The Integrated Man by Michael Berlyn

Author:Michael Berlyn [Berlyn, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Human-Computer Interaction, Fiction
ISBN: 0553139991
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1980-04-18T07:00:00+00:00

“-fault,” Hanson said and then froze in fear. Sherman walked back around the table and sat down opposite the man. “Continue. Your explanation?” Sherman asked, amused by Hanson’s obvious disorientation.

“Alicia?”

“Close,” Sherman said.

“Oh, I see. What happened?”

Sherman explained what had happened. He finished right after the food arrived.

“I don’t like steak,” Hanson said.

“Sorry. The chip that was inside you ordered it. I can reinsert the chip and let him enjoy it, or I’ll eat it if you like.”

“Alicia’s a vegetarian.”

Sherman shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“I was saying that it wasn’t my fault,” Hanson said while Sherman ate. “I saw them converge on the bar and realized there was nothing I could do to help. I figured that you didn’t need me around at that time.”

“Right,” Sherman said. “You would have only been in the way.”

“That’s what I figured. I saw you and someone else come out of the bar. I hung back, and when they followed you into the drug shop, I waited around to see what would happen. The guy you walked in with came crashing through the window -a bloody mess. The others rushed into the shop, then came reeling out. They must have gotten a little of the drug.

“I waited but you didn’t come out. Morrison and his henchmen showed up a little after that. Once I found out they didn’t get you, I left. I circled around and started working my way through the service alleys and corridors until I found you.”

“And just in time, too.”

“I guess so.”

Sherman could tell that Hanson was unnerved. Whether it was his presence in Alicia’s body or Hanson’s disorientation from expecting to still be in the alley with Ceros-Livingston, Sherman did not know. Hanson should have gotten over the disorientation by now, though. If it was Alicia, there was nothing Sherman could do about it. He could explain it to Hanson, calm him down, but spending all of his time putting things into their proper perspective for Hanson was not a good idea. But Sherman did need help, and Hanson was his only volunteer.

“What’s going on between you and Alicia?” Sherman asked. He saw Hanson wince when her name was mentioned. “It bothers you, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Hanson admitted. “It bothers me a lot.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“She’s special.”

“That’s what he said.”

“Who?” Hanson asked.

“The chip that was in your body.” He watched Hanson carefully. “Don’t worry like that. Nothing happened. And if anything had happened there would be nothing you could do about it-nothing to make things the way they were. If she doesn’t do what you want her to do, think the way you want her to think-if her actions don’t agree with your expectations of her, find another friend.”

Sherman doubted that Hanson would take his advice, but he felt he owed him something; the man had saved his life. If Ceros-Livingston had died while his chip had been inserted, Sherman was convinced he would have died, too. He realized there was little basis for this in scientific fact, but that did not deter him from his belief.

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