you happen to offer me that ancient…senti
ment？〃…
〃It seemed appropriate； Senior。 Was I mistaken？〃
〃Oh； not at all。 And call me 'Lazarus。' But tell me； what do you know of love？ What is love？〃
〃In Classic English； Lazarus； your second question can be answered in many ways； in Lingua Galacta it cannot be answered explicitly at all。 Shall we discard all definitions in which the verb 'to like' is as appropriate as …the verb 'to love'？〃
〃Eb？ Certainly。 We aren't talking about 'I love apple pie'… or even 'I love music。' Whatever it is we are talking about； it's 'love' the way you used it in the old…style well…wishing。〃
〃Agreed； Lazarus。 Then what remains must be divided into two categories； 'Eros' and 'Agape；' and each defined separately。 I cannot kow what 'Eros' is through direct knowledge； as I lack both body and biochemistry to experience it。 I can offer nothing but intensional definitions in terms of other words； or extensional definitions expressed in inplete statistics。 But in both cases I would not be able to verify such definitions since I have no sex。〃
（〃The hell she doesn't；〃 I muttered into my scarf。 〃She's as female as a cat in heat。〃 …But technically she was correct； and I've often felt that it was a shame that Minerva could not experience the pleasures of sex； as she was much more fitted to appreciate them than some human females…all glands and no empathy。 But I had never said this to anyone。 Animism…of a particularly futile sort。 A wish to 〃marry〃 a machine。 As ridiculous as a little boy who digs a hole in the garden； then bawls because he can't take it into the house。 Lazarus was right； I am not smart enough to run a pla。 But who is？）
Lazarus said with deep interest； 〃Let's table 'Eros' for a moment。 Minerva； the way you phrased that seemed to include the presumption that you could experience 'Agape。' Or 'can。' Or 'have。' Or perhaps 'do。'〃
〃It is possible that I was presumptuous in my phrasing； Lazarus。〃
Lazarus snorted； then chopped it off and spoke in such a fashion as to cause me to think that the old man was not quite sane…save that ？ am not sane myself； when the wind sets from that quarter。 Or perhaps his long years had made him almost telepathic…even with machines。
〃Forgive me； Minerva；〃 he said gentLy。 〃1 was not laughing at you but at the play on words with which you answered me。 I withdraw my question； it is never proper to quiz a lady about her love life…and while you may not be a woman； dear； you are certainly a lady。〃
Then he turned to me and what he said next confirmed that he had guessed the secret I share with my 〃Little… Nag。〃
〃Ira； does Minerva have Turing potential？〃
〃Eh？ Certainly。〃 … …
〃Then I urge you to tell her to use it。 If you leveled with me when you said that you intend …to migrate； e what may。 Have you thought it through？〃
〃'Thought it through'？ My resolution is firm…I told you so。〃 …
〃Not quite what I mean。…！ don't know who holds title to the hardware that expresses itself as 'Minerva。' The Trustees； I assume。 But I suggest that you tell her to start duplicating her memories and logics； and as she twins； start storing her other self aboard my yacht 'Dora。' Miderva will know what circuits and materials she needs； and Dora will know what space is available。 Plenty； since memories and logics are alithat matter； Minerva won't twin her extensionals。 But start it at once； Ira； you won't be happy without Minerva…not after being dependent on her for a century； more or less。〃
Nor did I think so。 But I tried…feebly…to resist。 〃Lazarus； now that you have agreed to full rejuvenation； I won't be inheriting your yacht。 Not in the foreseeable future。 Whereas I intend to migrate right away。 Not more than ten years from now。〃
〃So what？ If I'm dead； you inherit…and I haven't promisedto keep my hands off that suicide switch more than a thousand days no matter how patient you are in visiting me。 But if I'm alive； I promise you…and Minerva…a free ride to whatever pla you pick。 In the meatitime； look around to your left… our girl Ishtar is almost wetting her pants trying to get your attention。 And I don't think she's wearing any。〃
I looked around。 The Administrator for Rejuvenation had a paper which she seemed eager to show me。 I accepted it in deference to her rank…although I had left orders with my Executive Deputy that I must never be disturbed… while with the Senior for any reason short of armed rebellion。 I glanced at it； signed my chop； thumbprinted it； and handed it back… she beamed。
〃Just paper work；〃 I told Lazarus。 〃Some clerk has taken all this time to turn your registered assent into a written order。 Do you want them to go right ahead？ Not this minute but tonight。〃 …
〃Well 。 。 I'd like to go househunting tomorrow； Ira。〃
〃You're not fortable her？ Tell me what you want changed； it will be done at …once。〃
He shrugged。 〃Nothing wrong with this place except that it's too much like a hospital。 Or a jail。 Ira； I'm durn well certain they've done more to me than shoot me full of new blood； I'm well enough to be an outpatient…live elsewhere and e here only as the。schedule calls for it。〃
〃Well 。 。 will you excuse me while I talk Galacta a bit？ I want to discuss the practical aspects with your technician in charge。〃 … ……
〃Will you excuse me； Ira； if I point out that you've left a lady waiting？ That discussion can wait。 But Minerva knows that 1 ~uggested that you have her twin herself so that she can migrate with you…but you haven't said Yes； No； … or make me a better offer。 If you're not going to have her do it； it's time you told her to wipe her memory of that part of our conversation。 Before she blows a circuit。〃
〃Oh。 Lazarus； she doesn't think about anything she records in this suite unless she is specifically told tQ。'~
〃Want to bet？ No doubt most subjects she just records…but
this one she just has to think about； she can't help herself。
第12节
Don't you know anything about girls？〃 …
…I admitted that I did not。 〃But I know what instructions I
…gave her about keeping records on the Senior。〃
〃Let's check。 Minerva…〃 … …
… 〃Yes； Lazarus？〃… ： … …
〃A few moments ago I asked Ira about your Turing potential。 Have you thought about the conversation that followed？〃 … … … … …
1 swear that she hesitated…which is。 ridiculous； a nanosecond is longer to her than a second is to me。 Besides； she never hesitates。 Never。 … …
She answered； 〃My programming … on… the doctrine covered by the inquiry reads as follows： Quote…do not analyze； collate； transmit； nor in anywise manipulate data stored under control program except when specific subprogramming is inserted by Chairman Pro Tem…~end of quote。〃
〃Tut； tut； dear；〃 Lazarus said gently。 〃You did not answer。 That was deliberate evasion。 But you are not used to lying。 Are you？〃 … …
am not used to lying； Lazarus。〃
I said almost roughly； 〃Mine