Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
There’stheprincipleofaidingscientificadvance.Butdon’tgetmewrong.It’snottheprinciplethatkeepsmegoing;it’sthemoneytheypayus.Greg!’
PowelljumpedatDonovan’swildshout,andhiseyesfollowedtheredhead’stothevisiplate,whentheygoggledinfixedhorror.Hewhispered,"Holy-howling-Jupiter!"
Donovanscrambledbreathlesslytohisfeet,"Lookatthem,Greg.They’vegonenuts."
Powellsaid,"Getapairofsuits.We’regoingoutthere."
Hewatchedtheposturingsoftherobotsonthevisiplate.Theywerebronzygleamsofsmoothmotionagainsttheshadowycragsoftheairlessasteroid.Therewasamarchingformationnow,andintheirowndimbodylight,theroughhewnwallsoftheminetunnelswampastnoiselessly,checkeredwithmistyerraticblobsofshadow.Theymarchedinunison,sevenofthem,withDaveatthehead.Theywheeledandturnedinmacabresimultaneity;andmeltedthroughchangesofformationwiththeweirdeaseofchorusdancersinLunarBowl.
Donovanwasbackwiththesuits,"They’vegonejingoonus,Greg.That’samilitarymarch."
"Forallyouknow,"wasthecoldresponse,"itmaybeaseriesofcalisthenicexercises.OrDavemaybeunderthehallucinationofbeingadancingmaster.Justyouthinkfirst,anddon’tbothertospeakafterward,either."
Donovanscowledandslippedadetonatorintotheemptysideholsterwithanostentatiousshove.Hesaid,"Anyway,thereyouare.Soweworkwithnew-modelrobots.It’sourjob,granted.Butanswermeonequestion.
