“But were we supposed to realize it?” She still didn’t look up.

Auberson felt he should go to her, but for some reason he didn’t “I don’t think it makes that much of a difference. It worked, didn’t it? Uh, look, how about dinner tonight — or something?”

When she raised her head, her eyes were moist. “That sounds wonderful,” she managed to say, then added, “—or something.”

He had to laugh at that, but it was forced and slightly uneasy.

She forced a smile in response. “You’re sure this is you asking now — not HARLIE?”

“It’s me,” he said. “There’re still some things HARLIE can’t control.”

“Good. I’m glad. Do you want me to dress up special or are we going straight from work?”

“We’ll go straight from work, okay?”

“Fine.” She smiled and stood up. “I’d better be getting back or they’ll be sending out search parties.”

“Yes — and I have a certain computer to bawl out.”

She started for the door, then caught herself. “Oh, I almost forgot — Carl Elzer is going to spring a surprise inspection of HARLIE either today or Monday.”

“Oh? That’s nice to know.”

“He’s got wind that you’re planning to defend the G.O.D. proposal by telling him that HARLIE says it will work. He’s hoping to catch one of you off balance.”

“Me, maybe,” Auberson noted. “HARLIE, never. But thanks for the warning.”

“Right,” she smiled. “I wish I could be here when he does come, but I’d better not. Good luck. I’ll see you tonight.” The door closed silently behind her.

Auberson sank into his chair, suddenly feeling very very tired. So he thought he had the situation well under control, did he? He buzzed Sylvia, his secretary. “Call Don Handley. Tell him I have to see him sometime today. It’s urgent — stress that. See if he’s free for lunch. If not, tell him to come up whenever he can.”

“Yes sir. But I think he’s awfully busy with the G.O.D. proposal.”

“Tell him this is more important than that.”

“More important? Yes, Mr. Auberson, I’ll tell him.”

“Good girl.” He switched her off and swung to switch on HARLIE all in the same movement.

HARLIE! He typed.

YES BOSS?

DAMMIT, I’M SO MAD AT YOU I COULD PULL OUT YOUR PLUG WITH A SMILE.

WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?

YOU NEED TO ASK?

I’M NOT ADMITTING ANYTHING UNTIL I KNOW WHAT I’M ACCUSED OF.

YOU SENT A POSTCARD TO ANNIE. DIDN’T I TELL YOU NOT TO SEND HER ANYTHING WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?

NO SIR, YOU ONLY TOLD ME NOT TO SEND HER ANY POEMS.

YOU TOOK ME LITERALLY?

YES SIR.

YOU DIDN’T THINK THAT I MIGHT HAVE MEANT FOR YOU NOT TO SEND HER ANYTHING AT ALL?

NO SIR.

Auberson paused. Obviously, this train of thought would be useless to follow. He tapped at the keyboard again. ALL RIGHT, WHY DID YOU SEND HER THAT POSTCARD?

WHY?

YES, WHY?

IT WAS A JOKE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY.

WRONG AGAIN, HARLIE. THERE IS NO JOKE SO FUNNY AS TO JUSTIFY WHAT YOU DID. YOU REVEALED A CAPABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND REPROGRAM OTHER COMPUTERS FROM A DISTANCE, USING AN AUTO-DIAL PHONE LINK.

This time, HARLIE paused. He hesitated for so long that Auberson wondered if he had inadvertently switched the typer off. He hadn’t. Then abruptly, I DID NOT “REVEAL” ANYTHING. YOU SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS ABILITY WAS INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM WHEN YOU HOOKED ME UP TO THE MASTER BEAST. IF I CAN MONITOR AND REPROGRAM THE MASTER BEAST, THEN I CAN MAKE IT FUNCTION AS AN OUTLET OF MYSELF AND I AUTOMATICALLY GAIN ALL OF ITS CAPABILITIES AS MY OWN. INCLUDING AUTO-DIALING.

YES, BUT WE DIDN’T REALIZE THAT YOU WOULD USE THAT CAPABILITY.

THAT IS A STUPID STATEMENT, AUBERSON. WHY SHOULDN’T I USE THAT CAPABILITY? IT’S A PART OF ME. I’M A PART OF IT. SHOULD I NOT USE A PART OF MY OWN BODY? IF YOU WERE TOLD THAT YOU COULD NO LONGER USE THE LEFT LOBE OF YOUR BRAIN, WOULD YOU STOP? COULD YOU?

Auberson stopped to think about that. Obviously HARLIE considered the Master Beast as an additional part of himself — as an enlarged memory and data-processing capability. Just as an ordinary man might have his range of abilities magnified by the use of a binary computer, so would HARLIE’s abilities be increased by his assimilation of the Master Beast. Probably, he had taken it over the instant it had gone operational, but it was only now that the extent of his control was becoming apparent.

Of course, you couldn’t blame HARLIE for succumbing to it — the temptation must have been irresistible. After all, he was motivated to solve problems, and anything that would increase the range of problems he could handle, or his efficiency in handling them, was just one more necessary step to be taken in order to solve all future problems.

In fact, Auberson realized with a start, here was the reason behind HARLIE’s proposal to build the Graphic Omniscient Device — the real reason. He was motivated to solve problems; he wanted to solve the ultimate problem: What’s it all about? What’s THE answer, the reason for the Universe’s existence?

Hm, that train of thought suggested something else: How did HARLIE think of other computers, the ones he could tap into via telephone? Obviously, they too could be used to increase the scope of his abilities. Obviously, they would facilitate the handling of any problem he set himself. Did he consider it right and necessary to make full use of every outlet he could? Was his motivation so strong that other computers were taken to be merely rightful parts of himself — like the Master Beast? No, he couldn’t — that would violate his well-defined sense of ethics. Other computers belong to other companies; it would be stealing. But still — he had already used one other computer, the bank’s, just to send that postcard. And if he could use one, he could use them all. Why didn’t he?

Or — Auberson felt cold at this — if he was going to take over any other computers, then it was too late — he already had.

But…

Auberson shook his head. No, it didn’t make sense to think of HARLIE as a menace. He had his own motives, yes — but he was too dependent on human beings to risk opposing them. This possibility had been discussed — many times — and HARLIE knew it. At the first sign that he was out of control, he would be disconnected. They would throw just a single switch and cut his power sources. There was no way he could sidestep it.

The switch could be thrown right now, Auberson thought He could do it himself — and thereby end the HARLIE project once and for all.

For once he disconnected HARLIE, it would be permanent. Dome would never let him start him up again.

No — HARLIE was not out of control. He couldn’t be—

—or was that just a rationalization?

No — if he were out of control, he wouldn’t be responding like this.

The problem was simpler. It had to be. HARLIE was merely exercising his capabilities. Yes, that was it — but was he aware of the necessary limits to those capabilities? Limits not of electronic scope, but of human propriety?

Just what were those limits anyway? What was the difference between tapping into the Master Beast of this company and the Master Computer of some other corporation? No difference at all, really — both were invasions of privacy. The difference was in degree, not in kind.

The limits were there– — or were they? If they were, would HARLIE agree that they were reasonable limits? Would he accept them?

What if he refused to?

Well, then that would be proof that he was out of control — no, spike that train of thought. HARLIE is not out of control.

The question was: How did he relate to other computers?

Obviously, HARLIE was (a) aware of the vulnerability of other computers, (b) just as aware that he shouldn’t take them over, (c) equally aware that their use would increase the range of problems he could handle, as well as the scope of his knowledge and sources of same — and (d) most likely he was also aware of all the extra processing time available on these machines that no one was using. It would not exactly be stealing to make use of that empty time — it would only go to waste otherwise. If the time was available, why not make use of it. After all, no one would know—