Я, Робот

           Donovanstaredatthepreliminaryoutlineofhisfieldreportwithwearyeyes.Foronething,hewastiredandforanother,whatwastheretoreportwhilethingswereunsettled?Hefeltresentful.

           Hesaid,"Greg,we’realmostathousandtonsbehindschedule."

           "You,"repliedPowell,neverlookingup,"aretellingmesomethingIdon’tknow."

           "WhatIwanttoknow,"saidDonovan,insuddensavagery,"iswhywe’realwaystangledupwithnew-typerobots.I’vefinallydecidedthattherobotsthatweregoodenoughformygreat-uncleonmymother’ssidearegoodenoughforme.I’mforwhat’striedandtrue.Thetestoftimeiswhatcounts–good,solid,old-fashionedrobotsthatnevergowrong."

           Powellthrewabookwithperfectaim,andDonovanwenttumblingoffhisseat.

           "Yourjob,"saidPowell,evenly,"forthelastfiveyearshasbeentotestnewrobotsunderactualworkingconditionsforUnitedStatesRobots.BecauseyouandIhavebeensoinjudiciousastodisplayproficiencyatthetask,we’vebeenrewardedwiththedirtiestjobs.That,"hejabbedholesintheairwithhisfingerinDonovan’sdirection,"isyourwork.You’vebeengripingaboutit,frompersonalmemory,sinceaboutfiveminutesafterUnitedStatesRobotssignedyouup.Whydon’tyouresign?"

           "Well,I’lltellyou."Donovanrolledontohisstomach,andtookafirmgriponhiswild,redhairtoholdhisheadup."There’sacertainprincipleinvolved.Afterall,asatroubleshooter,I’veplayedapartinthedevelopmentofnewrobots.