"The authorized computer at Xanthos Central."
"And before that?"
"I must warn you, Captain, that I have recordedthe following information for the action section ofX&A. Prior to the last two authorized accesses byX&A and Xanthos Central a deletion has been made.It is serious enough to erase the record of blinksfrom the trip log, Captain. This is the first incidence I've encountered where the computer's record of access has been altered. Someday, whenyou get out of jail, I'd like you to tell me how youmanaged to break the fail-safes and get the accesscode."
"You've made my day," Pat said, closing off.
He slouched in the chair, beaten. The old man, calm as calm, blinked green lights at him in readiness, as if he wasn't tired of the game. "You heartless monster," Pat said.
"You are drawing a comparison which has norelevance," the old man said.
"You know, dammit. You're playing with me. You know and you won't tell me."
"I have been computing something you said previously," the old man said. "You asked me specifically
what I know that you don't know. Is thatcorrect?"
"That is correct. Do you have a different answer?" "By a narrow definition of that question, relating it to your search for the missing segments oncertain of
my storage areas, I can say that I, apparently, know of one memory chamber."
"Access numbers," Pat ordered, feeling a surgeof hope.
"There are no access numbers. This chamber isconcerned with internal function of a Century Series
computer."
"Depth search," Pat said.
"A capacity for self-diagnosis is built into theCentury Series. This chamber is accessible to authorized
repair technicians manually."
"What is the purpose of this chamber?" Pat asked.
"Between cleanings and repairs I note all abnormalities. Upon printout, the technician has a complete
record of those abnormalities."
"Printout," Pat ordered.
"Printout of the self-diagnosis chamber is activated . . ." The computer went into a complicatedtechnical
explanation.
"Repeat that slowly, one instruction at a time,"Pat ordered, after running to get his tool kit out ofthe mate's cabin.
He had removed an access plate, two plug-incircuit boards, and saw, just where the old mansaid it
would be, a two-stage switch. He activatedit. The computer began to spew out symbols incomputer language and figures.
"What is all this?" Pat asked in exasperation.
"I am printing the development of ionization inchamber 73-R-45-B."
"Skip to sections relevant to alteration of thetrip log," Pat ordered.
"I do not control this printout once it is underway."
"Great," Pat said.
He watched the paper emerge. It was coveredwith data of meaning only to the computer and a good
computer tech.
It was difficult to be optimistic, with his timerunning out, but at least the new owner wouldhave the self-diagnosis printout in case he wantedto keepSkimmer in service instead of junking her.
Coffee. Blah. The old man announcing the numbers of each chamber as he printed his own diagnosis.
Pat sat up with a jerk as he recognized thenumber of the engine-room log. There were only afew abnormalities, and they were readable.
The following discharges and charges of theblink generator were erased on oral ordersfrom an unidentified operator:
She'd gone a long way. She'd blinked the generator several times on the way out and severaltimes on the way back.
It was another thirty minutes, during which Patwent quietly hyper, nerves jangling from too muchcoffee, before the old man got to the section in hisself-diagnosis chamber which dealt with abnormalities in the chamber containing the trip log.
On oral orders from an unidentified operatorthe following blink coordinates were deletedfrom the trip log.
Pat whooped with joy. His hands were shaking from coffee nerves. He had on the printout all the coordinates for the blinks Corinne had taken while he was out. He could check against charts and tell where she'd taken theSkimmer. He was out of thewoods. All he had to do was call Jeanny and tell her.
Tell her what?
He could imagine a stern-faced X&A hangmansaying, "The fact that, without your knowledge,the computer kept a record of the blinks whichyou erased does not lesson your guilt."
Damn. "Is that all, old man?"
Suddenly the printout was supplemented bysound. First the old man's voice. "Space law statesthat access to the trip log shall be by manufacturer and X&A only for the matter of alterations, and for extracting information access is granted to Xanthos Central Control or one of its substations.Therefore, since an unidentified operator, not mentioned in space law, has ordered alterations of thetrip log, I have recorded for later identificationthat operator's voice."
Pat whooped again, and then fell silent as Corinne's throaty, calm voice began to read off anorder to erase the following blinks, and then thenumbers, still in that cool, throaty voice.
He caught Jeanny just as she was entering heroffice. "Get over here as quick as you can," hesaid. "And bring someone in authority with you."
"I'm the authority, Pat, until I turn it over to the action section."
"Then get over here, Jeanny, please."