An XT Called Stanley by Robert Trebor

Author:Robert Trebor [Trebor, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SCANNED, Science Fiction, First Contact, Artificial Intelligence
ISBN: 9780879978655
Amazon: 0879978651
Goodreads: 2835435
Publisher: DAW
Published: 1983-10-04T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER V Probation

Only workers who have demonstrated what we like to call the New Hope spirit will be considered for a renewed term at New Hope. These are workers who have shown careful conscientious workmanship, a willingness to go beyond what is normally expected and a spirit of cooperation and friendliness in their daily lives. Considerably higher salaries as well as greater responsibilities attend these renewed positions.

All renewals are made by the Council of New Hope. In order for you to be considered for renewal you must have the unqualified recommendation of your superiors. While the Council pays careful attention to the reports of your superiors it is in no way bound by them. In considering your request for renewal the Council will examine the full record of your stay here. In this closely knit society on the frontier of space we must consider more than just your job skills. We must consider the larger picture of how you fit into the fabric of society.

From letter sent to all two year employees two months after arrival.

I programmed my view screen to begin showing light at ten and reach daylight by ten twenty, but somehow I managed to hide from the light. It took the ringing of my alarm to drive me from my bed. I was stiff from my exertions of the previous night. I had rowed over ten kilometers at a stroke of thirty-one with a hard resistance. My rowing machine congratulated me on surpassing any previous performances and soon after warned me of the dangers of overexertion. After two warnings the machine had locked. I had taken a long shower. It was one of those nights when I thought sleep would never come, but somehow it must have, because when my alarm went off I was delta. It took me ten minutes to bring the room into focus. It was worse than a hangover.

Finally I got dressed and hurried off to Jean’s church. It wasn’t that I’d experienced an overnight conversion. It was simply that I was prepared to do almost anything to get Jean back. When I got there I expected to find her getting the coffee ready, but she hadn’t shown up. John Bruno asked me where she was. He got the minister to get out the coffee and I started the coffee percolator. Just before the service was about to begin, Jean came running in. She looked like she had slept as badly as I had, which gave me a perverse sort of pleasure.

“I forgot the coffee,” she announced to no one in particular. Then she saw me and the fact that I had taken care of it. In that moment I knew I hadn’t lost her love.

“Thank you,” she said, coming up to me.

I stepped toward her and put my arms around her. For a moment she returned my hug.

“I’m still upset,” she said, stepping back.

I resisted my first-impulse to turn away. “Can I have lunch with you?” I asked.

“All right,” she said with a deliberate lack of enthusiasm.

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