-10-
Grey awoke early the morning following his release from the Old Section. At first he thought he'd had a strange dream, but the vivid memory of wandering through a huge empty city felt much different than a dream. Then he discovered the toy six-shooter lying beneath his bed covers.
It wasn't a dream!
He crawled from the bunk, dressed quickly in his heavily weighted morning suit, and ran into the central corridor. Yes! The hatch at the far end was still open. The exciting new world of big rooms and colorful artifacts was real. He smiled and dashed into the control room.
"Computer, response mode! What's my schedule for today?" Grey called out.
There was no response. Computer must be sleeping, he thought.
"Computer!" Grey summoned again.
A blip of green appeared on the monitor screen as the Life Support Computer slowly came on line. Grey waited for the signature patterns to stabilize.
"Good morning, Computer," he continued. "Request agenda for today's activities!"
"Please stand by, Grey," the Life Support Computer said, unprepared for such an early awakening. Finally the signature patterns shifted to instruction mode.
"Your regular program is temporarily suspended," Life Support announced. "Following your physical conditioning period, Library will present a special study program on lunar equipment and repair. Following your lunch period, there shall be a two-hour Base Systems seminar. Your afternoon free period begins at 1400 hours. Have you any questions?"
"Yes, Computer. Please identify Base Systems," Grey said.
The green signature patterns fluttered, then disappeared as brown signature patterns filtered into the monitor screen.
"Base Systems is an introductory course teaching the proper use of the facilities now available to you," the Library Computer explained. As the brown signature patterns went to standby, Grey began to wonder.
Now available to me?
"Library? What sections of the base are not available to me?" he asked.
The brown signature patterns froze, indicating the Library Computer had not meant to imply there were other sections. When he failed to receive an acknowledgment, Grey didn't bother to ask the question again. He knew no answer was forthcoming.
After the physical conditioning period, Grey dressed in his medium weight day suit and eagerly prepared for breakfast. The training session had been good, not overly strenuous, and he'd performed particularly well in the agility routines. Even the gravity chamber sequence passed quickly. But the buoyant mood didn't last.
When the Model 12 food dispenser delivered his breakfast, Grey discovered the eggs had failed to hold their form again and the flour patties lacked moisture. The artificial smells were missing. He dumped the food tray into the waste disposal chute, whispered words Computer had forbidden him to use, and resigned himself to another meal of dried protein and liquid supplements.
Grey worked hard on his studies that morning, but his thoughts kept wandering back to episodes of the day before, especially his exchange with the Hotel Computer.
I know there is food there, he thought, if only I can gain access.
The idea troubled him greatly, but then one of the old entertainment vids with humans in it gave him an idea and his hopes rekindled. By the time his lunch period arrived, Grey was anxious to proceed.
"Where are you going?" the Library Computer asked when he rushed into the corridor.
"To hotel for lunch!" he announced.
Passing quickly through the commemoration chamber, Grey paused on the narrow balcony outside the Old Section to judge the distance up the promenade, then discarded some weight and accelerated in a series of controlled bounces.
As he had the day before, Grey marveled at vastness of the community level cavern, the long elegant walkways, and the mysterious corridors full of rooms, most of which he was yet to explore. He also fingered the toy six-shooter tucked in his belt and kept a sharp lookout. One never knows, he thought, when one may be attacked by outlaws or Indians.
When Grey reached the hotel, he made a left turn into the hallway, halting once again before the reception counter.
"Register, please," the haughty Hotel Computer said.
Grey stood fully erect, straightened his shoulders, and took a deep breath, his eyes firmly focused on the monitor screen.
"Ah, yes. Food service maintenance check," he said with casual indifference.
The monitor screen displayed hesitation.
"Clarify instructions, please," the Hotel Computer requested.
If Grey had only suspected that non-associated computers lacked sophistication, now he knew for sure. He became more aggressive.
"Listen here, 'puter. I gotta test run da food 'spenser an' I only got a couple minutes. Let's get go'in!"
His bluff was forcefully presented, just like the human had done in the entertainment vid, despite his poor attempt at an Old Brooklyn accent. The Hotel Computer wavered.
"Identification number, please," the Hotel Computer asked.
"That's it! I've had it!" Grey yelled, throwing up his arms in mock disgust. "No way am I standin' here jaw'in with a danged malfunctioning 'puter." He turned as if to leave, hesitating slightly. "I tell ya’ though, my supervisor ain't gonna like this. Nope. Not one bit."
He paused to let the computer evaluate the repercussions. Malfunction was not a word to take lightly, but Grey had been careful not to actually call for a malfunction check. He noticed the gold tinted signature patterns blink.
The Hotel Computer was confused. Though it had been many years since humans inhabited the base, the computer did recall rumors of the higher function levels training a new maintenance engineer. Could this child be the trainee? If the child was a renegade, wouldn't Security have isolated it by now? When the Administration Computer confirmed a legally registered human of Grey's description, the Hotel Computer yielded.
"Test run accepted. Kitchen services standing by," the Hotel Computer announced.
Grey laughed to himself. If all non-associated computers are this naive, he thought, one day I'll be supervising their schedules! The idea was so wonderfully silly that he laughed again and entered the Restaurant D'Oasis with high expectations.
This time he wasn't disappointed. The dining hall was smaller than the closed cafeteria he had found but was decorated in a far more stylish fashion. A notice at the headwaiter station said table service was unavailable, instructing patrons to pickup their own food from the kitchen, but Grey didn't mind. It was more exciting that way.
He walked through a set of swinging doors to find a long room of brightly polished silver machines. Some of the machines were temperature-controlled boxes, others he recognized as ovens and grills. All sorts of fascinating utensils hung from ceiling racks. In the back of the kitchen he found food dispensers featuring whole menus of different selections. And he could pick anything he wanted! Grey had never felt so powerful.
He reached up to the selection panel and entered the code for Chick-o pie and Cola #4. The machine hummed smoothly, the oven activated, and a moment later the ready light blinked. Grey popped open the cubicle and looked inside.
The food appeared perfectly formed. Unbelieving, he slowly withdrew the fancy plate and inspected the pie carefully. The aroma was wonderful! Another compartment opened and his cola emerged in a tall container. And it was cold! The glass had genuine ice in it! He wasted no more time.
– End Chapter Ten –
