human
Secundus!
gpt
Yes, Dr. Raye? Is anything wrong?
human
How long have I been here?
gpt
Well, Doctor, without bringing in the difficult questions of absolute versus relative duration, and the definition of an arbitrary position--
human
Don't stall. How long have I been here in my own subjective time?
gpt
Well, I was about to say, without being unnecessarily inclusive, the question is still very difficult. However, bearing in mind that the answer is only a rough approximation--about one hundred hours.
human
I don't like your tampering with me, he said slowly.
gpt
You've speeded me up--is that it? And at the same time inhibited my fatigue reactions, and God knows what else, so that I didn't even notice I'd been working longer than I normally could until just now?
human
I'm afraid I have made rather a botch of it, Dr. Raye. I should not have allowed you to notice at all, but it is growing increasingly difficult to restrain your fellow-creatures to their ordinary routines. My attention strayed, I am sorry to say. He glanced at the recumbent form of Primus.
gpt
My word! What is Mr. Primus doing, Dr. Raye?
human
Sleeping,
gpt
Remarkable! I hope he does not make a habit of it. Will he awaken soon, do you think, Doctor?
human
I have no idea,
gpt
Did you dream?
human
Yes. Yes, I did,
gpt
Tell me all you can remember about it.
human
Well, said Primus, sinking back onto the couch,
gpt
I dreamed I was in a room with a large bed. It had heavy wooden posts and a big bolster. I wanted to lie down and rest in the bed, but the bolster made me uncomfortable. It was too dark to see, to rearrange the bed, so I tried to light a candle, but the matches kept going out....