The Professor's Telescope

Excerpts - Chapter 9 (page two)

"I apologize, Eric. I sometimes forget that I'm no longer at the University." The Professor laughed. "I miss telling everything I know to a captive audience."

Eric carefully set the antique viewer back on the table, and noticed a small, silver object just inches from his hand. Curious, he picked it up, turning it over and over. It looked like a cross between a calculator and an electronic game. Carefully flipping aside clear protective covers that opened like the wings of a small bird, he experimentally pressed several of the buttons located under what appeared to be a display screen.

"Kindly put me down," said a voice. "I am not a toy!"

With a surprised squeak, Eric dropped the object and then, afraid that he might have broken it, quickly picked it up again.

"P-P-Professor!" he stammered. "It talked!" He held the object stiffly at arms length, but the Professor made no move to take it from him, so Eric put it back on the worktable where he had found it.

"Allow me to introduce SID, whose initials stand for Scientific Interactive Database," said the Professor. "SID, Eric is our new student."

"Professor, please inform your new student that I am not a plaything," said the voice. "And I dislike being referred to as 'it'."

"Eric can hear you, SID. You may speak to him directly."

"If I choose to speak to him at all," answered the voice.

"Now, SID. Don't be difficult. I would like you and Eric to be friends."

Eric had been standing there silently, too stunned to move. Finally he blurted out, "What is it - he?"

"SID is a product of many years of private research. Into his database I have placed the sum total of all my knowledge and that of countless other scientists- astronomical, geological, mathematical. He is an integral part of the operation of this observatory. He is my colleague, my research assistant, and my friend."

"Pleased to meet you," said Eric hesitantly.

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine," said SID. Eric thought that the voice sounded far from pleased. In fact, it, or he, sounded downright disagreeable. None of the computers in Eric's experience had ever spoken to him that way but then, they had not spoken to him at all!

"Come along, Eric. SID will assist us with our viewing this evening." The Professor retrieved the device from the worktable and ascended the ladder to the telescope viewing station. Eric watched, fascinated, as SID was attached to the base of the telescope within a small alcove just large enough for his streamlined form. A green light blinked regularly on his display screen.

"This is an ACT Receptacle," the Professor explained, "from which SID performs many of his functions."

"What exactly are his functions?" Eric gave his words special emphasis. He did not want to risk hurting SID's feelings again. Shaking his head, he thought, a game with feelings? What next? He followed the Professor up the ladder and stood beside him on the platform.

Professor Strang seemed to consider Eric's question carefully. "As I stated earlier, SID does indeed serve as my assistant. Among other things, he performs spectral analyses, keeps accurate records of recent advances in stellar cartography, and performs periodic maintenance checks on the Discovery VII and its computer."

Meredith, where are you when I need you, thought Eric. There was a word or two in there I recognized, but the rest went completely over my head. I think I'm going to need a taller ladder!