Page:R U R Rossum s Universal Robots.pdf/165

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R. U. R.
143

have intellect, you have power, you have firearms. But we have just one interesting screed, a dirty old yellow scrap of paper——"

Domin

Rossum's manuscript?

Busman

Yes. "And that," I'll tell them, "contains an account of your illustrious origin, the noble process of your manufacture," and so on. "Worthy Robots, without this scribble on that paper you will not be able to produce a single new colleague. In another twenty years there will not be one living specimen of a Robot that you could exhibit in a menagerie. My esteemed friends, that would be a great blow to you, but if you will let all of us human beings on Rossum's Island go on board that ship we will deliver the factory and the secret of the process to you in return. You allow us to get away and we allow you to manufacture yourselves. Worthy Robots, that is a fair deal. Something for something." That's what I'd say to them, my boys.

Domin

Busman, do you think we'd sell the manuscript?