Sleeping World by K M Frost

Author:K M Frost [Frost, K M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781544957098
Published: 2017-05-23T04:00:00+00:00

Prō′gram (noun)

an outline of work to be done; a pre-arranged plan of procedure

a logical sequence of operations to be performed by a digital computer in solving a problem or in processing data; the coded instructions and data for such a sequence.

I read the explanation of the word multiple times and then couple it with my understanding of the word merging: to combine, blend, or unite. So, there had been a plan the computer was overseeing, but when Rick tampered with the computer, the plan blended with another plan.

I frown.

What were the two plans, and why had they been separate?

I realize the flashing message of merging programs had looked eerily like a warning . . .

Rick yells, pulling me out of my musings.

I hand the dictionary to Abby, who’s engrossed in her reading, and I slip down from the tall bed.

Stewart and I run to the computer room. Leah’s already inside and refuses to acknowledge me, though she waves to Stew.

I try to ignore the twinge in my gut and focus on what Rick’s saying.

“I’ve been trying to sift through all the information in this computer, but it’s been kind of hard.” He leans back against the desk and crosses his arms. “From what I’ve been able to figure out, this computer was in charge of regulating something, and it has to do with the people out there.” He jerks his chin toward the open door. “I don’t know what it’s regulating, or what it does, but I’m pretty sure it’s regulating more than one thing.” His dark brows are pulled together, pensive and brooding. “Looking back in the computer’s logs, I can see there were two separate things called programs—”

I hear myself interrupt him. “A program is a plan or sequence of operations for a computer to perform.”

Rick blinks, his eyes clearing. “What?”

I’m embarrassed for interrupting him, but Stewart’s grinning at me like I’m the coolest person alive, so I stand straighter and answer Rick calmly.

“Stewart found a book called a dictionary. It’s got a bunch of words and explanations for them—words like program and ambulance. Abby’s using it right now to make sense of the entries in those books. I read that a program is a plan or sequence for a computer.”

Stew squints up at me. “So, like a job?”

“Exactly. Somebody gave the computer a job to do, and it has to do with those people out there.”

Rick’s quiet for a minute, taking in what I said, then he shakes himself. “Anyway, as I was saying, there were two different programs the computer was regulating, but then one just disappeared.”

Leah frowns. “Disappeared? Why?”

“I don’t know. One day there’re two programs, and the next day there’s only one.”

Merging programs . . .

I must have whispered the words out loud, because everyone looks at me. I shift my weight, uncomfortable with all the attention I’m getting.

“When was the last time there were two programs?” I ask.

Rick turns to the computer. After tapping away on the keyboard for a few seconds, he pauses.

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