Я, Робот
Reason
Hehandleditgingerly,foritwasthemostcomplicatedmechanismevercreatedbyman.Insidethethinplatinumplated"skin"oftheglobewasapositronicbrain,inwhosedelicatelyunstablestructurewereenforcedcalculatedneuronicpaths,whichimbuedeachrobotwithwhatamountedtoapre-nataleducation.
Itfittedsnuglyintothecavityintheskulloftherobotonthetable.Bluemetalclosedoveritandwasweldedtightlybythetinyatomicflare.Photoelectriceyeswereattachedcarefully,screwedtightlyintoplaceandcoveredbythin,transparentsheetsofsteel-hardplastic.
Therobotawaitedonlythevitalizingflashofhigh-voltageelectricity,andPowellpausedwithhishandontheswitch.
"Nowwatchthis,Cutie.Watchthiscarefully."
Theswitchrammedhomeandtherewasacracklinghum.ThetwoEarthmenbentanxiouslyovertheircreation.
Therewasvaguemotiononlyattheoutset–atwitchingofthejoints.Thebeadlifted,elbowsproppeditup,andtheMCmodelswungclumsilyoffthetable.Itsfootingwasunsteadyandtwiceabortivegratingsoundswereallitcoulddointhedirectionofspeech.
Finally,itsvoice,uncertainandhesitant,tookform."Iwouldliketostartwork.WheremustIgo?"
Donovansprangtothedoor."Downthesestairs,"hesaid."Youwillbetoldwhattodo."
TheMCmodelwasgoneandthetwoEarthmenwerealonewiththestillunmovingCutie.
