The Rest of the Robots (Robot 0.2) by Isaac Asimov

Author:Isaac Asimov
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780586025949
Published: 1954-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

that was done at my house '

'Yes,' said Dr. Calvin. 'We've written it off, as a valuable and necessary part of the experiment. With your new position as Associate Engineer, you'll be able to keep it up, I think.'

'That's not what I'm worried about. With Washington agreeing to the tests, we'll be able to get a TN model of our own by next year, I think.' He turned hesitantly, as though to go, and as hesitantly turned back again.

'Well, Air. Belmont?' asked Dr. Calvin, after a pause.

'I wonder ' began Larry. 'I wonder what really hap

pened there. She—Claire, I mean—seems so different. It's

not just her looks—though, frankly, I'm amazed.' He

laughed nervously. 'It's her! She's not my wife, really—I

can't explain it.'

'Why try? Are you disappointed with any part of the change?'

'On the contrary. But it's a little frightening, too, you

see '

'I wouldn't worry, Mr. Belmont. Your wife has handled herself very well. Frankly, I never expected to have the experiment yield such a thorough and complete test. We know exactly what correcdons must be made in the TN model, and the credit belongs entirely to Mrs. Belmont. If you want me to be very honest, I think your wife deserves your promotion more than you do.'

Larry flinched visibly at that. 'As long as it's in the family,' he murmured unconvincingly and left.

Susan Calvin looked after him, 'I think that hurt—I

hope Have you read Tony's report, Peter?'

'Thoroughly,' said Bogert. 'And won't the TN-3 model need changes?'

120

'Oh, you think so, too?' questioned Calvin sharply. 'What's your reasoning?'

Bogert frowned. 'I don't need any. It's obvious on the face of it that we can't have a robot loose which makes love to his mistress, if you don't mind the pun.'

'Love! Peter, you sicken me. You really don't under

stand? That machine had to obey the First Law. He

couldn't allow harm to come to a human being, and harm

was coming to Claire Belmont through her own sense of

inadequacy. So he made love to her, since what woman

would fail to appreciate the compliment of being able to

stir passion in a machine—in a cold, soulless machine. And

he opened the curtains that night deliberately, that the

others might see and envy—without any risk possible to

Claire's marriage. I think it was clever of Tony '

'Do you? What's the difference whether it was pretense or not, Susan? It still has its horrifying effect. Read the report again. She avoided him. She screamed when he held her. She didn't sleep that last night—in hysterics. We can't have that.'

'Peter, you're blind. You're as blind as I was. The TN model will be rebuilt entirely, but not for your reason. Quite otherwise; quite otherwise. Strange that I overlooked it in the first place,' her eyes were opaquely thoughtful, 'but perhaps it reflects a shortcoming in myself. You see, Peter, machines can't fall in love, but—even when it's hopeless and horrifying—women can!'

'Risk' appeared in the May 1955 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Of my later robot stories, it was the most closely bound to I, Robot, for it was a sequel to 'Little Lost Robot,' one of the stories in that book.

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