"Great Slow Kings, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

"I am not certain as to whether your last allusion contains a hidden
accusation," began the other carefully. "If so, permit me to caution you
concerning rashness--and to remind you who it was who engineered the
Mono-Robot Protection Pact."

"Do you believe things will be different in the case of a multitude of
organic subjects?" inquired the other.

"Definitely," said Dran. "There is a certain irrational element in the
rationale of the organic being, making it less amenable to direct orders
than a machine would be. Our robots, at least, were faithful when we ordered
them to destroy each other. Irresponsible organic subjects either do it
without being told, which is boorish, or refuse to do it when you order
them, which is insubordination."

"True," smiled Drax, unearthing a gem he had preserved for millennia
against this occasion. "Concerning organic life the only statement which can
be made with certainty is that life is uncertain."

"Hmm." Dran narrowed his eyes to slits. "Let me ponder that for a
moment. Like much of your thinking it seems to smack of a concealed
sophistry."

"It contains none, I assure you. It is the fruit of much meditation."

"Hmm."

Dran's pondering was cut short, by the arrival of Zindrome who clutched
two brownish blurs beneath his metal arms.

"Back already, Zindrome? What have you there? Slow them down so we can
see them."

"They are under sedation at present, great Masters. It is the movements
caused by their breathing which produce the unpleasant vibration pattern on
your retinas. To subject them to more narcosis could prove deleterious."

"Nevertheless," maintained Dran, "we must appraise our new subjects
carefully, which requires that we see them. Slow them down some more."

"You gave that order without-" began Drax, but was distracted by the
sudden appearance of the two hairy bipeds.

"Warm-blooded?" he asked.

"Yes, Lord."

"That bespeaks a very brief life-span."

"True," offered Dran, "but that kind tends to reproduce quite rapidly."