Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
Youknowthat?"
"Iknow.Butastowhy-"Heshookhisheadslowlyandponderously.
Powellhadthequeasyfeelingthatiftherobot’sfacewerecapableofexpression,itwouldbeoneofpainandmortification.Arobot,byitsverynature,cannotbeartofailitsfunction.
DonovandraggedhischairuptoPowell’sdeskandleanedover,"Amnesia,doyouthink?"
"Can’tsay.Butthere’snouseintryingtopindiseasenamesonthis.Humandisordersapplytorobotsonlyasromanticanalogies.They’renohelptoroboticengineering."Hescratchedhisneck,"Ihatetoputhimthroughtheelementarybrain-reactiontests.Itwon’thelphisself-respectany."
HelookedatDavethoughtfullyandthenattheField-Testoutlinegiveninthe"Handbook."Hesaid,"Seehere,Dave,whataboutsittingthroughatest?Itwouldbethewisethingtodo."
Therobotrose,"Ifyousayso,boss."Therewaspaininhisvoice.
Itstartedsimplyenough.RobotDV-5multipliedfive-placefigurestotheheartlesstickingofastopwatch.Herecitedtheprimenumbersbetweenathousandandtenthousand.Heextractedcuberootsandintegratedfunctionsofvaryingcomplexity.Hewentthroughmechanicalreactionsinorderofincreasingdifficulty.And,finally,workedhisprecisemechanicalmindoverthehighestfunctionoftherobotworld–thesolutionsofproblemsinjudgmentandethics.
Attheendoftwohours,Powellwascopiouslybesweated.
