THE CATERPILLARS QUESTION by Piers Anthony & Philip Jose Farmer

Author:Piers Anthony & Philip Jose Farmer [Anthony, Piers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf
ISBN: 0-441-09488-0

"Great," Jack said. "We can get to be friends while the clock winds down. Then we can all be destroyed together."

The Gaol whistled. "I am coming to understand your distress," Candy said. "I wish to make you more comfortable."

The empathy was working! "I cannot be comfortable until Tappy-the Imago-is free."

Again the whistle. "The Imago will separate from this unit at thirty minutes before destruction. The Imago will not be destroyed."

"But that's not freedom"' Jack protested. "That's the worst captivity, for the rest of her life!"

"If that separation is not effected, the host of the Imago will be destroyed with the rest. That is not permitted."

"I don't want the host destroyed either!" Jack exclaimed. "I want Tappy free!"

"It is not possible to defuse the bomb," Candy said for the Gaol.

"It will detonate on schedule."

Jack realized how thorough this trap was. Even if the hatchling converted the Gaol, they would all be destroyed. Possibly the AI could have found a way out, because this was their city and they had centuries of experience. But they now served the Gaol.

Unless "There has to be a way," he said desperately. "You, Candyyou used to serve the Imago. Can the Gaol revert you, so that you serve the Imago again?"

The Gaol whistled. "I have now reverted," Candy said.

Just like that! Jack wasn't sure he could believe it.

"I will save the Imago by destroying the host," she continued.

"No!" Jack cried, becoming a believer. He had forgotten this aspect.

She paused at the Gaol's whistle. "There is no other escape for the Imago, Jack. Death will free it."

"Then don't be in such a rush about it," he said. "Since this city is going to blow up anyway in half an hour-"

"Forty-one minutes."

"Then you don't need to kill her. Just bring her out here with us, and she'll die when we do."

"This is true." She would have seemed surprised had she been human. She walked to the enclosure and paused. "Gaol, may I open the ship and release the host?"

The Gaol whistled.

"Why do you need to ask?" Jack demanded, afraid that the Gaol would change its mind. "Haven't you reverted to AI?"

"I have, Jack," she replied as she worked on the enclosure. "But the Gaol retains authority and can cancel my reversion at any time.

It is better to verify."

So it was a spot nullification of the Gaol program, not a revocation of the whole. The Gaol might be becoming sympathetic to the Imago, but was not a fool. A truly reverted AI might have turned immediately on the Gaol and tried to kill it.

"So I guess we'd better talk," Jack said to the Gaol. He was privately amazed at what he was taking for granted, but realized that the empathy could account for this. "What's your name?"

"The Gaol lack names," Candy said as she swung the panels of the enclosure aside. "It is a concept confined to primitives."

"Well, I'm primitive, so I prefer names," Jack said. "Will you answer to Garth Gaol?" He was being humorous again, though he realized that humor was wasted on the others.

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