Я, Робот
Reason
"Somethingmadeyou,Cutie,"pointedoutPowell."Youadmityourselfthatyourmemoryseemstospringfull-grownfromanabsoluteblanknessofaweekago.I’mgivingyoutheexplanation.DonovanandIputyoutogetherfromthepartsshippedus."
Cutiegazeduponhislong,supplefingersinanoddlyhumanattitudeofmystification,"Itstrikesmethatthereshouldbeamoresatisfactoryexplanationthanthat.Foryoutomakemeseemsimprobable."
TheEarthmanlaughedquitesuddenly,"InEarth’sname,why?"
"Callitintuition.That’sallitissofar.ButIintendtoreasonitout,though.Achainofvalidreasoningcanendonlywiththedeterminationoftruth,andI’llsticktillIgetthere."
Powellstoodupandseatedhimselfatthetable’sedgenexttotherobot.Hefeltasuddenstrongsympathyforthisstrangemachine.Itwasnotatallliketheordinaryrobot,attendingtohisspecializedtaskatthestationwiththeintensityofadeeplyingroovedpositronicpath.
HeplacedahanduponCutie’ssteelshoulderandthemetalwascoldandhardtothetouch.
"Cutie,"hesaid,"I’mgoingtotrytoexplainsomethingtoyou.You’rethefirstrobotwho’severexhibitedcuriosityastohisownexistence–andIthinkthefirstthat’sreallyintelligentenoughtounderstandtheworldoutside.Here,comewithme."
Therobotroseerectsmoothlyandhisthicklysponge-rubbersoledfeetmadenonoiseashefollowedPowell.TheEarthmantouchedabuttonandasquaresectionofthewallflickeredaside.Thethick,clearglassrevealedspace–starspeckled.
