asimov, isaac - i, robot

8/12/2019 Asimov, Isaac - I, Robot

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I, Robot

Isaac Asimov

TO JOHN W. CAMPBELL, JR, who godfathered THE ROBOTS

The story entt!edRobbie was frst "#$!shed as Strange Playfellow n S#"er S%en%e Stores.

Co"yrght & '()* $y +%toneers, n%.- %o"yrght & '(/ $y saa% As0o1.

The fo!!owng stores were orgna!!y "#$!shed n Asto#ndng S%en%e +%ton2

Reason, %o"yrght & '()' $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.- %o"yrght & '(( $y saa%

As0o1.

Liar! %o"yrght & '()' $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.- %o"yrght & '(( $y saa% As0o1.

Runaround, %o"yrght & '()3 $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.- %o"yrght &'(4* $y saa%

As0o1.

Catch That Rabbit, %o"yrght & '()) $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.

Escape, %o"yrght & '()5 $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.

Evidence, %o"yrght & '() $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.

Little Lost Robot, %o"yrght & '()4 $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.

The Evitable Conflict, %o"yrght & '(5* $y Street and S0th P#$!%atons, n%.

CONTENTS

ntrod#%ton......................................................................................................................................... 3

Ro$$e ................................................................................................................................................. 5

R#naro#nd......................................................................................................................................... 3*Reason............................................................................................................................................... 6)

Cat%h That Ra$$t ............................................................................................................................. )/

Lar7................................................................................................................................................... 6

Ltt!e Lost Ro$ot ............................................................................................................................... 44Es%a"e7 .............................................................................................................................................. (4

E1den%e.......................................................................................................................................... '')The E1ta$!e Conf!%t ...................................................................................................................... '63


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Introduction

LOO8E9 AT M: NOTES AN9 99N;T L8E THEM. ;d s"ent three days at


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:o# want the h#0an=nterest ang!eG She ddn;t s0!e at 0e. don;t thn> she e1er s0!es. B#t her

eyes were shar", tho#gh not angry. fe!t her g!an%e s!de thro#gh 0e and o#t 0y o%%"#t and >new

that was #n%o00on!y trans"arent to her- that e1ery$ody was.

B#t sad, That;s rght.

H#0an nterest o#t of ro$otsG A %ontrad%ton.

No, do%tor. O#t of yo#.

We!!, ;1e $een %a!!ed a ro$ot 0yse!f. S#re!y, they;1e to!d yo# ;0 not h#0an.

They had, $#t there was no "ont n sayng so.

She got #" fro0 her %har. She wasn;t ta!! and she !oo>ed fra!. fo!!owed her to the wndow and

we !oo>ed o#t.

The off%es and fa%tores of e an aera! "hotogra"h.

When frst %a0e here, she sad, had a !tt!e roo0 n a $#!dng rght a$o#t there where the fre=

ho#se s now. She "onted. t was torn down $efore yo# were $orn. shared the roo0 wth threeothers. had ha!f a des>. We $#!t o#r ro$ots a!! n one $#!dng. O#t"#t three a wee>. Now !oo>at #s.

+fty :ears, ha%>neyed, s a !ong t0e.

Not when yo#;re !oo>ng $a%> at the0, she sad. :o# wonder how they 1anshed so ?#%>!y.

She went $a%> to her des> and sat down. She ddn;t need e"resson on her fa%e to !oo> sad,

so0ehow.

How o!d are yo#G she wanted to >now.

Thrty=two, sad.

Then yo# don;t re0e0$er a wor!d wtho#t ro$ots. There was a t0e when h#0anty fa%ed the

#n1erse a!one and wtho#t a frend. Now he has %reat#res to he!" h0- stronger %reat#res than

h0se!f, 0ore fathf#!, 0ore #sef#!, and a$so!#te!y de1oted to h0. Man>nd s no !onger a!one.Ha1e yo# e1er tho#ght of t that wayG

;0 afrad ha1en;t. May ?#ote yo#G

:o# 0ay. To yo#, a ro$ot s a ro$ot. ears and 0eta!- e!e%tr%ty and "ostrons. Mnd and ron7

H#0an=0ade7 f ne%essary, h#0an=destroyed7 B#t yo# ha1en;t wor>ed wth the0, so yo# don;t

>now the0. They;re a %!eaner, $etter $reed than we are.

tred to n#dge her gent!y wth words, We;d !>e to hear so0e of the thngs yo# %o#!d te!! #s- get

yo#r 1ews on ro$ots. The nter"!anetary Press rea%hes the entre So!ar Syste0. Potenta! a#den%es three $!!on, 9r. Ca!1n. They o#ght to >now what yo# %o#!d te!! the0 on ro$ots.

t wasn;t ne%essary to n#dge. She ddn;t hear 0e, $#t she was 0o1ng n the rght dre%ton.

They 0ght ha1e >nown that fro0 the start. We so!d ro$ots for Earth=#se then $efore 0y t0et was, e1en. Of %o#rse, that was when ro$ots %o#!d not ta!>. Afterward, they $e%a0e 0ore h#0an

and o""oston $egan. The !a$or #nons, of %o#rse, nat#ra!!y o""osed ro$ot %o0"etton for h#0an


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@o$s, and 1aro#s seg0ents of re!go#s o"non had ther s#"erstto#s o$@e%tons. t was a!! ?#te

rd%#!o#s and ?#te #se!ess. And yet there t was.

was ta>ng t down 1er$at0 on 0y "o%>et=re%order, tryng not to show the >n#%>!e=0otons of

0y hand. f yo# "ra%t%e a $t, yo# %an get to the "ont where yo# %an re%ord a%%#rate!y wtho#tta>ng the !tt!e gadget o#t of yo#r "o%>et.

Ta>e the %ase of Ro$$e, she sad. ne1er >new h0. He was ds0ant!ed the year $efore @oned

the %o0"any ho"e!ess!y o#t=of=date. B#t saw the !tt!e gr! n the 0#se#0F

She sto""ed, $#t ddn;t say anythng. !et her eyes 0st #" and her 0nd tra1e! $a%>. She had !otsof t0e to %o1er.

heard a$o#t t !ater, and when they %a!!ed #s $!as"he0ers and de0on=%reators, a!ways tho#ght

of h0. Ro$$e was a non=1o%a! ro$ot. He %o#!dn;t s"ea>. He was 0ade and so!d n '((. Those

were the days $efore etre0e s"e%a!Daton, so he was so!d as a n#rse0ad.

As a whatG

As a n#rse0ad.


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Robbie

NNET:=EHTFNNET:=NNEF ONE H!ng her nose and $!n>ng n the s#n!ght. Then,

tryng to wat%h n a!! dre%tons at on%e, she wthdrew a few %a#to#s ste"s fro0 the tree aganst

wh%h she had $een !eanng.

She %raned her ne%> to n1estgate the "oss$!tes of a %!#0" of $#shes to the rght and then

wthdrew farther to o$tan a $etter ang!e for 1ewng ts dar> re%esses. The ?#et was "rofo#nd

e%e"t for the n%essant $#DDng of nse%ts and the o%%asona! %hrr#" of so0e hardy $rd, $ra1ng

the 0dday s#n.

!ora "o#ted, $et he went nsde the ho#se, and ;1e to!d h0 a 0!!on t0es that that;s not

far.

Wth tny !"s "ressed together tght!y and a se1ere frown %rn>!ng her forehead, she 0o1ed

deter0ned!y toward the two=story $#!dng #" "ast the dr1eway.

Too !ate she heard the r#st!ng so#nd $ehnd her, fo!!owed $y the dstn%t1e and rhyth0% %!#0"=%!#0" of Ro$$e;s 0eta! feet. She whr!ed a$o#t to see her tr#0"hng %o0"anon e0erge fro0

hdng and 0a>e for the ho0e=tree at f#!! s"eed.

!ora shre>ed n ds0ay. Wat, Ro$$e7 That wasn;t far, Ro$$e7 :o# "ro0sed yo# wo#!dn;t

r#n #nt! fo#nd yo#. Her !tt!e feet %o#!d 0a>e no headway at a!! aganst Ro$$e;s gant strdes.Then, wthn ten feet of the goa!, Ro$$e;s "a%e s!owed s#dden!y to the 0erest of %raw!s, and

!ora, wth one fna! $#rst of w!d s"eed, dashed "antng!y "ast h0 to to#%h the we!%o0e $ar> of

ho0e=tree frst.

!eef#!!y, she t#rned on the fathf#! Ro$$e, and wth the $asest of ngratt#de, rewarded h0 forhs sa%rf%e $y ta#ntng h0 %r#e!!y for a !a%> of r#nnng a$!ty.

Ro$$e %an;t r#n, she sho#ted at the to" of her eght=year=o!d 1o%e. %an $eat h0 any day. %an $eat h0 any day. She %hanted the words n a shr!! rhyth0.

Ro$$e ddn;t answer, of %o#rse not n words. He "anto00ed r#nnng nstead, n%hng away

#nt! !ora fo#nd herse!f r#nnng after h0 as he dodged her narrow!y, for%ng her to 1eer nhe!"!ess %r%!es, !tt!e ar0s o#tstret%hed and fannng at the ar.

Ro$$e, she s?#ea!ed, stand st!!7 And the !a#ghter was for%ed o#t of her n $reath!ess @er>s.

yo#7

And Ro$$e %owered, ho!dng hs hands o1er hs fa%e so that she had to add, No, won;t, Ro$$e.

won;t s"an> yo#. B#t anyway, t;s 0y t#rn to hde now $e%a#se yo#;1e got !onger !egs and yo#

"ro0sed not to r#n t!! fo#nd yo#.


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Ro$$e nodded hs head a s0a!! "ara!!e!e""ed wth ro#nded edges and %orners atta%hed to a

s0!ar $#t 0#%h !arger "ara!!e!e""ed that ser1ed as torso $y 0eans of a short, f!e$!e sta!> and

o$edent!y fa%ed the tree. A thn, 0eta! f!0 des%ended o1er hs g!owng eyes and fro0 wthn hs$ody %a0e a steady, resonant t%>ng.

9on;t "ee> now and don;t s>" any n#0$ers, warned !ora, and s%#rred for %o1er.

Wth #n1aryng reg#!arty, se%onds were t%>ed off, and at the h#ndredth, #" went the eye!ds, and

the g!owng red of Ro$$e;s eyes swe"t the "ros"e%t. They rested for a 0o0ent on a $t of %o!orf#!

gngha0 that "rotr#ded fro0 $ehnd a $o#!der. He ad1an%ed a few ste"s and %on1n%ed h0se!f thatt was !ora who s?#atted $ehnd t.

S!ow!y, re0anng a!ways $etween !ora and ho0e=tree, he ad1an%ed on the hdng "!a%e, and

when !ora was "!an!y n sght and %o#!d no !onger e1en theorDe to herse!f that she was not seen,

he etended one ar0 toward her, s!a""ng the other aganst hs !eg so that t rang agan. !orae0erged s#!>!y.

:o# "ee>ed7 she e%!a0ed, wth gross #nfarness. Besdes ;0 tred of "!ayng hde=and=see>.

want a rde.

B#t Ro$$e was h#rt at the #n@#st a%%#saton, so he seated h0se!f %aref#!!y and shoo> hs head"ondero#s!y fro0 sde to sde.

!ora %hanged her tone to one of gent!e %oang 00edate!y, Co0e on, Ro$$e. ddn;t 0ean t

a$o#t the "ee>ng. 1e 0e a rde.

Ro$$e was not to $e won o1er so eas!y, tho#gh. He gaDed st#$$orn!y at the s>y, and shoo> hs

head e1en 0ore e0"hat%a!!y.

P!ease, Ro$$e, "!ease g1e 0e a rde. She en%r%!ed hs ne%> wth rosy ar0s and h#gged tght!y.Then, %hangng 0oods n a 0o0ent, she 0o1ed away. f yo# don;t, ;0 gong to %ry, and her

fa%e twsted a""a!!ng!y n "re"araton.

Hard=hearted Ro$$e "ad s%ant attenton to ths dreadf#! "oss$!ty, and shoo> hs head a thrd

t0e. !ora fo#nd t ne%essary to "!ay her tr#0" %ard.

f yo# don;t, she e%!a0ed war0!y, won;t te!! yo# any 0ore stores, that;s a!!. Not oneF

Ro$$e ga1e n 00edate!y and #n%ondtona!!y $efore ths #!t0at#0, noddng hs head

1goro#s!y #nt! the 0eta! of hs ne%> h#00ed. Caref#!!y, he rased the !tt!e gr! and "!a%ed her on

hs $road, f!at sho#!ders.

!ora;s threatened tears 1anshed 00edate!y and she %rowed wth de!ght. Ro$$e;s 0eta! s>n,

>e"t at a %onstant te0"erat#re of se1enty $y the hgh resstan%e %o!s wthn, fe!t n%e and

%o0forta$!e, wh!e the $ea#tf#!!y !o#d so#nd her hee!s 0ade as they $#0"ed rhyth0%a!!y aganst

hs %hest was en%hantng.:o#;re an ar=%oaster, Ro$$e, yo#;re a $g, s!1er ar%oaster. Ho!d o#t yo#r ar0s straght. :o#

got to, Ro$$e, f yo#;re gong to $e an ar%oaster.

The !og% was rref#ta$!e. Ro$$e;s ar0s were wngs %at%hng the ar %#rrents and he was a s!1er

I%oaster.

!ora twsted the ro$ot;s head and !eaned to the rght. He $an>ed shar"!y. !ora e?#""ed theI%oaster wth a 0otor that went Br=r=r and then wth wea"ons that went Powe and Sh=sh=


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shshsh. Prates were g1ng %hase and the sh";s $!asters were %o0ng nto "!ay. The "rates

dro""ed n a steady ran.

ot another one. Two 0ore, she %red.

Then +aster, 0en, !ora sad "o0"o#s!y, we;re r#nnng o#t of a00#nton. She a0ed o1erher sho#!der wth #nda#nted %o#rage and Ro$$e was a $!#nt=nosed s"a%esh" Doo0ng thro#gh the

1od at 0a0#0 a%%e!eraton.

C!ear a%ross the fe!d he s"ed, to the "at%h of ta!! grass on the other sde, where he sto""ed wth a

s#ddenness that e1o>ed a shre> fro0 hs f!#shed rder, and then t#0$!ed her onto the soft, green%ar"et.

!ora gas"ed and "anted, and ga1e 1o%e to nter0ttent whs"ered e%!a0atons of That was

n%e7

Ro$$e wated #nt! she had %a#ght her $reath and then "#!!ed gent!y at a !o%> of har.

:o# want so0ethngG sad !ora, eyes wde n an a""arent!y art!ess %o0"!ety that foo!ed her

h#ge n#rse0ad not at a!!. He "#!!ed the %#r! harder.

Oh, >now. :o# want a story.

Ro$$e nodded ra"d!y.

Wh%h oneG

Ro$$e 0ade a se0=%r%!e n the ar wth one fnger.

The !tt!e gr! "rotested, AganG ;1e to!d yo# Cndere!!a a 0!!on t0es. Aren;t yo# tred of tG F

t;s for $a$es.

Another se0=%r%!e.

Oh, we!!, !ora %o0"osed herse!f, ran o1er the deta!s of the ta!e n her 0nd together wth her

own e!a$oratons, of wh%h she had se1era!K and $egan2

Are yo# readyG We!! on%e #"on a t0e there was a $ea#tf#! !tt!e gr! whose na0e was E!!a.

And she had a terr$!y %r#e! ste"=0other and two 1ery #g!y and 1ery %r#e! ste"=ssters andF

!ora was rea%hng the 1ery %!0a of the ta!e 0dnght was str>ng and e1erythng was

%hangng $a%> to the sha$$y orgna!s !%>ety=s"!t, wh!e Ro$$e !stened tense!y wth $#rnng eyes when the nterr#"ton %a0e.

!ora7

t was the hgh="t%hed so#nd of a wo0an who has $een %a!!ng not on%e, $#t se1era! t0es- and

had the ner1o#s tone of one n who0 anety was $egnnng to o1er%o0e 0"aten%e.

Ma00a;s %a!!ng 0e, sad !ora, not ?#te ha""!y. :o#;d $etter %arry 0e $a%> to the ho#se,Ro$$e.

Ro$$e o$eyed wth a!a%rty for so0ehow there was that n h0 wh%h @#dged t $est to o$ey Mrs.

Weston, wtho#t as 0#%h as a s%ra" of hestaton. !ora;s father was rare!y ho0e n the dayt0e

e%e"t on S#nday today, for nstan%e and when he was, he "ro1ed a gena! and #nderstandng"erson. !ora;s 0other, howe1er, was a so#r%e of #neasness to Ro$$e and there was a!ways the

0"#!se to snea> away fro0 her sght.


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Mrs. Weston %a#ght sght of the0 the 0n#te they rose a$o1e the 0as>ng t#fts of !ong grass and

retred nsde the ho#se to wat.

;1e sho#ted 0yse!f hoarse, !ora, she sad, se1ere!y. Where were yo#G

was wth Ro$$e, ?#a1ered !ora. was te!!ng h0 Cndere!!a, and forgot t was dnner=t0e.

We!!, t;s a "ty Ro$$e forgot, too. Then, as f that re0nded her of the ro$ot;s "resen%e, she

whr!ed #"on h0. :o# 0ay go, Ro$$e. She doesn;t need yo# now. Then, $r#ta!!y, And don;t

%o0e $a%> t!! %a!! yo#.

Ro$$e t#rned to go, $#t hestated as !ora %red o#t n hs defense, Wat, Ma00a, yo# got to !eth0 stay. ddn;t fnsh Cndere!!a for h0. sad wo#!d te!! h0 Cndere!!a and ;0 not fnshed.

!ora7

Honest and tr#!y, Ma00a, he;!! stay so ?#et, yo# won;t e1en >now he;s here. He %an st on the

%har n the %orner, and he won;t say a word, 0ean he won;t do anythng. W!! yo#, Ro$$eG

Ro$$e, a""ea!ed to, nodded hs 0ass1e head #" and down on%e.!ora, f yo# don;t sto" ths at on%e, yo# shan;t see Ro$$e for a who!e wee>.

The gr!;s eyes fe!!, A!! rght7 B#t Cndere!!a s hs fa1orte story and ddn;t fnsh t. And he!>es t so 0#%h.

The ro$ot !eft wth a ds%onso!ate ste" and !ora %ho>ed $a%> a so$.

eorge Weston was %o0forta$!e. t was a ha$t of hs to $e %o0forta$!e on S#nday afternoons. A

good, hearty dnner $e!ow the hat%hes- a n%e, soft, d!a"dated %o#%h on wh%h to s"raw!- a %o"y of

the T0es- s!""ered feet and shrt!ess %hest- how %o#!d anyone he!" $#t $e %o0forta$!eG

He wasn;t "!eased, therefore, when hs wfe wa!>ed n. After ten years of 0arred !fe, $e st!! was

so #n#ttera$!y foo!sh as to !o1e her, and there was no ?#eston that he was a!ways g!ad to see her st!! S#nday afternoons @#st after dnner were sa%red to h0 and hs dea of so!d %o0fort was to

$e !eft n #tter so!t#de for two or three ho#rs. Conse?#ent!y, he fed hs eye fr0!y #"on the !atestre"orts of the Lefe$re=:oshda e"edton to Mars ths one was to ta>e off fro0 L#nar Base and

0ght a%t#a!!y s#%%eedK and "retended she wasn;t there.

Mrs. Weston wated "atent!y for two 0n#tes, then 0"atent!y for two 0ore, and fna!!y $ro>e the

s!en%e.

eorge7

H0""hG

eorge, say7 W!! yo# "#t down that "a"er and !oo> at 0eG

The "a"er r#st!ed to the f!oor and Weston t#rned a weary fa%e toward hs wfe, What s t, dearG

:o# >now what t s, eorge. t;s !ora and that terr$!e 0a%hne.

What terr$!e 0a%hneG

Now don;t "retend yo# don;t >now what ;0 ta!>ng a$o#t. t;s that ro$ot !ora %a!!s Ro$$e. He

doesn;t !ea1e her for a 0o0ent.


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We!!, why sho#!d heG He;s not s#""osed to. And he %ertan!y sn;t a terr$!e 0a%hne. He;s the

$est darn ro$ot 0oney %an $#y and ;0 da0ned s#re he set 0e $a%> ha!f a year;s n%o0e. He;s

worth t, tho#gh darn sght %!e1erer than ha!f 0y off%e staff.

He 0ade a 0o1e to "%> #" the "a"er agan, $#t hs wfe was ?#%>er and snat%hed t away.

:o# !sten to 0e, eorge. won;t ha1e 0y da#ghter entr#sted to a 0a%hne and don;t %are

how %!e1er t s. t has no so#!, and no one >nows what t 0ay $e thn>ng. A %h!d @#st sn;t 0ade

to $e g#arded $y a thng of 0eta!.

Weston frowned, When dd yo# de%de thsG He;s $een wth !ora two years now and ha1en;tseen yo# worry t!! now.

t was dfferent at frst. t was a no1e!ty- t too> a !oad off 0e, and and t was a fashona$!e

thng to do. B#t now don;t >now. The negh$orsF

We!!, what ha1e the negh$ors to do wth tG Now, !oo>. A ro$ot s nfnte!y 0ore to $e tr#stedthan a h#0an n#rse0ad. Ro$$e was %onstr#%ted for on!y one "#r"ose rea!!y to $e the

%o0"anon of a !tt!e %h!d. Hs entre I0enta!ty; has $een %reated for the "#r"ose. He @#st %an;t

he!" $eng fathf#! and !o1ng and >nd. He;s a 0a%hne=0ade so. That;s 0ore than yo# %an say forh#0ans.

B#t so0ethng 0ght go wrong. So0e= so0e= Mrs. Weston was a $t haDy a$o#t the nsdes of a

ro$ot, so0e !tt!e @gger w!! %o0e !oose and the awf#! thng w!! go $erser> and= and= She

%o#!dn;t $rng herse!f to %o0"!ete the ?#te o$1o#s tho#ght.

Nonsense, Weston dened, wth an n1o!#ntary ner1o#s sh1er. That;s %o0"!ete!y rd%#!o#s.We had a !ong ds%#sson at the t0e we $o#ght Ro$$e a$o#t the +rst Law of Ro$ot%s. :o# >now

that t s 0"oss$!e for a ro$ot to har0 a h#0an $eng- that !ong $efore eno#gh %an go wrong to

a!ter that +rst Law, a ro$ot wo#!d $e %o0"!ete!y no"era$!e. t;s a 0athe0at%a! 0"oss$!ty.

Besdes ha1e an engneer fro0 e h0

away fro0 !oraG

He 0ade another f#t!e sta$ at the "a"er and hs wfe tossed t angr!y nto the net roo0.

That;s @#st t, eorge7 She won;t "!ay wth anyone e!se. There are doDens of !tt!e $oys and gr!s

that she sho#!d 0a>e frends wth, $#t she won;t. She won;t go near the0 #n!ess 0a>e her. That;s

no way for a !tt!e gr! to grow #". :o# want her to $e nor0a!, don;t yo#G :o# want her to $e a$!e

to ta>e her "art n so%ety.

:o#;re @#0"ng at shadows, ra%e. Pretend Ro$$e;s a dog. ;1e seen h#ndreds of %h!dren who

wo#!d rather ha1e ther dog than ther father.

A dog s dfferent, eorge. We 0#st get rd of that horr$!e thng. :o# %an se!! t $a%> to the%o0"any. ;1e as>ed, and yo# %an.

:o#;1e as>edG Now !oo> here, ra%e, !et;s not go off the dee" end. We;re >ee"ng the ro$ot #nt!!ora s o!der and don;t want the s#$@e%t $ro#ght #" agan. And wth that he wa!>ed o#t of the

roo0 n a h#ff.

Mrs. Weston 0et her h#s$and at the door two e1enngs !ater. :o#;!! ha1e to !sten to ths, eorge.

There;s $ad fee!ng n the 1!!age.


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A$o#t whatG as>ed WestonG He ste""ed nto the washroo0 and drowned o#t any "oss$!e answer

$y the s"!ash of water.

Mrs. Weston wated. She sad, A$o#t Ro$$e.

Weston ste""ed o#t, towe! n hand, fa%e red and angry, What are yo# ta!>ng a$o#tG

Oh, t;s $een $#!dng #" and $#!dng #". ;1e tred to %!ose 0y eyes to t, $#t ;0 not gong toany 0ore. Most of the 1!!agers %onsder Ro$$e dangero#s. Ch!dren aren;t a!!owed to go near o#r

"!a%e n the e1enngs.

We tr#st our %h!d wth the thng.

We!!, "eo"!e aren;t reasona$!e a$o#t these thngs.

Then to he!! wth the0.

Sayng that doesn;t so!1e the "ro$!e0. ;1e got to do 0y sho""ng down there. ;1e got to 0eetthe0 e1ery day. And t;s e1en worse n the %ty these days when t %o0es to ro$ots. New :or> has

@#st "assed an ordnan%e >ee"ng a!! ro$ots off the streets $etween s#nset and s#nrse.

A!! rght, $#t they %an;t sto" #s fro0 >ee"ng a ro$ot n o#r ho0e. ra%e, ths s one of yo#r%a0"agns. re%ognDe t. B#t t;s no #se. The answer s st!!, no7 We;re >ee"ng Ro$$e7

And yet he !o1ed hs wfe and what was worse, hs wfe >new t. eorge Weston, after a!!, wason!y a 0an "oor thng and hs wfe 0ade f#!! #se of e1ery de1%e wh%h a %!#0ser and 0ore

s%r#"#!o#s se has !earned, wth reason and f#t!ty, to fear.

Ten t0es n the ens#ng wee>, he %red, Ro$$e stays, and that;s fna!7 and ea%h t0e t was

wea>er and a%%o0"aned $y a !o#der and 0ore agonDed groan.

Ca0e the day at !ast, when Weston a""roa%hed hs da#ghter g#!t!y and s#ggested a $ea#tf#!1s1o show n the 1!!age.

!ora %!a""ed her hands ha""!y, Can Ro$$e goGNo, dear, he sad, and wn%ed at the so#nd of hs 1o%e, they won;t a!!ow ro$ots at the 1s1o

$#t yo# %an te!! h0 a!! a$o#t t when yo# get ho0e. He st#0$!ed a!! o1er the !ast few wordsand !oo>ed away.

!ora %a0e $a%> fro0 town $#$$!ng o1er wth enth#sas0, for the 1s1o had $een a gorgeo#s

s"e%ta%!e ndeed.

She wated for her father to 0ane#1er the @et=%ar nto the s#n>en garage, Wat t!! te!! Ro$$e,

9addy. He wo#!d ha1e !>ed t !>e anythng. Es"e%a!!y when +ran%s +ran was $a%>ng away so=o=o ?#et!y, and $a%>ed rght nto one of the Leo"ard=Men and had to r#n. She !a#ghed agan,

9addy, are there rea!!y Leo"ard=Men on the MoonG

Pro$a$!y not, sad Weston a$sent!y. t;s @#st f#nny 0a>e=$e!e1e. He %o#!dn;t ta>e 0#%h

!onger wth the %ar. He;d ha1e to fa%e t.

!ora ran a%ross the !awn. Ro$$e. Ro$$e7

Then she sto""ed s#dden!y at the sght of a $ea#tf#! %o!!e wh%h regarded her o#t of sero#s

$rown eyes as t wagged ts ta! on the "or%h.


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Oh, what a n%e dog7 !ora %!0$ed the ste"s, a""roa%hed %a#to#s!y and "atted t. s t for 0e,

9addyG

Her 0other had @oned the0. :es, t s, !ora. sn;t t n%e soft and f#rryG t;s 1ery gent!e. t

!>es !tt!e gr!s.

Can he "!ay ga0esG

S#re!y. He %an do any n#0$er of tr%>s. Wo#!d yo# !>e to see so0eG

Rght away. want Ro$$e to see h0, too. Ro$$e7 She sto""ed, #n%ertan!y, and frowned, ;!!

$et he;s @#st stayng n hs roo0 $e%a#se he;s 0ad at 0e for not ta>ng h0 to the 1s1o. :o#;!!

ha1e to e"!an to h0, 9addy. He 0ght not $e!e1e 0e, $#t he >nows f yo# say t, t;s so.

Weston;s !" grew tghter. He !oo>ed toward hs wfe $#t %o#!d not %at%h her eye.

!ora t#rned "re%"to#s!y and ran down the $ase0ent ste"s, sho#tng as she went, Ro$$e

Co0e and see what 9addy and Ma00a $ro#ght 0e. They $ro#ght 0e a dog, Ro$$e.

n a 0n#te she had ret#rned, a frghtened !tt!e gr!. Ma00a, Ro$$e sn;t n hs roo0. Where s

heG There was no answer and eorge Weston %o#ghed and was s#dden!y etre0e!y nterested nan a0!ess!y drftng %!o#d. !ora;s 1o%e ?#a1ered on the 1erge of tears, Where;s Ro$$e,

Ma00aG

Mrs. Weston sat down and drew her da#ghter gent!y to her, 9on;t fee! $ad, !ora. Ro$$e has

gone away, thn>.

one awayG WhereG Where;s he gone away, Ma00aG

No one >nows, dar!ng. He @#st wa!>ed away. We;1e !oo>ed and we;1e !oo>ed and we;1e !oo>edfor h0, $#t we %an;t fnd h0.

:o# 0ean he;!! ne1er %o0e $a%> aganG Her eyes were ro#nd wth horror.

We 0ay fnd h0 soon. We;!! >ee" !oo>ng for h0. And 0eanwh!e yo# %an "!ay wth yo#r n%enew dogge. Loo> at h07 Hs na0e s Lghtnng and he %anF

B#t !ora;s eye!ds had o1erf!own, don;t want the nasty dog want Ro$$e. want yo# tofnd 0e Ro$$e. Her fee!ngs $e%a0e too dee" for words, and she s"!#ttered nto a shr!! wa!.

Mrs. Weston g!an%ed at her h#s$and for he!", $#t he 0ere!y sh#ff!ed hs feet 0orose!y and dd not

wthdraw hs ardent stare fro0 the hea1ens, so she $ent to the tas> of %onso!aton, Why do yo#

%ry, !oraG Ro$$e was on!y a 0a%hne, @#st a nasty o!d 0a%hne. He wasn;t a!1e at a!!.

He was not no 0a%hne7 s%rea0ed !ora, fer%e!y and #ngra00at%a!!y. He was a "erson @#st!>e yo# and 0e and he was 0y frend. want h0 $a%>. Oh, Ma00a, want h0 $a%>.

Her 0other groaned n defeat and !eft !ora to her sorrow.

Let her ha1e her %ry o#t, she to!d her h#s$and. Ch!dsh grefs are ne1er !astng. n a few days,

she;!! forget that awf#! ro$ot e1er ested.

B#t t0e "ro1ed Mrs. Weston a $t too o"t0st%. To $e s#re, !ora %eased %ryng, $#t she %easeds0!ng, too, and the "assng days fo#nd her e1er 0ore s!ent and shadowy. rad#a!!y, her attt#de

of "ass1e #nha""ness wore Mrs. Weston down and a!! that >e"t her fro0 ye!dng was the

0"oss$!ty of ad0ttng defeat to her h#s$and.


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Then, one e1enng, she f!o#n%ed nto the !1ng roo0, sat down, fo!ded her ar0s and !oo>ed $o!ng

0ad.

Her h#s$and stret%hed hs ne%> n order to see her o1er hs news"a"er, What now, ra%eG

t;s that %h!d, eorge. ;1e had to send $a%> the dog today. !ora "ost1e!y %o#!dn;t stand thesght of h0, she sad. She;s dr1ng 0e nto a ner1o#s $rea>down.

Weston !ad down the "a"er and a ho"ef#! g!ea0 entered hs eye, May$e May$e we o#ght to

get Ro$$e $a%>. t 0ght $e done, yo# >now. %an get n to#%h wthF

No7 she re"!ed, gr0!y. won;t hear of t. We;re not g1ng #" that eas!y. My %h!d sha!! not $e

$ro#ght #" $y a ro$ot f t ta>es years to $rea> her of t.

Weston "%>ed #" hs "a"er agan wth a dsa""onted ar. A year of ths w!! ha1e 0e "re0at#re!ygray.

:o#;re a $g he!", eorge, was the frgd answer. What !ora needs s a %hange of

en1ron0entG Of %o#rse she %an;t forget Ro$$e here. How %an she when e1ery tree and ro%>

re0nds her of h0G t s rea!!y the s!!est st#aton ha1e e1er heard of. 0agne a %h!d "nng

away for the !oss of a ro$ot.

We!!, st%> to the "ont. What;s the %hange n en1ron0ent yo#;re "!annngG

We;re gong to ta>e her to New :or>.

The %ty7 n A#g#st7 Say, do yo# >now what New :or> s !>e n A#g#stG t;s #n$eara$!e.

M!!ons do $ear t.

They don;t ha1e a "!a%e !>e ths to go to. f they ddn;t ha1e to stay n New :or>, they wo#!dn;t.

We!!, we ha1e to. say we;re !ea1ng now or as soon as we %an 0a>e the arrange0ents. n the%ty, !ora w!! fnd s#ff%ent nterests and s#ff%ent frends to "er> her #" and 0a>e her forget

that 0a%hne.Oh, Lord, groaned the !esser ha!f, those fryng "a1e0ents7

We ha1e to, was the #nsha>en res"onse. !ora has !ost f1e "o#nds n the !ast 0onth and 0y

!tt!e gr!;s hea!th s 0ore 0"ortant to 0e than yo#r %o0fort.

t;s a "ty yo# ddn;t thn> of yo#r !tt!e gr!;s hea!th $efore yo# de"r1ed her of her "et ro$ot, he0#ttered $#t to h0se!f.

!ora ds"!ayed 00edate sgns of 0"ro1e0ent when to!d of the 0"endng tr" to the %ty. She

s"o>e !tt!e of t, $#t when she dd, t was a!ways wth !1e!y ant%"aton. Agan, she $egan to s0!e

and to eat wth so0ethng of her for0er a""ette.

Mrs. Weston h#gged herse!f for @oy and !ost no o""ort#nty to tr#0"h o1er her st!! s>e"t%a!h#s$and.

:o# see, eorge, she he!"s wth the "a%>ng !>e a !tt!e ange!, and %hatters away as f she hadn;t a

%are n the wor!d. t;s @#st as to!d yo# a!! we need do s s#$stt#te other nterests.

H0""h, was the s>e"t%a! res"onse, ho"e so.

Pre!0nares were gone thro#gh ?#%>!y. Arrange0ents were 0ade for the "re"araton of ther %tyho0e and a %o#"!e were engaged as ho#se>ee"ers for the %o#ntry ho0e. When the day of the tr"


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fna!!y dd %o0e, !ora was a!! $#t her o!d se!f agan, and no 0enton of Ro$$e "assed her !"s at

a!!.

n hgh good=h#0or the fa0!y too> a ta=gyro to the ar"ort Weston wo#!d ha1e "referred #sng

hs own "r1ate Igyro, $#t t was on!y a two=seater wth no roo0 for $aggageK and entered thewatng !ner.

Co0e, !ora, %a!!ed Mrs. Weston. ;1e sa1ed yo# a seat near the wndow so yo# %an wat%h the

s%enery.

!ora trotted down the as!e %heer!y, f!attened her nose nto a whte o1a! aganst the th%> %!earg!ass, and wat%hed wth an ntentness that n%reased as the s#dden %o#ghng of the 0otor drfted

$a%>ward nto the nteror. She was too yo#ng to $e frghtened when the gro#nd dro""ed away as f

!et thro#gh a tra" door and she herse!f s#dden!y $e%a0e tw%e her #s#a! weght, $#t not too yo#ng

to $e 0ght!y nterested. t wasn;t #nt! the gro#nd had %hanged nto a tny "at%hwor> ?#!t that shewthdrew her nose, and fa%ed her 0other agan.

W!! we soon $e n the %ty, Ma00aG she as>ed, r#$$ng her %h!!ed nose, and wat%hng wth

nterest as the "at%h of 0ost#re wh%h her $reath had for0ed on the "ane shran> s!ow!y and

1anshed.

n a$o#t ha!f an ho#r, dear. Then, wth @#st the fantest tra%e of anety, Aren;t yo# g!ad we;re

gongG 9on;t yo# thn> yo#;!! $e 1ery ha""y n the %ty wth a!! the $#!dngs and "eo"!e and thngs

to seeG We;!! go to the 1s1o e1ery day and see shows and go to the %r%#s and the $ea%h andF

:es, Ma00a, was !ora;s #nenth#sast% re@onder. The !ner "assed o1er a $an> of %!o#ds atthe 0o0ent, and !ora was nstant!y a$sor$ed n the #s#a! s"e%ta%!e of %!o#ds #nderneath one.

Then they were o1er %!ear s>y agan, and she t#rned to her 0other wth a s#dden 0ystero#s ar of

se%ret >now!edge.

>now why we;re gong to the %ty, Ma00a.

9o yo#G Mrs. Weston was "#DD!ed. Why, dearG

:o# ddn;t te!! 0e $e%a#se yo# wanted t to $e a s#r"rse, $#t >now. +or a 0o0ent, she was !ostn ad0raton at her own a%#te "enetraton, and then she !a#ghed ga!y. We;re gong to New :or>

so we %an fnd Ro$$e, aren;t weG Wth dete%t1es.

The state0ent %a#ght eorge Weston n the 0dd!e of a drn> of water, wth dsastro#s res#!ts.

There was a sort of strang!ed gas", a geyser of water, and then a $o#t of %ho>ng %o#ghs. When a!!was o1er, he stood there, a red=fa%ed, water=dren%hed and 1ery, 1ery annoyed "erson.

Mrs. Weston 0antaned her %o0"os#re, $#t when !ora re"eated her ?#eston n a 0ore ano#s

tone of 1o%e, she fo#nd her te0"er rather $ent.

May$e, she retorted, tart!y. Now st and $e st!!, for Hea1en;s sa>e.New :or> Cty, '((/ A.9., was a "aradse for the sghtseer 0ore than e1er n ts hstory. !ora;s"arents rea!Ded ths and 0ade the 0ost of t.

On dre%t orders fro0 hs wfe, eorge Weston arranged to ha1e hs $#sness ta>e %are of tse!f for

a 0onth or so, n order to $e free to s"end the t0e n what he ter0ed, dss"atng !ora to the

1erge of r#n. L>e e1erythng e!se Weston dd, ths was gone a$o#t n an eff%ent, thoro#gh, and$#sness=!>e way. Before the 0onth had "assed, nothng that %o#!d $e done had not $een done.


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She was ta>en to the to" of the ha!f=0!e ta!! Roose1e!t B#!dng, to gaDe down n awe #"on the

@agged "anora0a of roofto"s that $!ended far off n the fe!ds of Long s!and and the f!at!ands of

New Jersey. They 1sted the Doos where !ora stared n de!%o#s frght at the rea! !1e !onrather dsa""onted that the >ee"ers fed h0 raw stea>s, nstead of h#0an $engs, as she had

e"e%tedK, and as>ed nsstent!y and "ere0"tor!y to see the wha!e.

The 1aro#s 0#se#0s %a0e n for ther share of attenton, together wth the "ar>s and the $ea%hesand the a?#ar#0.

She was ta>en ha!fway #" the H#dson n an e%#rson stea0er ftted o#t n the ar%has0 of the 0adTwentes. She tra1e!ed nto the stratos"here on an eh$ton tr", where the s>y t#rned dee" "#r"!e

and the stars %a0e o#t and the 0sty earth $e!ow !oo>ed !>e a h#ge %on%a1e $ow!. 9own #nder the

waters of the Long s!and So#nd she was ta>en n a g!ass=wa!!ed s#$=sea 1esse!, where n a greenand wa1erng wor!d, ?#ant and %#ro#s sea=thngs og!ed her and wgg!ed s#dden!y away.

On a 0ore "rosa% !e1e!, Mrs. Weston too> her to the de"art0ent stores where she %o#!d re1e! n

another ty"e of fary!and.

n fa%t, when the 0onth had near!y s"ed, the Westons were %on1n%ed that e1erythng %on%e1a$!e

had $een done to ta>e !ora;s 0nd on%e and for a!! off the de"arted Ro$$e $#t they were not?#te s#re they had s#%%eeded.

The fa%t re0aned that where1er !ora went, she ds"!ayed the 0ost a$sor$ed and %on%entrated

nterest n s#%h ro$ots as ha""ened to $e "resent. No 0atter how e%tng the s"e%ta%!e $efore her,

nor how no1e! to her gr!sh eyes, she t#rned away nstant!y f the %orner of her eye %a#ght ag!0"se of 0eta!!% 0o1e0ent.

Mrs. Weston went o#t of her way to >ee" !ora away fro0 a!! ro$ots.

And the 0atter was fna!!y %!0aed n the e"sode at the M#se#0 of S%en%e and nd#stry. The

M#se#0 had anno#n%ed a s"e%a! %h!dren;s "rogra0 n wh%h eh$ts of s%entf% wt%hery

s%a!ed down to the %h!d 0nd were to $e shown. The Westons, of %o#rse, "!a%ed t #"on ther !stof a$so!#te!y.

t was wh!e the Westons were standng tota!!y a$sor$ed n the e"!ots of a "owerf#! e!e%tro=

0agnet that Mrs. Weston s#dden!y $e%a0e aware of the fa%t that !ora was no !onger wth her.nta! "an% ga1e way to %a!0 de%son and, en!stng the ad of three attendants, a %aref#! sear%h

was $eg#n.

!ora, of %o#rse, was not one to wander a0!ess!y, howe1er. +or her age, she was an #n#s#a!!y

deter0ned and "#r"osef#! gr!, ?#te f#!! of the 0aterna! genes n that res"e%t. She had seen a h#gesgn on the thrd f!oor, wh%h had sad, Ths Way to the Ta!>ng Ro$ot Ha1ng s"e!!ed t o#t to

herse!f and ha1ng not%ed that her "arents dd not see0 to wsh to 0o1e n the "ro"er dre%ton,

she dd the o$1o#s thng. Watng for an o""ort#ne 0o0ent of "arenta! dstra%ton, she %a!0!y

dsengaged herse!f and fo!!owed the sgn.

The Ta!>ng Ro$ot was a to#r de for%e, a thoro#gh!y 0"ra%t%a! de1%e, "ossessng "#$!%ty 1a!#e

on!y. On%e an ho#r, an es%orted gro#" stood $efore t and as>ed ?#estons of the ro$ot engneer n

%harge n %aref#! whs"ers. Those the engneer de%ded were s#ta$!e for the ro$ot;s %r%#ts were

trans0tted to the Ta!>ng Ro$ot.

t was rather d#!!. t 0ay $e n%e to >now that the s?#are of fo#rteen s one h#ndred nnety=s, that

the te0"erat#re at the 0o0ent s 43 degrees +ahrenhet, and the ar="ress#re 6*.*3 n%hes of


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0er%#ry, that the ato0% weght of sod#0 s 36, $#t one doesn;t rea!!y need a ro$ot for that. One

es"e%a!!y does not need an #nwe!dy, tota!!y 00o$!e 0ass of wres and %o!s s"readng o1er

twenty=f1e s?#are yards.

+ew "eo"!e $othered to ret#rn for a se%ond he!"ng, $#t one gr! n her 0dd!e teens sat ?#et!y on a$en%h watng for a thrd. She was the on!y one n the roo0 when !ora entered.

!ora dd not !oo> at her. To her at the 0o0ent, another h#0an $eng was $#t an n%onsdera$!e

te0. She sa1ed her attenton for ths !arge thng wth the whee!s. +or a 0o0ent, she hestated n

ds0ay. t ddn;t !oo> !>e any ro$ot she had e1er seen.

Ca#to#s!y and do#$tf#!!y she rased her tre$!e 1o%e- P!ease, Mr. Ro$ot, sr, are yo# the Ta!>ng

Ro$ot, srG She wasn;t s#re, $#t t see0ed to her that a ro$ot that a%t#a!!y ta!>ed was worth a great

dea! of "o!teness.

The gr! n her 0d=teens a!!owed a !oo> of ntense %on%entraton to %ross her thn, "!an fa%e. Shewh""ed o#t a s0a!! note$oo> and $egan wrtng n ra"d "othoo>s.K

There was an o!y whr of gears and a 0e%han%a!!y t0$ered 1o%e $oo0ed o#t n words that

!a%>ed a%%ent and ntonaton, = a0= the= ro$ot= that= ta!>s.!ora stared at t r#ef#!!y. t dd ta!>, $#t the so#nd %a0e fro0 nsde so0ewheres. There was no

fa%e to ta!> to. She sad, Can yo# he!" 0e, Mr. Ro$ot, srG

The Ta!>ng Ro$ot was desgned to answer ?#estons, and on!y s#%h ?#estons as t %o#!d answerhad e1er $een "#t to t. t was ?#te %onfdent of ts a$!ty, therefore, F %anF he!"F yo#.

Than> yo#, Mr. Ro$ot, sr. Ha1e yo# seen Ro$$eG

Who Fs Ro$$eG

He;s a ro$ot, Mr. Ro$ot, sr. She stret%hed to t"toes. He;s a$o#t so hgh, Mr. Ro$ot, sr, on!y

hgher, and he;s 1ery n%e. He;s got a head, yo# >now. 0ean yo# ha1en;t, $#t he has, Mr. Ro$ot,

sr.The Ta!>ng Ro$ot had $een !eft $ehnd, AF ro$otG

:es, Mr. Ro$ot, sr. A ro$ot @#st !>e yo#, e%e"t he %an;t ta!>, of %o#rse, and !oo>s !>e a rea!

"erson.

AF ro$otF !>eF 0eG

:es, Mr. Ro$ot, sr.

To wh%h the Ta!>ng Ro$ot;s on!y res"onse was an errat% s"!#tter and an o%%asona! n%oherentso#nd. The rad%a! genera!Daton offered t, .e., ts esten%e, not as a "art%#!ar o$@e%t, $#t as a

0e0$er of a genera! gro#", was too 0#%h for t. Loya!!y, t tred to en%o0"ass the %on%e"t and ha!f

a doDen %o!s $#rnt o#t. Ltt!e warnng sgna!s were $#DDng.

The gr! n her 0d=teens !eft at that "ont. She had eno#gh for her Phys%s=' "a"er on Pra%t%a!As"e%ts of Ro$ot%s. Ths "a"er was S#san Ca!1n;s frst of 0any on the s#$@e%t.K

!ora stood watng, wth %aref#!!y %on%ea!ed 0"aten%e, for the 0a%hne;s answer when she

heard the %ry $ehnd her of There she s, and re%ognDed that %ry as her 0other;s.

What are yo# dong here, yo# $ad gr!G %red Mrs. Weston, anety dsso!1ng at on%e nto anger.

9o yo# >now yo# frghtened yo#r 0a00a and daddy a!0ost to deathG Why dd yo# r#n awayG


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The ro$ot engneer had a!so dashed n, tearng hs har, and de0andng who of the gatherng %rowd

had ta0"ered wth the 0a%hne. Can;t any$ody read sgnsG he ye!!ed. :o#;re not a!!owed n

here wtho#t an attendant.

!ora rased her gre1ed 1o%e o1er the dn, on!y %a0e to see the Ta!>ng Ro$ot, Ma00a. tho#ght he 0ght >now where Ro$$e was $e%a#se they;re $oth ro$ots. And then, as the tho#ght

of Ro$$e was s#dden!y $ro#ght for%ef#!!y ho0e to her, she $#rst nto a s#dden stor0 of tears,And got to fnd Ro$$e, Ma00a. got to.

Mrs. Weston strang!ed a %ry, and sad, Oh, good Hea1ens. Co0e ho0e, eorge. Ths s 0ore than %an stand.

That e1enng, eorge Weston !eft for se1era! ho#rs, and the net 0ornng, he a""roa%hed hs wfe

wth so0ethng that !oo>ed s#s"%o#s!y !>e s0#g %o0"!a%en%e.

;1e got an dea, ra%e.

A$o#t whatG was the g!oo0y, #nnterested ?#eryG

A$o#t !ora.

:o#;re not gong to s#ggest $#yng $a%> that ro$otG

No, of %o#rse not.

Then go ahead. 0ght as we!! !sten to yo#. Nothng ;1e done see0s to ha1e done any good.

A!! rght. Here;s what ;1e $een thn>ng. The who!e tro#$!e wth !ora s that she thn>s of

Ro$$e as a "erson and not as a 0a%hne. Nat#ra!!y, she %an;t forget h0. Now f we 0anaged to

%on1n%e her that Ro$$e was nothng 0ore than a 0ess of stee! and %o""er n the for0 of sheetsand wres wth e!e%tr%ty ts @#%e of !fe, how !ong wo#!d her !ongngs !astG t;s the "sy%ho!og%a!

atta%>, f yo# see 0y "ont.

How do yo# "!an to do tG

S0"!e. Where do yo# s#""ose went !ast nghtG "ers#aded Ro$ertson of e s#dden

ad0raton, Why, eorge, that;s a good dea.

And eorge Weston;s 1est $#ttons straned. On!y >nd ha1e, he sad.

Mr. Str#thers was a %ons%ento#s enera! Manager and nat#ra!!y n%!ned to $e a $t ta!>at1e. The%o0$naton, therefore, res#!ted n a to#r that was f#!!y e"!aned, "erha"s e1en o1er=a$#ndant!y

e"!aned, at e1ery ste". Howe1er, Mrs. Weston was not $ored. ndeed, she sto""ed h0 se1era!

t0es and $egged h0 to re"eat hs state0ents n s0"!er !ang#age so that !ora 0ght #nderstand.ng nto the 0dd!e of a !e%t#re on the "hotoe!e%tr% %e!!,

ha1en;t yo# a se%ton of the fa%tory where on!y ro$ot !a$or s e0"!oyedG


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EhG Oh, yes7 :es, ndeed7 He s0!ed at Mrs. Weston. A 1%o#s %r%!e n a way, ro$ots %reatng

0ore ro$ots. Of %o#rse, we are not 0a>ng a genera! "ra%t%e o#t of t. +or one thng, the #nons

wo#!d ne1er !et #s. B#t we %an t#rn o#t a 1ery few ro$ots #sng ro$ot !a$or e%!#s1e!y, 0ere!y as asort of s%entf% e"er0ent. :o# see, he ta""ed hs "n%e=neD nto one "a!0 arg#0entat1e!y,

what the !a$or #nons don;t rea!De and say ths as a 0an who has a!ways $een 1ery

sy0"athet% wth the !a$or 0o1e0ent n genera! s that the ad1ent of the ro$ot, wh!e n1o!1ngso0e ds!o%aton to $egn wth, w!! ne1ta$!yF

:es, Str#thers, sad Weston, $#t a$o#t that se%ton of the fa%tory yo# s"ea> of 0ay we see

tG t wo#!d $e 1ery nterestng, ;0 s#re.

:es7 :es, of %o#rse7 Mr. Str#thers re"!a%ed hs "n%e=neD n one %on1#!s1e 0o1e0ent and ga1e

1ent to a soft %o#gh of ds%o0ft#re. +o!!ow 0e, "!ease.

He was %o0"arat1e!y ?#et wh!e !eadng the three thro#gh a !ong %orrdor and down a f!ght ofstars. Then, when they had entered a !arge we!!=!t roo0 that $#DDed wth 0eta!!% a%t1ty, the

s!#%es o"ened and the f!ood of e"!anaton "o#red forth agan.

There yo# are7 he sad wth "rde n hs 1o%e. Ro$ots on!y7 +1e 0en a%t as o1erseers and they

don;t e1en stay n ths roo0. n f1e years, that s, sn%e we $egan ths "ro@e%t, not a sng!e a%%denthas o%%#rred. Of %o#rse, the ro$ots here asse0$!ed are %o0"arat1e!y s0"!e, $#t...

The enera! Manager;s 1o%e had !ong ded to a rather soothng 0#r0#r n !ora;s ears. The

who!e tr" see0ed rather d#!! and "ont!ess to her, tho#gh there were 0any ro$ots n sght. None

were e1en re0ote!y !>e Ro$$e, tho#gh, and she s#r1eyed the0 wth o"en %onte0"t.

n ths roo0, there weren;t any "eo"!e at a!!, she not%ed. Then her eyes fe!! #"on s or se1en

ro$ots $#s!y engaged at a ro#nd ta$!e ha!fway a%ross the roo0. They wdened n n%red#!o#s

s#r"rse. t was a $g roo0. She %o#!dn;t see for s#re, $#t one of the ro$ots !oo>ed !>e !oo>ed

!>e t was7

Ro$$e7 Her shre> "er%ed the ar, and one of the ro$ots a$o#t the ta$!e fa!tered and dro""ed thetoo! he was ho!dng. !ora went a!0ost 0ad wth @oy. S?#eeDng thro#gh the ra!ng $efore ether

"arent %o#!d sto" her, she dro""ed !ght!y to the f!oor a few feet $e!ow, and ran toward her Ro$$e,

ar0s wa1ng and har f!yng.

And the three horrfed ad#!ts, as they stood froDen n ther tra%>s, saw what the e%ted !tt!e gr!

dd not see, a h#ge, !#0$erng tra%tor $earng $!nd!y down #"on ts a""onted tra%>.

t too> s"!t=se%onds for Weston to %o0e to hs senses, and those s"!t=se%onds 0eant e1erythng,

for !ora %o#!d not $e o1erta>en. A!tho#gh Weston 1a#!ted the ra!ng n a w!d atte0"t, t waso$1o#s!y ho"e!ess. Mr. Str#thers sgna!ed w!d!y to the o1erseers to sto" the tra%tor, $#t the

o1erseers were on!y h#0an and t too> t0e to a%t.

t was on!y Ro$$e that a%ted 00edate!y and wth "re%son.Wth 0eta! !egs eatng #" the s"a%e $etween h0se!f and hs !tt!e 0stress he %harged down fro0

the o""oste dre%ton. E1erythng then ha""ened at on%e. Wth one swee" of an ar0, Ro$$esnat%hed #" !ora, s!a%>enng hs s"eed not one ota, and, %onse?#ent!y, >no%>ng e1ery $reath of

ar o#t of her. Weston, not ?#te %o0"rehendng a!! that was ha""enng, fe!t, rather than saw,

Ro$$e $r#sh "ast h0, and %a0e to a s#dden $ew!dered ha!t. The tra%tor nterse%ted !ora;s "athha!f a se%ond after Ro$$e had, ro!!ed on ten feet f#rther and %a0e to a grndng, !ong drawn=o#t

sto".


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!ora reganed her $reath, s#$0tted to a seres of "assonate h#gs on the "art of $oth her "arents

and t#rned eager!y toward Ro$$e. As far as she was %on%erned, nothng had ha""ened e%e"t that

she had fo#nd her frend.

B#t Mrs. Weston;s e"resson had %hanged fro0 one of re!ef to one of dar> s#s"%on. She t#rnedto her h#s$and, and, des"te her dshe1e!ed and #ndgnfed a""earan%e, 0anaged to !oo> ?#te

for0da$!e, :o# engneered ths, ddn;t yo#G

eorge Weston swa$$ed at a hot forehead wth hs hand>er%hef. Hs hand was #nsteady, and hs

!"s %o#!d %#r1e on!y nto a tre0#!o#s and e%eedng!y wea> s0!e.

Mrs. Weston "#rs#ed the tho#ght, Ro$$e wasn;t desgned for engneerng or %onstr#%ton wor>.

He %o#!dn;t $e of any #se to the0. :o# had h0 "!a%ed there de!$erate!y so that !ora wo#!d fnd

h0. :o# >now yo# dd.

We!!, dd, sad Weston. B#t, ra%e, how was to >now the re#non wo#!d $e so 1o!entG AndRo$$e has sa1ed her !fe- yo#;!! ha1e to ad0t that. :o# %an;t send h0 away agan.

ra%e Weston %onsdered. She t#rned toward !ora and Ro$$e and wat%hed the0 a$stra%ted!y for

a 0o0ent. !ora had a gr" a$o#t the ro$ot;s ne%> that wo#!d ha1e as"hyated any %reat#re $#tone of 0eta!, and was "ratt!ng nonsense n ha!f=hyster%a! frenDy. Ro$$e;s %hro0e=stee! ar0s%a"a$!e of $endng a $ar of stee! two n%hes n da0eter nto a "retDe!K wo#nd a$o#t the !tt!e gr!

gent!y and !o1ng!y, and hs eyes g!owed a dee", dee" red.

We!!, sad Mrs. Weston, at !ast, g#ess he %an stay wth #s #nt! he r#sts.

S#san Ca!1n shr#gged her sho#!ders, Of %o#rse, he ddn;t. That was '((/. By 3**3, we had

n1ented the 0o$!e s"ea>ng ro$ot wh%h, of %o#rse, 0ade a!! the non=s"ea>ng 0ode!s o#t of date,and wh%h see0ed to $e the fna! straw as far as the non=ro$ot e!e0ents were %on%erned. Most of

the wor!d go1ern0ents $anned ro$ot #se on Earth for any "#r"ose other than s%entf% resear%h

$etween 3**6 and 3**4.

So that !ora had to g1e #" Ro$$e e1ent#a!!yG

;0 afrad so. 0agne, howe1er, that t was easer for her at the age of ffteen than at eght. St!!,t was a st#"d and #nne%essary attt#de on the "art of h#0anty. ed #" n s#r"rse, t ddG Why, Mer%#ry Mnes s a 0#!t=$!!on do!!ar %on%ern.t s now, $#t t was a se%ond atte0"t that s#%%eeded. t yo# want to >now a$o#t that, yo#ng 0an,;d ad1se yo# to !oo> #" regory Powe!!. He and M%hae! 9ono1an hand!ed o#r 0ost dff%#!t

%ases n the teens and twentes. ha1en;t heard fro0 9ono1an n years, $#t Powe!! s !1ng rght

here n New :or>. He;s a grandfather now, wh%h s a tho#ght dff%#!t to get #sed to. %an on!ythn> of h0 as a rather yo#ng 0an. Of %o#rse, was yo#nger, too.


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tred to >ee" her ta!>ng, f yo# wo#!d g1e 0e the $are $ones, 9r. Ca!1n, %an ha1e Mr. Powe!!

f!! t n afterward. And ths was ea%t!y what !ater dd.K

She s"read her thn hands o#t #"on the des> and !oo>ed at the0. There are two or three, she sad,

that >now a !tt!e a$o#t.

Start wth Mer%#ry, s#ggested.

We!!, thn> t was n 3*'5 that the Se%ond Mer%#ry E"edton was sent o#t. t was e"!oratory

and fnan%ed n "art $y


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Runaround

T WAS ONE O+ REOR: POWELL;S +AORTE"!att#des that nothng was to $e ganed fro0

e%te0ent, so when M>e 9ono1an %a0e !ea"ng down the stars toward h0, red har 0atted wth

"ers"raton, Powe!! frowned.

What;s wrongG he sad. Brea> a fngerna!G

:aaaah, snar!ed 9ono1an, fe1ersh!y. What ha1e yo# $een dong n the s#$!e1e!s a!! dayG Hetoo> a dee" $reath and $!#rted o#t, S"eedy ne1er ret#rned.

Powe!!;s eyes wdened 0o0entar!y and he sto""ed on the stars- then he re%o1ered and res#0ed

hs #"ward ste"s. He ddn;t s"ea> #nt! he rea%hed the head of the f!ght, and then2

:o# sent h0 after the se!en#0G

:es.

And how !ong has he $een o#tG

+1e ho#rs now.

S!en%e7 Ths was a de1! of a st#aton. Here they were, on Mer%#ry ea%t!y twe!1e ho#rs anda!ready #" to the eye$rows n the worst sort of tro#$!e. Mer%#ry had !ong $een the @n wor!d of the

Syste0, $#t ths was drawng t rather strong e1en for a @n.

Powe!! sad, Start at the $egnnng, and !et;s get ths straght.

They were n the rado roo0 now wth ts a!ready s#$t!y ant?#ated e?#"0ent, #nto#%hed forthe ten years "re1o#s to ther arr1a!. E1en ten years, te%hno!og%a!!y s"ea>ng, 0eant so 0#%h.

Co0"are S"eedy wth the ty"e of ro$ot they 0#st ha1e had $a%> n 3**5. B#t then, ad1an%es n

ro$ot%s these days were tre0endo#s. Powe!! to#%hed a st!! g!ea0ng 0eta! s#rfa%e gnger!y. The

ar of ds#se that to#%hed e1erythng a$o#t the roo0 and the entre Staton was nfnte!yde"ressng.

9ono1an 0#st ha1e fe!t t. He $egan2 tred to !o%ate h0 $y rado, $#t t was no go. Rado sn;t

any good on the Mer%#ry S#nsde not "ast two 0!es, anyway. That;s one of the reasons the

+rst E"edton fa!ed. And we %an;t "#t #" the #!trawa1e e?#"0ent for wee>s yet F

S>" a!! that. What dd yo# getG

!o%ated the #norganDed $ody sgna! n the short wa1e. t was no good for anythng e%e"t hs

"oston. >e"t tra%> of h0 that way for two ho#rs and "!otted the res#!ts on the 0a".

There was a ye!!owed s?#are of "ar%h0ent n hs h" "o%>et a re!% of the #ns#%%essf#! +rst

E"edton and he s!a""ed t down on the des> wth 1%o#s for%e, s"readng t f!at wth the "a!0

of hs hand. Powe!!, hands %!as"ed a%ross hs %hest, wat%hed t at !ong range.

9ono1an;s "en%! "onted ner1o#s!y. The red %ross s the se!en#0 "oo!. :o# 0ar>ed t yo#rse!f.

Wh%h one s tG nterr#"ted Powe!!. There were three that Ma%9o#ga! !o%ated for #s $efore he

!eft.

sent S"eedy to the nearest, nat#ra!!y- se1enteen 0!es away. B#t what dfferen%e does that0a>eG There was tenson n hs 1o%e. There are the "en%!ed dots that 0ar> S"eedy;s "oston.


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And for the frst t0e Powe!!;s artf%a! a"!o0$ was sha>en and hs hands shot forward for the

0a".

Are yo# sero#sG Ths s 0"oss$!e.

There t s, grow!ed 9ono1an.

The !tt!e dots that 0ar>ed the "oston for0ed a ro#gh %r%!e a$o#t the red %ross of the se!en#0"oo!. And Powe!!;s fngers went to hs $rown 0#sta%he, the #nfa!ng sgna! of anety.

9ono1an added2 n the two ho#rs %he%>ed on h0, he %r%!ed that da0ned "oo! fo#r t0es. t

see0s !>e!y to 0e that he;!! >ee" that #" fore1er. 9o yo# rea!De the "oston we;re nG

Powe!! !oo>ed #" short!y, and sad nothng. Oh, yes, he rea!Ded the "oston they were n. t

wor>ed tse!f o#t as s0"!y as a sy!!ogs0. The "hoto%e!! $an>s that a!one stood $etween the f#!!"ower of Mer%#ry;s 0onstro#s s#n and the0se!1es were shot to he!!.

The on!y thng that %o#!d sa1e the0 was se!en#0. The on!y thng that %o#!d get the se!en#0 was

S"eedy. f S"eedy ddn;t %o0e $a%>, no se!en#0. No se!en#0, no "hoto%e!! $an>s. No "hoto=

$an>s we!!, death $y s!ow $ro!ng s one of the 0ore #n"!easant ways of $eng done n.

9ono1an r#$$ed hs red 0o" of har sa1age!y and e"ressed h0se!f wth $tterness. We;!! $e the

!a#ghngsto%> of the Syste0, reg. How %an e1erythng ha1e gone so wrong so soonG The great

tea0 of Powe!! and 9ono1an s sent o#t to Mer%#ry to re"ort on the ad1sa$!ty of reo"enng the

S#nsde Mnng Staton wth 0odern te%hn?#es and ro$ots and we r#n e1erythng the frst day. A"#re!y ro#tne @o$, too. We;!! ne1er !1e t down.

We won;t ha1e to, "erha"s, re"!ed Powe!!, ?#et!y. f we don;t do so0ethng ?#%>!y, !1ng

anythng down or e1en @#st "!an !1ng w!! $e o#t of the ?#eston.

9on;t $e st#"d7 f yo# fee! f#nny a$o#t t, reg, don;t. t was %r0na!, sendng #s o#t here wthon!y one ro$ot. And t was yo#r $rght dea that we %o#!d hand!e the "hoto%e!! $an>s o#rse!1es.

Now yo#;re $eng #nfar. t was a 0#t#a! de%son and yo# >now t. A!! we needed was a >!ogra0of se!en#0, a St!!head 9e!e%trode P!ate and a$o#t three ho#rs; t0e and there are "oo!s of "#re

se!en#0 a!! o1er S#nsde. Ma%9o#ga!;s s"e%troref!e%tor s"otted three for #s n f1e 0n#tes, ddn;ttG What the de1!7 We %o#!dn;t ha1e wated for net %on@#n%ton.

We!!, what are we gong to doG Powe!!, yo#;1e got an dea. >now yo# ha1e, or yo# wo#!dn;t $e

so %a!0. :o#;re no 0ore a hero than a0. o on, s"!! t7

We %an;t go after S"eedy o#rse!1es, M>e not on the S#nsde. E1en the new nsos#ts aren;t

good for 0ore than twenty 0n#tes n dre%t s#n!ght. B#t yo# >now the o!d sayng, ISet a ro$ot to%at%h a ro$ot; Loo>, M>e, 0ay$e thngs aren;t so $ad. We;1e got s ro$ots down n the s#$!e1e!s,

that we 0ay $e a$!e to #se, f they wor>. f they wor>.

There was a g!nt of s#dden ho"e n 9ono1an;s eyes. :o# 0ean s ro$ots fro0 the +rstE"edton. Are yo# s#reG They 0ay $e s#$ro$ot% 0a%hnes. Ten years s a !ong t0e as far asro$ot=ty"es are %on%erned, yo# >now.

No, they;re ro$ots. ;1e s"ent a!! day wth the0 and >now. They;1e got "ostron% $rans2

"r0t1e, of %o#rse. He "!a%ed the 0a" n hs "o%>et. Let;s go down.


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The ro$ots were on the !owest s#$!e1e! a!! s of the0 s#rro#nded $y 0#sty "a%>ng %ases of

#n%ertan %ontent. They were !arge, etre0e!y so, and e1en tho#gh they were n a sttng "oston

on the f!oor, !egs stradd!ed o#t $efore the0, ther heads were a good se1en feet n the ar.

9ono1an whst!ed. Loo> at the sDe of the0, w!! yo#G The %hests 0#st $e ten feet aro#nd.

That;s $e%a#se they;re s#""!ed wth the o!d M%#ffy gears. ;1e $een o1er the nsdes

%r#00est set yo#;1e e1er seen.

Ha1e yo# "owered the0 yetG

No. There wasn;t any reason to. don;t thn> there;s anythng wrong wth the0. E1en theda"hrag0 s n reasona$!e order. They 0ght ta!>.

He had #ns%rewed the %hest "!ate of the nearest as he s"o>e, nserted the two=n%h s"here that

%ontaned the tny s"ar> of ato0% energy that was a ro$ot;s !fe. There was dff%#!ty n fttng t,

$#t he 0anaged, and then s%rewed the "!ate $a%> on agan n !a$oro#s fashon. The rado %ontro!sof 0ore 0odern 0ode!s had not $een heard of ten years ear!er. And then to the other f1e.

9ono1an sad #neas!y, They ha1en;t 0o1ed.

No orders to do so, re"!ed Powe!!, s#%%n%t!y. He went $a%> to the frst n the !ne and str#%> h0

on the %hest. :o#7 9o yo# hear 0eG

The 0onster;s head $ent s!ow!y and the eyes fed the0se!1es on Powe!!. Then, n a harsh,

s?#aw>ng 1o%e !>e that of a 0ede1a! "honogra"h, he grated, :es, Master7

Powe!! grnned h#0or!ess!y at 9ono1an. 9d yo# get thatG Those were the days of the frst ta!>ng

ro$ots when t !oo>ed as f the #se of ro$ots on Earth wo#!d $e $anned. The 0a>ers were fghtng

that and they $#!t good, hea!thy s!a1e %o0"!ees nto the da0ned 0a%hnes.

t ddn;t he!" the0, 0#ttered 9ono1an.

No, t ddn;t, $#t they s#re tred. He t#rned on%e 0ore to the ro$ot. et #"7

The ro$ot towered #"ward s!ow!y and 9ono1an;s head %raned and hs "#%>ered !"s whst!ed.

Powe!! sad2 Can yo# go o#t #"on the s#rfa%eG n the !ghtG

There was %onsderaton wh!e the ro$ot;s s!ow $ran wor>ed. Then, :es, Master.

ood. 9o yo# >now what a 0!e sG

Another %onsderaton, and another s!ow answer. :es, Master.

We w!! ta>e yo# #" to the s#rfa%e then, and nd%ate a dre%ton. :o# w!! go a$o#t se1enteen

0!es, and so0ewhere n that genera! regon yo# w!! 0eet another ro$ot, s0a!!er than yo#rse!f.

:o# #nderstand so farG

:es, Master.

:o# w!! fnd ths ro$ot and order h0 to ret#rn. f he does not wsh to, yo# are to $rng h0 $a%>

$y for%e.

9ono1an %!#t%hed at Powe!!;s s!ee1e. Why not send h0 for the se!en#0 dre%tG

Be%a#se want S"eedy $a%>, ntwt. want to fnd o#t what;s wrong wth h0. And to the ro$ot,

A!! rght, yo#, fo!!ow 0e.


23/148

36

The ro$ot re0aned 0oton!ess and hs 1o%e r#0$!ed2 Pardon, Master, $#t %annot. :o# 0#st

0o#nt frst. Hs %!#0sy ar0s had %o0e together wth a thwa%>, $!#nt fngers nter!a%ng.

Powe!! stared and then "n%hed at hs 0#sta%he. e a horseG

g#ess that;s the dea. don;t >now why, tho#gh. %an;t see :es, do. to!d yo# they were"!ayng #" ro$ot=safety n those days. E1dent!y, they were gong to se!! the noton of safety $y not

a!!owng the0 to 0o1e a$o#t, wtho#t a 0aho#t on ther sho#!ders a!! the t0e. What do we do

nowG

That;s what ;1e $een thn>ng, 0#ttered 9ono1an. We %an;t go o#t on the s#rfa%e, wth a ro$otor wtho#t. Oh, for the !o1e of Pete and he sna""ed hs fngers tw%e. He grew e%ted. 1e

0e that 0a" yo#;1e got. ha1en;t st#ded t for two ho#rs for nothng. Ths s a Mnng Staton.

What;s wrong wth #sng the t#nne!sG

The Mnng Staton was a $!a%> %r%!e on the 0a", and the !ght dotted !nes that were t#nne!sstret%hed o#t a$o#t t n s"der we$ fashon.

9ono1an st#ded the !st of sy0$o!s at the $otto0 of the 0a". Loo>, he sad, the s0a!! $!a%>dots are o"enngs to the s#rfa%e, and here;s one 0ay$e three 0!es away fro0 the se!en#0 "oo!.

There;s a n#0$er here yo#;d thn> they;d wrte !arger '6a. f the ro$ots >now ther wayaro#nd hereF

Powe!! shot the ?#eston and re%e1ed the d#!! :es, Master, n re"!y. et yo#r nsos#t, he sad

wth satsfa%ton.

t was the frst t0e ether had worn the nsos#ts wh%h 0ar>ed one t0e 0ore than ether had

e"e%ted to #"on ther arr1a! the day $efore and they tested ther !0$ 0o1e0ents#n%o0forta$!y.

The nsos#t was far $#!>er and far #g!er than the reg#!aton s"a%es#t- $#t wtha! %onsdera$!y

!ghter, d#e to the fa%t that they were entre!y non0eta!!% n %o0"oston. Co0"osed of heat=

resstant "!ast% and %he0%a!!y treated %or> !ayers, and e?#""ed wth a des%%atng #nt to >ee" thear $one=dry, the nsos#ts %o#!d wthstand the f#!! g!are of Mer%#ry;s s#n for twenty 0n#tes. +1e

to ten 0n#tes 0ore, as we!!, wtho#t a%t#a!!y >!!ng the o%%#"ant.

And st!! the ro$ot;s hands for0ed the strr#", nor dd he $etray the s!ghtest ato0 of s#r"rse at the

grotes?#e fg#re nto wh%h Powe!! had $een %on1erted.

Powe!!;s rado=harshened 1o%e $oo0ed o#t2 Are yo# ready to ta>e #s to Et '6aG

:es, Master.

ood, tho#ght Powe!!- they 0ght !a%> rado %ontro! $#t at !east they were ftted for rado re%e"ton.

Mo#nt one or the other, M>e, he sad to 9ono1an.

He "!a%ed a foot n the 0"ro1sed strr#" and sw#ng #"ward. He fo#nd the seat %o0forta$!e- there

was the h#0"ed $a%> of the ro$ot, e1dent!y sha"ed for the "#r"ose, a sha!!ow groo1e a!ong ea%hsho#!der for the thghs and two e!ongated ears whose "#r"ose now see0ed o$1o#s.

Powe!! seDed the ears and twsted the head. Hs 0o#nt t#rned "ondero#s!y. Lead on, Ma%d#ff.

B#t he dd not fee! at a!! !ghthearted.


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The ggant% ro$ots 0o1ed s!ow!y, wth 0e%han%a! "re%son, thro#gh the doorway that %!eared

ther heads $y a s%ant foot, so that the two 0en had to d#%> h#rred!y, a!ong a narrow %orrdor n

wh%h ther #nh#rred footste"s $oo0ed 0onotono#s!y and nto the, ar !o%>.

The !ong, ar!ess t#nne! that stret%hed to a "n"ont $efore the0 $ro#ght ho0e for%ef#!!y to Powe!!the ea%t 0agnt#de of the tas> a%%o0"!shed $y the +rst E"edton, wth ther %r#de ro$ots and

ther start=fro0=s%rat%h ne%esstes. They 0ght ha1e $een a fa!#re, $#t ther fa!#re was a gooddea! $etter than the #s#a! r#n of the Syste0;s s#%%esses.

The ro$ots "!odded onward wth a "a%e that ne1er 1ared and wth footste"s that ne1er !engthened.

Powe!! sad2 Not%e that these t#nne!s are $!aDng wth !ghts and that the te0"erat#re s Earth=

nor0a!. t;s "ro$a$!y $een !>e ths a!! the ten years that ths "!a%e has re0aned e0"ty.

How;s thatG

Chea" energy- %hea"est n the Syste0. S#n"ower, yo# >now, and on Mer%#ry;s S#nsde,s#n"ower s so0ethng. That;s why the Staton was $#!t n the s#n!ght rather than n the shadow

of a 0o#ntan. t;s rea!!y a h#ge energy %on1erter. The heat s t#rned nto e!e%tr%ty, !ght,

0e%han%a! wor> and what ha1e yo#- so that energy s s#""!ed and the Staton s %oo!ed n as0#!taneo#s "ro%ess.

Loo>, sad 9ono1an. Ths s a!! 1ery ed#%atona!, $#t wo#!d yo# 0nd %hangng the s#$@e%tG t

so ha""ens that ths %on1erson of energy that yo# ta!> a$o#t s %arred on $y the "hoto%e!! $an>s

0an!y and that s a tender s#$@e%t wth 0e at the 0o0ent.

Powe!! gr#nted 1ag#e!y, and when 9ono1an $ro>e the res#!tng s!en%e, t was to %hange thes#$@e%t %o0"!ete!y. Lsten, reg. What the de1!;s wrong wth S"eedy, anywayG %an;t

#nderstand t.

t;s not easy to shr#g sho#!ders n an nsos#t, $#t Powe!! tred t. don;t >now, M>e. :o# >now

he;s "erfe%t!y ada"ted to a Mer%#ran en1ron0ent. Heat doesn;t 0ean anythng to h0 and he;s

$#!t for the !ght gra1ty and the $ro>en gro#nd. He;s foo!"roof or, at !east, he sho#!d $e.

S!en%e fe!!. Ths t0e, s!en%e that !asted.

Master, sad the ro$ot, we are here.

EhG Powe!! sna""ed o#t of a se0drowse. We!!, get #s o#t of here o#t to the s#rfa%e.

They fo#nd the0se!1es n a tny s#$staton, e0"ty, ar!ess, r#ned. 9ono1an had ns"e%ted a @agged

ho!e n the #""er rea%hes of one of the wa!!s $y the !ght of hs "o%>et f!ash.

Meteorte, do yo# s#""oseG he had as>ed.

Powe!! shr#gged. To he!! wth that. t doesn;t 0atter. Let;s get o#t.

A towerng %!ff of a $!a%>, $asa!t% ro%> %#t off the s#n!ght, and the dee" nght shadow of anar!ess wor!d s#rro#nded the0. Before the0, the shadow rea%hed o#t and ended n >nfe=edge

a$r#"tness nto an a!!=$#t=#n$eara$!e $!aDe of whte !ght, that g!ttered fro0 0yrad %rysta!s a!ong

a ro%>y gro#nd.

S"a%e7 gas"ed 9ono1an. t !oo>s !>e snow. And t dd.

Powe!!;s eyes swe"t the @agged g!tter of Mer%#ry to the horDon and wn%ed at the gorgeo#s

$r!!an%e.


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Ths 0#st $e an #n#s#a! area, he sad. The genera! a!$edo of Mer%#ry s !ow and 0ost of the

so! s gray "#0%e. So0ethng !>e the Moon, yo# >now. Bea#tf#!, sn;t tG

He was than>f#! for the !ght f!ters n ther 1s"!ates. Bea#tf#! or not, a !oo> at the s#n!ght

thro#gh straght g!ass wo#!d ha1e $!nded the0 nsde of ha!f a 0n#te.

9ono1an was !oo>ng at the s"rng ther0o0eter on hs wrst. Ho!y s0o>es, the te0"erat#re s

eghty %entgrade7

Powe!! %he%>ed hs own and sad2 aganst the $!aDng $r!!an%e of the %rysta!!ne gro#nd.

see h0, he ye!!ed. Let;s get gong7

Powe!! had ho""ed down nto a sttng "oston on the ro$ot agan, and hs s#ted hand s!a""ed

aganst the argant#an;s $arre! %hest. et gong7

ddy=a", ye!!ed 9ono1an, and th#0"ed hs hee!s, s"#r fashon.

The ro$ots started off, the reg#!ar th#ddng of ther footste"s s!ent n the ar!essness, for the

non0eta!!% fa$r% of the nsos#ts dd not trans0t so#nd. There was on!y a rhyth0% 1$raton @#st

$e!ow the $order of a%t#a! hearng.

+aster, ye!!ed 9ono1an. The rhyth0 dd not %hange.

No #se, %red Powe!!, n re"!y. These @#n> hea"s are on!y geared to one s"eed. 9o yo# thn>they;re e?#""ed wth se!e%t1e f!eorsG

They had $#rst thro#gh the shadow, and the s#n!ght %a0e down n a whte=hot wash and "o#red

!?#d!y a$o#t the0.


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9ono1an d#%>ed n1o!#ntar!y. Wow7 s t 0agnaton or do fee! heatG

:o#;!! fee! 0ore "resent!y, was the gr0 re"!y. 8ee" yo#r eye on S"eedy.

Ro$ot SP9 '6 was near eno#gh to $e seen n deta! now. Hs gra%ef#!, strea0!ned $ody threw o#t

$!aDng hgh!ghts as he !o"ed wth easy s"eed a%ross the $ro>en gro#nd. Hs na0e was der1edfro0 hs sera! nta!s, of %o#rse, $#t t was a"t, ne1erthe!ess, for the SP9 0ode!s were a0ong the

fastest ro$ots t#rned o#t $y the nfe n two.+or ;0 Ltt!e B#tter%#", sweet Ltt!e B#tter%#". Whoo"s7 T#rnng on hs hee!, he s"ed off n the

dre%ton fro0 wh%h he had %o0e, wth a s"eed and f#ry that >%>ed #" go#ts of $a>ed d#st.

And hs !ast words as he re%eded nto the dstan%e were, There grew a !tt!e f!ower Ineath a great

oa> tree, fo!!owed $y a %#ro#s 0eta!!% %!%>ng that 0ght ha1e $een a ro$ot% e?#1a!ent of ah%%#".

9ono1an sad wea>!y2 Where dd he "%> #" the !$ert and S#!!1anG Say, reg, he... he;s dr#n>

or so0ethng.

f yo# hadn;t to!d 0e, was the $tter res"onse, ;d ne1er rea!De t. Let;s get $a%> to the %!ff. ;0

roastng.

t was Powe!! who $ro>e the des"erate s!en%e. n the frst "!a%e, he sad, S"eedy sn;t dr#n>

not n the h#0an sense $e%a#se he;s a ro$ot, and ro$ots don;t get dr#n>. Howe1er, there;s

so0ethng wrong wth h0 wh%h s the ro$ot% e?#1a!ent of dr#n>enness

To 0e, he;s dr#n>, stated 9ono1an, e0"hat%a!!y, and a!! >now s that he thn>s we;re "!ayngga0es. And we;re not. t;s a 0atter of !fe and 1ery gr#eso0e death.

A!! rght. 9on;t h#rry 0e. A ro$ot;s on!y a ro$ot. On%e we fnd o#t what;s wrong wth h0, we

%an f t and go on.

On%e, sad 9ono1an, so#r!y.

Powe!! gnored h0. S"eedy s "erfe%t!y ada"ted to nor0a! Mer%#ran en1ron0ent. B#t ths

regon and hs ar0 swe"t wde s defnte!y a$nor0a!. There;s o#r %!#e. Now where do


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these %rysta!s %o0e fro0G They 0ght ha1e for0ed fro0 a s!ow!y %oo!ng !?#d- $#t where wo#!d

yo# get !?#d so hot that t wo#!d %oo! n Mer%#ry;s s#nG

o!%an% a%ton, s#ggested 9ono1an, nstant!y, and Powe!!;s $ody tensed.

O#t of the 0o#ths of s#%>!ngs, he sad n a s0a!!, strange 1o%e and re0aned 1ery st!! for f1e0n#tes.

Then, he sad, Lsten, M>e, what dd yo# say to S"eedy when yo# sent h0 after the se!en#0G

9ono1an was ta>en a$a%>. We!! da0n t don;t >now. @#st to!d h0 to get t.

:es, >now, $#t howG Try to re0e0$er the ea%t words.

sad... #h... sad2 IS"eedy, we need so0e se!en#0. :o# %an get t s#%h=and=s#%h a "!a%e. o

get t that;s a!!. What 0ore dd yo# want 0e to sayG

:o# ddn;t "#t any #rgen%y nto the order, dd yo#G

What forG t was "#re ro#tne.

Powe!! sghed. We!!, t %an;t $e he!"ed now $#t we;re n a fne f. He had ds0o#nted fro0hs ro$ot, and was sttng, $a%> aganst the %!ff. 9ono1an @oned h0 and they !n>ed ar0s2 n the

dstan%e the $#rnng s#n!ght see0ed to wat %at=and=0o#se for the0, and @#st net the0, the two

gant ro$ots were n1s$!e $#t for the d#!! red of ther "hotoe!e%tr% eyes that stared down at the0,#n$!n>ng, #nwa1erng and #n%on%erned.

ng nto danger and >nows t. Thea#to0at% "otenta! that R#!e 6 sets #" t#rns h0 $a%>. B#t s#""ose yo# order h0 to wa!> nto that

danger. n that %ase, R#!e 3 sets #" a %o#nter"otenta! hgher than the "re1o#s one and the ro$ot

fo!!ows orders at the rs> of esten%e.

We!!, >now that. What a$o#t tG

Let;s ta>e S"eedy;s %ase. S"eedy s one of the !atest 0ode!s, etre0e!y s"e%a!Ded, and ase"ens1e as a $att!esh". t;s not a thng to $e !ght!y destroyed


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SoG

So R#!e 6 has $een strengthened that was s"e%f%a!!y 0entoned, $y the way, n the ad1an%e

not%es on the SP9 0ode!s so that hs a!!ergy to danger s #n#s#a!!y hgh. At the sa0e t0e,

when yo# sent h0 o#t after the se!en#0, yo# ga1e h0 hs order %as#a!!y and wtho#t s"e%a!e0"hass, so that the R#!e 3 "otenta! set=#" was rather wea>. Now, ho!d on- ;0 @#st statng fa%ts.

A!! rght, go ahead. thn> get t.

:o# see how t wor>s, don;t yo#G There;s so0e sort of danger %enterng at the se!en#0 "oo!. t

n%reases as he a""roa%hes, and at a %ertan dstan%e fro0 t the R#!e 6 "otenta!, #n#s#a!!y hgh tostart wth, ea%t!y $a!an%es the R#!e 3 "otenta!, #n#s#a!!y !ow to start wth.

9ono1an rose to hs feet n e%te0ent. And t str>es an e?#!$r#0. see. R#!e 6 dr1es h0

$a%> and R#!e 3 dr1es h0 forwardF

So he fo!!ows a %r%!e aro#nd the se!en#0 "oo!, stayng on the !o%#s of a!! "onts of "otenta!

e?#!$r#0. And #n!ess we do so0ethng a$o#t t, he;!! stay on that %r%!e fore1er, g1ng #s thegood o!d r#naro#nd. Then, 0ore tho#ghtf#!!y2 And that, $y the way, s what 0a>es h0 dr#n>.

At "otenta! e?#!$r#0, ha!f the "ostron% "aths of hs $ran are o#t of >!ter. ;0 not a ro$ots"e%a!st, $#t that see0s o$1o#s. Pro$a$!y he;s !ost %ontro! of @#st those "arts of hs 1o!#ntary0e%hans0 that a h#0an dr#n> has. e=e=ery "retty.

B#t what;s the dangerG f we >new what he was r#nnng fro0FG

:o# s#ggested t. o!%an% a%ton. So0ewhere rght a$o1e the se!en#0 "oo! s a see"age of gas

fro0 the $owe!s of Mer%#ry. S#!"h#r dode, %ar$on dode and %ar$on 0onode. Lots of t

and at ths te0"erat#re.

9ono1an g#!"ed a#d$!y. Car$on 0onode "!#s ron g1es the 1o!at!e ron %ar$ony!.

And a ro$ot, added Powe!!, s essenta!!y ron. Then, gr0!y2 There;s nothng !>e ded#%ton.

We;1e deter0ned e1erythng a$o#t o#r "ro$!e0 $#t the so!#ton. We %an;t get the se!en#0

o#rse!1es. t;s st!! too far. We %an;t send these ro$ot horses, $e%a#se they %an;t go the0se!1es, and

they %an;t %arry #s fast eno#gh to >ee" #s fro0 %rs"ng. And we %an;t %at%h S"eedy, $e%a#se thedo"e thn>s we;re "!ayng ga0es, and he %an r#n sty 0!es to o#r fo#r.

f one of #s goes, $egan 9ono1an, tentat1e!y, and %o0es $a%> %oo>ed, there;!! st!! $e the

other.

:es, %a0e the sar%ast% re"!y, t wo#!d $e a 0ost tender sa%rf%e e%e"t that a "erson wo#!d$e n no %ondton to g1e orders $efore he e1er rea%hed the "oo!, and don;t thn> the ro$ots wo#!d

e1er t#rn $a%> to the %!ff wtho#t orders. +g#re t o#t7 We;re two or three 0!es fro0 the "oo!

%a!! t two the ro$ot tra1e!s at fo#r 0!es an ho#r- and we %an !ast twenty 0n#tes n o#r s#ts. t

sn;t on!y the heat, re0e0$er. So!ar radaton o#t here n the #!tra1o!et and $e!ow s "oson.

now when a >nee @ont, for nstan%e, won;t $e thrown o#t of >!ter and >ee!

h0 o1er. t;s not on!y a ?#eston of thn>ng we;1e got to thn> fast7


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9ee", dar>, dan>, ds0a! s!en%e7

9ono1an $ro>e t, 1o%e tre0$!ng n an effort to >ee" tse!f e0oton!ess. He sad2 As !ong as we

%an;t n%rease R#!e 3 "otenta! $y g1ng f#rther orders, how a$o#t wor>ng the other wayG f we

n%rease the danger, we n%rease R#!e 6 "otenta! and dr1e h0 $a%>ward.

Powe!!;s 1s"!ate had t#rned toward h0 n a s!ent ?#eston.

:o# see, %a0e the %a#to#s e"!anaton, a!! we need to do to dr1e h0 o#t of hs r#t s to

n%rease the %on%entraton of %ar$on 0onode n hs 1%nty. We!!, $a%> at the Staton there;s a

%o0"!ete ana!yt%a! !a$oratory.

Nat#ra!!y, assented Powe!!. t;s a Mnng Staton.

A!! rght. There 0#st $e "o#nds of oa!% a%d for %a!%#0 "re%"tatons.

Ho!y s"a%e7 M>e, yo#;re a gen#s.

So=so, ad0tted 9ono1an, 0odest!y. t;s @#st a %ase of re0e0$erng that oa!% a%d on heatng

de%o0"oses nto %ar$on dode, water, and good o!d %ar$on 0onode. Co!!ege %he0, yo# >now.

Powe!! was on hs feet and had attra%ted the attenton of one of the 0onster ro$ots $y the s0"!ee"edent of "o#ndng the 0a%hne;s thgh.

Hey, he sho#ted, %an yo# throwG

MasterG

Ne1er 0nd. Powe!! da0ned the ro$ot;s 0o!asses=s!ow $ran. He s%ra$$!ed #" a @agged $r%>=

sDe ro%>. Ta>e ths, he sad, and ht the "at%h of $!#sh %rysta!s @#st a%ross the %roo>ed fss#re.

:o# see tG

9ono1an "#!!ed at hs sho#!der. Too far, reg. t;s a!0ost ha!f a 0!e off.

#et, re"!ed Powe!!. t;s a %ase of Mer%#ran gra1ty and a stee! throwng ar0. Wat%h, w!!

yo#G

The ro$ot;s eyes were 0eas#rng the dstan%e wth 0a%hne!y a%%#rate stereos%o"y. Hs ar0

ad@#sted tse!f to the weght of the 0ss!e and drew $a%>. n the dar>ness, the ro$ot;s 0otons went

#nseen, $#t there was a s#dden th#0"ng so#nd as he shfted hs weght, and se%onds !ater the ro%>f!ew $!a%>!y nto the s#n!ght. There was no ar resstan%e to s!ow t down, nor wnd to t#rn t asde

and when t ht the gro#nd t threw #" %rysta!s "re%se!y n the %enter of the $!#e "at%h.

Powe!! ye!!ed ha""!y and sho#ted, Let;s go $a%> after the oa!% a%d, M>e.

And as they "!#nged nto the r#ned s#$staton on the way $a%> to the t#nne!s, 9ono1an sad

gr0!y2 S"eedy;s $een hangng a$o#t on ths sde of the se!en#0 "oo!, e1er sn%e we %hased afterh0. 9d yo# see h0G

:es.

g#ess he wants to "!ay ga0es. We!!, we;!! "!ay h0 ga0es7

They were $a%> ho#rs !ater, wth three=!ter @ars of the whte %he0%a! and a "ar of !ong fa%es. The

"hoto%e!! $an>s were deteroratng 0ore ra"d!y than had see0ed !>e!y. The two steered therro$ots nto the s#n!ght and toward the watng S"eedy n s!en%e and wth gr0 "#r"ose.


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S"eedy ga!!o"ed s!ow!y toward the0. Here we are agan. Whee7 ;1e 0ade a !tt!e !st, the "ano

organst- a!! "eo"!e who eat "e""er0nt and "#ff t n yo#r fa%e.

We;!! "#ff so0ethng n yo#r fa%e, 0#ttered 9ono1an. He;s !0"ng, reg.

not%ed that, %a0e the !ow, worred res"onse. The 0onode;!! get h0 yet, f we don;t h#rry.

They were a""roa%hng %a#to#s!y now, a!0ost sd!ng, to refran fro0 settng off the thoro#gh!yrratona! ro$ot. Powe!! was too far off to te!!, of %o#rse, $#t e1en a!ready he %o#!d ha1e sworn the

%ra%>=$raned S"eedy was settng h0se!f for a s"rng.

Let her go, he gas"ed. Co#nt three7 One= two=

Two stee! ar0s drew $a%> and sna""ed forward s0#!taneo#s!y and two g!ass @ars whr!ed forwardn towerng "ara!!e! ar%s, g!ea0ng !>e da0onds n the 0"oss$!e s#n. And n a "ar of so#nd!ess

"#ffs, they ht the gro#nd $ehnd S"eedy n %rashes that sent the oa!% a%d f!yng !>e d#st.

n the f#!! heat of Mer%#ry;s s#n, Powe!! >new t was fDDng !>e soda water.

S"eedy t#rned to stare, then $a%>ed away fro0 t s!ow!y and as s!ow!y gathered s"eed. n ffteen

se%onds, he was !ea"ng dre%t!y toward the two h#0ans n an #nsteady %anter.Powe!! dd not get S"eedy;s words @#st then, tho#gh he heard so0ethng that rese0$!ed, Lo1er;s

"rofessons when #ttered n Hessans.

He t#rned away. Ba%> to the %!ff, M>e. He;s o#t of the r#t and he;!! $e ta>ng orders now. ;0

gettng hot.

They @ogged toward the shadow at the s!ow 0onotono#s "a%e of ther 0o#nts, and t was not #nt!they had entered t and fe!t the s#dden %oo!ness sett!e soft!y a$o#t the0 that 9ono1an !oo>ed $a%>.

reg7

Powe!! !oo>ed and a!0ost shre>ed. S"eedy was 0o1ng s!ow!y now so s!ow!y and n the

wrong dre%ton. He was drftng- drftng $a%> nto hs r#t- and he was "%>ng #" s"eed. He !oo>ed

dreadf#!!y %!ose, and dreadf#!!y #nrea%ha$!e, n the $no%#!ars.

9ono1an sho#ted w!d!y, After h07 and th#0"ed hs ro$ot nto ts "a%e, $#t Powe!! %a!!ed h0

$a%>.

:o# won;t %at%h h0, M>e t;s no #se. He fdgeted on hs ro$ot;s sho#!ders and %!en%hed hs

fst n tght 0"oten%e. Why the de1! do see these thngs f1e se%onds after t;s a!! o1erG M>e,we;1e wasted ho#rs.

We need 0ore oa!% a%d, de%!ared 9ono1an, sto!d!y. The %on%entraton wasn;t hgh eno#gh.

Se1en tons of t wo#!dn;t ha1e $een eno#gh and we ha1en;t the ho#rs to s"are to get t, e1en f

t were, wth the 0onode %hewng h0 away. 9on;t yo# see what t s, M>eG

And 9ono1an sad f!at!y, No.

We were on!y esta$!shng new e?#!$r#0s. When we %reate new 0onode and n%rease R#!e 6

"otenta!, he 0o1es $a%>ward t!! he;s n $a!an%e agan and when the 0onode drfted away, he

0o1ed forward, and agan there was $a!an%e.

Powe!!;s 1o%e so#nded thoro#gh!y wret%hed. t;s the sa0e o!d r#naro#nd. We %an "#sh at R#!e 3and "#!! at R#!e 6 and we %an;t get anywhere we %an on!y %hange the "oston of $a!an%e. We;1e


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got to get o#tsde $oth r#!es. And then he "#shed hs ro$ot %!oser to 9ono1an;s so that they were

sttng fa%e=to=fa%e, d0 shadows n the dar>ness, and he whs"ered, M>e7

s t the fnshG d#!!y. s#""ose we go $a%> to the Staton, wat for the $an>s to fo!d, sha>e

hands, ta>e %yande, and go o#t !>e gent!e0en. He !a#ghed short!y.

M>e, re"eated Powe!! earnest!y, we;1e got to get S"eedy.

>now.

M>e, on%e 0ore, and Powe!! hestated $efore %ontn#ng. There;s a!ways R#!e '. tho#ght of t

ear!er $#t t;s des"erate.

9ono1an !oo>ed #" and hs 1o%e !1ened. We;re des"erate.

A!! rght. A%%ordng to R#!e ', a ro$ot %an;t see a h#0an %o0e to har0 $e%a#se of hs ownna%ton. Two and 6 %an;t stand aganst t. They %an;t, M>e.

E1en when the ro$ot s ha!f %raF We!!, he;s dr#n>. :o# >now he s.

t;s the %han%es yo# ta>e.

C#t t. What are yo# gong to doG

;0 gong o#t there now and see what R#!e ' w!! do. f t won;t $rea> the $a!an%e, then what the

de1! t;s ether now or three=fo#r days fro0 now.

Ho!d on, reg. There are h#0an r#!es of $eha1or, too. :o# don;t go o#t there @#st !>e that.+g#re o#t a !ottery, and g1e 0e 0y %han%e.

A!! rght. +rst to get the %#$e of fo#rteen goes. And a!0ost 00edate!y, Twenty=se1en forty=

fo#r7

9ono1an fe!t hs ro$ot stagger at a s#dden "#sh $y Powe!!;s 0o#nt and then Powe!! was off nto

the s#n!ght. 9ono1an o"ened hs 0o#th to sho#t, and then %!%>ed t sh#t. Of %o#rse, the da0n foo!

had wor>ed o#t the %#$e of fo#rteen n ad1an%e, and on "#r"ose. J#st !>e h0.

The s#n was hotter than e1er and Powe!! fe!t a 0addenng t%h n the s0a!! of hs $a%>.

0agnaton, "ro$a$!y, or "erha"s hard radaton $egnnng to te!! e1en thro#gh the nsos#t.

S"eedy was wat%hng h0, wtho#t a word of !$ert and S#!!1an g$$ersh as greetng. Than>

od for that7 B#t he daren;t get too %!ose.

He was three h#ndred yards away when S"eedy $egan $a%>ng, a ste" at a t0e, %a#to#s!y and

Powe!! sto""ed. He @#0"ed fro0 hs ro$ot;s sho#!ders and !anded on the %rysta!!ne gro#nd wth a

!ght th#0" and a f!yng of @agged frag0ents.

He "ro%eeded on foot, the gro#nd grtty and s!""ery to hs ste"s, the !ow gra1ty %a#sng h0

dff%#!ty. The so!es of hs feet t%>!ed wth war0th. He %ast one g!an%e o1er hs sho#!der at the$!a%>ness of the %!ff;s shadow and rea!Ded that he had %o0e too far to ret#rn ether $y h0se!f

or $y the he!" of hs ant?#e ro$ot. t was S"eedy or nothng now, and the >now!edge of that

%onstr%ted hs %hest.

+ar eno#gh7 He sto""ed.

S"eedy, he %a!!ed. S"eedy7

The s!ee>, 0odern ro$ot ahead of h0 hestated and ha!ted hs $a%>ward ste"s, then res#0ed the0.


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Powe!! tred to "#t a note of "!eadng nto hs 1o%e, and fo#nd t ddn;t ta>e 0#%h a%tng. S"eedy,

;1e got to get $a%> to the shadow or the s#n;!! get 0e. t;s !fe or death, S"eedy. need yo#.

S"eedy too> one ste" forward and sto""ed. He s"o>e, $#t at the so#nd Powe!! groaned, for t was,

When yo#;re !yng awa>e wth a ds0a! heada%he and re"ose s ta$ooedF t tra!ed off there, andPowe!! too> t0e o#t for so0e reason to 0#r0#r, o!anthe.

t was roastng hot7 He %a#ght a 0o1e0ent o#t of the %orner of hs eye, and whr!ed dDD!y- then

stared n #tter astonsh0ent, for the 0onstro#s ro$ot on wh%h he had rdden was 0o1ng

0o1ng toward h0, and wtho#t a rder.

He was ta!>ng2 Pardon, Master. 0#st not 0o1e wtho#t a Master #"on 0e, $#t yo# are n

danger.

Of %o#rse, R#!e ' "otenta! a$o1e e1erythng. B#t he ddn;t want that %!#0sy ant?#e- he wanted

S"eedy. He wa!>ed away and 0otoned frant%a!!y2 order yo# to stay away. order yo# to sto"7

t was ?#te #se!ess. :o# %o#!d not $eat R#!e ' "otenta!. The ro$ot sad st#"d!y, :o# are ndanger, Master.

Powe!! !oo>ed a$o#t h0 des"erate!y. He %o#!dn;t see %!ear!y. Hs $ran was n a heated whr!- hs$reath s%or%hed when he $reathed, and the gro#nd a!! a$o#t h0 was a sh00erng haDe.

He %a!!ed a !ast t0e, des"erate!y2 S"eedy7 ;0 dyng, da0n yo#7 Where are yo#G S"eedy, need

yo#.

He was st!! st#0$!ng $a%>ward n a $!nd effort to get away fro0 the gant ro$ot he ddn;t want,

when he fe!t stee! fngers on hs ar0s, and a worred, a"o!oget% 1o%e of 0eta!!% t0$re n hs ears.

Ho!y s0o>es, $oss- what are yo# dong hereG And what a0 dong ;0 so %onf#sed

Ne1er 0nd, 0#r0#red Powe!!, wea>!y. et 0e to the shadow of the %!ff and h#rry7 Therewas one !ast fee!ng of $eng !fted nto the ar and a sensaton of ra"d 0oton and $#rnng heat,

and he "assed o#t.He wo>e wth 9ono1an $endng o1er h0 and s0!ng ano#s!y. How are yo#, regG

+ne7 %a0e the res"onse, Where;s S"eedyG

Rght here. sent h0 o#t to one of the other se!en#0 "oo!s wth orders to get that se!en#0 at

a!! %ost ths t0e. He got t $a%> n forty=two 0n#tes and three se%onds. t0ed h0. He st!! hasn;tfnshed a"o!ogDng for the r#naro#nd he ga1e #s. He;s s%ared to %o0e near yo# for fear of what

yo#;!! say.

9rag h0 o1er, ordered Powe!!. t wasn;t hs fa#!t. He he!d o#t a hand and gr""ed S"eedy;s

0eta! "aw. t;s O.8., S"eedy. Then, to 9ono1an, :o# >now, M>e, was @#st thn>ngF

:es7

We!!, he r#$$ed hs fa%e the ar was so de!ghtf#!!y %oo!, yo# >now that when we get

thngs set #" here and S"eedy "#t thro#gh hs +e!d Tests, they;re gong to send #s to the S"a%e

Statons netF

No7

:es7 At !east that;s what o!d !ady Ca!1n to!d 0e @#st $efore we !eft, and ddn;t say anythnga$o#t t, $e%a#se was gong to fght the who!e dea.


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+ght tG %red 9ono1an. B#t F

>now. t;s a!! rght wth 0e now. Two h#ndred se1enty=three degrees Centgrade $e!ow Dero.

Won;t t $e a "!eas#reG

S"a%e Staton, sad 9ono1an, here %o0e.


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Reason

HAL+ A :EAR LATER, THE BO:S HA9 CHANE9 ther 0nds. The f!a0e of a gant s#n had g1en way

to the soft $!a%>ness of s"a%e $#t eterna! 1aratons 0ean !tt!e n the $#sness of %he%>ng the

wor>ngs of e"er0enta! ro$ots. Whate1er the $a%>gro#nd, one s fa%e to fa%e wth an ns%r#ta$!e

"ostron% $ran, wh%h the s!de=r#!e gen#ses say sho#!d wor> th#s=and=so.E%e"t that they don;t. Powe!! and 9ono1an fo#nd that o#t after they had $een on the Staton !ess

than two wee>s.

regory Powe!! s"a%ed hs words for e0"hass, One wee> ago, 9ono1an and "#t yo# together.

Hs $rows f#rrowed do#$tf#!!y and he "#!!ed the end of hs $rown 0#sta%he.

t was ?#et n the off%er;s roo0 on So!ar Staton 5 e%e"t for the soft "#rrng of the 0ghty

Bea0 9re%tor so0ewhere far $e!ow.

Ro$ot T=' sat 00o1a$!e. The $#rnshed "!ates of hs $ody g!ea0ed n the L#tes and the

g!owng red of the "hotoe!e%tr% %e!!s that were hs eyes, were fed stead!y #"on the Earth0an atthe other sde of the ta$!e.

Powe!! re"ressed a s#dden atta%> of ner1es. These ro$ots "ossessed "e%#!ar $rans. Oh, the three

Laws of Ro$ot%s he!d. They had to. A!! of e 0e see0s0"ro$a$!e.

The Earth0an !a#ghed ?#te s#dden!y, n Earth;s na0e, whyG

Ca!! t nt#ton. That;s a!! t s so far. B#t ntend to reason t o#t, tho#gh. A %han of 1a!d

reasonng %an end on!y wth the deter0naton of tr#th, and ;!! st%> t!! get there.

Powe!! stood #" and seated h0se!f at the ta$!e;s edge net to the ro$ot. He fe!t a s#dden strong

sy0"athy for ths strange 0a%hne. t was not at a!! !>e the ordnary ro$ot, attendng to hss"e%a!Ded tas> at the staton wth the ntensty of a dee"!y ngroo1ed "ostron% "ath.

He "!a%ed a hand #"on C#te;s stee! sho#!der and the 0eta! was %o!d and hard to the to#%h.

C#te, he sad, ;0 gong to try to e"!an so0ethng to yo#. :o#;re the frst ro$ot who;s e1er

eh$ted %#rosty as to hs own esten%e and thn> the frst that;s rea!!y nte!!gent eno#gh to#nderstand the wor!d o#tsde. Here, %o0e wth 0e.


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The ro$ot rose ere%t s0ooth!y and hs th%>!y s"onge=r#$$er so!ed feet 0ade no nose as he

fo!!owed Powe!!. The Earth0an to#%hed a $#tton and a s?#are se%ton of the wa!! f!%>ered asde.

The th%>, %!ear g!ass re1ea!ed s"a%e star s"e%>!ed.

;1e seen that n the o$ser1aton "orts n the engne roo0, sad C#te.

>now, sad Powe!!. What do yo# thn> t sG

Ea%t!y what t see0s a $!a%> 0atera! @#st $eyond ths g!ass that s s"otted wth !tt!e g!ea0ng

dots. >now that o#r dre%tor sends o#t $ea0s to so0e of these dots, a!ways to the sa0e ones

and a!so that these dots shft and that the $ea0s shft wth the0. That s a!!.

ood7 Now want yo# to !sten %aref#!!y. The $!a%>ness s e0"tness 1ast e0"tness stret%hngo#t nfnte!y. The !tt!e, g!ea0ng dots are h#ge 0asses of energy=f!!ed 0atter. They are g!o$es,

so0e of the0 0!!ons of 0!es n da0eter and for %o0"arson- ths staton s on!y one 0!e a%ross.

They see0 so tny $e%a#se they are n%red$!y far off.

The dots to wh%h o#r energy $ea0s are dre%ted are nearer and 0#%h s0a!!er. They are %o!d andhard and h#0an $engs !>e 0yse!f !1e #"on ther s#rfa%es 0any $!!ons of the0. t s fro0 one

of these wor!ds that 9ono1an and %o0e. O#r $ea0s feed these wor!ds energy drawn fro0 one ofthose h#ge n%andes%ent g!o$es that ha""ens to $e near #s. We %a!! that g!o$e the S#n and t s onthe other sde of the staton where yo# %an;t see t.

C#te re0aned 0oton!ess $efore the "ort, !>e a stee! stat#e. Hs head dd not t#rn as he s"o>e,

Wh%h "art%#!ar dot of !ght do yo# %!a0 to %o0e fro0G

Powe!! sear%hed, There t s, the 1ery $rght one n the %orner, we %a!! t Earth. He grnned.

ood o!d Earth. There are three $!!ons of #s there, C#te and n a$o#t two wee>s ;!! $e $a%>there wth the0

And then, s#r"rsng!y eno#gh, C#te h#00ed a$stra%ted!y. There was no t#ne to t, $#t t

"ossessed a %#ro#s twangng ?#a!ty as of "!#%>ed strngs. t %eased as s#dden!y as t had $eg#n,

B#t where do %o0e n, Powe!!G :o# ha1en;t e"!aned 0y esten%e.

The rest s s0"!e. When these statons were frst esta$!shed to feed so!ar energy to the "!anets,they were r#n $y h#0ans. Howe1er, the heat, the hard so!ar radatons, and the e!e%tron stor0s

0ade the "ost a dff%#!t one. Ro$ots were de1e!o"ed to re"!a%e h#0an !a$or and now on!y two

h#0an ee%#t1es are re?#red for ea%h staton. We are tryng to re"!a%e e1en those, and that;swhere yo# %o0e n. :o#;re the hghest ty"e of ro$ot e1er de1e!o"ed and f yo# show the a$!ty to

r#n ths staton nde"endent!y, no h#0an need e1er %o0e here agan e%e"t to $rng "arts for

re"ars.

Hs hand went #" and the 0eta! 1s=!d sna""ed $a%> nto "!a%e. Powe!! ret#rned to the ta$!e and"o!shed an a""!e #"on hs s!ee1e $efore $tng nto t.

The red g!ow of the ro$ot;s eyes he!d h0. 9o yo# e"e%t 0e, sad C#te s!ow!y, to $e!e1e anys#%h %o0"!%ated, 0"!a#s$!e hy"othess as yo# ha1e @#st o#t!nedG What do yo# ta>e 0e forG

Powe!! s"#ttered a""!e frag0ents onto the ta$!e and t#rned red. Why da0n yo#, t wasn;t a

hy"othess. Those were fa%ts

C#te so#nded gr0, !o$es of energy 0!!ons of 0!es a%ross7 Wor!ds wth three $!!on h#0ans

on the07 nfnte e0"tness7 Sorry, Powe!!, $#t don;t $e!e1e t. ;!! "#DD!e ths thng o#t for

0yse!f. ood=$y.


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He t#rned and sta!>ed o#t of the roo0. He $r#shed "ast M%hae! 9ono1an on the thresho!d wth a

gra1e nod and "assed down the %orrdor, o$!1o#s to the asto#nded stare that fo!!owed h0.

M>e 9ono1an r#0"!ed hs red har and shot an annoyed g!an%e at Powe!!, What was that wa!>ng

@#n> yard ta!>ng a$o#tG What doesn;t he $e!e1eG

The other dragged at hs 0#sta%he $tter!y. He;s a s>e"t%, was the $tter res"onse. He doesn;t

$e!e1e we 0ade h0 or that Earth ests or s"a%e or stars.

SDD!ng Sat#rn, we;1e got a !#nat% ro$ot on

asimov, isaac - i, robot

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