Я, Робот
Robbie
Inthisroom,thereweren’tanypeopleatall,shenoticed.Thenhereyesfelluponsixorsevenrobotsbusilyengagedataroundtablehalfwayacrosstheroom.Theywidenedinincreduloussurprise.Itwasabigroom.Shecouldn’tseeforsure,butoneoftherobotslookedlike-lookedlike-itwas!
"Robbie!"Hershriekpiercedtheair,andoneoftherobotsaboutthetablefalteredanddroppedthetoolhewasholding.Gloriawentalmostmadwithjoy.Squeezingthroughtherailingbeforeeitherparentcouldstopher,shedroppedlightlytothefloorafewfeetbelow,andrantowardherRobbie,armswavingandhairflying.
Andthethreehorrifiedadults,astheystoodfrozenintheirtracks,sawwhattheexcitedlittlegirldidnotsee,-ahuge,lumberingtractorbearingblindlydownuponitsappointedtrack.
Ittooksplit-secondsforWestontocometohissenses,andthosesplit-secondsmeanteverything,forGloriacouldnotbeovertaken.AlthoughWestonvaultedtherailinginawildattempt,itwasobviouslyhopeless.Mr.Strutherssignalledwildlytotheoverseerstostopthetractor,buttheoverseerswereonlyhumanandittooktimetoact.
ItwasonlyRobbiethatactedimmediatelyandwithprecision.
Withmetallegseatingupthespacebetweenhimselfandhislittlemistresshechargeddownfromtheoppositedirection.Everythingthenhappenedatonce.Withonesweepofanarm,RobbiesnatchedupGloria,slackeninghisspeednotoneiota,and,consequently,knockingeverybreathofairoutofher.Weston,notquitecomprehendingallthatwashappening,felt,ratherthansaw,Robbiebrushpasthim,andcametoasuddenbewilderedhalt.ThetractorintersectedGloria’spathhalfasecondafterRobbiehad,rolledontenfeetfurtherandcametoagrinding,longdrawn-outstop.
