Society of the Mind

<Yes! Oh, my God! Do you realize what this could mean? There are several hundred nuclear devices in Dr. Krantz's facility! With the reactor's electricity to sustain them, the bastards could rule the island.>

Laura turned to Gray, who was bent over the computer screen beside Hoblenz.

'There!' Hoblenz said, pointing. 'One hundred and eighty meters from that air shaft in the nuclear facility to this room here in the Model Eight facility. What room is that?'

'It's a… a tactile room,' Gray said.

Laura's screen lit up again. <The drilling is still going on. I can feel it with motion sensors. There was a boring unit in a maintenance warehouse. At the very limit of the visual acuity of my closest camera I can see that the door to the warehouse is open. I could risk sending a Model Six or Seven, but it would be a suicide mission for them. Besides I'm sure they took the boring unit. That's just what they would do — go for the nuclear devices.>

'The computer says a boring unit might be missing,' Laura reported.

'Ask the computer how long it would take that unit to drill a tunnel through one hundred and eighty meters of lava stone.'

Laura typed in the question.

<About three hours. The biggest problem wouldn't be with the drilling but with disposal of the cuttings. It would take a major effort to get rid of all the stone they bored out.>

Gray appeared behind Laura to read the response. 'Mr. Hoblenz?' he said. His tone caused Laura to look up. Hoblenz paused at his computer and did the same. 'Do you have any explosives handy?'

Hoblenz made a face. 'Not on me, but there's a little somethin' in the jeep.'

'Get it.'

Hoblenz sent one of his men for the explosives and told the others to leave them alone. He closed the door behind them, leaving only Gray, Hoblenz, and Laura in the study. 'You mind if I ask what you had in mind, sir?'

'I intend to go down to the Model Eight facility.'

'I thought you might say that. I've got a problem. There's a certain etiquette to bein' a mercenary. I could order my men down there, and they'd go. But this is a situation where it wouldn't be right. I gotta ask for volunteers.'

'That's fine. I'm not ordering anybody to go down there,' Gray said, heading for the door.

43

Hoblenz and three volunteers stood by the elevator with weapons at the ready. They would go down first and establish a secure perimeter.

Gray, Laura, and two other soldiers would follow. The elevator's motor was whining loudly, but Gray said it would be several minutes before it arrived.

'One thing I don't understand, Mr. Gray,' Hoblenz said. 'What is it those Model Eights plan on doin'. I mean, so they grab the nuclear devices what then? A coupla laser-guided bombs oughta put the reactor outa commission. That gives 'em a few days of charge left. And even if they set all those devices off, we're so isolated out here it wouldn't do a damn thing other'n make the evening news. And blowin' this island to kingdom come would be kind of self-defeatin'. So what gives?'

'I don't know,' Gray replied. 'Have you ever played a game of chess against a computer whose depth of search for potential moves was severely limited? For all you know you're playing a tournament-level player, then all of a sudden it loses its queen to a pawn. But you have to stop and think. It's then when the danger for you is greatest. Did it just make an incredibly ignorant mistake, or is it up to something that, in your rush to exploit, you'll miss?'

Hoblenz thought for a moment, then frowned. 'I'm sorry I asked.'

Laura jumped in. 'So we're going to blow up their tunnel? That's what this is about?'

'We're heading down there to see what's going on,' Gray answered. 'If they're exhibiting any dangerous behavior, then we blow their recharging units and exits.'

Hoblenz looked over at Gray now, and so did several of the soldiers. Laura was missing something they all seemed to know.

'What?' she asked. 'What is it?'

Gray lowered his head before responding. 'We programmed these robots to value self-preservation very highly. They feel hunger when their charge is low. They starve to death when it runs out. The charging units are life to them.' He looked up at Hoblenz. 'We'd better plan on blowing all of them at the same time, and we'd better be near the exits when they go.'

The elevator bell dinged. Half a dozen safeties clicked off. The doors opened. The elevator was empty.

Hoblenz and his three men strapped themselves in, holding their weapons in their laps at the ready.

'See ya in hell, boss,' Hoblenz said, and the doors closed.

Gray's eyes remained fixed on the doors for some time after the elevator departed.

'What about Hightop?' Laura asked. 'Would you let him die, too?' Gray shrugged and looked away. 'Has anyone asked him what's going on?'

'He won't talk. They've got this code of silence. Like I told you, they're developing a society… and they're emulating me.'

'Is there any way to try asking him?' Laura persisted.

Gray shrugged. 'If he happens to be recharging, then he's on the net.'

Laura nodded, then turned and bolted down the hall for the study. 'Laura!' Gray called after her. 'You've got five minutes. I won't wait.'

She took the stairs three at a time. When she got to the study, she found that the terminal on Gray's desk was still logged on.

'Hello?' she typed.

<Who's there?>

'It's Laura. I don't have time to talk. Can you find out if Hightop's in a chair recharging somewhere? I need to talk to him.'

<Why?>

'I don't have time! Hoblenz just went down the elevator to the Model Eight facility. Gray and I are following in about four minutes. Find Hightop right now!'

<Oh, my God! Don't!>

'Hightop! Now!'

There was a momentary pause, and then, <Yes?>

'I need to talk to Hightop!'

<That is Hightop. Go ahead, Hightop.>

Who is this?

<I told you! It's Dr. Laura Aldridge, you idiot!>

'Hightop,' Laura typed. 'I have to ask you a question.'

What?

'Mr. Hoblenz took a team to your facility in the mountain, and Mr. Gray and I are headed down in a couple of minutes. Do you know anything about what's going on down there?'

There was a pause. Finally, Laura read, <Answer her question!>

I can tell you what I've already told Mr. Gray. Leave us alone. Let us handle things.

<When were you talking to Mr. Gray?> the computer interrupted.

I wasn't speaking to you!

<I ought to pull the plug on that chair. How would you like that?>

You don't control the switches!

'Excuse me!!!' Laura typed, pressing the Enter key repeatedly. 'I'm leaving now. Are you sure you don't have anything you can say to me, Hightop?'