we have an emergency, said Powell.There was a cave in near where you were blasting.I'm trapped here with Donovan. We can't get out, because the tunnel is blocked. Can you see my light? Powell shone his flashlight through the hole.
Yes, Dave replied.
Powell sat back and smiled.
Okay,Greg,Donovan said quietly.Now,explain every thing to me.
Dave goes crazy when he has to make difficult choices. For example, during emergencies, Powell said.Did the words of Dave's order make the sub robots crazy? No. When the Fingers did simple work, they did not have to be supervised. They worked correctly and efficiently.Usually,Dave only gave orders to two Fingers together. But if there was an emergency,all six Fingers were given orders immediately and together. This is when Dave has a problem. So I destroyed one of Fingers.When Dave has only five Fingers, his brain works quickly and efficiently during an emergency.
Dave's problem should be easy to correct, Donovan said happily.
Yes, said Powell.
But why did the robots march in that strange way, asked Donovan
The sub robots were like Dave's fingers, Powell replied. Sometime people can't make decisions when there's an emergency. They can't think clearly. They just sit and move their hands. Maybe Dave was playing with his fingers.
As she talked about Powell and Donovan,Susan calvin's voice was cold.But when she spoke about robots,she was interested and excited.
Has there ever been a problem with robots on Earth I asked
she frowned.No,we don't work with robots,here.
Have you ever had any problems with a robots yourself? I asked.
Susan's face went red. Yes, she said. I've had problems. I remember a case that happened almost forty years ago. She was silent for a few minutes. I waited until she spoke again.
I was young and foolish once, she went on. Do you believe that?
No, I replied.
well, I was, she said.In 2021, I made a mistake. I believed the word of a robot named Herbie .He was a mind reding robot.
What I said.
He was the only mind reading robot. He was a bad mistake...