Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
NowifwehadtheMcCormack-Wesleytester,wecouldcheckeachindividualiteminhisbodywithintwenty-fourtoforty-eighthours,buttheonlytwoM.-W.testersexistingareonEarth,andtheyweightentons,areonconcretefoundationsandcan’tbemoved.Isn’tthatpeachy?"
Donovanpoundedthedesk,"But,Greg,heonlygoeswrongwhenwe’renotaround.There’ssomething-sinister-about–that."Hepunctuatedthesentencewithslamsoffistagainstdesk.
"You,"saidPowell,slowly,"makemesick.You’vebeenreadingadventurenovels."
"WhatIwanttoknow,"shoutedDonovan,"iswhatwe’regoingtodoaboutit."
"I’lltellyou.I’mgoingtoinstallavisiplaterightovermydesk.Rightonthewalloverthere,see!"Hejabbedaviciousfingeratthespot."ThenI’mgoingtofocusitatwhateverpartofthemineisbeingworked,andI’mgoingtowatch.That’sall."
"That’sall?Greg-"
Powellrosefromhischairandleanedhisballedfistsonthedesk,"Mike,I’mhavingahardtime."Hisvoicewasweary."Foraweek,you’vebeenplaguingmeaboutDave.Yousayhe’sgonewrong.Doyouknowhowhe’sgonewrong?NotDoyouknowwhatshapethiswrongnesstakes?
No!Doyouknowwhatbringsiton?No!Doyouknowwhatsnapshimout?NotDoyouknowanythingaboutit?No!DoIknowanythingaboutit?No!Sowhatdoyouwantmetodo?"
Donovan’sarmsweptoutwardinavague,grandiosegesture,"Yougotme!"
"SoItellyouagain.Beforewedoanythingtowardacure,we’vegottofindoutwhatthediseaseisinthefirstplace.Thefirststepincookingrabbitstewiscatchingtherabbit.
Well,we’vegottocatchthatrabbit!Nowgetoutofhere.
