Я, Робот
Catch That Rabbit
HisvoicesoundedinPowell’searphones,"Areyouhere,boss?"
PowellbeckonedtoDonovanandhoppedofftheledge.
"O.K.,Dave,what’sbeengoingon?"
Therobotshookhishead,"Idon’tknow.OnemomentIwashandlingatoughoutcroppinginTunnel17,andthenextIwasawareofhumanscloseby,andIfoundmyselfhalfamiledownmain-stem."
"Wherearethesubsidiariesnow?"askedDonovan.
"Backatwork,ofcourse.Howmuchtimehasbeenlost?"
"Notmuch.Forgetit."ThentoDonovan,Powelladded,"Staywithhimtherestoftheshift.Then,comeback.I’vegotacoupleofideas."
ItwasthreehoursbeforeDonovanreturned.Helookedtired.Powellsaid,"Howdiditgo?"
Donovanshruggedwearily,"Nothingevergoeswrongwhenyouwatchthem.Throwmeabutt,willyou?"
Theredheadlititwithexaggeratedcareandblewacarefulsmokering.Hesaid,"I’vebeenworkingitout,Greg.Youknow,Davehasaqueerbackgroundforarobot.Therearesixothersunderhiminanextremeregimentation.He’sgotlifeanddeathpoweroverthosesubsidiaryrobotsanditmustreactonhismentality.Supposehefindsitnecessarytoemphasizethispowerasaconcessiontohisego."
"Gettothepoint."
"It’srighthere.Supposewehavemilitarism.Supposehe’sfashioninghimselfanarmy.Suppose-he’strainingtheminmilitarymaneuvers.Suppose-"
"Supposeyougosoakyourhead.Yournightmaresmustbeintechnicolor.You’repostulatingamajoraberrationofthepositronicbrain.
