"Lem - Automathew's Friend" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lem Stanislaw)

Will you take one? If you think you'd like a dozen, I might be able
to arrange a discount..."
"No, one will do for now," said Automatthew. "But I'd like some idea
of what I can expect of it. Will it be able to help me in a
difficult situation?"
"But of course, that's what it's for, after all!" replied the
inventor good-humoredly. He shook out on his palm a bunch of the
granules, which glittered metallically, being made of rare metals,
and continued: "Obviously you can't count on help in the physical
sense, but we are not speaking of that, I think. Helpful hints,
suggestions, cogent comments, sensible recommendations, good
observations, admonitions, warnings, words of caution, as well as
comfort, solace, encouragement, maxims to restore your faith in
yourself, and deep insights that will enable you to cope with any
situation, no matter how serious or even grave--this is only a small
part of the repertoire of my electrofriends. They are wholly
devoted, staunch, true, ever vigilant, because they never sleep;
they are also unbelievably durable, esthetic, and you can see for
yourself how very handy! So then, you are taking only one?"
"Yes," said Automatthew. "But there's another thing: could you tell
me what happens if someone steals it from me? Will it return? Or
bring about the thief's destruction?"
"As for that, no," answered the inventor. "It will serve him just as
diligently and faithfully as it did you. You can't ask too much, my
dear Autom, it will not desert you in your hour of need if you do
not desert it. But there is little chance of that--if you will just
place it in your ear and always keep the ear plugged up with
cotton..."
"Very well," agreed Automatthew. "And how am I to speak to it?"
"You needn't speak at all, whisper subvocally and it will hear you
perfectly. As for its name, I call it Alfred. Alf or Alfie will do."

"Good," said Automatthew.
They weighed Alfred, the inventor received for it a lovely little
diamond, and the robot, content that he now had a companion, a
fellow soul for the distant journey, proceeded on his way.



Part 2. The Storm
Back to: TOC | Lem
It was most pleasant traveling with Alfred, which, if he so desired
it, would wake him each morning by whistling inside his head a soft
and cheerful reveille; it also told him various amusing anecdotes,
however Automatthew soon forbade it to do this when he was in the
presence of others, for they began to suspect him of lunacy, seeing
how every now and then he would burst into laughter for no apparent
reason. In this manner Automatthew traveled first by land, then
reached the seashore, where a beautiful white ship awaited him. He
had few possessions, thus in no time at all was ensconced in a cozy