Я, Робот
The Evitable Conflict
Surely,youareoneoftheconfidentNorthandnotoneofthecynicaloldcontinent."
"ThishasaconnectionwithAlmaden?"
"Oh,yes,Ithinkso.TheminesareinthecontrolofConsolidatedCinnabar,whichiscertainlyaNortherncompany,withheadquartersatNikolaev.Personally,IwonderiftheBoardofDirectorshavebeenconsultingtheMachineatall.Theysaidtheyhadinourconferencelastmonth,and,ofcourse,wehavenoevidencethattheydidnot,butIwouldn’ttakethewordofaNorthernerinthismatter–nooffenseintended–underanycircumstances.-Nevertheless,Ithinkitwillhaveafortunateending."
"Inwhatway,mydearmadam?"
"Youmustunderstandthattheeconomicirregularitiesofthelastfewmonths,which,althoughsmallascomparedwiththegreatstormsofthepast,arequitedisturbingtoourpeace-drenchedspirits,havecausedconsiderablerestivenessintheSpanishprovince.IunderstandthatConsolidatedCinnabarissellingouttoagroupofnativeSpaniards.Itisconsoling.IfweareeconomicvassalsoftheNorth,itishumiliatingtohavethefactadvertisedtooblatantly.-AndourpeoplecanbebettertrustedtofollowtheMachine."
"Thenyouthinktherewillbenomoretrouble?"
"Iamsuretherewillnotbe-InAlmaden,atleast."
TheNorthernRegion
a-Area:18,000,000squaremiles
b-Population:800,000,000
c-Capital:Ottawa
TheNorthernRegion,inmorewaysthanone,wasatthetop.ThiswasexemplifiedquitewellbythemapintheOttawaofficeofVice-Co-ordinatorHiramMackenzie,inwhichtheNorthPolewascentered.
