Я, Робот
Robbie
"Who-isRobbie?"
"He’sarobot,Mr.Robot,sir."Shestretchedtotip-toes."He’saboutsohigh,Mr.Robot,sir,onlyhigher,andhe’sverynice.He’sgotahead,youknow.Imeanyouhaven’t,buthehas,Mr.Robot,sir."
TheTalkingRobothadbeenleftbehind,"A-robot?"
"Yes,Mr.Robot,sir.Arobotjustlikeyou,excepthecan’ttalk,ofcourse,and-lookslikearealperson."
"A-robot-like-me?"
"Yes,Mr.Robot,sir."
TowhichtheTalkingRobot’sonlyresponsewasanerraticsplutterandanoccasionalincoherentsound.Theradicalgeneralizationofferedit,i.e.,itsexistence,notasaparticularobject,butasamemberofageneralgroup,wastoomuchforit.Loyally,ittriedtoencompasstheconceptandhalfadozencoilsburntout.Littlewarningsignalswerebuzzing.
(Thegirlinhermid-teensleftatthatpoint.ShehadenoughforherPhysics-1paperon"PracticalAspectsofRobotics."ThispaperwasSusanCalvin’sfirstofmanyonthesubject.)
Gloriastoodwaiting,withcarefullyconcealedimpatience,forthemachine’sanswerwhensheheardthecrybehindherof"Theresheis,"andrecognizedthatcryashermother’s.
"Whatareyoudoinghere,youbadgirl?"criedMrs.Weston,anxietydissolvingatonceintoanger."Doyouknowyoufrightenedyourmammaanddaddyalmosttodeath?Whydidyourunaway?"
