-3-

 

 

 

The blue ceramic steel corridor was quiet, the hum of the air circulators barely audible. Suddenly, louder than the rhythmic pulsations of the machines, Grey heard the rare sound of the repair unit, the tracks making a distinctive vibration on the hard floor. Curious to know what the repair unit was doing, Grey bounced back to the cafeteria just in time to see the short cylindrical robot finish an adjustment on the Model Twelve.

Detecting his presence, the repair unit turned abruptly and disappeared through the portal of a small access tunnel. Grey had explored the tunnel many times and knew it to be a dead end, so he wondered how the robot always managed to vanish. He became determined to discover the secret and dove to the floor just in time to catch a glimpse inside the portal.

"A second door! So that's how it's done!" he exclaimed.

He smiled, and then a very important question occurred to him. Where does the second door go? Is there another tunnel on the other side? If there are more tunnels, are there more rooms?

Excited by the potential of his discovery, Grey decided not to waste another moment on idle speculation. He ran to ask Computer.

"Computer! Response mode! Where does the repair unit go?"

The Life Support Computer did not respond.

He moved closer to observe the control room displays. Signature patterns were slowly increasing activity level, indicating the request for information had been received, but they weren't the indicators Grey hoped to see. The signature patterns were brown.

Grey sat down with a sigh. Not that he didn't like the Library Computer. It was an interesting teacher and fine storyteller. Many times when he had been immobilized by ill health, the Library Computer had remained on line to keep him company. But only his guardian, the Life Support Computer, was authorized to answer important questions. Once again, it seemed he had asked a question Computer refused answer.

But Grey's fading hopes were soon revived when green signature patterns filtered into the flux. A rainbow of background colors indicated other computer systems were also tapping the channel.

"Please stand by," the Life Support Computer said.

The green signature patterns swirled rapidly, exchanged with a series of blue signature patterns, and stabilized. Grey held his breath.

"Ready, Grey. What is your question?" Life Support asked.

Grey stood up straight and felt the muscles tighten in his throat. He didn't like being the object of so much attention.

"Are there other rooms outside the ones in which I live?" he finally asked.

– End Chapter Three –