Fred looked at him sympathetically, and shook his head.
’You’re a computer man, Rodney, and you’ve never heard of positive feedback?’
’Of course I’ve heard of it. I helped to develop some of the current systems...’
He stopped suddenly and put a hand over his eyes.
’Oh, oh,’ he said. ’Idiot. I should have known. Of course. The more excited I got, the more she responded, even if it wasn’t quite in the way I would have liked. Just the same, the original is really something, and she must be around somewhere. If not on the space station, then somewhere else. All I have to do is to find out just where she is.’
’Drop it Rodney.’
’I’d do another spell of rest and recreation for her.’
’You’ll be sorry, Rodney.’
’I’d go to Earth for her.’
’Rodney, you’re not listening.’
’I’d suffer Jupiter’s gravity for her.’
’Rodney, she’s older than you think.’
That stopped him, just for a moment.
’That’s all right. I prefer mature women anyway. Think of how much she must have improved, like vintage port, or ripe stilton, or, or... How much older?’
’Don’t take this too hard, Rodney. You’re not the first to be caught out.’
’How old?’
’It’s a good piece of software. Been in use a long time.’
’How old?’
’Mature.’
’How old?’
Fred looked around carefully, as though finding a possible escape route before answering.
’To the best of my knowledge, a hundred and fifteen. If she’s still alive, that is.’