qt-i by Isaac Asimov

Materie:	Appunti
Categoria:	Lingue
Voto:	2 (2)
Download:	77
Data:	21.06.2000
Numero di pagine:	2
Formato di file:	.doc (Microsoft Word)

TEXT TWO
And then Donovan stiffened. The robots, dwarfed by the mighty L-tube, lined up before it, heads bowed at stiff angle, while Cutie walked up and down the line slowly. Fifteen seconds passed, and then, with a clank heard above the clamorous purring all about, they fell to their knees.
Donovan squawked and raced down the narrow staircase. He came charging down upon them, complexion matching his hair and clenched fists beating the air furiously.
“What the devil is this, you brainless lumps? Come on! Get busy with that L-tube! If you don’t have it apart, cleaned, and together again before the day is out, I’ll coagulate your brains with alternating current.”
Not a robot moved!
Even Cutie at the far end — the only one on his feet — remained silent, eyes fixed upon the gloomy recesses of the vast machine before him.
Donovan shoved hard against the nearest robot.
“Stand up!” he roared.
Slowly, the robot obeyed. His photoelectric eyes focused reproachfully upon the Earthman.
“There is no Master but the Master,” he said, “and QT-I is his prophet.”
“Huh?” Donovan became aware of twenty pairs of mechanical eyes fixed upon 20 him and twenty stiff-timbred voices declaiming solemnly:
“There is no Master but the Master and QT-I is his prophet!”
“I am afraid,” put in Cutie himself at this point, “that my friends obey a higher one than you, now.”
“The hell they do! You get out of here. I’ll settle with you later and with these animated gadgets right now.”
Cutie shook his heavy head slowly. “I’m sorry, but you don’t understand. These are robots — and that means they are reasoning beings. They recognize the Master, now that I have preached Truth to them. All the robots do. They call me the prophet.” His head drooped. “I am unworthy — but perhaps —“
Donovan located his breath and put it to use. “Is that so? Now, isn’t that nice? Now, isn’t that just fine? Just let me tell you something, my brass baboon. There isn’t any Master and there isn’t any prophet and there isn’t any question as to who’s giving the orders. Understand?” His voice shot to a roar. “Now, get out!”
“I obey only the Master.”
“Damn the Master!” Donovan spat at the L-tube. “That for the Master! Do as I say!”
Cutie said nothing, nor did any other robot, but Donovan became aware of a sudden heightening of tension. The cold, staring eyes deepened their crimson, and Cutie seemed stiffer than ever.
“Sacrilege,” he whispered — voice metallic with emotion.
Donovan felt the first sudden touch of fear as Cutie approached. A robot could not fell anger — but Cutie’s eves were unreadable.
“I am sorry, Donovan,” said the robot, “ but you can no longer stay here after this. Henceforth Powell and you are barred from the control room and the engine room.”
His hand gestured quietly and in a moment two robots had pinned Donovan’s arms to his sides.
Donovan had time for one startled gasp as he felt himself lifted from the floor and carried up the stairs at a pace rather better than a canter.