Isaac Azimov. Feeling of force

-------------------- Isaac Azimov. Feeling of force [= How much will be 9х7]. Isaac Asimov. Feeling of the Power (1959). -------------------- Dzhehan Schuman has got used to deal with high-ranking people, Supervising a planet torn apart by conflicts. It was the civilian, but made Programs for automatic calculating machines of the most higher order. Therefore Generals listened to it. Chairmen of committees of the congress - too. Now in a separate hall of the New Pentagon was on one representative Those and others. General Uejder was cinciputs from space sunburn, and it The small mouth was compressed by a circle. At congressman Branta it was smooth The shaved person and light eyes. He smoked denebiansky tobacco with a kind The person which patriotism is known enough that it presumed To itself such liberty. High, graceful Schuman, the programmer of the First class, looked at them without Fear. - Gentlemen, - he has said, is Majron Lub. - The person with the extraordinary abilities, opened by you it is casual, - Has serenely told Brant. - I Remember. He examined the small, bald little man with expression Indulgent curiosity. The little man uneasily moved with fingers and continually bound them. To it Never before it was not necessary to face so great people. It was Only the elderly technician of the lowest category; once it has failed on All examinations, called to find out in mankind of the most presented, and Since then has got stuck in a track of not qualified job. It had one strastishka about which the great Programmer and round which has got wind Lifted such terrible sensation. General Kolder has told: - I find this atmosphere of mystery of a nursery. - Now you will see, - Schuman has minded. Is not such business, that To tell to the first comer. Aub! - In how he has thrown it The terse name, was something imperative but so it was necessary to speak To the great Programmer with the simple technician. - Aub, how much will be, if Nine to increase by seven? Aub has hesitated for a time; in its pale eyes there was an alarm. - Sixty three, - he has told. Congressman Brant has lifted eyebrows. - It is correct? - Check up, the sir. The congressman has got from a pocket schetnuju the machine, has twice moved it rychazhki, has had a look at a dial at itself on palms, has then put the machine Back. - You also wished to show it to us? - He has asked. - the conjurer? - More than conjurer, the sir. Aub has remembered some simple operations And with their help conducts calculations on a paper. - The paper counter, - the general with a missing kind has inserted. - No, the sir, - has patiently minded Schuman. - at all that. Simply leaf Papers. The general, please to set number! - Seventeen, - the general has told. - And you, the congressman? - Twenty three. - Well. Aub! peremnozhte these numbers also show to gentlemen, as you It do. - Yes, the Programmer, - has told Aub, having involved a head in shoulders. From one Pocket he has taken bloknotik, from another - a thin automatic pencil. The forehead at it was going to folds when it deduced the intricate on a paper Badges. General Uejder has sharply thrown to it: - Show, that there. Aub has submitted to it a leaf, and Uejder has told: - Yes, this number is similar on 17. Brant has nodded a head. - Correctly, but, it seems to me, copy figures from the counter can Everyone. I think, that I and most will manage to draw 17, even without practice. - Allow Aubu to continue, gentlemen, - has passionlessly said Schuman. Aub again undertook job, hands at it slightly shivered. At last it Has said silently. - It will be 391. Congressman Brant has again got the counter and zashchelkal rychazhkami. - Devil take it, correctly! As he has guessed! - He does not guess, gentlemen, - Schuman has minded. - he has calculated Result. It has made it on a sheet of paper. - Nonsense, - the general has impatiently said. - the counter is one, and Badges on a paper - another. - Explain, Aub, - Schuman has ordered. - Yes, the Programmer. - well here, gentlemen, I write 17, and under it 23. Then I speak to myself: 7 to increase on 3. The congressman has interrupted softly: - No, Aub, the problem was to increase 17 on 23. - Yes, I know, - the small technician has seriously answered, - but I begin with That I multiply 7 on 3 because so it turns out. And 7 to increase on 3 - It is 21. - Whence you know it? - The congressman has asked. - Has simply remembered. On the counter always it turns out 21. I checked much Time. - It means, what so it will always turn out, whether a lie? - Has noticed The congressman. - I do not know, - has murmured Aub. - I not the mathematician. But, whether see, at me Always right answers turn out. - Continue. - 3 to increase on 7 is 21 so I and write 21. Then three times one - Three so I write a three under the two... - Why under the two? - Has interrupted suddenly Brant. - Because... - Aub has turned a helpless sight to the chief. - It is difficult to explain it. Schuman has interfered. - If you accept its job as it is it is possible for a detail Will charge to mathematicians. Brant has agreed. Aub continued: - 2 yes 3 - five so from 21 it turns out 51. Now we will leave it on Time also we will begin anew. We will multiply 7 and 2, will be 14, then 1 and 2, it will be 2. We will combine, as earlier, and we will receive 34. And here, if to write 34 here so under 51 and to combine them it will turn out 391. It also will be the answer. There has come minute silence, then general Uejder has told: - I do not believe. It fences nonsense, puts numbers and multiplies them and etak, but I do not believe it. It is too difficult, that could be reasonable. - About is not present, the sir, - smjatenno has minded Aub. Is only it seems difficult, Because you have not got used. Actually corrected are simple enough and Suit any numbers. - For any? - The general has asked again. - well, and so. - it has got the The counter (military model of strict style) also has put it at random. - Multiply On a piece of paper - 5, 7, 3, 8. It means... It means 5738. - Yes, the sir, - has told Aub and took a new sheet of paper. - Now... - the General has again earned the counter. - write: 7, 2, 3, 9. Number 7239. - Yes, the sir. - And now peremnozhte them. - It will occupy a lot of time, - has whispered Aub. - Not very well. - Drag, Aub, - Schuman has cheerfully told. Aub was accepted to business. It took one leaf behind another. The general has got Hours also has noted time. - Well, have terminated to conjure, the technician? - He has asked. - Now I will terminate, the sir... It is ready. 41537382. - Aub has shown written down Result. General Uejder has mistrustfully smiled, has moved multiplication contacts On the counter also has waited, while figures will stop. And when he has looked, Has told with the greatest amazement: - Great galaxies, it is correct! President Vseplanetnoj of Federation has allowed mobile lines of the Persons to accept expression of a deep melancholy. The Denebiansky war which has begun As wide, popular movement, has degenerated in boring maneuvering and Countermaneuvering, with discontent constantly growing on the Earth. However It grew and on Denebe. And here congressman Brant, the head of the important military committee, carelessly Spends the half-hour audience for conversations on nonsense. - Calculations without the counter, - were impatiently said by the president, is The contradiction of concepts. - Calculations, - the congressman has minded, is only processing system Data. The car can make them, can make and a human brain. Allow to give an example. - and, using recently got knowledge, It received the sums and products while the president has not become interested against The will. - And it always leaves? - Each time, the sir. It is absolutely reliable. - Whether difficultly to it to learn? - Week was necessary for me to understand really. I think, that Further it will be easier. - Well, - the president has told, having thought, is interesting salonnaja Game, but what advantage of it? - What advantage of the newborn child, expensive president? In the given The moment of advantage is not present, but unless you do not see, what is it specifies us a way to To clearing of the car? Think, the sir. - the congressman has risen, and in it Sonorous voice there were intonations to which he resorted in Public debate. - Denebiansky war is a war between schetnymi By cars. Denebiansky counters create an impenetrable barrier against ours Bombardment, our counters - against their bombardment. As soon as we improve Job of the counters, other party does the same, and such pity, Aimless balance keeps five years. And now we have a way, allowing to do without the counter, To jump through it, to overtake it, we can combine mechanics of calculations With human thought; we can receive an equivalent to counters, millions Them. I cannot predict all consequences in accuracy, but they will be The incalculable. And if Deneb will continue to go obstinate, they can become The catastrophic. The president was confused. - That do you want from me? - That you have supported the confidential project in the administrative relation, Concerning people-counters. We will name its Project of Number if want. I can To be charged for the committee, but administrative support is necessary to me. - But what limits of possibilities for people-counters? - Limits are not present. According to Programmer Schuman who has acquainted me with This opening... - I heard about Schuman. - Yes. And so, doctor Schuman says, that theoretically a calculating machine Cannot do anything such that could not make a human brain. The car simply takes a quantity of data and makes with them Final quantity of operations. The person can reproduce this process. The president long considered words Branta, has then told: - If Schuman speaks, what is it so I am ready to believe to it - Theoretically. But practically: whether somebody can know, how schetnaja The car works? Brant has politely laughed. - Yes, the mister the president, I too asked about it. Apparently, was Time when calculating machines were projected by people. Certainly, these cars Were very simple - after all it was still before have been developed Ways of use of one counters for designing of others, more The made. - Yes-yes, continue. - Obviously, technician Aub was engaged at leisure in restoration Some old devices; in the course of job it studied their actions and Has decided, that can reproduce them. The multiplication done by me now, - It only reproduction of job of a calculating machine. - Amazingly! The congressman has slightly cleared the throat. - Allow to specify to me in one party of a question. Than it is more we Let's develop this business, the it is less than efforts to us it is required on Manufacture of calculating machines and their service. Their job will incur The person, and we can use more and more energy on the peace purposes, and The average person will feel ever less oppression of war. And it, of course, It is useful for party in power. - Here is how, - the president has told, - now I see, at what you drive. Well, have a seat, the sir, have a seat. I need to think of all it... And Now - show me once again focus with multiplication. We will look, whether I will manage To understand him and to repeat. Programmer Schuman did not try to hurry event. Lesser was It is conservative, very conservative and liked to work with the computing By cars as his father and the grandfather worked. Besides, it supervised Concern on manufacture of computers and if it manages to be convinced To adjoin the Number Project it will open the big possibilities. But Lesser rested. He has told: - I am not assured, that I will like idea to refuse the computing Cars. Human mind - a whimsical piece. And the car gives on same Problem always the same answer. Who will be charged, that the person will do The same? - The reason of the person, raschetchik Lesser, only manipulates with the facts. Whether does it it or the car - it is unimportant. That and another - only tools. - Yes-yes. I have tracked your witty proof of that The person can reproduce car job, but it seems to me a little The unreasonable. I can agree with the theory, but whether there are at us bases To think, what the theory can be transformed into practice? - I think, the sir that is. Eventually, computers Existed not always. At ancient people, with their stone axes and Railways, such cars were not. - Should be, they and did not conduct calculations. - I will eat my boots. Even for building of the railway or Pyramids need to be able to be counted, and they did it without those computing Cars what we use. - You wish to tell - they considered how you showed to me? - Perhaps, and not so. This way - we have named it "grafitikoj", from Ancient word "column" I (write), - it is developed on the basis of counters, so It could not precede them. But all the same at ancient people should be Any way, correctly? - The forgotten art! If you speak about the forgotten arts... - No. I not the supporter of this theory though I will not tell, that it It is improbable. Eventually, the person ate grains of cereals before introduction gidroponiki and if the primitive people ate grain should To grow up cereals in soil. How differently they could do it? - I do not know, but I will believe in cultivation from soil when I will see, that Somebody has grown up so something. Also I will believe in getting of fire by a friction Two kremnej the friend about the friend if I will see, that it was possible to someone. Schuman has started talking is reconciliatory: - Let's keep grafitiki. It only a process part efemerizatsii. Transport with its bulky adaptations gives way To direct telekinesis. A communication facility becomes all less Massive and more reliable. And compare the pocket counter with By clumsy cars of thousand-year prescription. Why not to make one more The step and not to refuse counters absolutely? Listen, the sir. The project "Number" - Correct business; progress is available. But your help is necessary to us. If you not Touches patriotism think of the intellectual romanticism! Lesser has minded sceptically: - What progress?. What are you able to do, except multiplication? You will manage To integrate transcendental function? - In due course I will manage, the sir. In due course. With one month ago I has learnt To make division. I can find, and find correctly, private in Whole and decimal. - In the decimal? To what sign? Programmer Schuman has tried to save negligent tone. - To any. The person at Lessera was extended. - Without the counter? - Can check up. - Divide 27 on 13. To within the sixth sign. In five minutes Schuman has told: - 2,076923. Lesser has checked up. - Amazingly! Multiplication not my calling, it concerns, in Essence, to integers, and I thought, what is it simply focus. But The decimal... - And it not all. There is one more achievement, for the present superconfidential, about Which, strictly speaking, I should not mention. But nevertheless... Probably, that we will manage to seize square roots. - Square roots? - There there are some splinters which we have not managed yet to level, but Technician Aub - the person invented this science and possessing the big intuition, - Says, that has almost solved this problem. And it only the technician. And for the such The person as you, the skilled and talented mathematician, here should not be Anything difficult. - Square roots, - has murmured interested Lesser. - And cubic too. There are you with us? Hand Lessera was suddenly stretched to it. - Count on me! General Uejder perambulated on a room backwards-forward and addressed to the To listeners how the quick-tempered teacher addresses to obstinate pupils. The general did not reflect that the scientists standing in were its listeners To the head of the project "Number". It was their main chief and remembered it Each moment when did not sleep. He spoke: - Well, with square roots that's all right. I am not able to take them and I do not understand a method, but it is remarkable. And nevertheless it is impossible to withdraw the project in The party, to that some of you name the basic theory. Can To be amused with grafitikoj as you wish after the end of war, but in the given Minute we need to solve specific and rather practical problems. Technician Aub sitting in a distant corner, listened to it with the strained Attention. However, it any more was not the technician: it have ranked as the Project, Having given to it a sonorous title and the good salary. But social distinction remains, and The high-ranking men of science could not force to look in any way themselves on It as on the equal. It is necessary to give Aubu justice: he did not achieve It. It was with it as awkwardly, as well as to it with them. The general continued: - Our purpose, gentlemen, is simple: we should replace a calculating machine. The starprobe vehicle without the counter can be constructed vpjatero faster and ten times More cheaply, than with the counter. If we manage to do without counters, we We can construct fleet in five-ten times more largely denebianskogo. And I see still something in the long term. Now it can seem Fantasy, simple dream, but in the future I expect combat missiles with People onboard. On an audience whisper was carried by. The general continued: - At the moment us that fact, that most of all limits the fighting Rockets "are insufficiently reasonable". The Computer for management of them Should be too big and consequently they very badly adapt to To varying character of antimissile protection. Only very much few of rockets Achieve the object, and rocket war is at a deadlock - for the enemy, to To happiness, the same as and for us. On the other hand, a rocket with one-two chelovekami onboard, Supervised in flight with the help grafitiki, it will be easier, manevrennee, More reasonably. It will give us such advantage which can quite result Us to a victory. Besides, gentlemen, war conditions force us to think About one: the human material is much more accessible than the computing Cars. With people it will be possible to direct rockets in such quantities and in Such conditions in what no military leader would dare to risk, have It on hand only rockets with counters... The general spoke about many other things, but technician Aub any more did not listen. Then in silence of the dwelling he long worked on the letter, which Wished to leave, and eventually after long doubts and meditations has written The following: "When I have started to work as that now is called grafitikoj, It was only entertainment. I did not see in it anything, except interesting Entertainments, intellectual gymnastics. When the project "Number" I have thought has been created, that others will appear More cleverly me; that grafitiku it will be possible to use for the mankind blessing - Perhaps, for working out of practical telekinetic adaptations. But Now I see, that it will be used only for death and destruction. I not in forces to bear responsibility that has invented grafitiku ". Having stopped to write, technician Aub has carefully guided at itself focus of the albuminous depoljarizatora. His death was instant and painless. They were above a tomb of the small technician, while to its opening Due honour was rendered. Programmer Schuman bowed together with the others, but internally Remained quiet. Aub has made the, and the need in him any more was not. Can To be, he and has invented grafitiku, but, time having appeared, it will develop Independently, will lead to creation of rockets with crew and to other miracles. "7, increased on 9, gives 63, - Schuman with the deep has thought Satisfaction, - and to tell it to me, the computer not It is necessary. The computer - at me in a head ". From this thought it Was filled feelings of pride and sensation of own force.