Я, Робот

           ButIsaid,"That’sright."

           "Humaninterestoutofrobots?Acontradiction."

           "No,doctor.Outofyou."

           "Well,I’vebeencalledarobotmyself.Surely,they’vetoldyouI’mnothuman."

           Theyhad,buttherewasnopointinsayingso.

           Shegotupfromherchair.Shewasn’ttallandshelookedfrail.Ifollowedhertothewindowandwelookedout.

           TheofficesandfactoriesofU.S.Robotswereasmallcity;spacedandplanned.Itwasflattenedoutlikeanaerialphotograph.

           "WhenIfirstcamehere,"shesaid,"Ihadalittleroominabuildingrightabouttherewherethefire-houseisnow."Shepointed."Itwastorndownbeforeyouwereborn.Isharedtheroomwiththreeothers.Ihadhalfadesk.Webuiltourrobotsallinonebuilding.Output–threeaweek.Nowlookatus."

           "FiftyYears,"Ihackneyed,"isalongtime."

           "Notwhenyou’relookingbackatthem,"shesaid."Youwonderhowtheyvanishedsoquickly."

           Shewentbacktoherdeskandsatdown.Shedidn’tneedexpressiononherfacetolooksad,somehow.

           "Howoldareyou?"shewantedtoknow.