yo el robot issac asimov

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I, RobotIsaac Asimov

TO JOHN W. CAMPBELL, JR, who godfathered THE ROBOTSThe story entt!edRobbie was frst "#$!shed as Strange Playfellow n S#"er S%en%eStores. Co"yrght & '()* $y +%toneers, n%.- %o"yrght & '(/ $y saa% As0o1.The fo!!owng stores were orgna!!y "#$!shed n Asto#ndng S%en%e +%ton2Reason, %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 ...............................................................................................................................

44

Es%a"e7 ..............................................................................................................................................

(4E1den%e..........................................................................................................................................

'')

The E1ta$!e Conf!%t ......................................................................................................................

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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!eF 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$otsF 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 thefre=ho#se s now. She "onted. t was torn down $efore yo# were $orn. shared the roo0 wththree others. 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#F 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 wayF

;0 afrad ha1en;t. May ?#ote yo#F:o# 0ay. To yo#, a ro$ot s a ro$ot. Gears and 0eta!- e!e%tr%ty and "ostrons. Mnd andron7 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%e s 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 0oreh#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=0otonsof 0y hand. f yo# "ra%t%e a $t, yo# %an get to the "ont where yo# %an re%ord a%%#rate!ywtho#t ta>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#0She sto""ed, $#t ddn;t say anythng. !et her eyes 0st #" and her 0nd tra1e! $a%>. She had!ots of t0e to %o1er.

heard a$o#t t !ater, and when they %a!!ed #s $!as"he0ers and de0on=%reators, a!waystho#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 whatFAs a n#rse0ad.

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Robbie

NNET:=EGHT NNET:=NNE 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 aganstwh%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#nde%e"t for the n%essant $#DDng of nse%ts and the o%%asona! %hrr#" of so0e hardy $rd,$ra1ng the 0dday s#n.G!ora "o#ted, $et he went nsde the ho#se, and ;1e to!d h0 a 0!!on t0es that that;s notfar.Wth tny !"s "ressed together tght!y and a se1ere frown %rn>!ng her forehead, she0o1ed 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$$e;s 0eta! feet. She whr!ed a$o#t to see her tr#0"hng %o0"anon e0erge fro0hdng and 0a>e for the ho0e=tree at f#!! s"eed.G!ora shre>ed n ds0ay. Wat, Ro$$e7 That wasn;t far, Ro$$e7 :o# "ro0sed yo# wo#!dn;tr#n #nt! fo#nd yo#. Her !tt!e feet %o#!d 0a>e no headway at a!! aganst Ro$$e;s gant strdes.Then, wthn ten feet of the goa!, Ro$$e;s "a%e s!owed s#dden!y to the 0erest of %raw!s, andG!ora, wth one fna! $#rst of w!d s"eed, dashed "antng!y "ast h0 to to#%h the we!%o0e $ar> ofho0e=tree frst.G!eef#!!y, she t#rned on the fathf#! Ro$$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! G!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$$e nodded hs head a s0a!! "ara!!e!e""ed wth ro#nded edges and %orners atta%hed to as0!ar $#t 0#%h !arger "ara!!e!e""ed that ser1ed as torso $y 0eans of a short, f!e$!e sta!> ando$edent!y fa%ed the tree. A thn, 0eta! f!0 des%ended o1er hs g!owng eyes and fro0 wthn hs$ody %a0e a steady, resonant t%>ng.9on;t "ee> now and don;t s>" any n#0$ers, warned G!ora, and s%#rred for %o1er.Wth #n1aryng reg#!arty, se%onds were t%>ed off, and at the h#ndredth, #" went the eye!ds, andthe g!owng red of Ro$$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!fthat t was G!ora who s?#atted $ehnd t.S!ow!y, re0anng a!ways $etween G!ora and ho0e=tree, he ad1an%ed on the hdng "!a%e, andwhen G!ora was "!an!y n sght and %o#!d no !onger e1en theorDe to herse!f that she was notseen, he etended one ar0 toward her, s!a""ng the other aganst hs !eg so that t rang agan.G!ora e0erged 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$$e was h#rt at the #n@#st a%%#saton, so he seated h0se!f %aref#!!y and shoo> hshead "ondero#s!y fro0 sde to sde.G!ora %hanged her tone to one of gent!e %oang 00edate!y, Co0e on, Ro$$e. ddn;t 0eant a$o#t the "ee>ng. G1e 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$$e, "!ease g1e 0e a rde. She en%r%!ed hs ne%> wth rosy ar0s and h#ggedtght!y. Then, %hangng 0oods n a 0o0ent, she 0o1ed away. f yo# don;t, ;0 gong to %ry,and her fa%e twsted a""a!!ng!y n "re"araton.Hard=hearted Ro$$e "ad s%ant attenton to ths dreadf#! "oss$!ty, and shoo> hs head athrd t0e. G!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 one

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.G!ora;s threatened tears 1anshed 00edate!y and she %rowed wth de!ght. Ro$$e;s 0eta! s>n,>e"t at a %onstant te0"erat#re of se1enty $y the hgh resstan%e %o!s wthn, fe!t n%e and%o0forta$!e, wh!e the $ea#tf#!!y !o#d so#nd her hee!s 0ade as they $#0"ed rhyth0%a!!yaganst hs %hest was en%hantng.:o#;re an ar=%oaster, Ro$$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;%oaster.G!ora twsted the ro$ot;s head and !eaned to the rght. He $an>ed shar"!y. G!ora e?#""ed the;%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.Got another one. Two 0ore, she %red.Then +aster, 0en, G!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 $!#nt=nosed s"a%esh" Doo0ng thro#ghthe 1od at 0a0#0 a%%e!eraton.C!ear a%ross the fe!d he s"ed, to the "at%h of ta!! grass on the other sde, where he sto""ed wtha s#ddenness that e1o>ed a shre> fro0 hs f!#shed rder, and then t#0$!ed her onto the soft,green %ar"et.

G!ora gas"ed and "anted, and ga1e 1o%e to nter0ttent whs"ered e%!a0atons of Thatwas n%e7Ro$$e wated #nt! she had %a#ght her $reath and then "#!!ed gent!y at a !o%> of har.:o# want so0ethngF sad G!ora, eyes wde n an a""arent!y art!ess %o0"!ety that foo!edher 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 oneF

Ro$$e 0ade a se0=%r%!e n the ar wth one fnger.The !tt!e gr! "rotested, AganF ;1e to!d yo# Cndere!!a a 0!!on t0es. Aren;t yo# tred of tF t;s for $a$es.Another se0=%r%!e.

Oh, we!!, G!ora %o0"osed herse!f, ran o1er the deta!s of the ta!e n her 0nd together wthher own e!a$oratons, of wh%h she had se1era!I and $egan2Are yo# readyF 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 andG!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 $#rnngeyes when the nterr#"ton %a0e.

G!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 G!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. G!ora;s father was rare!y ho0e n the dayt0ee%e"t on S#nday today, for nstan%e and when he was, he "ro1ed a gena! and #nderstandng"erson. G!ora;s 0other, howe1er, was a so#r%e of #neasness to Ro$$e and there was a!ways the0"#!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 grassand retred nsde the ho#se to wat.;1e sho#ted 0yse!f hoarse, G!ora, she sad, se1ere!y. Where were yo#F was wth Ro$$e, ?#a1ered G!ora. was te!!ng h0 Cndere!!a, and forgot t wasdnner= t0e.We!!, t;s a "ty Ro$$e forgot, too. Then, as f that re0nded her of the ro$ot;s "resen%e, shewhr!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 G!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.G!ora7Honest 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$$eFRo$$e, a""ea!ed to, nodded hs 0ass1e head #" and down on%e.G!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 G!ora %ho>ed $a%> a so$.George Weston was %o0forta$!e. t was a ha$t of hs to $e %o0forta$!e on S#nday afternoons. Agood, hearty dnner $e!ow the hat%hes- a n%e, soft, d!a"dated %o#%h on wh%h to s"raw!- a %o"yof the T0es- s!""ered feet and shrt!ess %hest- how %o#!d anyone he!" $#t $e %o0forta$!eFHe wasn;t "!eased, therefore, when hs wfe wa!>ed n. After ten years of 0arred !fe, $e st!! wasso #n#ttera$!y foo!sh as to !o1e her, and there was no ?#eston that he was a!ways g!ad to seeher 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

!atest re"orts of the Lefe$re=:oshda e"edton to Mars ths one was to ta>e off fro0 L#nar Baseand 0ght a%t#a!!y s#%%eedI 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>ethe s!en%e.

George7

H0""hF

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

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

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

What terr$!e 0a%hneF

Now don;t "retend yo# don;t >now what ;0 ta!>ng a$o#t. t;s that ro$ot G!ora %a!!s Ro$$e. Hedoesn;t !ea1e her for a 0o0ent.

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We!!, why sho#!d heF 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;sworth 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, George. 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 thsF He;s $een wth G!ora two years now and ha1en;tseen yo# worry t!! now.t was dfferent at frst. t was a no1e!ty- t too> a !oad off 0e, and and t was a fashona$!ethng to do. B#t now don;t >now. The negh$orsWe!!, what ha1e the negh$ors to do wth tF Now, !oo>. A ro$ot s nfnte!y 0ore to $e tr#stedthan a h#0an n#rse0ad. Ro$$e was %onstr#%ted for on!y one "#r"ose rea!!y to $e the%o0"anon of a !tt!e %h!d. Hs entre ;0enta!ty; has $een %reated for the "#r"ose. He @#st %an;the!" $eng fathf#! and !o1ng and >nd. He;s a 0a%hne=0ade so. That;s 0ore than yo# %an sayfor h#0ans.B#t so0ethng 0ght go wrong. So0e= so0e= Mrs. Weston was a $t haDy a$o#t the nsdes ofa ro$ot, so0e !tt!e @gger w!! %o0e !oose and the awf#! thng w!! go $erser> and= and= She%o#!dn;t $rng herse!f to %o0"!ete the ?#te o$1o#s tho#ght.Nonsense, Weston dened, wth an n1o!#ntary ner1o#s sh1er. That;s %o0"!ete!y rd%#!o#s.We had a !ong ds%#sson at the t0e we $o#ght Ro$$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 $efore eno#gh %an gowrong to a!ter that +rst Law, a ro$ot wo#!d $e %o0"!ete!y no"era$!e. t;s a 0athe0at%a!0"oss$!ty. Besdes ha1e an engneer fro0 e h0 away fro0 G!oraFHe 0ade another f#t!e sta$ at the "a"er and hs wfe tossed t angr!y nto the net roo0.That;s @#st t, George7 She won;t "!ay wth anyone e!se. There are doDens of !tt!e $oys and gr!sthat she sho#!d 0a>e frends wth, $#t she won;t. She won;t go near the0 #n!ess 0a>e her. That;sno way for a !tt!e gr! to grow #". :o# want her to $e nor0a!, don;t yo#F :o# want her to $e a$!eto ta>e her "art n so%ety.:o#;re @#0"ng at shadows, Gra%e. Pretend Ro$$e;s a dog. ;1e seen h#ndreds of %h!dren whowo#!d rather ha1e ther dog than ther father.A dog s dfferent, George. We 0#st get rd of that horr$!e thng. :o# %an se!! t $a%> to the%o0"any. ;1e as>ed, and yo# %an.:o#;1e as>edF Now !oo> here, Gra%e, !et;s not go off the dee" end. We;re >ee"ng the ro$ot #nt!G!ora s o!der and don;t want the s#$@e%t $ro#ght #" agan. And wth that he wa!>ed o#t of theroo0 n a h#ff.Mrs. Weston 0et her h#s$and at the door two e1enngs !ater. :o#;!! ha1e to !sten to ths, George.There;s $ad fee!ng n the 1!!age.

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A$o#t whatF as>ed WestonF He ste""ed nto the washroo0 and drowned o#t any "oss$!eanswer $y the s"!ash of water.Mrs. Weston wated. She sad, A$o#t Ro$$e.Weston ste""ed o#t, towe! n hand, fa%e red and angry, What are yo# ta!>ng a$o#tFOh, t;s $een $#!dng #" and $#!dng #". ;1e tred to %!ose 0y eyes to t, $#t ;0 not gong toany 0ore. Most of the 1!!agers %onsder Ro$$e dangero#s. Ch!dren aren;t a!!owed to go nearo#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 0eet

the0 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. Gra%e, ths s one ofyo#r %a0"agns. re%ognDe t. B#t t;s no #se. The answer s st!!, no7 We;re >ee"ngRo$$e7And yet he !o1ed hs wfe and what was worse, hs wfe >new t. George Weston, after a!!, wason!y a 0an "oor thng and hs wfe 0ade f#!! #se of e1ery de1%e wh%h a %!#0ser and 0ores%r#"#!o#s se has !earned, wth reason and f#t!ty, to fear.

Ten t0es n the ens#ng wee>, he %red, Ro$$e stays, and that;s fna!7 and ea%h t0e twas wea>er and a%%o0"aned $y a !o#der and 0ore agonDed groan.Ca0e the day at !ast, when Weston a""roa%hed hs da#ghter g#!t!y and s#ggested a $ea#tf#!1s1o show n the 1!!age.G!ora %!a""ed her hands ha""!y, Can Ro$$e goFNo, 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.G!ora %a0e $a%> fro0 town $#$$!ng o1er wth enth#sas0, for the 1s1o had $een agorgeo#s s"e%ta%!e ndeed.She wated for her father to 0ane#1er the @et=%ar nto the s#n>en garage, Wat t!! te!! Ro$$e,9addy. He wo#!d ha1e !>ed t !>e anythng. Es"e%a!!y when +ran%s +ran was $a%>ng awayso= o=o ?#et!y, and $a%>ed rght nto one of the Leo"ard=Men and had to r#n. She !a#ghedagan, 9addy, are there rea!!y Leo"ard=Men on the MoonFPro$a$!y not, sad Weston a$sent!y. t;s @#st f#nny 0a>e=$e!e1e. He %o#!dn;t ta>e0#%h !onger wth the %ar. He;d ha1e to fa%e t.G!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 ofsero#s $rown eyes as t wagged ts ta! on the "or%h.

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Oh, what a n%e dog7 G!ora %!0$ed the ste"s, a""roa%hed %a#to#s!y and "atted t. s t for 0e,9addyFHer 0other had @oned the0. :es, t s, G!ora. sn;t t n%e soft and f#rryF t;s 1ery gent!e. t!>es !tt!e gr!s.Can he "!ay ga0esFS#re!y. He %an do any n#0$er of tr%>s. Wo#!d yo# !>e to see so0eFRght 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.G!ora t#rned "re%"to#s!y and ran down the $ase0ent ste"s, sho#tng as she went, Ro$$eCo0e and see what 9addy and Ma00a $ro#ght 0e. They $ro#ght 0e a dog, Ro$$e.n a 0n#te she had ret#rned, a frghtened !tt!e gr!. Ma00a, Ro$$e sn;t n hs roo0. Where sheF There was no answer and George Weston %o#ghed and was s#dden!y etre0e!y nterested nan a0!ess!y drftng %!o#d. G!ora;s 1o%e ?#a1ered on the 1erge of tears, Where;s Ro$$e,Ma00aFMrs. Weston sat down and drew her da#ghter gent!y to her, 9on;t fee! $ad, G!ora. Ro$$e hasgone away, thn>.Gone awayF WhereF Where;s he gone away, Ma00aFNo one >nows, dar!ng. He @#st wa!>ed away. We;1e !oo>ed and we;1e !oo>ed and we;1e !oo>edfor h0, $#t we %an;t fnd h0.:o# 0ean he;!! ne1er %o0e $a%> aganF Her eyes were ro#nd wth horror.We 0ay fnd h0 soon. We;!! >ee" !oo>ng for h0. And 0eanwh!e yo# %an "!ay wth yo#r n%enew dogge. Loo> at h07 Hs na0e s Lghtnng and he %anB#t G!ora;s eye!ds had o1erf!own, don;t want the nasty dog want Ro$$e. want yo# to

fnd 0e Ro$$e. Her fee!ngs $e%a0e too dee" for words, and she s"!#ttered nto a shr!! wa!.Mrs. Weston g!an%ed at her h#s$and for he!", $#t he 0ere!y sh#ff!ed hs feet 0orose!y and dd notwthdraw hs ardent stare fro0 the hea1ens, so she $ent to the tas> of %onso!aton, Why do yo#%ry, G!oraF Ro$$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 G!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 $a%>.Her 0other groaned n defeat and !eft G!ora to her sorrow.Let her ha1e her %ry o#t, she to!d her h#s$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, G!ora %eased %ryng, $#t she %easeds0!ng, too, and the "assng days fo#nd her e1er 0ore s!ent and shadowy. Grad#a!!y, her attt#deof "ass1e #nha""ness wore Mrs. Weston down and a!! that >e"t her fro0 ye!dng was the0"oss$!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, Gra%eFt;s that %h!d, George. ;1e had to send $a%> the dog today. G!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 toget Ro$$e $a%>. t 0ght $e done, yo# >now. %an get n to#%h wthNo7 she re"!ed, gr0!y. won;t hear of t. We;re not g1ng #" that eas!y. My %h!d sha!! not $e$ro#ght #" $y a ro$ot f t ta>es years to $rea> her of t.Weston "%>ed #" hs "a"er agan wth a dsa""onted ar. A year of ths w!! ha1e 0e"re0at#re!y gray.:o#;re a $g he!", George, was the frgd answer. What G!ora needs s a %hange ofen1ron0entF Of %o#rse she %an;t forget Ro$$e here. How %an she when e1ery tree and ro%>re0nds her of h0F 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 "!annngF

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#stF 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, G!ora w!! fnd s#ff%ent nterests and s#ff%ent frends to "er> her #" and 0a>e her forgetthat 0a%hne.Oh, Lord, groaned the !esser ha!f, those fryng "a1e0ents7We ha1e to, was the #nsha>en res"onse. G!ora has !ost f1e "o#nds n the !ast 0onth and0y !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.G!ora ds"!ayed 00edate sgns of 0"ro1e0ent when to!d of the 0"endng tr" to the %ty. Shes"o>e !tt!e of t, $#t when she dd, t was a!ways wth !1e!y ant%"aton. Agan, she $egan tos0!e and to eat wth so0ethng of her for0er a""ette.Mrs. Weston h#gged herse!f for @oy and !ost no o""ort#nty to tr#0"h o1er her st!!s>e"t%a! h#s$and.:o# see, George, she he!"s wth the "a%>ng !>e a !tt!e ange!, and %hatters away as f she hadn;ta %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%ty ho0e and a %o#"!e were engaged as ho#se>ee"ers for the %o#ntry ho0e. When the day of thetr"

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fna!!y dd %o0e, G!ora was a!! $#t her o!d se!f agan, and no 0enton of Ro$$e "assed her !"sat a!!.n hgh good=h#0or the fa0!y too> a ta=gyro to the ar"ort Weston wo#!d ha1e "referred#sng hs own "r1ate ;gyro, $#t t was on!y a two=seater wth no roo0 for $aggageI and enteredthe watng !ner.Co0e, G!ora, %a!!ed Mrs. Weston. ;1e sa1ed yo# a seat near the wndow so yo# %an wat%hthe s%enery.G!ora trotted down the as!e %heer!y, f!attened her nose nto a whte o1a! aganst the th%> %!earg!ass, and wat%hed wth an ntentness that n%reased as the s#dden %o#ghng of the 0otor drfted$a%>ward nto the nteror. She was too yo#ng to $e frghtened when the gro#nd dro""ed away asf !et thro#gh a tra" door and she herse!f s#dden!y $e%a0e tw%e her #s#a! weght, $#t not tooyo#ngto $e 0ght!y nterested. t wasn;t #nt! the gro#nd had %hanged nto a tny "at%hwor> ?#!t thatshe wthdrew her nose, and fa%ed her 0other agan.W!! we soon $e n the %ty, Ma00aF she as>ed, r#$$ng her %h!!ed nose, and wat%hngwth nterest as the "at%h of 0ost#re wh%h her $reath had for0ed on the "ane shran> s!ow!yand 1anshed.n a$o#t ha!f an ho#r, dear. Then, wth @#st the fantest tra%e of anety, Aren;t yo# g!ad we;regongF 9on;t yo# thn> yo#;!! $e 1ery ha""y n the %ty wth a!! the $#!dngs and "eo"!e andthngs to seeF We;!! go to the 1s1o e1ery day and see shows and go to the %r%#s and the $ea%hand:es, Ma00a, was G!ora;s #nenth#sast% re@onder. The !ner "assed o1er a $an> of %!o#ds atthe 0o0ent, and G!ora was nstant!y a$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 arof se%ret >now!edge. >now why we;re gong to the %ty, Ma00a.9o yo#F Mrs. Weston was "#DD!ed. Why, dearF:o# ddn;t te!! 0e $e%a#se yo# wanted t to $e a s#r"rse, $#t >now. +or a 0o0ent, she was!ost n 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 weF Wth dete%t1es.The state0ent %a#ght George 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. Whena!! 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 G!ora re"eated her ?#eston n a 0oreano#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. G!ora;s"arents rea!Ded ths and 0ade the 0ost of t.On dre%t orders fro0 hs wfe, George Weston arranged to ha1e hs $#sness ta>e %are of tse!ffor a 0onth or so, n order to $e free to s"end the t0e n what he ter0ed, dss"atng G!ora tothe 1erge of r#n. L>e e1erythng e!se Weston dd, ths was gone a$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 $eendone.

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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!andsof New Jersey. They 1sted the Doos where G!ora stared n de!%o#s frght at the rea! !1e!on rather dsa""onted that the >ee"ers fed h0 raw stea>s, nstead of h#0an $engs, as shehad e"e%tedI, and as>ed nsstent!y and "ere0"tor!y to see the wha!e.The 1aro#s 0#se#0s %a0e n for ther share of attenton, together wth the "ar>s and the$ea%hes and 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 the0ad Twentes. 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!, wheren a green and wa1erng wor!d, ?#ant and %#ro#s sea=thngs og!ed her and wgg!ed s#dden!yaway.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 G!ora;s 0nd on%e and for a!! off the de"arted Ro$$e $#tthey were not ?#te s#re they had s#%%eeded.The fa%t re0aned that where1er G!ora went, she ds"!ayed the 0ost a$sor$ed and %on%entratednterest n s#%h ro$ots as ha""ened to $e "resent. No 0atter how e%tng the s"e%ta%!e $eforeher, nor how no1e! to her gr!sh eyes, she t#rned away nstant!y f the %orner of her eye %a#ght ag!0"se of 0eta!!% 0o1e0ent.Mrs. Weston went o#t of her way to >ee" G!ora away fro0 a!! ro$ots.And the 0atter was fna!!y %!0aed n the e"sode at the M#se#0 of S%en%e and nd#stry. TheM#se#0 had anno#n%ed a s"e%a! %h!dren;s "rogra0 n wh%h eh$ts of s%entf% wt%herys%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 G!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 $eg#n.G!ora, of %o#rse, was not one to wander a0!ess!y, howe1er. +or her age, she was an #n#s#a!!ydeter0ned and "#r"osef#! gr!, ?#te f#!! of the 0aterna! genes n that res"e%t. She had seen ah#ge sgn on the thrd f!oor, wh%h had sad, Ths Way to the Ta!>ng Ro$ot Ha1ng s"e!!ed to#t to herse!f and ha1ng not%ed that her "arents dd not see0 to wsh to 0o1e n the "ro"erdre%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 "#$!%ty1a!#e on!y. On%e an ho#r, an es%orted gro#" stood $efore t and as>ed ?#estons of the ro$otengneer 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. Onees"e%a!!y does not need an #nwe!dy, tota!!y 00o$!e 0ass of wres and %o!s s"readng o1ertwenty=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 ona $en%h watng for a thrd. She was the on!y one n the roo0 when G!ora entered.G!ora dd not !oo> at her. To her at the 0o0ent, another h#0an $eng was $#t an n%onsdera$!ete0. She sa1ed her attenton for ths !arge thng wth the whee!s. +or a 0o0ent, she hestated nds0ay. 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!>ngRo$ot, srF She wasn;t s#re, $#t t see0ed to her that a ro$ot that a%t#a!!y ta!>ed was worth a greatdea! of "o!teness.The gr! n her 0d=teens a!!owed a !oo> of ntense %on%entraton to %ross her thn, "!an fa%e.She wh""ed o#t a s0a!! note$oo> and $egan wrtng n ra"d "othoo>s.IThere was an o!y whr of gears and a 0e%han%a!!y t0$ered 1o%e $oo0ed o#t n wordsthat !a%>ed a%%ent and ntonaton, = a0= the= ro$ot= that= ta!>s.G!ora stared at t r#ef#!!y. t dd ta!>, $#t the so#nd %a0e fro0 nsde so0ewheres. There wasno fa%e to ta!> to. She sad, Can yo# he!" 0e, Mr. Ro$ot, srFThe Ta!>ng Ro$ot was desgned to answer ?#estons, and on!y s#%h ?#estons as t %o#!danswer had e1er $een "#t to t. t was ?#te %onfdent of ts a$!ty, therefore, %an he!"yo#.

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

Ro$$eF Who s Ro$$eF

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 $ehnd, A ro$otF: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.

A ro$ot !>e

0eF :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%oherent

so#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.IG!ora stood watng, wth %aref#!!y %on%ea!ed 0"aten%e, for the 0a%hne;s answer whenshe 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!F %red Mrs. Weston, anety dsso!1ng at on%e ntoanger. 9o yo# >now yo# frghtened yo#r 0a00a and daddy a!0ost to deathF Why dd yo# r#nawayF

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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 sgnsF he ye!!ed. :o#;re nota!!owed n here wtho#t an attendant.G!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$$e was $e%a#se they;re $oth ro$ots. And then, as the tho#ghtof Ro$$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, George. Ths s 0ore than %an stand.That e1enng, George Weston !eft for se1era! ho#rs, and the net 0ornng, he a""roa%hed hswfe wth so0ethng that !oo>ed s#s"%o#s!y !>e s0#g %o0"!a%en%e.;1e got an dea, Gra%e.

A$o#t whatF was the g!oo0y, #nnterested

?#eryF A$o#t G!ora.

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

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 G!ora s that she thn>s ofRo$$e as a "erson and not as a 0a%hne. Nat#ra!!y, she %an;t forget h0. Now f we 0anaged to%on1n%e her that Ro$$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 !astF t;s the"sy%ho!og%a! atta%>, f yo# see 0y "ont.How do yo# "!an to do tFS0"!e. Where do yo# s#""ose went !ast nghtF "ers#aded Ro$ertson of e s#ddenad0raton, Why, George, that;s a good dea.And George Weston;s 1est $#ttons straned. On!y >nd ha1e, he sad.Mr. Str#thers was a %ons%ento#s Genera! 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""edh0 se1era! t0es and $egged h0 to re"eat hs state0ents n s0"!er !ang#age so that G!ora0ght #nderstand. ng nto the 0dd!e of a !e%t#re on the "hotoe!e%tr%%e!!, ha1en;t yo# a se%ton of the fa%tory where on!y ro$ot !a$or s e0"!oyedF

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EhF Oh, yes7 :es, ndeed7 He s0!ed at Mrs. Weston. A 1%o#s %r%!e n a way, ro$ots %reatng0ore ro$ots. Of %o#rse, we are not 0a>ng a genera! "ra%t%e o#t of t. +or one thng, the #nonswo#!d ne1er !et #s. B#t we %an t#rn o#t a 1ery few ro$ots #sng ro$ot !a$or e%!#s1e!y, 0ere!y asa sort of s%entf% e"er0ent. :o# see, he ta""ed hs "n%e=neD nto one "a!0 arg#0entat1e!y,what the !a$or #nons don;t rea!De and say ths as a 0an who has a!ways $een 1erysy0"athet% wth the !a$or 0o1e0ent n genera! s that the ad1ent of the ro$ot, wh!e n1o!1ngso0e ds!o%aton to $egn wth, w!! ne1ta$!y:es, Str#thers, sad Weston, $#t a$o#t that se%ton of the fa%tory yo# s"ea> of 0ay we seetF 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 ga1e1ent 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!ghtof stars. 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 andthey don;t e1en stay n ths roo0. n f1e years, that s, sn%e we $egan ths "ro@e%t, not a sng!ea%%dent has o%%#rred. Of %o#rse, the ro$ots here asse0$!ed are %o0"arat1e!y s0"!e, $#t...The Genera! Manager;s 1o%e had !ong ded to a rather soothng 0#r0#r n G!ora;s ears. Thewho!e tr" see0ed rather d#!! and "ont!ess to her, tho#gh there were 0any ro$ots n sght.None were e1en re0ote!y !>e Ro$$e, tho#gh, and she s#r1eyed the0 wth o"en %onte0"t.n ths roo0, there weren;t any "eo"!e at a!!, she not%ed. Then her eyes fe!! #"on s or se1enro$ots $#s!y engaged at a ro#nd ta$!e ha!fway a%ross the roo0. They wdened n n%red#!o#ss#r"rse. t was a $g roo0. She %o#!dn;t see for s#re, $#t one of the ro$ots !oo>ed !>e !oo>ed!>e t was7Ro$$e7 Her shre> "er%ed the ar, and one of the ro$ots a$o#t the ta$!e fa!tered and dro""edthe too! he was ho!dng. G!ora went a!0ost 0ad wth @oy. S?#eeDng thro#gh the ra!ng $eforeether "arent %o#!d sto" her, she dro""ed !ght!y to the f!oor a few feet $e!ow, and ran toward herRo$$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!egr! 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 0eante1erythng, for G!ora %o#!d not $e o1erta>en. A!tho#gh Weston 1a#!ted the ra!ng n a w!datte0"t, t was o$1o#s!y ho"e!ess. Mr. Str#thers sgna!ed w!d!y to the o1erseers to sto" thetra%tor, $#t the o1erseers were on!y h#0an and t too> t0e to a%t.t was on!y Ro$$e that a%ted 00edate!y and wth "re%son.Wth 0eta! !egs eatng #" the s"a%e $etween h0se!f and hs !tt!e 0stress he %harged down fro0the o""oste dre%ton. E1erythng then ha""ened at on%e. Wth one swee" of an ar0, Ro$$esnat%hed #" G!ora, s!a%>enng hs s"eed not one ota, and, %onse?#ent!y, >no%>ng e1ery $reathof ar o#t of her. Weston, not ?#te %o0"rehendng a!! that was ha""enng, fe!t, rather than saw,Ro$$e $r#sh "ast h0, and %a0e to a s#dden $ew!dered ha!t. The tra%tor nterse%ted G!ora;s"ath ha!f a se%ond after Ro$$e had, ro!!ed on ten feet f#rther and %a0e to a grndng, !ong drawn=o#t sto".

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G!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$$e. As far as she was %on%erned, nothng had ha""enede%e"t that she had fo#nd her frend.B#t Mrs. Weston;s e"resson had %hanged fro0 one of re!ef to one of dar> s#s"%on. Shet#rned to her h#s$and, and, des"te her dshe1e!ed and #ndgnfed a""earan%e, 0anaged to !oo>?#te for0da$!e, :o# engneered ths, ddn;t yo#FGeorge Weston swa$$ed at a hot forehead wth hs hand>er%hef. Hs hand was #nsteady, andhs !"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$$e wasn;t desgned for engneerng or %onstr#%ton wor>.He %o#!dn;t $e of any #se to the0. :o# had h0 "!a%ed there de!$erate!y so that G!ora wo#!dfnd h0. :o# >now yo# dd.We!!, dd, sad Weston. B#t, Gra%e, how was to >now the re#non wo#!d $e so 1o!entF AndRo$$e has sa1ed her !fe- yo#;!! ha1e to ad0t that. :o# %an;t send h0 away agan.Gra%e Weston %onsdered. She t#rned toward G!ora and Ro$$e and wat%hed the0 a$stra%ted!yfor a 0o0ent. G!ora had a gr" a$o#t the ro$ot;s ne%> that wo#!d ha1e as"hyated any %reat#re$#t one of 0eta!, and was "ratt!ng nonsense n ha!f=hyster%a! frenDy. Ro$$e;s %hro0e=stee! ar0s%a"a$!e of $endng a $ar of stee! two n%hes n da0eter nto a "retDe!I wo#nd a$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 hadn1ented the 0o$!e s"ea>ng ro$ot wh%h, of %o#rse, 0ade a!! the non=s"ea>ng 0ode!s o#t ofdate, and wh%h see0ed to $e the fna! straw as far as the non=ro$ot e!e0ents were %on%erned.Most ofthe 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 G!ora had to g1e #" Ro$$e e1ent#a!!yF;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 ddF 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#ng0an, ;d ad1se yo# to !oo> #" Gregory Powe!!. He and M%hae! 9ono1an hand!ed o#r 0ostdff%#!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!y thn> 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 $ones, 9r. Ca!1n, %an ha1e Mr.Powe!! f!! t n afterward. And ths was ea%t!y what !ater dd.IShe s"read her thn hands o#t #"on the des> and !oo>ed at the0. There are two or three, shesad, that >now a !tt!e a$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"!oratoryand fnan%ed n "art $y


20/148

Runaround

T WAS ONE O+ GREGOR: POWELL;S +AORTE"!att#des that nothng was to $e ganed fro0e%te0ent, so when M>e 9ono1an %a0e !ea"ng down the stars toward h0, red har 0attedwth "ers"raton, Powe!! frowned.What;s wrongF he sad. Brea> a fngerna!F:aaaah, snar!ed 9ono1an, fe1ersh!y. What ha1e yo# $een dong n the s#$!e1e!s a!! dayF

He too> 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 andres#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#0F :es.

And how !ong has he $een

o#tF +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 and

a!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 $a%> n 3**5. B#t then, ad1an%es nro$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 wasnfnte!y de"ressng.9ono1an 0#st ha1e fe!t t. He $egan2 tred to !o%ate h0 $y rado, $#t t was no go. Radosn;t any good on the Mer%#ry S#nsde not "ast two 0!es, anyway. That;s one of the reasonsthe +rst E"edton fa!ed. And we %an;t "#t #" the #!trawa1e e?#"0ent for wee>s yet S>" a!! that. What dd yo# getF !o%ated the #norganDed $ody sgna! n the short wa1e. t was no good for anythng e%e"ths "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#! +rstE"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!0of 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 tF 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>eF 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 forthe 0a".

Are yo# sero#sF 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 nFPowe!! !oo>ed #" short!y, and sad nothng. Oh, yes, he rea!Ded the "oston they were n. twor>ed tse!f o#t as s0"!y as a sy!!ogs0. The "hoto%e!! $an>s that a!one stood $etween thef#!! "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#0was 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;!! $e the!a#ghngsto%> of the Syste0, Greg. How %an e1erythng ha1e gone so wrong so soonF The greattea0 of Powe!! and 9ono1an s sent o#t to Mer%#ry to re"ort on the ad1sa$!ty of reo"enng theS#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, !1nganythng 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, Greg, don;t. t was %r0na!, sendng #s o#t herewth on!y one ro$ot. And t was yo#r $rght dea that we %o#!d hand!e the "hoto%e!! $an>so#rse!1es.Now yo#;re $eng #nfar. t was a 0#t#a! de%son and yo# >now t. A!! we needed was a>!ogra0 of se!en#0, a St!!head 9e!e%trode P!ate and a$o#t three ho#rs; t0e and there are "oo!sof "#re se!en#0 a!! o1er S#nsde. Ma%9o#ga!;s s"e%troref!e%tor s"otted three for #s n f1e0n#tes, ddn;t tF What the de1!7 We %o#!dn;t ha1e wated for net %on@#n%ton.We!!, what are we gong to doF Powe!!, yo#;1e got an dea. >now yo# ha1e, or yo# wo#!dn;t $eso %a!0. :o#;re no 0ore a hero than a0. Go on, s"!! t7We %an;t go after S"eedy o#rse!1es, M>e not on the S#nsde. E1en the new nsos#ts aren;tgood for 0ore than twenty 0n#tes n dre%t s#n!ght. B#t yo# >now the o!d sayng, ;Set a ro$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#reF They 0ay $e s#$ro$ot% 0a%hnes. Ten years s a !ong t0e as faras ro$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 thear.

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

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

nsdes %r#00est set yo#;1e e1er

seen. Ha1e yo# "owered the0

yetF

No. There wasn;t any reason to. don;t thn> there;s anythng wrong wth the0. E1en the

da"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!s of 0ore 0odern 0ode!s had not $een heard of ten years ear!er. And then to the otherf1e.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 0eFThe 0onster;s head $ent s!ow!y and the eyes fed the0se!1es on Powe!!. Then, n aharsh, s?#aw>ng 1o%e !>e that of a 0ede1a! "honogra"h, he grated, :es, Master7Powe!! grnned h#0or!ess!y at 9ono1an. 9d yo# get thatF Those were the days of the frstta!>ng ro$ots when t !oo>ed as f the #se of ro$ots on Earth wo#!d $e $anned. The 0a>ers werefghtng 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. Get #"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%eF n the !ghtF

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

Good. 9o yo# >now what a 0!e sF

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$o#t se1enteen0!es, and so0ewhere n that genera! regon yo# w!! 0eet another ro$ot, s0a!!er thanyo#rse!f. :o# #nderstand so farF: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%tFBe%a#se want S"eedy $a%>, ntwt. want to fnd o#t what;s wrong wth h0. And to thero$ot, A!! rght, yo#, fo!!ow 0e.

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24/148

The ggant% ro$ots 0o1ed s!ow!y, wth 0e%han%a! "re%son, thro#gh the doorway that %!earedther heads $y a s%ant foot, so that the two 0en had to d#%> h#rred!y, a!ong a narrow %orrdorn 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 toPowe!! the ea%t 0agnt#de of the tas> a%%o0"!shed $y the +rst E"edton, wth ther %r#dero$ots and ther start=fro0=s%rat%h ne%esstes. They 0ght ha1e $een a fa!#re, $#t ther fa!#rewas a good dea! $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 thatF

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 a

s0#!taneo#s "ro%ess.Loo>, sad 9ono1an. Ths s a!! 1ery ed#%atona!, $#t wo#!d yo# 0nd %hangng the s#$@e%tFt 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 $ro>e the res#!tng s!en%e, t was to %hangethe s#$@e%t %o0"!ete!y. Lsten, Greg. What the de1!;s wrong wth S"eedy, anywayF %an;t#nderstand t.t;s not easy to shr#g sho#!ders n an nsos#t, $#t Powe!! tred t. don;t >now, M>e. :o# >nowhe;s "erfe%t!y ada"ted to a Mer%#ran en1ron0ent. Heat doesn;t 0ean anythng to h0 and he;s$#!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.

EhF 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#""oseF 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%>, $asa!t% ro%> %#t off the s#n!ght, and the dee" nght shadow of anar!ess wor!d s#rro#nded the0. Before the0, the shadow rea%hed o#t and ended n >nfe=edgea$r#"tness nto an a!!=$#t=#n$eara$!e $!aDe of whte !ght, that g!ttered fro0 0yrad %rysta!sa!ong a ro%>y gro#nd.S"a%e7 gas"ed 9ono1an. t !oo>s !>e snow. And t dd.Powe!!;s eyes swe"t the @agged g!tter of Mer%#ry to the horDon and wn%ed at the gorgeo#s$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 ofthe so! s gray "#0%e. So0ethng !>e the Moon, yo# >now. Bea#tf#!, sn;t tFHe was than>f#! for the !ght f!ters n ther 1s"!ates. Bea#tf#! or not, a !oo> at the s#n!ghtthro#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 seghty %entgrade7

Powe!! %he%>ed hs own and sad2 aganst the $!aDng $r!!an%e of the %rysta!!ne gro#nd. see h0, he ye!!ed. Let;s get gong7Powe!! had ho""ed down nto a sttng "oston on the ro$ot agan, and hs s#ted hand s!a""edaganst the Gargant#an;s $arre! %hest. Get gong7Gddy=a", ye!!ed 9ono1an, and th#0"ed hs hee!s, s"#r fashon.The ro$ots started off, the reg#!ar th#ddng of ther footste"s s!ent n the ar!essness, for thenon0eta!!% 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!eorsFThey 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! heatF

: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 der1ed

fro0 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 thedre%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 ;neath a greatoa> 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 G!$ert and S#!!1anF Say, Greg, 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. ;0roastng.

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$ots don;t get dr#n>. Howe1er, there;sso0ethng wrong wth h0 wh%h s the ro$ot% e?#1a!ent of dr#n>ennessTo 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 thsregon 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 fro0F They 0ght ha1e for0ed fro0 a s!ow!y %oo!ng !?#d- $#t wherewo#!d yo# get !?#d so hot that t wo#!d %oo! n Mer%#ry;s s#nFo!%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!! forf1e 0n#tes.

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

se!en#0F 9ono1an was ta>en a$a%>. We!! da0n t don;t >now. @#st to!d h0 to get t.:es, >now, $#t howF Try to re0e0$er the ea%t words.

sad... #h... sad2 ;S"eedy, we need so0e se!en#0. :o# %an get t s#%h=and=s#%h a "!a%e.Go get t that;s a!!. What 0ore dd yo# want 0e to sayF

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

yo#F What forF 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 fro0

hs 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 $a%>. B#t s#""ose yo# order h0 to wa!> ntothat danger. n that %ase, R#!e 3 sets #" a %o#nter"otenta! hgher than the "re1o#s one and thero$ot fo!!ows orders at the rs> of esten%e.We!!, >now that. What a$o#t tFLet;s ta>e S"eedy;s %ase. S"eedy s one of the !atest 0ode!s, etre0e!y s"e%a!Ded, andas e"ens1e as a $att!esh". t;s not a thng to $e !ght!y destroyed

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SoFSo R#!e 6 has $een strengthened that was s"e%f%a!!y 0entoned, $y the way, n the ad1an%enot%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 statngfa%ts.A!! rght, go ahead. thn> get t.:o# see how t wor>s, don;t yo#F There;s so0e sort of danger %enterng at the se!en#0 "oo!. tn%reases as he a""roa%hes, and at a %ertan dstan%e fro0 t the R#!e 6 "otenta!, #n#s#a!!y hghto start 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 dr1esh0 $a%> and R#!e 3 dr1es h0 forwardSo he fo!!ows a %r%!e aro#nd the se!en#0 "oo!, stayng on the !o%#s of a!! "onts of "otenta!e?#!$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, $y the way, s what 0a>es h0dr#n>. At "otenta! e?#!$r#0, ha!f the "ostron% "aths of hs $ran are o#t of >!ter. ;0 not aro$ot s"e%a!st, $#t that see0s o$1o#s. Pro$a$!y he;s !ost %ontro! of @#st those "arts of hs1o!#ntary 0e%hans0 that a h#0an dr#n> has. e=e=ery "retty.B#t what;s the dangerF f we >new what he was r#nnng fro0F:o# s#ggested t. o!%an% a%ton. So0ewhere rght a$o1e the se!en#0 "oo! s a see"age ofgas fro0 the $owe!s of Mer%#ry. S#!"h#r dode, %ar$on dode and %ar$on 0onode. Lotsof t and at ths te0"erat#re.9ono1an g#!"ed a#d$!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 $#t the so!#ton. We %an;t get the se!en#0o#rse!1es. t;s st!! too far. We %an;t send these ro$ot horses, $e%a#se they %an;t go the0se!1es, andthey %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!! $ethe 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 $efore he e1er rea%hed the "oo!, and don;t thn> the ro$otswo#!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#rs#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%e79ono1an $ro>e t, 1o%e tre0$!ng n an effort to >ee" tse!f e0oton!ess. He sad2 As !ong aswe %an;t n%rease R#!e 3 "otenta! $y g1ng f#rther orders, how a$o#t wor>ng the other wayF fwe n%rease the danger, we n%rease R#!e 6 "otenta! and dr1e h0 $a%>ward.Powe!!;s 1s"!ate had t#rned toward h0 n a s!ent ?#eston.:o# see, %a0e the %a#to#s e"!anaton, a!! we need to do to dr1e h0 o#t of hs r#t s ton%rease the %on%entraton of %ar$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 thes0"!e e"edent of "o#ndng the 0a%hne;s thgh.

Hey, he sho#ted, %an yo#

throwF MasterF

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 tF

9ono1an "#!!ed at hs sho#!der. Too far, Greg. 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#FThe ro$ot;s eyes were 0eas#rng the dstan%e wth 0a%hne!y a%%#rate stereos%o"y. Hs ar0ad@#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

after h0. 9d yo# see h0F

:es. g#ess he wants to "!ay ga0es. We!!, we;!! "!ay h0 ga0es7They 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, Greg.

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!y

rratona! ro$ot. Powe!! was too far off to te!!, of %o#rse, $#t e1en a!ready he %o#!d ha1e swornthe %ra%>=$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 $a%> and sna""ed forward s0#!taneo#s!y and two g!ass @ars whr!edforward n towerng "ara!!e! ar%s, g!ea0ng !>e da0onds n the 0"oss$!e s#n. And n a "ar ofso#nd!ess "#ffs, they ht the gro#nd $ehnd S"eedy n %rashes that sent the oa!% a%d f!yng !>ed#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 $a%>ed away fro0 t s!ow!y and as s!ow!y gathered s"eed. n ffteense%onds, he was !ea"ng dre%t!y toward the two h#0ans n an #nsteady %anter.Powe!! dd not get S"eedy;s words @#st then, tho#gh he heard so0ethng that rese0$!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;!! $e ta>ng orders now. ;0gettng hot.They @ogged toward the shadow at the s!ow 0onotono#s "a%e of ther 0o#nts, and t was not #nt!they had entered t and fe!t the s#dden %oo!ness sett!e soft!y a$o#t the0 that 9ono1an !oo>ed

$a%>. Greg7Powe!! !oo>ed and a!0ost shre>ed. S"eedy was 0o1ng s!ow!y now so s!ow!y and n thewrong 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!!edh0 $a%>.:o# won;t %at%h h0, M>e t;s no #se. He fdgeted on hs ro$ot;s sho#!ders and %!en%hed hsfst n tght 0"oten%e. Why the de1! do see these thngs f1e se%onds after t;s a!! o1erF 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>eF 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 theywere sttng fa%e=to=fa%e, d0 shadows n the dar>ness, and he whs"ered, M>e7s t the fnshF d#!!y. s#""ose we go $a%> to the Staton, wat for the $an>s to fo!d, sha>ehands, 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 hsown na%ton. Two and 6 %an;t stand aganst t. They %an;t, M>e.

E1en when the ro$ot s ha!f %ra 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 doF

;0 gong o#t there now and see what R#!e ' w!! do. f t won;t $rea> the $a!an%e, then whatthe de1! t;s ether now or three=fo#r days fro0 now.

Ho!d on, Greg. 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=se1enforty= fo#r79ono1an fe!t hs ro$ot stagger at a s#dden "#sh $y Powe!!;s 0o#nt and then Powe!! was off ntothe s#n!ght. 9ono1an o"ened hs 0o#th to sho#t, and then %!%>ed t sh#t. Of %o#rse, the da0nfoo! had wor>ed o#t the %#$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 $egnnng to te!! e1en thro#gh thensos#t.S"eedy was wat%hng h0, wtho#t a word of G!$ert and S#!!1an g$$ersh as greetng. Than>God for that7 B#t he daren;t get too %!ose.He was three h#ndred yards away when S"eedy $egan $a%>ng, a ste" at a t0e, %a#to#s!y andPowe!! sto""ed. He @#0"ed fro0 hs ro$ot;s sho#!ders and !anded on the %rysta!!ne gro#nd wtha !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 h0dff%#!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!for $y the he!" of hs ant?#e ro$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, $#t at the so#nd Powe!! groaned, for twas, When yo#;re !yng awa>e wth a ds0a! heada%he and re"ose s ta$ooed t tra!ed offthere, and Powe!! 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, $#t yo# aren danger.Of %o#rse, R#!e ' "otenta! a$o1e e1erythng. B#t he ddn;t want that %!#0sy ant?#e- he wantedS"eedy. He wa!>ed away and 0otoned frant%a!!y2 order yo# to stay away. order yo# to sto"7t 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#F 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 hsears.

Ho!y s0o>es, $oss- what are yo# dong hereF And what a0 dong ;0 so %onf#sed Ne1er

0nd, 0#r0#red Powe!!, wea>!y. Get 0e to the shadow of the %!ff and h#rry7 There

was 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#,

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

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;t fnshed 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""edS"eedy;s 0eta! "aw. t;s O.8., S"eedy. Then, to 9ono1an, :o# >now, M>e, was @#stthn>ng:es7We!!, he r#$$ed hs fa%e the ar was so de!ghtf#!!y %oo!, yo# >now that when we getthngs set #" here and S"eedy "#t thro#gh hs +e!d Tests, they;re gong to send #s to theS"a%e Statons netNo7: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 tF %red 9ono1an. B#t >now. t;s a!! rght wth 0e now. Two h#ndred se1enty=three degrees Centgrade $e!ow Dero.Won;t t $e a "!eas#reFS"a%e Staton, sad 9ono1an, here %o0e.

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Reason

HAL+ A :EAR LATER, THE BO:S HA9 CHANGE9 ther 0nds. The f!a0e of a gant s#n had g1en wayto the soft $!a%>ness of s"a%e $#t eterna! 1aratons 0ean !tt!e n the $#sness of %he%>ng thewor>ngs of e"er0enta! ro$ots. Whate1er the $a%>gro#nd, one s fa%e to fa%e wth anns%r#ta$!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.Gregory 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 0ghtyBea0 9re%tor so0ewhere far $e!ow.Ro$ot T=' sat 00o1a$!e. The $#rnshed "!ates of hs $ody g!ea0ed n the L#tes and theg!owng red of the "hotoe!e%tr% %e!!s that were hs eyes, were fed stead!y #"on the Earth0anat the other sde of the ta$!e.Powe!! re"ressed a s#dden atta%> of ner1es. These ro$ots "ossessed "e%#!ar $rans. Oh, the threeLaws of Ro$ot%s he!d. They had to. A!! of e 0esee0s 0"ro$a$!e.The Earth0an !a#ghed ?#te s#dden!y, n Earth;s na0e, whyFCa!! t nt#ton. That;s a!! t s so far. B#t ntend to reason t o#t, tho#gh. A %han of 1a!dreasonng %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 strongsy0"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 sF

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!!.

Good7 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!ea%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 oneof 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 hes"o>e, Wh%h "art%#!ar dot of !ght do yo# %!a0 to %o0e fro0FPowe!! sear%hed, There t s, the 1ery $rght one n the %orner, we %a!! t Earth. He grnned.Good o!d Earth. There are three $!!ons of #s there, C#te and n a$o#t two wee>s ;!! $e $a%>there wth the0And then, s#r"rsng!y eno#gh, C#te h#00ed a$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!!F :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 $y h#0ans. Howe1er, the heat, the hard so!ar radatons, and the e!e%tron stor0s0ade the "ost a dff%#!t one. Ro$ots were de1e!o"ed to re"!a%e h#0an !a$or and now on!y twoh#0an ee%#t1es are re?#red for ea%h staton. We are tryng to re"!a%e e1en those, and that;swhere yo# %o0e n. :o#;re the hghest ty"e of ro$ot e1er de1e!o"ed and f yo# show the a$!tyto r#n ths staton nde"endent!y, no h#0an need e1er %o0e here agan e%e"t to $rng "arts forre"ars.Hs hand went #" and the 0eta! 1s=!d sna""ed $a%> nto "!a%e. Powe!! ret#rned to the ta$!eand "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 $e!e1eany s#%h %o0"!%ated, 0"!a#s$!e hy"othess as yo# ha1e @#st o#t!nedF What do yo# ta>e 0eforFPowe!! s"#ttered a""!e frag0ents onto the ta$!e and t#rned red. Why da0n yo#, t wasn;ta hy"othess. Those were fa%tsC#te so#nded gr0, G!o$es of energy 0!!ons of 0!es a%ross7 Wor!ds wth three $!!onh#0ans on the07 nfnte e0"tness7 Sorry, Powe!!, $#t don;t $e!e1e t. ;!! "#DD!e ths thng o#tfor 0yse!f. Good=$y.

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He t#rned and sta!>ed o#t of the roo0. He $r#shed "ast M%hae! 9ono1an on the thresho!d wtha gra1e nod and "assed down the %orrdor, o$!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 thatwa!>ng @#n> yard ta!>ng a$o#tF What doesn;t he $e!e1eFThe 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 o#r hands.

He says he;s gong to fg#re t a!! o#t for h0se!f.

We!!, now, sad 9ono1an sweet!y, do ho"e he;!! %ondes%end to e"!an t a!! to 0e after he;s

"#DD!ed e1erythng o#t Then, wth s#dden rage, Lsten7 f that 0eta! 0ess g1es 0e any !"

!>e that, ;!! >no%> that %hro0#0 %ran#0 rght off ts torso.

He seated h0se!f wth a @er> and drew a "a"er=$a%>ed 0ystery no1e! o#t of hs nner @a%>et"o%>et, That ro$ot g1es 0e the w!!es anyway too da0ned n?#st1e7 M>e 9ono1angrow!ed fro0 $ehnd a h#ge !ett#%e=and=to0ato sandw%h as C#te >no%>ed gent!y andentered.s Powe!! hereF9ono1an;s 1o%e was 0#ff!ed, wth "a#ses for 0ast%aton, He;s gatherng data on e!e%tron%strea0 f#n%tons. We;re headng for a stor0, !oo>s !>e.Gregory Powe!! entered as he s"o>e, eyes on the gra"hed "a"er n hs hands, and dro""ed nto a%har. He s"read the sheets o#t $efore h0 and $egan s%r$$!ng %a!%#!atons. 9ono1an staredo1er hs sho#!der, %r#n%hng !ett#%e and dr$$!ng $read%r#0$s. C#te wated s!ent!y.Powe!! !oo>ed #", The eta Potenta! s rsng, $#t s!ow!y. J#st the sa0e, the strea0 f#n%tonsare errat% and don;t >now what to e"e%t. Oh, he!!o, C#te. tho#ght yo# were s#"er1sng thensta!!aton of the new dr1e $ar.t;s done, sad the ro$ot ?#et!y, and so ;1e %o0e to ha1e a ta!> wth the two of yo#Oh7 Powe!! !oo>ed #n%o0forta$!e. We!!, st down. No, not that %har. One of the !egs s wea>and yo#;re no !ghtweght.The ro$ot dd so and sad "!a%d!y, ha1e %o0e to a de%son.

9ono1an g!owered and "#t the re0nants of hs sandw%h asde. f t;s on any of that

s%rewy The other 0otoned 0"atent!y for s!en%e, Go ahead, C#te. We;re !stenng.

ha1e s"ent these !ast two days n %on%entrated ntros"e%ton, sad C#te, and the res#!ts ha1e

$een 0ost nterestng. $egan at the one s#re ass#0"ton fe!t "er0tted to 0a>e. , 0yse!f,

est, $e%a#se thn>

Powe!! groaned, Oh, J#"ter, a ro$ot 9es%artes7Who;s 9es%artesF de0anded 9ono1an. Lsten, do we ha1e to st here and !sten to ths 0eta!0ana%8ee" ?#et, M>e7C#te %ontn#ed 0"ert#r$a$!y, And the ?#eston that 00edate!y arose was2 J#st what sthe %a#se of 0y esten%eF

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Powe!!;s @aw set !#0"!y. :o#;re $eng foo!sh. to!d yo# a!ready that we 0ade yo#.

And f yo# don;t $e!e1e #s, added 9ono1an, we;!! g!ad!y ta>e yo# a"art7

The ro$ot s"read hs strong hands n a de"re%atory gest#re, a%%e"t nothng on a#thorty. A

hy"othess 0#st $e $a%>ed $y reason, or e!se t s worth!ess and t goes aganst a!! the d%tates of

!og% to s#""ose that yo# 0ade 0e.

Powe!! dro""ed a restranng ar0 #"on 9ono1an;s s#dden!y $#n%hed fst. J#st why do yo#say thatFC#te !a#ghed. t was a 1ery nh#0an !a#gh the 0ost 0a%hne=!>e #tteran%e he had yet g1en1ent to. t was shar" and e"!os1e, as reg#!ar as a 0etrono0e and as #nnf!e%ted.Loo> at yo#, he sad fna!!y. say ths n no s"rt of %onte0"t, $#t !oo> at yo#7 The 0atera!yo# are 0ade of s soft and f!a$$y, !a%>ng end#ran%e and strength, de"endng for energy #"onthe neff%ent odaton of organ% 0atera! !>e that. He "onted a dsa""ro1ng fnger at whatre0aned of 9ono1an;s sandw%h. Perod%a!!y yo# "ass nto a %o0a and the !east 1araton nte0"erat#re, ar "ress#re, h#0dty, or radaton ntensty 0"ars yo#r eff%en%y. :o# aremakeshift., on the other hand, a0 a fnshed "rod#%t. a$sor$ e!e%tr%a! energy dre%t!y and #t!De t wthan a!0ost one h#ndred "er%ent eff%en%y. a0 %o0"osed of strong 0eta!, a0 %ontn#o#s!y%ons%o#s, and %an stand etre0es of en1ron0ent eas!y. These are fa%ts wh%h, wth the se!f=e1dent "ro"oston that no $eng %an %reate another $eng s#"eror to tse!f, s0ashes yo#r s!!yhy"othess to nothng.9ono1an;s 0#ttered %#rses rose nto nte!!g$!ty as he s"rang to hs feet, r#sty eye$rowsdrawn !ow. A!! rght, yo# son of a h#n> of ron ore, f we ddn;t 0a>e yo#, who ddFC#te nodded gra1e!y. ery good, 9ono1an. That was ndeed the net ?#eston. E1dent!y0y %reator 0#st $e 0ore "owerf#! than 0yse!f and so there was on!y one "oss$!ty.The Earth0en !oo>ed $!an> and C#te %ontn#ed, What s the %enter of a%t1tes here nthe statonF What do we a!! ser1eF What a$sor$s a!! o#r attentonF He wated e"e%tant!y.9ono1an t#rned a start!ed !oo> #"on hs %o0"anon. ;!! $et ths tn"!ated s%rew$a!! s ta!>nga$o#t the Energy Con1erter tse!f.s that rght, C#teF grnned Powe!!. a0 ta!>ng a$o#t the Master, %a0e the %o!d, shar" answer.t was the sgna! for a roar of !a#ghter fro0 9ono1an, and Powe!! h0se!f dsso!1ed nto aha!f= s#""ressed ggg!e.C#te had rsen to hs feet and hs g!ea0ng eyes "assed fro0 one Earth0an to the other. t s so@#st the sa0e and don;t wonder that yo# ref#se to $e!e1e. :o# two are not !ong to stay here, ;0s#re. Powe!! h0se!f sad that at frst on!y 0en ser1ed the Master- that there fo!!owed ro$ots forthe ro#tne wor>- and, fna!!y, 0yse!f for the ee%#t1e !a$or. The fa%ts are no do#$t tr#e, $#t thee"!anaton entre!y !!og%a!. 9o yo# want the tr#th $ehnd t a!!FGo ahead, C#te. :o#;re a0#sng.

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The Master %reated h#0ans frst as the !owest ty"e, 0ost eas!y for0ed. Grad#a!!y, he re"!a%edthe0 $y ro$ots, the net hgher ste", and fna!!y he %reated 0e to ta>e the "!a%e of the !asth#0ans. +ro0 now on, ser1e the Master.:o#;!! do nothng of the sort, sad Powe!! shar"!y. :o#;!! fo!!ow o#r orders and >ee" ?#et, #nt!we;re satsfed that yo# %an r#n the Con1erter. Get that7 The Con1erter not the Master. f yo#don;t satsfy #s, yo# w!! $e ds0ant!ed. And now f yo# don;t 0nd yo# %an !ea1e. And ta>eths data wth yo# and f!e t "ro"er!y.C#te a%%e"ted the gra"hs handed h0 and !eft wtho#t another word. 9ono1an !eaned $a%>hea1!y n hs %har and sho1ed th%> fngers thro#gh hs har.There;s gong to $e tro#$!e wth that ro$ot. He;s "#re n#ts7The drowsy h#0 of the Con1erter s !o#der n the %ontro! roo0 and 0ed wth t s the %h#%>!eof the Geger Co#nters and the errat% $#DDng of ha!f a doDen !tt!e sgna! !ghts.9ono1an wthdrew hs eye fro0 the te!es%o"e and f!ashed the L#tes on. The $ea0 fro0 Staton) %a#ght Mars on s%hed#!e. We %an $rea> o#rs now.Powe!! nodded a$stra%ted!y. C#te;s down n the engne roo0. ;!! f!ash the sgna! and he %an ta>e%are of t. Loo>, M>e, what do yo# thn> of these fg#resFThe other %o%>ed an eye at the0 and whst!ed. Boy, that;s what %a!! ga00a=ray ntensty. O!dSo! s fee!ng hs oats, a!! rght.:eah, was the so#r res"onse, and we;re n a $ad "oston for an e!e%tron stor0, too. O#r Earth$ea0 s rght n the "ro$a$!e "ath. He sho1ed hs %har away fro0 the ta$!e "ettsh!y. N#ts7 ft wo#!d on!y ho!d off t!! re!ef got here, $#t that;s ten days off. Say, M>e, go on down and >ee"an eye on C#te, w!! yo#FO.8. Throw 0e so0e of those a!0onds. He snat%hed at the $ag thrown h0 and headed forthe e!e1ator.t s!d s0ooth!y downward, and o"ened onto a narrow %atwa!> n the h#ge engne roo0. 9ono1an!eaned o1er the ra!ng and !oo>ed down. The h#ge generators were n 0oton and fro0 the L=t#$es %a0e the !ow="t%hed whr that "er1aded the entre staton.

He %o#!d 0a>e o#t C#te;s !arge, g!ea0ng fg#re at the Martan L=t#$e, wat%hng %!ose!y asthe tea0 of ro$ots wor>ed n %!ose=>nt #nson.And then 9ono1an stffened. The ro$ots, d

yo el robot issac asimov

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