"FWLS57" - читать интересную книгу автора (A Future We'd Like to See)

Help looked at me. "Sarah Ann? What's going on?"

"Long story," I said. "You were damaged, and I remembered
that you used to work for Macroware... I thought they could fix
you. I did not know the nature of your last job. I am sorry,
Help-san."

Help climbed down from her chair. "Well... don't worry.
You didn't know any better. Now, if I can ask, what are YOU
doing here, Mr. Doors?"

I turned to face the man. THIS was William Doors? The
owner of the largest company in the universe? He did not look
like a corporate giant... he looked somewhat like a senior-year
computer science major after a few days without showering.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he said, waving the
sharp tool in the air. "I'm putting you back to normal so you
can get the hell out of here. I was worrying about making
another security issue out of your second escape, but it looks
like Ms. Tatewaki will be covering that for me. It's a good
thing I noticed her breaking in. If I hadn't started turning off
security systems, she'd have been dead by now, just a slew of
mechanical parts and an apron."

"You know what I am?" I asked.

"I try know as much as I can," Mr. Doors said. "The main
problem is that this fucking company's been keeping me out of
affairs lately. Saying I'm unstable, that I should relax and not
take on too many duties. I didn't even hear Help had returned
until tonight. Ingrates. I build this company up and this is
the thanks I get?"

"You don't want to keep me here?" Help asked.

"Hell no. I didn't like the Help projects from day one, or
any of the other android business, but CEO doesn't throw as much
weight as it used to. Everybody's too busy jacked in to notice
their boss. So, this is the company president taking matters
into his own hands. You two get out of here, I'll keep security
off your back. How do you think Help escaped the first time,
anyway?"

"You aided her?" I asked.

"Yeah, me. What can I say, I just love being an enigma with
absolute power that works in mysterious ways. It's one of the
few pleasures in life I have now. GO already. Take this."