Galaxy Magazine (February 1956) by Galaxy

Author:Galaxy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 1956-02-08T16:00:00+00:00

BEEP came from the machine and a slip of pasteboard popped up. The robot took it, scanned it, then lifted its cry-

stalline eyes to Gilbert.

"I'm sorry, sir, but your application has been rejected."

Gilbert stood dazed, unbelieving.

The robot went on, "The Gate-gory Office extends its sincere

grets and trusts that this will not deter you from making further applications. The Category Office —"

Gilbert interrupted what was obviously a set speech. He stretched across the counter and grabbed the robot by one articulated arm. "Look here, you you metallic mouthpiece. That application is legitimate. Nobody's got any right to reject it. You can't just stand there and —"

"Please." The unalterable pitch of the robot's voice only pointed its obvious embarrassment. Conditioned, like all robots, never to be hostile to humans, it could only make pathetic token efforts to release itself.

Gilbert sighed and let go, feeling ashamed of himself. "Anyway," he persisted, "I want to see somebody about this."

"An overseer is already on his " the robot said.

way He

have

must, unnoticed, pressed an alarm signal, Gilbert realized.

The overseer came in briskly; a round, cheerful individual.

"Ah, Mr. Gilbert Parry. About your application, is it? Well, I'm

76

GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION

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