vered
with fury. They did not accept decisions made at non-commissioned-officer
level.

Communication with their great-great-great-grandchildren, they
considered, should have been begun with proper authority and under
high-ranking auspices. They commanded that 2180 should immediately be
re-contacted and properly authorized and good-faith conference begun all
over again. The only trouble was that they could get no reply.

The dither was terrific and the tumult frantic. When, moreover, even
Betsy remained silent, and Al and Gus had nothing to unscramble, the
high brass built up explosive indignation. But it was confined to
top-security levels.

The world outside the Pentagon knew nothing. Even at Research
Installation 83 very, very few persons had the least idea what had taken
place. The sun shone blandly upon manicured lawns, and the officers'
children played vociferously, and washing-machines laundered diapers
with beautiful efficiency, and vacuum cleaners and Mahon-modified jeeps
performed their functions with an air of enthusiastic contentment. It
seemed that a golden age approached.

It did. There were machines which were not merely possessions.
Mahon-modified machines acquired reflections of the habits of the
families which used them. An electric icebox acted as if it took an
interest in its work. A vacuum cleaner seemed uncomfortable if it did
not perform its task to perfection. It would seem as absurd to exchange
an old, habituated family convenience as to exchange a member of the
family itself. Presently there would be washing-machines cherished for
their seeming knowledge of family-member individual preferences, and
personal fliers respected for their conscientiousness, and one would
relievedly allow an adolescent to drive a car if it were one of proven
experience and sagacity....

* * * * *

The life of an ordinary person would be enormously enriched. A
Mahon-modified machine would not even wear out. It took care of its own
lubrication and upkeep--giving notice of its needs by the behavior of
its standby-lamp. When parts needed replacement one would feel concern
rather than irritation. There would be a personal relationship with the
machines which so faithfully reflected one's personality.

And the machines would always, always, always act toward humans
according to the golden rule.

But meanwhile the Rehab Shop was taken over by officers of rank. They
tried frantically