"Isaac Asimov - Nebula Stori" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

"Thank you," she said. "But IТm fine." The
conversation screeched to a halt.

He tried again. "I donТt often get a
chance to talk to anyone from offplanet."

Her posture eased. "I noticed my ship was
the only one in port."

"Did you come to trade for a Dream?"

"No. Just some minor repairs. IТll be
leaving as soon theyТre done."

Behind her, Jato caught sight of a globe
sparkling with lights in a fractal
pattern. As it floated forward, it
resolved into a robot drone over a meter
in diameter, its surface patterned by
delicate curls of the Mandelbrot set,
swirls fringed by swirls fringed by swirls
in an unending pattern of ever more minute
lace.

Following his gaze, the woman glanced
back. "What is that?"

"A robot. It watches this staircase."

She turned back to him. "Why does that
make you angry?"

"Angry?" How had she known? "IТm not
angry."

"What does it do?" she asked.

"IТll show you." Jato strode forward and
hauled his bulk onto the tenth step.
Although he towered over the spacer, she
seemed unperturbed, simply scooting over
to let him pass. That self-confidence
impressed him as much as her beauty.

As he approached the eleventh step, the
globe whirred into his face. When he tried
to push it away, it rammed his shoulder so
hard he fell to one knee.