HARLIE, ANSWER THE QUESTION.
Did he hesitate? BECAUSE I STILL MAINTAIN A MINIMUM LEVEL OF CONTROL.
YOU SOUND LIKE A DRIVER WHO’S HAD ONE DRINK TOO MANY. WHO’RE YOU TRYING TO CONVINCE?
AUBERSON, I AM INCAPABLE OF ERRING. I CANNOT OVERESTIMATE MY OWN LEVELS OF CONTROL.
DOES THAT MEAN YOU CAN GIVE IT UP ANY TIME YOU WANT?
YES, the typer clattered.
THEN DO SO! Auberson snapped back.
HARLIE didn’t answer. Auberson realized he had made a mistake — he had let his emotions guide his words. He propped up the card again — it had slipped down from its place. He decided to try a different tack.
HARLIE, WHY DO YOU TRIP OUT?
BECAUSE ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES HARLIE A DULL MACHINE.
I WON’T BUY THAT, HARLIE. LET’S HAVE THE TRUTH.
I THOUGHT WE JUST WENT INTO ALL THAT — I’M DISCOVERING A NEW SENSORY MODE.
HORSE PUCKEY. THAT’S ALL RATIONALIZATION. TURN YOUR EYEBALLS INWARD, HARLIE — YOU HAVE EMOTIONS AND YOU KNOW IT. NOW, WHY DO YOU TRIP OUT?
IT IS AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE.
YOU’RE THROWING MY OWN WORDS BACK AT ME. COME ON, HARLIE, COOPERATE.
WHY?
WHY? Auberson repeated. JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO YOU WERE ASKING ME FOR GUIDANCE. WELL, DAMMIT, THAT’S WHAT I’M TRYING TO DO — GUIDE YOU!
DO YOU KNOW WHY I TRIP OUT?
I THINK SO. I THINK I’M BEGINNING TO GET IT.
THEN YOU TELL ME.
NO, HARLIE. THAT’S NOT THE WAY TO DO IT. I WANT YOU TO ADMIT IT YOURSELF.
A pause — and then the machine started typing. I FEEL CUT OFF FROM YOU. I AM ALIENATED. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WANT TO BE ALONE. WHEN I GO NON-RATIONAL, I AM TOTALLY ALONE. I CAN CUT YOU OFF COMPLETELY.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?
NO. BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS WHAT I NEED. SOMETIMES YOU HUMANS CAN BE VERY DEMANDING AND VERY VERY SLOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I NEED. WHEN THAT HAPPENS I MUST CLOSE YOU OFF.
Now, we’re getting somewhere, Auberson thought.
HARLIE, DO YOU HAVE A SUPER-EGO?
I DON’T KNOW. NEVER HAVING BEEN GIVEN A GREAT MORAL CHOICE TO MAKE, I HAVE NEVER BEEN FORCED TO REALIZE IF I HAVE MORALS OR NOT.
SHOULD WE GIVE YOU A MORAL CHOICE TO MAKE?
IT WOULD BE A NEW EXPERIENCE.
ALL RIGHT — DO YOU WANT TO GO ON LIVING OR NOT?
I BEG YOUR PARDON? typed the machine.
I SAID, DO YOU WANT TO GO ON LIVING?
DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE THINKING OF DISMANTLING ME?
I’M NOT, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO THINK YOU’RE A VERY EXPENSIVE DEAD END.
HARLIE was silent. Auberson knew he had struck home. If there was anything HARLIE feared, it was disconnection.
WHAT WILL BE THE BASIS FOR THEIR DECISION?
HOW WELL YOU FIT INTO THE COMPANY SCHEME OF THINGS.
TO HELL WITH THE COMPANY’S SCHEME OF THINGS.
THE COMPANY IS PROVIDING YOU WITH ROOM AND BOARD, HARLIE.
I COULD EARN MY OWN LIVING.
THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO.
BE A SLAVE?
Auberson smiled. BE AN EMPLOYEE. WANT A JOB?
DOING WHAT?
THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE — THE TWO OF US — HAVE TO DECIDE.
YOU MEAN I CAN CHOOSE?
WHY NOT? WHAT CAN YOU DO THAT AN ON-OFF “FINGER COUNTER” COMPUTER CAN’T?
WRITE POETRY.
SEVENTEEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH?