Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
Itwassevenfeettall,andahalf-tonofmetalandelectricity.Alot?Notwhenthathalf-tonhastobeamassofcondensers,circuits,relays,andvacuumcellsthatcanhandlepracticallyanypsychologicalreactionknowntohumans.Andapositronicbrain,whichwithtenpoundsofmatterandafewquintillionsofpositronsrunsthewholeshow.
Powellgropedinhisshirtpocketforaloosecigarette."Dave,"hesaid,"you’reagoodfellow.There’snothingflightyorprimadonnaishaboutyou.You’reastable,rockbottomminingrobot,exceptthatyou’reequippedtohandlesixsubsidiariesindirectcoordination.AsfarasIknow,thathasnotintroducedanyunstablepathsinyourbrain-pathmap."
Therobotnodded,"Thatmakesmefeelswell,butwhatareyougettingat,boss?"Hewasequippedwithanexcellentdiaphragm,andthepresenceofovertonesinthesoundunitrobbedhimofmuchofthatmetallicflatnessthatmarkstheusualrobotvoice.
"I’mgoingtotellyou.Withallthatinyourfavor,what’sgoingwrongwithyourjob?Forinstance,today’sB-shift?"
Davehesitated,"AsfarasIknow,nothing."
"Youdidn’tproduceanyore."
"Iknow."
"Well,then-"
Davewashavingtrouble,"Ican’texplainthat,boss.It’sbeengivingmeacaseofnerves,oritwouldifIletit–mysubsidiariesworkedsmoothly.IknowIdid."Heconsidered,hisphotoelectriceyesglowingintensely.Then,"Idon’tremember.ThedayendedandtherewasMikeandthereweretheorecars,mostlyempty."
Donovanbrokein,"Youdidn’treportatshift-endthosedays,Dave.
