"Asimov, Isaac - Robot 03 - Naked Sun - rtf" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

The Spacer spoke. "Partner Elijah!"
Baley's head turned toward the speaker with a jerk. His eyes rounded and he rose almost without volition.
He stared at the face; at the broad, high cheekbones, the absolute calm of the facial lines, the symmetry of the body, most of all at that level look out of nerveless blue eyes.
"D-daneel."
The Spacer said, "It is pleasant that you remember me, Partner Elijah."
"Remember you!" Baley felt relief wash over him. This being was a bit of Earth, a friend, a comfort, a savior. He had an almost unbearable desire to rush to the Spacer and embrace him, to hug him wildly, and laugh and pound his back and do all the foolish things old friends did when meeting once again after a separation.
But he didn't. He couldn't. He could only step forward, and hold out his hand and say, "I'm not likely to forget you, Daneel."
"That is pleasant," said Daneel, nodding gravely. "As you are well aware, it is quite impossible for me, while in working order, to forget you. It is well that I see you again."
Daneel took Baley's hand and pressed it with firm coolness, his fingers closing to a comfortable but not painful pressure and then releasing it.
Baley hoped earnestly that the creature's unreadable eyes could not penetrate Baley's mind and see that wild moment, just past and not yet entirely subsided, when all of Baley had concentrated into a feeling of an intense friendship that was almost love.
After all, one could not love as a friend this Daneel Olivaw, who was not a man at all, but only a robot.

The robot that looked so like a man said, "I have asked that a robot-driven ground-transport vessel be connected to this ship by airBaley frowned. "An air-tube?"
"Yes. It is a common technique, frequently used in space, in order that personnel and materiel be transferred from one vessel to another without the necessity of special equipment against vacuum. It would seem then that you are not acquainted with the technique."
"No," said Baley, "but I get the picture."
"It is, of course, rather complicated to arrange such a device between spaceship and ground vehicle, but I have requested that it be done. Fortunately, the mission on which you and I are engaged is one of high priority. Difficulties are smoothed out quickly."
"Are you assigned to the murder case too?"
"Have you not been informed of that? I regret not having told
you at once." There was, of course, no sign of regret on the robot's perfect face. "It was Dr. Han Fastolfe, whom you met on Earth during our previous partnership .and whom I hope you remember, who first suggested you as an appropriate investigator in this case. He made it a condition that I be assigned to work with you once more."
Baley managed a smile. Dr. Fastolfe was a native of Aurora and Aurora was the strongest of the Outer Worlds. Apparently the advice of an Auroran bore weight.
Baley said, "A team that works shouldn't be broken up, eh?" (The first exhilaration of Daneel's appearance was fading and the compression about Baley's chest was returning.)
"I do not know if that precise thought was in his mind, Partner Elijah. From the nature of his orders to me, I should think that he was interested in having assigned to work with you one who would have experience w~th your worid and would know of your consequent peculiarities."
"Pe~u1iarities!" Ba1ey frowned and felt offended. It was not a term he liked in connection with himse'f.
"So that I could arrange the air-tube, for examp'e. I am w&l aware of your aversion to open spaces as a reEult of your upbringing in the Cities of Earth."
Perhaps it was the effe~t of being called "peculiar," the feeling that he had to counterattack or lose caste to a machine, that drove Baley to change the subject sharply. Perhaps it was just that lifelong training prevented him from leaving any logical contradiction undisturbed.
He said, "There was a robot in charge of my welfare on hoard ths ship; a robot" (a touch of malice intruded itself here) "that looks like a robot. Do you know it?"
"I ~poke to it before coming on board."
"What's its designation? How do I make contact with it?"
"It is RX-2475. It is customary on Solaria to use only serial numbers for robots." Daneel's calm eyes swept the control panel near the door. "This contact will signal it."
Ba'ey looked at the control panel himself and, since the contact to which Daneel pointed was labeled RX, its identification seemed quite unmysterious.
Baley put his finger over it and in less than a minute, the robot, the one that looked like a robot, entered.
Baley said, "You are RX-2475."
"Yes, sir."
"You told me earlier that someone would arrive to escort me off the ship. Did you mean him?" Baley pointed at Daneel.
The eyes of the two robots met. RX-2475 said, "His papers identify him as the one who was to meet you."
"Were you told in advance anything about him other than his papers? Was he described to you?"
"No, sir. I was given his name, however."
'"Who gave you the information?"
"The captain of the ship, sir."
"Who is a Solarian?"
"Yes, sir."
Baley licked his lips. The next question would be decisive.
He said, '"What were you told would be the name of the one you were expecting?"
RX-z475 said, "Daneel Olivaw, sir."
"Good boy! You may leave now."
There was the robotic bow and then the sharp about-face. RX2475 left.
Baley turned to his partner and said thoughtfully, "You are not telling me all the truth, Daneel."
"In what way, Partner Elijah?" asked Daneel.
'"While I was talking to you earlier, I recalled an odd point. RX2475, when it told me I would have an escort said a man would come for me. I remember that quite well."
Daneel listened quietly and said nothing.