Я, Робот

           "Seventonsofitwouldn’thavebeenenough–andwehaven’tthehourstosparetogetit,evenifitwere,withthemonoxidechewinghimaway.Don’tyouseewhatitis,Mike?"

           AndDonovansaidflatly,"No."

           "Wewereonlyestablishingnewequilibriums.WhenwecreatenewmonoxideandincreaseRule3potential,hemovesbackwardtillhe’sinbalanceagain–andwhenthemonoxidedriftedaway,hemovedforward,andagaintherewasbalance."

           Powell’svoicesoundedthoroughlywretched."It’sthesameoldrunaround.WecanpushatRule2andpullatRule3andwecan’tgetanywhere–wecanonlychangethepositionofbalance.We’vegottogetoutsidebothrules."AndthenhepushedhisrobotclosertoDonovan’ssothattheyweresittingfacetoface,dimshadowsinthedarkness,andhewhispered,"Mike!"

           "Isitthefinish?"-dully."IsupposewegobacktotheStation,waitforthebankstofold,shakehands,takecyanide,andgooutlikegentlemen."Helaughedshortly.

           "Mike,"repeatedPowellearnestly,"we’vegottogetSpeedy."

           "Iknow."

           "Mike,"oncemore,andPowellhesitatedbeforecontinuing."There’salwaysRule1.Ithoughtofit-earlier-butit’sdesperate."

           Donovanlookedupandhisvoicelivened."We’redesperate."

           "Allright.AccordingtoRule1,arobotcan’tseeahumancometoharmbecauseofhisowninaction.Twoand3can’tstandagainstit.Theycan’t,Mike."