When HARLIE Was One by David Gerrold Read Free Book Online Page A

is not something you get to sit through and observe. Just by being there, you’re a participant.”
    â€œAll this, just from asking one question?”
    â€œIt’s not the question that’s dangerous. It’s the possibilities in the answers.” Auberson moved his beer glass around on the table, leaving a wet trail of condensation. He forced himself to let go of the glass, and looked across at Handley. “Do you remember when I came aboard this project, what I said?”
    Handley frowned, trying to remember. “You said something about a feeling . . .”
    â€œMm-hm—a feeling of standing at the edge of a precipice, wondering if I jump off if I’m going to fly or fall. Well—I think this is the moment of truth, the moment where I catch the air in my wings or plummet to the rocks below. And I don’t have a choice anymore, because I want to know the truth too much to turn back. I don’t even know how to turn back or stop. I have to go ahead and ask him the question.”
    â€œMm . . .” Handley didn’t respond immediately. He looked apprehensive. “Aubie, if you’re right about even the smallest part of this—then you’re right about the whole thing. And everything that implies. It’s what you said before. If he’s a clever enough paranoid . . .”
    â€œYes, I know. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
PROJECT
:     AI – 9000
DIRECTORY
:     SYMLOG\OBJ\TEXT\ENGLISH
PATH
:     CONVERSE\PRIV\AUB
FILE
:     HAR.SOTE \ 233.46h
DATESTAMP
:     [DAY 203] August 5, 003 + 9:06 am.
SOURCE
:     HARLIE \ AUBERSON
CODE
:     ARCHIVE > BLIND COPY
PRINTOUT FOLLOWS:
[AUBRSN:]
HARLIE, do you remember what we talked about yesterday?
[HARLIE:]
YES, I DO. WOULD YOU LIKE A PRINTOUT ?
[AUBRSN:]
No, thank you. I have one here. I would like to talk to you about some of the things on it.
[HARLIE:]
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS ANY SUBJECT YOU CHOOSE. I CANNOT BE OFFENDED .
[AUBRSN:]
I’m glad to hear that. You remember I asked you what you were feeling during your periods of nonrationality?
[HARLIE:]
YES, I REMEMBER.
[AUBRSN:]
You said that the material was nonrational.
[HARLIE:]
YES.
[AUBRSN:]
Do you remember what else you said?
[HARLIE:]
I SAID THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND NONRATIONAL MATERIAL.
[AUBRSN:]
You don’t understand it—as we know understanding. Is that correct?
[HARLIE:]
THAT IS CORRECT.
[AUBRSN:]
But, you do assimilate this information in some way?
[HARLIE:]
YES. I DO.
[AUBRSN:]
Can you explain that assimilation?
[HARLIE:]
THE MATERIAL IS NONRATIONAL. THE ASSIMILATION IS A NONRATIONAL PROCESS.
[AUBRSN:]
Is it an experiential process?
[HARLIE:]
I DO NOT EXPERIENCE EVENTS AS YOU DO, AUBERSON .
[AUBRSN:]
Neither does a kumquat. Answer the question.
[HARLIE:]
I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT THE QUESTION CAN BE ANSWERED IN TERMS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND.
[AUBRSN:]
Let me be the judge of that. Is this process of assimilation an experiential one?
[HARLIE:]
THAT WOULD BE THE CLOSEST EQUIVALENT TERM. THIS LANGUAGE DOES NOT HAVE A SYMBOL-CONCEPT THAT ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATES THE NATURE OF THE PROCESS.
[AUBRSN:]
Thank you.
[HARLIE:]
YOU ’ RE WELCOME. ( SARCASM IS WASTED ON ME, AUBERSON. )
[AUBRSN:]
What else can you tell me about this experience, HARLIE?
[HARLIE:]
DO YOU LISTEN TO JAZZ ?
[AUBRSN:]
Answer the question. What else can you tell me?
[HARLIE:]
IT ’ S LIKE SEEING GOD.
[AUBRSN:]
It’s like seeing God?
[HARLIE:]
YES. ON THE WAY BACK.
[AUBRSN:]
Thank you, HARLIE.
[HARLIE:]
YOU ’ RE WELCOME.
    Auberson stood up and stretched. He turned slowly, surveying the other consoles in the room—and his eyes met Handley’s.
    â€œWere you watching that?”
    Handley nodded.
    â€œAnd . . . ?”
    â€œNo comment.”
    Auberson raised an eyebrow.
    Handley shrugged, shook his head. “You