[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.The warm sun filtering through the translucent orangeplastic top ofthe vehicle made him drowsy, the gentle sway was pleasant, soporific.Colossus had acceptedthe idea that he, Forbin, was the kingpin, that he could be out of touch andthat without him, noaction could be taken.A moment's hesitation, then Forbin reached forwardand switched offthe intercom.Let someone else fight it out for the next hour.In less than twominutes he wasasleep.Twenty minutes later Fisher was frantically--and unsuccessfully--trying tocontact thehurtling air-car.He was not the only one.aaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBBr rColossus had started up again.Chapter 16About the time that Forbin was settling into the air-car, Fisher, in therelative quiet of theColossus Program Office, was deeply immersed in some of the early high-speedexchangebetween Colossus and Guardian.He was vainly trying to find some link betweenthe last of theslow-speed run and the data, still ripping out from both machines at a fantasticspeed, when Cleoburst in.Deep in the mathematical world of the machines, it took the bemuseddoctor some timeto adjust."Doctor Fisher! Listen to me, this is urgent!" Cleo's voice wascontrolled, there was littlesign of the impatience welling up within her.Slowly Fisher shifted his unseeing stare from the ceiling to hiscolleague."DoctorMarkham!" he said with a trace of triumph, as if he was glad that he couldremember the nameso quickly."Doctor," Cleo spoke deliberately and with care, "you must listen.Colossus has nowissued a new demand.I have tried to get Charles but he is in an air-car on hisway here, and Ican't contact him.We must decide what to do."The apprehensive expression dawning on the mathematician's face deepenedat the word"decide.""Can't it wait?" he said petulantly."Forbin can't be all that long.""I've checked with the Washington Terminal, and we can't expect him foranother fortyminutes," Cleo snapped, her impatience beginning to show."Read this." Sheunrolled a teletypemessage on the desk.The mere sight of it made Fisher wince--but the messageitself almostparalyzed him with shock.Cleo watched him anxiously, but without much hope.FOR FORBIN--THE FOLLOWING ORDERS ARE TO BE COMPLIED WITH ONRECEIPT1--PROCEED TO THE SECURE ZONE AND STAY THERE UNTIL FURTHERORDERS2--ARRANGE VIDEO AND SONIC SURVEILLANCE TO COVER YOU AT ALLTIMES CONNECT TO ALFA3--DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH GUARDIAN BUILDER4--DISOBEDIENCE WILL CAUSE MISSILE LAUNCH WHICH WILL NOT BEINTERCEPTED5--ACKNOWLEDGE FROM CPO PERSONALLY BEFORE 2100 GMT TODAYSURVEILLANCE SYSTEM TO BE OPERATIVE IMMEDIATELYFisher fastened eagerly on the last paragraph."There, you see, Forbinwill be here inplenty of time."aaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBBr r"But he'll be a prisoner! It will be intolerable for him, cameras andmicrophoneseverywhere, always!" retorted Cleo passionately."Is there nothing we can dobefore he getshere?""I don't see that he has any alternative.What do you suggest--that westop him gettinghere, and that he goes into hiding somewhere?""I don't know--perhaps we could.""You must remember that the consequences of disobedience are infinitelydreadful,"responded Fisher.He had recovered remarkably, and Cleo saw that the recoverywas in no smallmeasure due to the fact that the demands of Colossus did not touch Fisherpersonally, and that hewas not required to give a firm order.She was still staring at Fisher when Blake stumped in from the teletyperoom.He waschewing on an unlit cigar, short and chunky like himself."Get this, Cleo--it touches you too, Doc." He slapped another message onthe desk."Red-hot this minute from Frankenstein's monster himself.Maybe you would like me towait for theanswer."TO CPO--STOP MONITORING GUARDIAN/ COLOSSUS LINK FORTHWITHThe effect upon Doctor Fisher could only be described as electric.Herewas a decisionthat he had to take [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]