* * * *

Synaptics? Beardsley began thinking back to the Crime-Central "Required
Annual Basic." The Mechanical had never been his strong point. He said
uncertainly, "But--that's serious!"

"It's just that we've found ECAIAC holding back excess data from
previous runs. Fouls up the relays, takes hours to iron out the
clearance." Arnold gave him a keen look. "More of a nuisance really,
but the weirdest thing. Stubborn!"

_Stubborn._ Beardsley could have thought of a better word. Through the
panelled glass he glimpsed the black metal sheathe of the monster out
there, the shapeless crouching and malevolent winking lights, and he
felt himself going to pieces inside with a sudden shaking crumble; he
hated himself for it but he couldn't stop it; his hands clenched until
the knuckles showed white.

"... matter of time until we find the cause," Arnold was saying, "but I
guarantee total clearance _today_. Shall we get on with it?" Hands
loaded with tapes, he moved for the door.

"No!" Beardsley cried. "Arnold, if you don't mind, I--"

"Oh, for God's sake, not again! Raoul, I swear I'm going to do something
about this phobia of yours; it's getting to be not so funny any more."
With a show of exasperation, Arnold propelled him through the door. "I
give you my absolute word our pet won't snap at you. Not today. It's
going to be far too busy for the likes of you!"

* * * * *

And Jeff Arnold was right, Beardsley discovered. Those baleful overtones
were gone, replaced by a sustained soft whisper along the ninety-foot
hull--a rather impatient whisper but not at all unpleasant. Beardsley
relaxed by slow degrees, but kept a cautious distance, while Arnold
pointed out every light along the length flashing green for Total
Clearance.

"She's rarin' to go," said Arnold with a display of good humor, "but
we'll let her wait a while, eh?" He clapped a friendly arm across
Beardsley's shoulder. "You just come along now and watch; I think your
trouble is, you've never been properly introduced! We'll have no more of
this feudin' and fussin' between you and ECAIAC."

So Beardsley, showing more courage than he felt, trailed the
cyberneticist through every unit of final check-up. Much of it he knew
already from the "Required Annual Basic" ... or thought he knew. For
this was so different from the Manuals! He felt at once ashamed and awed
as he viewed at first hand the unfolding schematic s