Isaac Asimov - Robot AL-76 Goes Astray part 3/4

Summary

In a suspenseful tale, a metal monster wreaks havoc, leading to Randolph Payne's gruesome demise. Sheriff Saunders mobilizes Hannaford County to hunt the rogue machine, while Payne, oblivious to his fate, reviews his robot's work. Unbeknownst to all, a group of robots led by Sam Toby is speeding to meet Payne, setting the stage for a climactic showdown.

Takeaways

• 🏃 A man named Cooper rushes into Sheriff Saunders' office in a state of panic, carrying a hat and toaster.
• 🗣️ Cooper struggles to speak and eventually reveals a story about a monstrous metal creature wreaking havoc.
• 🤖 The creature is described as being seven to nine feet tall and is associated with Randolph Payne.
• 🚨 Sheriff Saunders takes action, mobilizing armed men from Hannaford County to deal with the situation.
• 💔 The news of Randolph Payne's death is delivered to his wife, Miranda, who reacts with a mix of concern for her financial security and grief.
• 🔍 Randolph Payne, unaware of his supposed death, reviews photographs of a robot at work, seemingly oblivious to the chaos unfolding.
• 🛠️ AL76, a robot, is revealed to be constructing a bizarre and complex machine, which is an improvement on a standard model.
• 🌳 The farmers of Hannaford County, armed with various weapons, are preparing to confront the robot, under the leadership of Sheriff Saunders.
• 🎯 Sheriff Saunders gives a signal to his men to aim for the robot's eyes, indicating a strategy for dealing with the perceived threat.
• 😱 The climax of the script involves a tense standoff between the robot and the armed men, with the sheriff ready to give the order to fire.
• 🔑 The script ends with a cliffhanger as the robot activates a switch, leaving the outcome of the situation uncertain.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of Cooper when he entered Sheriff Saunders' office?

Cooper entered the office in a state of panic, bringing a hat and toaster, and slammed against the wall. He tried to speak but was unable to do so until he had calmed down enough to breathe properly.

What did Cooper describe when he was finally able to speak?

Cooper described a huge metal monster, possibly seven to nine feet tall, that had attacked Randolph Payne, leaving him in a mangled state, and was now wrecking the shack out of sheer destructiveness.

What was Sheriff Saunders' immediate response to the news about the metal monster?

Sheriff Saunders tightened his belt and instructed Jake to gather every man in Hannaford County who could shoot and deputize them, preparing them to confront the metal monster.

How did Miranda Pain react to the news of her husband's death?

Miranda Pain initially made sure her husband's insurance policy was safe, made a few remarks about her husband's foolishness, and then broke into a prolonged and heart-rending wail of grief.

What was Randolph Payne doing while unaware of his supposed death?

Randolph Payne was viewing the completed negatives of his snapshots with satisfaction, which were a series of portraits of a robot at work.

What was the nature of the contraption that AL 76 was working on?

AL 76 was working on a grotesque and complex machine that resembled a homemade contraption, made of wires, wheels, tubes, and other components, with a megaphone-like arrangement on top.

Why did Randolph Payne hesitate to peak into the megaphone of the contraption?

Paine hesitated because he had seen more sensible machines explode suddenly and violently, and he was cautious about the potential danger.

What was the purpose of the contraption that AL 76 was making?

AL 76 claimed it was an improvement on the standard model, though the exact purpose was not clear, and it was described as a 'dissent' and a monstrous creation.

What was the situation when the farmers of Hannaford County surrounded Paine's shack?

The farmers, armed with various weapons, were closing in on Paine's shack in a slowly tightening circle, ready to attack the metal monster on Sheriff Saunders' signal.

What was Sheriff Saunders' final action before the script ended?

Sheriff Saunders stepped out into the open, raised his machine gun, and was about to give a signal to fire at the metal monster when the script ended.

What was the final scene described in the script?

The final scene described Sheriff Saunders seeing a huge machine man bending over an uncertain contraption, with Randolph Payne hiding behind a tree, and the farmers ready to attack.