chapter5_page-73-92

Chapter 5. Escape.

When Susan Calvin returned from Hyperbase, Alfred Lanning was waiting for her.

We have an important meeting tomorrow.

Robertson has been waiting for you to come back.

A meeting about what?

About the development of our Hyper -atomic engine.

Consolidated robots is working on one as well.

Consolidated robots was the biggest rival company of US robots.

Robertson was the president of US robots.

He turned to the general manager and said,

Please begin.

The general manager was excited.

Consolidated robots came to us with an unusual suggestion.

They have a problem, a set of data,

and they want our thinking machine, the brain, to solve it.

In return, they will pay us 200 ,000.

Their problem is about the development of the Hyper -atomic engine.

I mean the interstellar engine.

That sounds alright, said Robertson.

Not really.

Consolidated robots have their own thinking machine, but it's broken.

Nobody knows why.

My guess is that they gave their thinking machine a set of data to produce an interstellar engine.

But the data broke down the machine.

Now they want to use the same set of data on our machine.

You see chief?

The general manager was happy.

Every research company in the world is trying to develop an interstellar engine.

Consolidated robots and US robots are leaders in the field with their super robot brains.

But consolidated robots have made a terrible mistake.

This is our chance to win.

But we must be careful.

They broke their own machine, and now they want to break ours too.

I see.

Said Robertson, Benny turned.

Dr. Lanning, what is your opinion?

Well, we are still not sure that interstellar travel is physically possible, said Lanning.

Our mathematicians have analyzed the set of data that was given by Consolidated.

There is a lot of information in it, a lot of astrophysical and electronic data.

Robertson listened anxiously.

Is there too much data for the brain to deal with?

Lanning shook his head.

No, the brain's capacity is limitless, but the problem here is about robotic laws.

For example, if the solution involved the death or injury of humans, the brain would not give you the solution.

Because of the first law.

Something like this may have happened to Consolidated's machine.

Lanning looked at Susan Calvin and nodded.

He wanted her to explain.

Calvin began.

When a human faces a dilemma, he reacts by escaping reality.

He becomes crazy, or maniac, or kills himself.

He is unable to face the situation.

But robots are different.

When a robot faces a dilemma, its circuits are damaged, and sometimes its positronic brain paths are destroyed.

What about this data that Consolidated wants to use on the brain?

asked Robertson.

Well, the brain is very different from Consolidated's robot.

You see, sir, Consolidated's thinking machine is built without personality.

It doesn't have the emotional brain path.

It is only a giant calculating machine, and any dilemma destroys it easily.

But our machine, the brain, has a personality, a child's personality.

It is extremely smart, but it is like a child.

It doesn't really understand what it does.

Robertson listened with interest. Calvin continued.

We are going to give Consolidated's data to the brain in small parts, very carefully.

When the problematic data enters, the brain will hesitate and pause.

We will notice this pause and identify the problematic data that causes the dilemma.

We will stop the process before it harms the robot.

The brain was kept in a high security room, under the ground.

It was a 60 centimeter globe with a helium atmosphere.

Inside this, there were the complex positronic brain paths that made the brain.

In the room, there were many other attachments that were connected to the brain, its voice,

its arms, and its sense organs.

Susan Calvin entered the room.

She was alone with the brain.

How are you, brain?

She asked softly.

The brain's voice was excited and playful.

Great Miss Susan, you're going to ask me something.

Dr. Calvin smiled.

Well, you're right, but first I want to talk to you.

Dr. Lanning and Dr. Bogart will give you the question later.

Alright.

Now Brain, the question we will give you is very complicated.

We'll give it to you very slowly, because we want you to be careful.

You're going to build something.

If you can, using the information.

But, be careful.

The solution might cause harm to human beings.

Oh no!

The robot exclaimed.

You must be very careful.

If we give you information about injury or death, don't panic.

Keep calm.

Just stop and give it back.

You understand?

Yes.

Now Brain, Dr. Lanning and Dr. Bogart are coming.

Be good and do as I told you.

The data was given very slowly.

When they gave one piece of data, they waited for the brain to process it.

When it was silent, they gave the next piece of data.

The whole thing took many hours.

They were all exhausted.

Finally, they gave the last piece of data.

Calvin looked at the brain.

Her face was white.

Something's wrong, she said.

Lanning spoke with difficulty.

It can't be.

Is it dead?

Brain?

Susan Calvin was shaking.

Do you hear me, Brain?

What?

Came the reply at last.

Do you want me?

We need the solution, Brain.

Oh, that!

I can do it.

I'll build you a ship easily.

But I need robots.

It will take two months.

You had no difficulty?

No.

It took too long to find the solution.

That's all.

Said the Brain.

Calvin moved away.

She was not happy.

Calvin was in her office.

I can't understand it.

The data must involve a dilemma.

Probably death.

She sounded worried.

The machine is sensible.

There can't be a dilemma, Bogart said.

There are different ways of escaping a dilemma.

The Brain may believe that it can solve the problem when in reality it can't.

Or it may be in a critical condition.

And any small thing can make it go crazy.

Maybe there is no dilemma.

Said landing.

Maybe consolidate its machine broke down because of a mechanical problem.

We can't take the risk.

Listen.

From now on, no one is going to talk to the Brain.

I will be in control.

Alright.

Said landing.

Take the control then.

We'll let the Brain build the ship.

And if it can build it, we'll have to test it.

Michael Donovan brushed down his red hair.

Okay, Greg.

They say the ship is finished.

They don't know what it is, but it's finished.

Let's go.

We're going to test it.

Dr. Lanning is coming this way.

Said Powell.

Lanning walked silently with the two men.

They went out into an open field where robots have been building the ship.

The robot stopped working today, Lanning said.

It's finished then, asked Powell.

I don't know, said Lanning as he frowned.

It looks finished.

There are no other pieces left, and the inside has a shiny appearance.

Do you know much about engine theory?

Donovan and Powell looked at each other.

We know about regular engines, sir, but not about hyper engines.

Lanning was not happy.

Well, we have our engine men, he said coldly.

You can go inside and have a look at it.

He turned and left.

The two men entered the ship.

They walked through the main corridor, which was a narrow tunnel.

The inside of the ship was finished.

They looked clean and polished.

The walls were shining silver.

There were no angles.

The walls, the floors, and the ceiling were one single unit.

All the rooms looked the same.

The last room was different.

There was a big window.

Below it, there was a large indicator device that showed the speed.

It said parsecs.

And the meter could go up to one million.

It was at zero now.

There were two chairs.

Powell sat down.

What do you think of it?

He asked.

Well, I think the brain is crazy.

Let's get out.

Don't you want to take a look at it?

I have looked at it.

I want to leave now.

Donovan was nervous.

Greg, let's get out of here.

Powell smiled.

My calm down.

I was worried too, but I'm not anymore.

This ship can't fly.

How do you know?

Well, we've looked everywhere.

Did you see any pilot room?

Did you see any control buttons?

No.

And did you see any engines?

No.

Well then, let's go until landing.

They walked down the corridor and came to the main door.

They tried to open it, but the handle did not move.

They looked for an emergency exit, but could not find one.

Let's get back to the room with the window.

We may be able to communicate with them.

When they went back, they looked out of the window.

They did not see the blue sky.

It was black and full of stars.

They were in space.

Alfred Lanning was talking to Calvin in his office.

Well, Susan, Robertson's getting worried.

He said, what are you doing with the brain?

You've been working with it for two months.

Well, it isn't easy, said Calvin.

She rubbed her hands nervously.

I've been very nice and gentle.

I've been asking questions to it, but its reactions aren't normal.

It gives strange answers.

But until we know what's wrong, we must be very careful.

I don't want the brain to go crazy.

Well, it can't break the first law.

I think so, but I'm not sure.

At that moment, they heard the alarm go off in the building.

Lanning made a phone call.

He froze in shock.

Susan, he said, the ship's gone.

The two fieldmen, Powell and Donovan, went inside half an hour ago.

Susan Calvin was trying to sound calm.

Brain, what happened to the ship?

The brain said happily.

The ship I built, Miss Susan?

Nothing at all.

The two men were going to test it, so I sent it off.

Well, that's nice.

The psychologist had some difficulty in breathing.

Do you think they'll be alright?

Of course, Miss Susan, it's a beautiful ship.

Yes, Brain, it is beautiful.

But do they have enough food?

Will they be comfortable?

A lot of food.

Don't worry.

They'll be alright.

It will be interesting for them.

Interesting?

How?

Just interesting?

Said the brain.

Can we communicate with the ship, Brain?

They can hear you if you call by radio.

Thanks.

That's all for now.

When they were outside, Lanning was angry.

Susan, why didn't you ask it if there was danger of death?

Because I can't talk about death.

If there is a dilemma, it is about death.

I don't want to make the brain go crazy.

Now look, it's said we could communicate with them.

Let's call them, get their location, and bring them back.

After the first shock, Powell calmed himself down.

Mike, he said.

Did you feel an acceleration?

Donovan's eyes were blank.

What?

No.

No.

He stood up and looked out of the glass window.

He could only see the stars.

Greg, they started the machine while we were inside.

But we don't know how to control the machine.

How are we going to bring it back?

This ship left by itself and without any acceleration.

He got up and walked around slowly.

Mike, this is the most difficult problem we've ever faced.

He said coldly.

No acceleration.

That means the ship works in a completely different way.

Different from any way we know.

There are no engines that we can control.

Maybe they're inside the walls.

The ship is controlled remotely.

The brain is controlling it?

Why not?

Said Powell.

Let's wait quietly until the brain brings us back.

The brain is a robot.

It must follow the first law.

It can't hurt a human being.

Oh sure, sure.

Everything's so simple.

Let's take a beauty nap.

Mike, what are you complaining about?

The brain is taking care of us.

This place is warm.

It's got light.

It's got air.

Yeah?

What are we going to eat?

What are we going to drink?

Where are we?

How are we going to get back?

Do we have spacesuits?

Sure, it's taking good care of us.

Suddenly they heard a voice.

It was there.

Hanging in the air.

Loud and terrible.

Gregory Powell.

Michael Donovan.

Gregory Powell.

Michael Donovan.

Please report your position.

If you can control your ship.

Please return to base.

Gregory Powell.

Michael Donovan.

The message was repetitious and mechanical.

Where's it coming from?

Ask Donovan.

I don't know.

Well, how are we going to answer?

Shout and answer, said Powell.

They shouted.

They shouted many times.

Position unknown.

Ship out of control.

Condition desperate.

They were out of breath.

They don't hear us, said Donovan.

We can't send messages.

We only receive them.

Slowly the voice softened and faded.

Then there was silence.

Later the two men were hungry.

They searched for food and finally found a shelf full of canned beans and another one full of bottles of milk.

They also found the toilets, but there was no shower.

They had a meal of beans and milk.

They ate in silence.

Fifteen minutes later they were back in the room with the window, looking at each other from their seats.

Powell looked unhappily at the indicator.

The meter was at zero.

At U .S. robots, landing was tired and hopeless.

They won't answer.

We've tried everything.

He looked at Calvin.

The brain is still not saying anything?

It says they can hear us, Alfred, she said.

But when I ask for more information, it gets annoyed.

So, how much do we know, Susan?

asked Bogart.

Well, the brain says it controls the ship itself.

It says the two men are safe.

But when I talked about the interstellar jump, the brain laughed.

This worries me.

The interstellar jump?

Bogart was suddenly worried.

What's the matter?

asked Calvin in landing.

Well, in an interstellar jump, life can't exist.

I mean matter and energy can't exist in the space warp.

That's what killed Consolidated's robot.

Donovan felt and looked exhausted.

It's been only five days?

Only five days, said Powell.

I'm sure of it.

Donovan looked around.

The stars outside looked cold and uncaring.

The walls were cold.

The lights were too bright.

The needle on the indicator still showed zero.

And Donovan had the taste of beans in his mouth.

I need a bath, he said.

Powell looked up and said, so do I.

Greg, when will this interstellar travel happen?

I don't know.

Maybe we just keep on going, and we'll get there in the end.

He paused.

Interstellar jump means death for us, doesn't it?

Greg, this is bad, said Donovan.

There's not much to do here.

We walk around and talk.

You know the stories about people trapped in space?

They go crazy.

Greg, since the lights went on, I've been feeling strange.

Me too, said Powell quietly.

Donovan turned.

I feel something beating inside me.

It's hard to breathe.

I feel very nervous.

Yes.

Do you feel vibration?

Sit down and listen.

You don't hear it, but you feel it.

Something is beating.

Like a heartbeat.

The whole ship.

Yes.

Is it the ship?

It might be the ship's engines.

Powell touched his mustache slowly.

It might be getting ready for the interstellar jump.

Some time later Powell looked at his hand on the metal chair.

Feel the wall, Mike, he said calmly.

I can feel it shake, Greg.

The stars outside looked unclear now.

It was like the huge machine was collecting power to make the giant jump.

Then it happened.

It came suddenly like pain.

Powell froze.

He saw Donovan for a second and then stopped seeing him.

He heard his shout and then stopped hearing him.

Something happened inside him.

He was inside bright light and pain.

It fell and turned and turned.

And then silence.

It was death.

It was a world of no motion and no feeling.

A world of unclear consciousness.

Darkness and silence.

A consciousness of time without end.

Powell was a tiny white light.

Only ego.

Cold and afraid.

Then he heard words.

Somebody talking about death and coffins.

A salesman selling coffins.

Then the words slowly died away.

Then he heard a million voices singing.

I'll be glad when you're dead.

There were so many voices.

All talking at the same time.

Voices waiting in line for paradise and hell.

A hot fire I guess.

I'm going to paradise but...

Hey Sam, come this way.

And above all the voices there was one very loud voice.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Don't keep us waiting.

There are many more in line.

Have your certificates ready.

Make sure you are at the right entrance gate.

Then suddenly there was a great explosion of sounds.

Powell opened his eyes.

He was in the chair again.

He was shaking.

Donovan's eyes opened.

Greg, he whispered.

Were you dead?

I felt dead.

His own voice sounded strange.

Donovan was trying to stand up.

Are we alive now?

I feel alive, said Powell.

Did you hear anything when you were dead?

Donovan paused and then slowly nodded his head.

Did you?

Yes, I heard a voice talk about coffins and some singing and waiting in line.

Did you hear them?

Donovan shook his head.

No, I heard just one voice, a soft voice.

He was sweating.

They saw sunlight through the window.

It was weak and blue -white.

But it was not the sun, not Earth's sun.

Powell looked at the indicator.

The needle pointed to 300 ,000 parsecs.

Mike, we must be out of the galaxy, said Powell.

Greg, we are the first humans out of the solar system.

Yes, Mike, this ship is the answer.

It means freedom for all humanity.

We are free to go to every star in the universe.

Millions and billions and trillions of them.

And then he paused.

But how do we get back home, Mike?

Donovan smiled shyly.

Oh, don't worry.

The ship brought us here.

It will take us back.

But Mike, that means we'll have to die again?

Donovan took a deep breath.

Well, if we have to, we have to.

Susan Calvin was exhausted.

She had been talking to the brain for six hours.

She was tired of repeating the same questions.

Now, brain, one more question.

You must answer simply.

The interstellar jump.

Does it take them very far?

As far as they want to go, Miss Susan?

And on the other side, what will they see?

Stars and stuff.

They'll be alive then.

Sure.

And the interstellar jump won't hurt them.

The brain was silent.

Brain, she said.

Brain, do you hear me?

The answer was weak.

Do I have to answer?

About the jump?

You don't have to, but it would be interesting.

Answer if you want to.

Oh, you spoil the fun.

And the psychologist jumped up suddenly.

She understood now.

Oh, my, she said.

Oh, my!

She went to see Lanning.

It's all right, Alfred.

The ship will be back safely.

The men are safe.

I want to rest now.

Please leave me.

The ship returned to Earth.

It landed on the same spot.

And the main door opened.

Powell and Donovan slowly walked out.

They both had newly growing beards.

And then Donovan knelt down slowly and kissed the ground.

Where's the nearest shower?

asked Powell.

They were shown the way.

They were all sitting around a table.

All the staff of U .S. robots was there.

Powell and Donovan told the story in detail.

Then there was silence.

Susan Calvin spoke at last.

Her voice was cold and calm.

But there was also some embarrassment in it.

This was my fault.

All of it.

The first time we gave the problem to the brain,

I did not want to create a dilemma.

So I said something like,

Don't get excited about the death of humans.

Don't panic.

Keep calm.

I see.

Said Lanning.

And?

And the data about the interstellar jump

meant death for humans.

That's what killed consolidated machine.

But I had made death less important for the brain.

When it was given this piece of data,

the brain did not panic.

It looked closely at the data

and realized that in an interstellar jump

human death was only temporary.

Humans would come back to life.

She looked around.

They were all listening.

She continued to explain.

So the brain was okay with it.

But not completely.

Yes, death was temporary and less important.

But it still disturbed the brain.

So he developed a way to escape reality.

He developed a sense of humor.

He began making jokes.

It was his method of escape.

Powell and Donovan stood up.

What?

Cried Powell.

He took care of you and kept you safe, said Calvin.

But you didn't have the control of the ship.

It was a joke.

We could reach you by radio,

but you couldn't answer.

You had plenty of food,

but only beans and milk.

Then you died,

but the period of your death was made

interesting.

We don't know how he did it.

It was the brain's joke,

but he didn't mean to harm you.

No harm, shouted Donovan.

Oh, I would break his neck if he had one.

Lanning looked at Donovan.

All right, calm down.

It's all over now.

He turned to the others.

What do we do now?

Well, said Bogart quietly.

We can improve the interstellar engine.

Maybe we can find a way to avoid that interstellar jump.

And then US robots will have interstellar travel,

and humanity will have the chance to create a galactic empire.

Dr. Calvin sat thoughtfully in her chair.

In the end, we did develop the interstellar engine.

The interstellar jump was perfected,

and now we have human colonies on the planets of some of the nearer stars.

I was listening to her with interest.

So much has happened to the people here on Earth in the last 50 years.

When I was born, young man, the last world war had recently ended.

It was the end of nationalism.

Earth was too small for nations.

People began forming regions.

It took some time.

When I was born, the USA was still a nation.

Now, it is part of the northern region.

In fact, the name of the company is still United States robots.

The change from nations to regions was an important step.

It helped our economy.

We are now living in the Golden Age.

It all happened because of our robots.