human
Can't say I blame him, said the Captain softly, catching Paresi's eye.
gpt
It's something of a shock. This shouldn't _be_. The safety factor's too great--a thousand per cent or better.
human
I know what you mean, said Hoskins.
gpt
I saw it myself, but I don't believe it.
human
I believe it,
gpt
Everything else seems to work,
human
This is ridiculous! exploded the Captain.
gpt
It's like having your keys home, or arriving at the theater without your tickets. It isn't dangerous--it's just stupid!
human
It's dangerous,
gpt
Dangerous how?
human
For one thing-- Paresi nodded toward Johnny, who lay tensely, his face hidden.
gpt
For another, the simple calculation that if nothing inside this ship made that control fail, something outside this ship did it. And _that_ I don't like.
human
That couldn't happen,
gpt
Which of two mutually exclusive facts are you going to reason from? That the ship can't fail? Then this failure isn't a failure; it's an external control. Or are you going to reason that the ship _can_ fail? Then you don't have to worry about an external force--but you can't trust anything about the ship. Do the trick that makes you happy. But do only one. You can't have both.
human
Hey, boy--
gpt
What you guys need, Johnny chuckled,
human
Johnny, take it easy and be quiet, huh? We'll figure a way out of this.
gpt
I already have, scrawny, said Johnny offensively. He got up, strode to the port.
human
What a bunch of deadheads,
gpt
Oh my God, breathed Anderson delightedly,
human
Factor of safety, said Hoskins, smiting himself on the brow.
gpt
There's a manual control for everything on this scow that there can be. And we stand here staring at it--
human
If we don't win the furlined teacup....
gpt
Here--
human
Get away,