-9-

 

 

 

Grey slowly bounced back to the Old Section to get something to eat, passing through the commemoration chamber so lost in thought he barely noticed the displays, and entered the final hatchway that had been, until just a few hours before, the edge of his world. Soon he was standing before the Model 12, feet carefully aligned on the order mark.

"Request food service. Dinner selection number four," he said.

"Acknowledged. Food service station one," the Model 12 replied with a blink of ready lights.

This is more like it, Grey thought. He pulled a tray from the first cubbyhole and found a fully formed grilled cheese sandwich, and not hardly stale at all!

Yes, it's been a good day, he thought. But tomorrow, I'll go back and explore, and I'll learn more of these other computers.

Later that night, after his exercises and evening session in the gravity chamber were over, Grey began to feel very tired. Normally he would have looked forward to viewing some entertainment programs, but his eyes refused to stay open.

"Good night, Computer," he said, yawning as he logged off the monitor.

"Good night, Grey," the Life Support Computer replied.
   He went quietly into the darkened bunkroom, dropped off his weighted vest, and crawled into his favorite bed, holding the toy six-shooter against his chest. Soon he was fast asleep, and all night long, he had dreams of cowboys and Indians.

As lunar midnight approached, the entire community level shut down in preparation for the darkness cycle. The night period, which originally served the social needs of the colony, was also helpful to the machines. Requiring maintenance pauses, many of the computer systems dropped off line. Others went to standby or practiced test runs. Before long, the colony grew very quiet.

But one computer did not step down. Black signature patterns remained active, scanners searching endlessly. It was more than duty that kept the agitated computer on line. More than performing normal function. The Security Computer could not rest. After four years of perfect security, its moonbase had been invaded by a human.

 

(Chapters 10-16)