Я, Робот
Reason
DonovanwhirledonCutieinbreathlessindignation."Thishasgonefarenough.You’regoingtopayforthisfarce."
"Please,don’tbeannoyed,"repliedtherobotmildly."Itwasboundtocomeeventually,anyway.Yousee,youtwohavelostyourfunction."
"Ibegyourpardon,"Powelldrewhimselfupstiffly."Justwhatdoyoumean,we’velostourfunction?"
"UntilIwascreated,"answeredCube,"youtendedtheMaster.Thatprivilegeisminenowandyouronlyreasonforexistencehasvanished.Isn’tthatobvious?"
"Notquite,"repliedPowellbitterly,"butwhatdoyouexpectustodonow?"
Cutiedidnotanswerimmediately.Heremainedsilent,asifinthought,andthenonearmshotoutanddrapeditselfaboutPowell’sshoulder.TheothergraspedDonovan’swristanddrewhimcloser.
"Ilikeyoutwo.You’reinferiorcreatures,withpoorreasoningfaculties,butIreallyfeelasortofaffectionforyou.YouhaveservedtheMasterwell,andhewillrewardyouforthat.Nowthatyourserviceisover,youwillprobablynotexistmuchlonger,butaslongasyoudo,youshallbeprovidedfood,clothingandshelter,solongasyoustayoutofthecontrolroomandtheengineroom."
"He’spensioningusoff,Greg!"yelledDonovan."Dosomethingaboutit.It’shumiliating!"
"Lookhere,Cutie,wecan’tstandforthis.We’rethebosses.Thisstationisonlyacreationofhumanbeingslikeme–humanbeingsthatliveonEarthandotherplanets.Thisisonlyanenergyrelay.You’reonly–Aw,nuts!"
