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"You mean to say," cried Frank Poole, not just unhappy but more shocked, "have I done all this in vain?" ”

"It seems," Bowman replied, "that the part was exactly the test standard." Even when the load is more than doubled, there are still no signs of possible failure. ”

The card-sized sheet of the AE-35 part is then placed under a high-intensity magnifying glass on the experimental bench. It is plugged into a standard coupling rack that is connected by a neat set of multi-colored wires to an automatic inspection machine the size of a tabletop computer.

"Test it yourself." Bowman said he was a little embarrassed.

Poole dialed the overload button to x-2 and pressed the test button. A notification appears on the screen immediately saying that the part is in good condition.

"It's conceivable that we can keep increasing the voltage until we burn this thing." "But that doesn't prove anything." How do you explain that? ”

"Howl's internal failure teaser may have gone wrong."

"It's more likely that something is wrong with our testing machine. In any case, it's better to be on the safe side so as not to regret it. Even if there is only a small suspicion, we can't go wrong with the spare one. ”

Bowman removed the sheet from the circuit and pointed it at the light. The translucent material is covered with a fine network of wires like leaf veins, and vaguely recognizable miniature parts, which as a whole looks like an abstract work of art.

"We can't take any risks - by any means, this is our connection to the planet.

I'm going to write it 'no-work' and throw it in the scrap heap. When we get home, let others worry about it. ”

But the moment of worry came much earlier, the next time Earth sent a telegram.

"X-ray D-1, I'm Mission Command, see our Telegram 2155. Looks like we're having a bit of a problem.

"You report that the AE-35 component is fine, consistent with our diagnosis. The fault may be in the antenna circuitry in question, but other tests should also show it.

The third possibility may be more serious. Your computer may have mistaken the forenotice. Both of our 9o00s are unanimous in making this point. It's not necessarily worth the fuss, because the worst-case scenario we have with the backup system is that we might have to temporarily interrupt your 9000 in order to do a procedural analysis and hand over command to one of our two units. The time gap can cause problems, but the research we conducted showed that at the current stage of the mission, it is perfectly feasible to be commanded by Earth.

"X-ray D-1, I'm the mission command station, 2156 reports have been delivered."

Poole was on duty when the telegram arrived, and he silently pondered the situation, waiting to see what Hal had to say, but the computer did not respond to the implied accusation. Well, Hal doesn't mention it, and he doesn't intend to mention it either.

It was almost morning shift time, and he usually waited for Bowman to come to the console to find him. But he broke that routine today and walked to the turntable.

Bowman had gotten up and was pouring himself coffee from the container when Poole said "good morning" to him in a worried tone. After so many months in space, their minds still can't get out of the box of a twenty-four-hour day, even though they have long forgotten what day of the week it is.

"Good morning," Bowman replied, "is it going well?" ”

Poole poured some coffee as well. "It's fine. Did you really wake up? ”

"That's right. What happened? ”

"Hmm......" Poole replied slowly, "the mission command station just dropped a small bomb on us. He lowered his voice as if a doctor were talking about the condition in front of a patient, "There may be a case of neurasthenia on our ship. ”

Maybe Bowman hasn't fully woken up yet; It took him a few seconds to realize. Then he said, "Oh—I see." What else did they say to you? ”

They also said that they were considering a temporary transfer to ground command while conducting a procedural analysis.

Of course, they all knew that Hal had heard everything, but they still had to use these polite euphemisms. Hal was their colleague, and they didn't want to embarrass him. At this stage, however, there seems to be no need to avoid him talking about it.

Bowman finished his breakfast without saying a word, while Poole fiddled with the empty coffee container. Both of them were thinking hard, but there was nothing more to say.

They could only wait for the next announcement from Mission Command - and wondered if Hal would bring it up again. Whatever the reason, the atmosphere on the ship has changed subtly. There was a sense of nervousness in the air -- for the first time, there was a premonition that something might happen.

The Discovery is no longer a jovial spaceship.

In recent times, Hal has always had a premonition of what he was going to announce on his own if he didn't follow the predetermined procedure. There is no prelude to his routine or automatic reports, or to answer questions that are asked of him; But if he spontaneously wants to output something, there will be a short electronic throat clearing. It's a quirk he's developed in recent weeks; If the problem develops into a nuisance later, they can take action accordingly.

But it also has its practical usefulness, as it warns the listener in advance.

Poole was sleeping, and Bowman was reading a book on the console, when Hal announced, "Why, David, I'm going to report to you." ”

"What's going on?"

"We have another AE-35 component that is broken. My malfunction premonitor indicates that something is going to go wrong within twenty-four hours. ”

"I don't understand, Hal. You can't both burn out in a day or two! ”

"It does seem strange, David. But, I'm sure something is going to go wrong. ”

"Let me see the tracking calibration seriography."

Before his eyes appeared a familiar image of the Earth, moving away from the Sun. Begin to gradually turn the daylight side towards them. It is exactly at the center point of the cross; The pencil-thin beam still keeps Discovery in touch with her birthplace. Bowman, of course, knew it had to be so; Otherwise, if the contact had been interrupted, the alarm would have sounded long ago.

"What went wrong," he said, "do you have any idea?" "'It's unusual for Hal to be silent for so long. Then he replied, "David, there really isn't any concept. I've reported it, and I can't find a specific problem. ”

"Can you be sure," Bowman said carefully, "that you're not mistaken?" You know we tested the other AE-35 part thoroughly, and there was nothing wrong with it. ”

"Yes, I know. But, I can assure you, something is wrong now.

If it's not on that part, it's probably on that whole satellite system. ”

Bowman flicked his finger on the box. Yes, it is possible, though it is difficult to prove - unless something does happen and the fault is completely exposed.

"Well, I'll report to the mission command station and listen to their opinions." He finished waiting for an answer, but there was no response.

"Howl," he continued, "what is there to be a problem with you—is there anything that might be related to it?" ”

Another unusual hesitation. Then Hal replied, again in his usual tone, "Look, David, I know you're trying to do me a favor." But the problem is either with the antenna system - it's with your testing program. My intelligence processing is completely normal. If you check my records, you'll see that I've never made a mistake. ”

"I know all about your past behavior, Hal - but that doesn't prove you right this time. Anyone can go wrong. ”

"I don't want to hold on, David, but there's no way I'm going to make a mistake."

There is no foolproof answer to this; Bowman had no choice but to stop arguing.

"Well, Hal," he said a little impatiently, "I understand your point of view. Let's get to that here. ”

All that is required is a direct call - supplemented by a telex record -

(To be continued.) )