Я, Робот
Runaround
Figureitout!We’retwoorthreemilesfromthepool–callittwo–therobottravelsatfourmilesanhour;andwecanlasttwentyminutesinoursuits.Itisn’tonlytheheat,remember.Solarradiationouthereintheultravioletandbelowispoison."
"Um-m-m,"saidDonovan,"tenminutesshort."
"Asgoodasaneternity.Andanotherthing.InorderforRule3potentialtohavestoppedSpeedywhereitdid,theremustbeanappreciableamountofcarbonmonoxideinthemetal-vaporatmosphere–andtheremustbeanappreciablecorrosiveactiontherefore.He’sbeenouthoursnow–andhowdoweknowwhenakneejoint,forinstance,won’tbethrownoutofkilterandkeelhimover.It’snotonlyaquestionofthinking–we’vegottothinkfast!"
Deep,dark,dank,dismalsilence!
Donovanbrokeit,voicetremblinginanefforttokeepitselfemotionless.Hesaid:"Aslongaswecan’tincreaseRule2potentialbygivingfurtherorders,howaboutworkingtheotherway?Ifweincreasethedanger,weincreaseRule3potentialanddrivehimbackward."
Powell’svisiplatehadturnedtowardhiminasilentquestion.
"Yousee,"camethecautiousexplanation,"allweneedtodotodrivehimoutofhisrutistoincreasetheconcentrationofcarbonmonoxideinhisvicinity.Well,backattheStationthere’sacompleteanalyticallaboratory."
"Naturally,"assentedPowell."It’saMiningStation."
"Allright.Theremustbepoundsofoxalicacidforcalciumprecipitations."
"Holyspace!Mike,you’reagenius."
