does Dv-s go wrong? Think about what that "finger" of Dave's told us just now. He goes wrong when they're working on a difficult rock, or supporting a roof, or preparing a new tunnel, or after a fall of rocks. '.
obviously, during emergencies. "Powell was eager now." Exactly! It's personal initiative that's the problem. And during emergencies, when a human being is absent, personal initiative is used more than during ordinary times. Now, we want to watch Dave in an emergency, so we mnst creare our own! '.
"You're right. Now what emergency can we create? Rocks falling in a tunnel? Let's start.
Powell and Donovan moved slowly across the rocky asteroid, kicking rocks to right and left and creating of grey dust."
We must be careful not. to get too close to the robots, or they will become aware of us, "Powell said."
I know that, "Donovan replied shortly." Down here. '.
They were in the tunnels now. The starlight was gone, and only their torches lit the dark walls. Long minutes passed they walked forwards. Powell held the detonator carefully. Suddenly, they felt a slight vibration in the rock walls.
We're near
Then there was a movement ahead, the shine of metal across the end of the tunnel. They waited silently,
"Let's turn along this tunnel on the right," Donovan whispered after a moment,.
As they moved along the narrower tunnel on the right, the vibration became more noticeable.
"This tunnel's no good. It's blocked at the end," Donovan said, holding his torch high. "No. Wait a minute," Powell said. "I can see a light. Think there's a hole at the end. The robots must be on the other side
The tunnel was very narrow and steep. The two humans in their heavy suits climbed slowly to the end of the tunnel and looked through the. hole. It was too small for a man to go through, they could only just look through it together. The robots were twenty metres down the main tunnel, working at the rocks.
"Hurry. They'll be moving on soon, "Donovan said." There's a weak place in the roof there, near the robots. If you aim at that place, half the roof will fall beside them. "
"Right. Now watch the robots. "Powell lifted the detonator and threw it down the tunnel towards the robots
It flashed! There were several violent vibrations and Powell and Donovan fell heavily to the ground."
Greg! I did not see a thing!
Powell stared around wildly. There was no sign of the robots. "Where are they? Have we buried them?".
"Let's get down there," Donovan said anxiously.
Powell began to slide backwards down their steep, narrow tunnel and Donovan followed.
"Mikel" What's happened now? '.
"Mike, we're trapped! our own roof fell! Here, in our tunnel! '.
Donovan slid down beside Powell and shone his torch on the new, solid wall of rocks in front of them. For a few.
moments they tried to move the rocks, but without success
"What a disaster! '. Powell said.
"How much oxygen have we got? Not more than six hours
We could get Dave to dig us out easily in that time, but no doubt our emergency has disturbed him.
They climbed back up the tunnel and Donovan looked through the hole. 'I can see them! They're marching. No, wait a minute. They're dancing! They're dancing towards us! '.
"I hope they come near enough. Dave can sense our presence at six metres. How near are they now? '.
Fifteen metres. We'll be out in fifteen minutes. Oh, no! ".
"What? Let me look!". shouted Powell.
"They've turned! They're leaving
Powell shook Donovan." Mike! Listen, I've got an idea! Let me get in there before they move too far away!
Donovan slid down. "Hey! What are you going to do with that gun? '. He held on to Powell's arm.
Powell shook him off violently. Let me get in there! '. He aimed his gun carefully through the hole at one of the robots, and then fired. He brought the gun down and stared anxiously along the tunnel. One of the subsidiaries was down!
Powell called uneasily into his radio. "Dave?
There was a pause, and then both men heard the answer. "Boss? Where are you? My third" finger "has been destroyed. '.
"Leave your subsidiary. We're trapped down here. Can you see the light from our torches?
"Yes, Well be with you in a few minutes.
Powell dropped on to the floor." It's all over he said thankfully,
All right, Greg, 'an said softly. "You win, and I'm just stupid. Now tell me all about it.". "Easy. We missed the obvious fact. We knew it was a
problem with personal initiative. What type of order needs most initiative? What type of order is given almost always only in an emergency?
"Do not ask me, Greg. Tell me!".
"It's the order to all six" fingers ''. In a normal situation, several of the subsidiaries would be doing routine jobs, and orders would be given separately. But in an emergency, all six subsidiaries must be given orders at exactly the same time. Dave can not communicate with all six at the same time, so his circuits get overloaded and he starts to act crazy. When I destroyed one o