Я, Робот
Runaround
"Allright.Don’thurryme.Arobot’sonlyarobot.Oncewefindoutwhat’swrongwithhim,wecanfixitandgoon."
"Once,"saidDonovan,sourly.
Powellignoredhim."SpeedyisperfectlyadaptedtonormalMercurianenvironment.Butthisregion"-andhisarmsweptwide-"isdefinitelyabnormal.There’sourclue.Nowwheredothesecrystalscomefrom?Theymighthaveformedfromaslowlycoolingliquid;butwherewouldyougetliquidsohotthatitwouldcoolinMercury’ssun?"
"Volcanicaction,"suggestedDonovan,instantly,andPowell’sbodytensed.
"Outofthemouthsofsucklings,"hesaidinasmall,strangevoiceandremainedverystillforfiveminutes.
Then,hesaid,"Listen,Mike,whatdidyousaytoSpeedywhenyousenthimaftertheselenium?"
Donovanwastakenaback."Welldamnit-Idon’tknow.Ijusttoldhimtogetit."
"Yes,Iknow.Buthow?Trytoremembertheexactwords."
"Isaid...uh...Isaid:’Speedy,weneedsomeselenium.Youcangetitsuch-and-suchaplace.Gogetit’That’sall.Whatmoredidyouwantmetosay?"
"Youdidn’tputanyurgencyintotheorder,didyou?"
"Whatfor?Itwaspureroutine."
