Я, Робот

           Cutieshookhisheadgravely."Thisamountstoanobsession.Whyshouldyouinsistsoonanabsolutelyfalseviewoflife?Admittedthatnon-robotslackthereasoningfaculty,thereisstilltheproblemof-"

           Hisvoicediedintoreflectivesilence,andDonovansaidwithwhisperedintensity,"Ifyouonlyhadaflesh-and-bloodface,Iwouldbreakitin."

           Powell’sfingerswereinhismustacheandhiseyeswereslitted."Listen,Cutie,ifthereisnosuchthingasEarth,howdoyouaccountforwhatyouseethroughatelescope?"

           "Pardonme!"

           TheEarthmansmiled."I’vegotyou,eh?You’vemadequiteafewtelescopicobservationssincebeingputtogether,Cutie.Haveyounoticedthatseveralofthosespecksoflightoutsidebecomediskswhensoviewed?"

           "Oh,that!Whycertainly.Itissimplemagnification–forthepurposeofmoreexactaimingofthebeam."

           "Whyaren’tthestarsequallymagnifiedthen?"

           "Youmeantheotherdots.Well,nobeamsgotothemsonomagnificationisnecessary.Really,Powell,evenyououghttobeabletofigurethesethingsout."

           Powellstaredbleaklyupward."Butyouseemorestarsthroughatelescope.Wheredotheycomefrom?JumpingJupiter,wheredotheycomefrom?"

           Cutiewasannoyed."Listen,Powell,doyouthinkI’mgoingtowastemytimetryingtopinphysicalinterpretationsuponeveryopticalillusionofourinstruments?Sincewhenistheevidenceofoursensesanymatchfortheclearlightofrigidreason?"