientsin.Twentythousandlongtonsofsteelwon’tfillmorethanafewdaysofworlddemand,andtheopeningoftheMexicanCanaltwomonthslaterthantheplanneddateisoflittlemoment.It’stheMachinesthatworryme;I’vespokentoyourDirectorofResearchaboutthemalready."
"ToVincentSilver?-Hehasn’tmentionedanythingaboutittome."
"Iaskedhimtospeaktonoone.Apparently,hehasn’t."
"Andwhatdidhetellyou?"
"Letmeputthatiteminitsproperplace.IwanttotalkabouttheMachinesfirst.AndIwanttotalkaboutthemtoyou,becauseyou’retheonlyoneintheworldwhounderstandsrobotswellenoughtohelpmenow.-MayIgrowphilosophical?"
"Forthisevening,Stephen,youmaytalkhowyoupleaseandofwhatyouplease,providedyoutellmefirstwhatyouintendtoprove."
"Thatsuchsmallunbalancesintheperfectionofoursystemofsupplyanddemand,asIhavementioned,maybethefirststeptowardsthefinalwar."
"Hmp.Proceed."
