The Cybernetic Brains by The Cybernetic Brains-

Author:The Cybernetic Brains-
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paperback Library
Published: 1969-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER X

More Trouble Coming

JOHN was forced to relax contact during that plunge. The wild gyrations, and the vision of helpless falling caused vertigo that made him sick, Martha remained out completely but he cut in at short intervals. He sensed the increasing speed of that plunge through darkness but nothing could, be done to slow its dangerous velocity.

If he could have maneuvered it to press against the side with the jumper muscles—but there was no maneuvering that blob of artificial flesh in such a spinning dive.

Abruptly then, there was motionlessness. He, wondered if he still had vision after that crushing halt. He made full contact. There seemed to be no damage.

He was looking at the sides of the receiving basket into which the frog had fallen. Beyond that there was a girl librarian. Her back was to the frog but she was in the act of turning around.

The frog leaped to the floor and scurried to the farthest corner of the wall beneath the desk. From there John could see the feet of half a dozen library operators. He heard the voice of one of the girls.

“I was sure I heard another carrier drop out of the lab tube, a moment ago. Did any of you pick it up?”

“There could be no more than one. I heard Delaney say that he expected only two brains this shift.”

“I must be dreaming.” The girl leaned on the desk and returned to her work. “I wish I knew how to find the information they want on the original Metaral Mine installation. Sixty years ago they didn’t file this stuff worth a hoot.”

Martha joined John. “Can we get to the indexes now?”

“I don’t see how. Let’s watch a minute to see how they operate.”

From beneath the table they watched the legs of the girl as she shifted weight from one foot to the other in irritation and indecision.

Try Al Demming, John thought. If he could only get one of them to open the indexes for him. The frog could not operate the machines even if no one were present to interfere.

The girl shifted and stood erect. “What did you say, Louise?”

“Nothing.”

“I thought I heard somebody talking to me. This thing is driving me crazy.”

He’d better cut that out, John thought. He had let the impulse of his thought get through to the frog. It had been strong enough to impress the girl.

“Why not?” said Martha suddenly. “Let me try.”

The girl was tired. A low-level impressed suggestion could seem like her own idea. Gently Martha let the impressions of her mind flow outward through the telepathic synapses of the frog.

Albert Demming—try Albert Demming—Dr. Albert Demming—

At the lowest possible level of neural activity she repeated the name over and over again. The girl remained standing there, punching the manual indexes on the table. She shifted her weight and twisted one foot, then the other. It seemed useless but Martha dared not increase the intensity of the suggestion.

She was on the verge of abandoning the effort when the girl turned and walked slowly toward the chair before her position at the index panel.

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