Я, Робот
The Evitable Conflict
"AMachine!Bah!"Sheshruggedherdelicateshoulders,andallowedathinsmiletocrossherlittlefaceasshetampedoutacigarettewithlongfingers."Europeisasleepyplace.AndsuchofourmenasdonotmanagetoemigratetotheTropicsaretiredandsleepyalongwithit.Youseeforyourselfthatitismyself,apoorwoman,towhomfallsthetaskofbeingVice-Co-ordinator.Well,fortunately,itisnotadifficultjob,andnotmuchisexpectedofme.
"AsfortheMachine-Whatcanitsaybut’Dothisanditwillbebestforyou.’Butwhatisbestforus?Why,tobeaneconomicappendageoftheNorthernRegion.
"Andisitsoterrible?Nowars!Weliveinpeace–anditispleasantafterseventhousandyearsofwar.Weareold,monsieur.Inourborders,wehavetheregionswhereOccidentalcivilizationwascradled.WehaveEgyptandMesopotamia;CreteandSyria;AsiaMinorandGreece.-Butoldageisnotnecessarilyanunhappytime.Itcanbeafruition-"
"Perhapsyouareright,"saidByerley,affably."AtleastthetempooflifeisnotasintenseasintheotherRegions.Itisapleasantatmosphere."
"Isitnot?-Teaisbeingbrought,monsieur.Ifyouwillindicateyourcreamandsugarpreference,please.Thankyou.
Shesippedgently,thencontinued,"Itispleasant.TherestofEarthiswelcometothecontinuingstruggle.Ifindaparallelhere;averyinterestingone.TherewasatimewhenRomewasmasteroftheworld.
