"Jim Farris - Pandora's Box" - читать интересную книгу автора (Farris Jim)

PANDORA'S BOX
By Jim Farris




"What's that, my child? You wish to hear the story of how this all came to be? Well,
then! You've come to the right robot. Old Aesop will tell you the stories of Mars, the NAD, and
even the Confederacy. No, no. Not all of them - you'd fall asleep listening! Just the ones that will
let you understand. Hmm... Let's start with the one story that is a part of all the other stories. The
robot who told me this story was very old, perhaps the second oldest AI in the galaxy. You see, it
all begins in a cave many millennia ago..."




Iron Man

-5.


I was close, very close. I could see it almost within my grasp. After over a thousand years of trying,
I could see that I was within two moves of checkmate. I would finally beat the wyrm at her favorite
game. "Game Command: Bishop to Queen's Rook six. Game Comment: Check."


"Comment: I find that move very interesting. Question: How did you decide to make it?" the
wyrm asked in reply, her voice a delicate and feminine whispering of electrons.


"Reply: Negative. You are not going to distract me with praise, and I am not going to discuss my
strategy with my game opponent." The wyrm was silent for a while, considering her counter-move. I held
my thoughts from her as I waited. That's right, think about it carefully. Sooner or later you'll realize
I've won.


'Warning: Movement detected within defense perimeter.' the wyrm finally said, her voice a quiet
susurration in my mind.


"Counter-Warning: You'd better not be trying to distract me with a false alarm. You know I'm
within two moves of winning, and if you're trying to distract me with another coyote or snake, I am not
going to be amused."


"Reply: Negative. Ground vibrations indicate bipedal motion within 200 meters. Analysis
indicates a single target on a course towards us. Reminder: We are still on full battle alert status.
Recommendation: All weapons systems should be readied for combat."