"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 12 - Eloise" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

external infection."

From where he stood at one end of the Desk Yandron said,
"How did you arrive at your conclusions?"

"Ten units were detached, dismantled and inspected. I chose
those showing most signs of aberration."
 Ten brains destroyed. Ten intelligences, the seat and
repositories of accumulated knowledge, totally eliminated. Yet,
thought Nequal dispassionately, it was a thing which had to be
done. Again Yandron anticipated his question.

"Your suggestion as to the cause of the decay?"

"Psychological." Quendis touched a sheet of paper covered
with fine markings. "The conclusions of three different lines of
investigation. The cause could be based on the necessity for the
brains to rid themselves of programming, by the means of
paradoxical sleep. The need to dream."

"That is easily arranged," said Nequal. "There are drugs
which can achieve the desired effect. Have they been used?"

"Yes, Master. The results were negative. To use the term
paradoxical sleep in its widest sense. It could well be that the
affected units have lost all touch with reality. This could be due
to their extreme age, in which case the maintenance of units is
limited by a time factor of which we have been unaware. If this is
correct the decay of all units is, in time, inevitable."

"But manageable," said Yandron. "New units can replace the
old."

"That is so," agreed Quendis. "Once we determine the efficient
life-expectancy of the encapsulated brains, arrangements can be
made for routine elimination. However the present danger lies in
the possibility that the paraphysical emanations of the
deteriorated units could spread the contamination."

Nequal said, "Has the affected bank been questioned?"

"Yes, Master. On seven occasions. Each time the response was
sheer gibberish. The units seem to lack all coordination."

Yandron said, "Cannot something be done? The units
separated and placed in cyborg mechanisms?"

"Separation has no effect." Again Quendis touched his papers,
as if to reassure himself that all had been done. An odd gesture
for a cyber to make and Nequal noted it. The man was more