Я, Робот
The Evitable Conflict
IthadadoptedthecultureandcivilizationofGreece;aGreecewhichhadneverbeenunited,whichhadruineditselfwithwar,andwhichwasendinginastateofdecadentsqualor.Romeunitedit,broughtitpeaceandletitlivealifeofsecurenon-glory.Itoccupieditselfwithitsphilosophiesanditsart,farfromtheclashofgrowthandwar.Itwasasortofdeath,butitwasrestful,anditlastedwithminorbreaksforsomefourhundredyears."
"Andyet,"saidByerley,"Romefelleventually,andtheopiumdreamwasover."
"Therearenolongerbarbarianstooverthrowcivilization."
"Wecanbeourownbarbarians.MadameSzegeczowska.-Oh,Imeanttoaskyou.TheAlmadenmercurymineshavefallenoffquitebadlyinproduction.Surelytheoresarenotdecliningmorerapidlythananticipated?"
Thelittlewoman’sgrayeyesfastenedshrewdlyonByerley,"Barbarians–thefallofcivilization–possiblefailureoftheMachine.Yourthoughtprocessesareverytransparent,monsieur."
"Arethey?"Byerleysmiled."IseethatIshouldhavehadmentodealwithashitherto.-YouconsidertheAlmadenaffairtobethefaultoftheMachine?"
"Notatall,butIthinkyoudo.You,yourself,areanativeoftheNorthernRegion.TheCentralCo-ordinationOfficeisatNewYork.-AndIhavenoticedforquiteawhilethatyouNorthernerslacksomewhatoffaithintheMachine."
"Wedo?"
"Thereisyour`SocietyforHumanity’whichisstrongintheNorth,butnaturallyfailstofindmanyrecruitsintired,oldEurope,whichisquitewillingtoletfeebleHumanityaloneforawhile.
