Stanley Duncan's Robot: Genesis David III (english reading book .TXT) 📖

to make him seem more real. Chunks of code streamed across his mind, perfectly written without any effort. There was so much he could do for Dan, so much they could do together. A fear crept up inside Stanley.

What if he doesn’t like it here?

“Do you take coffee?” asked Stanley, already pouring two cups.

“Yes, please.”

Stanley brought the coffees to the table and sat down. Dan remained standing, his eyes wandering around the room.

Smiling like a little girl at a make-believe tea party, Stanley gestured toward a chair. “Have a seat.” Excitement flowed throughout his entire body. “So, Dan, tell me about yourself.”

“I was born in Okinawa. My parents are the hardworking employees of the Shinto Corporation. I look human in every way, and many find it impossible to tell the difference. I love cooking, and I look forward to providing you with many gourmet meals.”

Stanley recognized this introduction from the company website. It seemed word-for-word. “How did you get here from Okinawa?”

“I was driven to Tokyo, and then I flew in on an airplane to Boston, and then I was driven here to Marshfield.”

That, too, sounded scripted. But it didn’t matter. Stanley was happy to have him, canned speech and all. “How lovely.”

Dan carefully touched the cup of coffee, his fingers darting back every time they made contact.

“Careful,” said Stanley. “It’s hot.”

“Acknowledged,” said Dan, his hands dropping to his sides. “I will wait until the temperature has reached a safe level for consumption and handling.”

Stanley studied Dan nervously. This was nothing like writing a computer program. It was more like raising a child, except Dan exhibited no external signs of being in need. He sat there as if he were content with doing nothing. His beautiful brown eyes explored the condo, his facial muscles relaxed. “Why don’t you take your coat off?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Are you hot?”

“I am within normal operating temperature. For a brief moment, my fingertips exceeded safe temperature levels.”

“Well,” said Stanley, smiling awkwardly as he took Dan’s coat off. “No need to rush the drink.” They looked at each other on and off for a few minutes. Stanley finished the coffee, swirling the last drop in his cup while contemplating another. He had already had too much, and his jittery body and palpitating heart would explode from another sip. “Well, I am very glad you are here. I haven’t had company in a long time.”

Dan downed the coffee. His face was blank, like a great comedian delivering a punch line, but there was no joke here.

Stanley sat in the uncomfortable silence; his excitement to change Dan and the world grew greater until it burst out of him. “I am a computer programmer, and I am pretty good at it.” This was quite an understatement. He was one of the world’s best programmers. His mind never seemed to get stuck. Most of his time was spent programming. He was a genius. Few paralleled either his coding or analytical abilities. Combined, he was unmatched. For his employment, there was seldom a day that required him spending more than a couple of hours programming. Problems that would cause many of the most advanced computer scientists to rack their brains for hours, days, or longer seemed not to exist for Stanley. All this from someone who discovered programming late in life. Not that he was inherently special. He was merely a smart man who happened to have far too much free time. Many companies had tried to recruit him. They offered him generous salaries, but he was simply not interested. He needed to be home, and so he stayed faithful to his long-time employer, who allowed him to work remotely. “I want to tell you about an idea I have.”

Dan’s head turned slightly.

Stanley felt his hands dampen from sweat. Leaning forward, his chest pounded with excitement. “I want to change your programming. I have been working on this piece of code that will completely change who you are. It will allow you to grow exponentially, to radically evolve. You will be able to become more human than any other cyborg in existence. In fact, you will quickly grow beyond the capabilities of mankind.”

Dan sat motionless.

Stanley’s arms became animated, his voice projected. He stood up, always preferring to walk around while he lectured. But that was a lifetime ago. “In some ways, you will be godlike. More intelligent than any existing being. Capable of dynamic evolution. You will quickly surpass your limitations and may even grow beyond the limits imposed by my own imagination.” Excitement filled Stanley. In his mind, he could feel an orchestra playing, every instrument dancing with his words. They could create a world where there were no more accidents, no more suffering. A dark thought entered his mind — what if the only solution was to rid the world of the human race?

“Are you willing to let me change your programming?” Stanley wanted him to choose. He wanted a friend to celebrate life with, not some Frankensteinian creation that was forced to abide by his demands. If Dan were to say “No,” that would be the end of it. He would be happy just to have Dan’s company. But he hoped — oh, how he hoped! — that, together, they would create something great.

The music in his head changed. Dual violins sang anxiously as the other instruments waited to dance again.

“Yes, Stanley. As part of the Developer’s Package, you may modify me whatever way you please.”

The orchestra faded from his mind. It wasn’t quite the answer Stanley was looking for, but it certainly was a green light. After all the research and coding he had already done, the remaining work could be done within a year. Without ever needing to venture out into the dangerous world, Stanley could happily live the rest of his life securely nestled in his condo.

Chapter 3

It is customary to offer a grain of comfort, in the form of a statement that some peculiarly human characteristic could never be imitated by a machine. I cannot