Complete Robot by Isaac Asimov

Author:Isaac Asimov [Asimov, Isaac]
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780586057247
Published: 2010-05-09T08:37:06.609000+00:00

Again Defense broke in. „Don’t you find it strange, sir, that after over a year of implacable hostility to the robot, after having voted against it in the first place and having refused to put it to any use whatever, you suddenly decided to put your book, your magnum opus, into its hands?“ „I don’t find that strange. I simply decided that I might as well use the machine.“ „And you were so confident of Robot EZ-27--all of a sudden--that you didn’t even bother to check your galleys?“ „I told you I was--uh--persuaded by U. S. Robots’ propaganda.“ „So persuaded that when your colleague, Dr. Baker, attempted to check on the robot, you berated him soundly?“ „I didn’t berate him. I merely did not wish to have him--uh--waste his time. At least, I thought then it was a waste of time. I did not see the significance of that change in a word at the--“ Defense said with heavy sarcasm, „I have no doubt you were instructed to bring up that point in order that the word-change be entered in the record--“ He altered his line to forestall objection and said, „The point is that you were extremely angry with Dr. Baker.“ „No, sir. Not angry.“ „You didn’t give him a copy of your book when you received it.“ „Simple forgetfulness. I didn’t give the library its copy, either.“ Ninheimer smiled cautiously. „Professors are notoriously absentminded.“ Defense said, „Do you find it strange that, after more than a year of perfect work, Robot EZ-27 should go wrong on your book? On a book, that is, which was written by you, who was, of all people, the most implacably hostile to the robot?“ „My book was the only sizable work dealing with mankind that it had to face. The Three Laws of Robotics took hold then.“ „Several times, Dr. Ninheimer,“ said Defense, „you have tried to sound like an expert on robotics. Apparently you suddenly grew interested in robotics and took out books on the subject from the library. You testified to that effect, did you not?“ „One book, sir. That was the result of what seems to me to have been--uh--natural curiosity.“ „And it enabled you to explain why the robot should, as you allege, have distorted your book?“ „Yes, sir.“ „Very convenient. But are you sure your interest in robotics was not intended to enable you to manipulate the robot for your own purposes?“ Ninheimer flushed. „Certainly not, sir!“ Defense’s voice rose. „In fact, are you sure the alleged altered passages were not as you had them in the first place?“ The sociologist half-rose. „That’s--uh--uh--ridiculous! I have the galleys--“ He had difficulty speaking and Prosecution rose to insert smoothly, „With your permission, Your Honor, I intend to introduce as evidence the set of galleys given by Dr. Ninheimer to Robot EZ-27 and the set of galleys mailed by Robot EZ-27 to the publishers. I will do so now if my esteemed colleague so desires, and will be willing to allow a recess in order that the two sets of galleys may be compared.

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