Humanity by Isaac Asimov

Humanity by Isaac Asimov

Author:Isaac Asimov [Asimov, Isaac]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-05-08T18:30:00+00:00


Janet couldn’t help laughing. He’d seen right through her little subterfuge in an instant. The way he stared out of the screen at her, she almost thought he could see through that as well, but she knew her earlier order not to allow two-way communication was still in effect.

“I know you’re watching me,” he said.

Should she respond? She rejected the idea immediately. She couldn’t bring herself to do it, knowing all the questions and accusations and...emotions...it would lead to.

“I’ve got your robots here.” He paused, frowning, then said, “I don’t mean that like it sounds. I’m not holding them hostage or anything; this is just where they are.” He rubbed his chin in thought, then added, “They’re really mixed up, you know? They have to follow the Three Laws, but they don’t know what ‘human’ is, so their loyalty varies with every new situation. They’re trying to figure out the rest of the rules, too, but they don’t even know what game they’re playing. I think they’d like to know what you made them for. For that matter, r d like to know what you made them for.”

Derec looked down at his desktop, still displaying the bas-relief image of the robotics formula, and whispered” And while you’re at it, I’d like to know what you made me for, too.”

“Oh, spare me,” Janet said. “I’ve seen enough.” Her monitor obediently went gray, and she leaned back in her chair. “See what happens?” she asked Basalom, who stood just to her left. “The minute you get two people together—even when the conversation is one-way—things start to get mushy. People are so...so...biological.”

“Yes, they are.”

Janet laughed. “You’ve noticed, eh? And what conclusions have you drawn?”

Basalom made a great show of pursing his vinyl lips and blinking before he said, “Biological systems are less predictable than electromechanical ones. That can be both a handicap and an asset, depending upon the circumstances. “

“Spoken like a true philosopher. And which do you think is preferable in the long run? Biological or electromechanical?”

Basalom attempted a smile. “To quote a popular saying: ‘The grass is always greener on the other side.”

Janet laughed. “Touché, my friend. Touché.”



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