"Kuttner, Henry - Piggy Bank UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuttner Henry)

But Argus would never be in this position—Argus cared for nothing on
Earth but Argus’ own magnificent golden hide, studded with flashing glory. Even now he was stalking on his way through the castle, uncaring and unheeding.
Ballard drew an unsteady breath and went down to the cellar, where he found a heavy sledge hammer. After that he went up to look for Argus.
He found him in the dining hall, moving with a slow, majestic tread as light from the windows slid softly over his golden mail, splintered into rainbows from his jewels.
Ballard was sweating, though not with exertion. He got in front of Argus and said, “Stop right there, you—” He called the robot an unprintable name.
Argus moved to circle him. Ballard in a clear, carrying voice said, “McNamara, Torsion Process, Patent No. R-735-V-za.”
Dangerfield’s stylo moved swiftly. The robot stopped. It was like stopping some inexorable force of nature, as if an avalanche had halted halfway down a mountain. In the unnatural silence Ballard heard the other guard ask:
“Got it?”
“Yeah,” said Dangerfield. “Let’s go.”
They went out. Ballard hefted the sledge. He walked toward Argus on the balls of his feet. Argus towered over him, serene and blind.
The first blow sent diamonds showering and flashing, gouged gold from the robot’s massive chest. With tremendous dignity Argus rocked backward from the blow. The thunder of his fall echoed through the silent hail.
Ballard lifted the sledge and brought it down again. He couldn’t break through the almost impermeable casing beneath the gold plate, of course, nor crush the gems, but his furious blows ripped diamonds free and tore great furrows and gouges in the golden armor.
“You . . . damned . . . machine!” Ballard shouted, wielding the sledge in a blind, clamorous fury of meaningless destruction. “You . . . damned
machine!”