Я, Робот
Runaround
AndforthefirsttimePowell’sartificialaplombwasshakenandhishandsshotforwardforthemap.
"Areyouserious?Thisisimpossible."
"Thereitis,"growledDonovan.
Thelittledotsthatmarkedthepositionformedaroughcircleabouttheredcrossoftheseleniumpool.AndPowell’sfingerswenttohisbrownmustache,theunfailingsignalofanxiety.
Donovanadded:"InthetwohoursIcheckedonhim,hecircledthatdamnedpoolfourtimes.Itseemslikelytomethathe’llkeepthatupforever.Doyourealizethepositionwe’rein?"
Powelllookedupshortly,andsaidnothing.Oh,yes,herealizedthepositiontheywerein.Itworkeditselfoutassimplyasasyllogism.Thephoto-cellbanksthatalonestoodbetweenthefullpowerofMercury’smonstroussunandthemselveswereshottohell.
Theonlythingthatcouldsavethemwasselenium.TheonlythingthatcouldgettheseleniumwasSpeedy.IfSpeedydidn’tcomeback,noselenium.Noselenium,nophoto-cellbanks.Nophoto-banks–well,deathbyslowbroilingisoneofthemoreunpleasantwaysofbeingdonein.
Donovanrubbedhisredmopofhairsavagelyandexpressedhimselfwithbitterness."We’llbethelaughingstockoftheSystem,Greg.Howcaneverythinghavegonesowrongsosoon?ThegreatteamofPowellandDonovanissentouttoMercurytoreportontheadvisabilityofreopeningtheSunsideMiningStationwithmoderntechniquesandrobotsandweruineverythingthefirstday.Apurelyroutinejob,too.We’llneverliveitdown."
