Я, Робот
Runaround
"Faster,"yelledDonovan.Therhythmdidnotchange.
"Nouse,"criedPowell,inreply."Thesejunkheapsareonlygearedtoonespeed.Doyouthinkthey’reequippedwithselectiveflexors?"
Theyhadburstthroughtheshadow,andthesunlightcamedowninawhite-hotwashandpouredliquidlyaboutthem.
Donovanduckedinvoluntarily."Wow!IsitimaginationordoIfeelheat?"
"You’llfeelmorepresently,"wasthegrimreply."KeepyoureyeonSpeedy."
RobotSPD13wasnearenoughtobeseenindetailnow.Hisgraceful,streamlinedbodythrewoutblazinghighlightsashelopedwitheasyspeedacrossthebrokenground.Hisnamewasderivedfromhisserialinitials,ofcourse,butitwasapt,nevertheless,fortheSPDmodelswereamongthefastestrobotsturnedoutbytheUnitedStatesRobotamp;MechanicalMenCorp.
"Hey,Speedy,"howledDonovan,andwavedafrantichand.
"Speedy!"shoutedPowell."Comehere!"
Thedistancebetweenthemenandtheerrantrobotwasbeingcutdownmomentarily–morebytheeffortsofSpeedythantheslowploddingofthefifty-year-oldantiquemountsofDonovanandPowell.
TheywerecloseenoughnowtonoticethatSpeedy’sgaitincludedapeculiarrollingstagger,anoticeableside-to-sidelurch-andthen,asPowellwavedhishandagainandsentmaximumjuiceintohiscompacthead-setradiosender,inpreparationforanothershout,Speedylookedupandsawthem.
