Я, Робот
Runaround
Eventenyears,technologicallyspeaking,meantsomuch.CompareSpeedywiththetypeofrobottheymusthavehadbackin2005.Butthen,advancesinroboticsthesedaysweretremendous.Powelltouchedastillgleamingmetalsurfacegingerly.Theairofdisusethattouchedeverythingabouttheroom–andtheentireStation–wasinfinitelydepressing.
Donovanmusthavefeltit.Hebegan:"Itriedtolocatehimbyradio,butitwasnogo.Radioisn’tanygoodontheMercurySunside–notpasttwomiles,anyway.That’soneofthereasonstheFirstExpeditionfailed.Andwecan’tputuptheultrawaveequipmentforweeksyet-"
"Skipallthat.Whatdidyouget?"
"Ilocatedtheunorganizedbodysignalintheshortwave.Itwasnogoodforanythingexcepthisposition.Ikepttrackofhimthatwayfortwohoursandplottedtheresultsonthemap."
Therewasayellowedsquareofparchmentinhishippocket–arelicoftheunsuccessfulFirstExpedition–andheslappeditdownonthedeskwithviciousforce,spreadingitflatwiththepalmofhishand.Powell,handsclaspedacrosshischest,watcheditatlongrange.
Donovan’spencilpointednervously."Theredcrossistheseleniumpool.Youmarkedityourself."
"Whichoneisit?"interruptedPowell."TherewerethreethatMacDougallocatedforusbeforeheleft."
"IsentSpeedytothenearest,naturally.Seventeenmilesaway.Butwhatdifferencedoesthatmake?"Therewastensioninhisvoice."TherearethepencileddotsthatmarkSpeedy’sposition."
