"Asimov, Isaac - Anniversary" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

"It's nothing to look at, Mike. It looks just like a typewriter. Don't
confuse a Multivac outlet with Multivac itself. I don't know anyone
who's seen Multivac."

Moore smiled at the thought. He doubted if ever in his life he
would meet any of the handful of technicians who spent most of their
working days in a hidden spot in the bowels of Earth tending a mile-
long super-computer that was the repository of all the facts known
to man, that guided man's economy, directed his scientific research,
helped make his political decisions, and had millions of circuits

left over to answer individual questions that did not violate the
ethics of privacy.

Brandon said as they moved up the power ramp to the second floor,
"I've been thinking of installing a Multivac, Jr., outlet for the kids-
Homework and things, you know. And yet I don't want to make
it just a fancy and expensive crutch for them. How do you work it,
Warren?"

Moore said tersely. "They show me the questions first. If I don't
pass them, Multivac does not see them."

The Multivac outlet was indeed a simple typewriter arrangement
and little more.

Moore set up the co-ordinates that opened his portion of the
planet-wide network of circuits and said, "Now listen. For the record,
I'm against this and I'm only going along because it's the anniver-
sary and because I'm just jackass enough to be curious. Now how
ought I to phrase the question?"

Brandon said, "Just ask: Are pieces of the wreck of the Silver
Queen still being searched for in the neighborhood of Vesta by
Trans-spacc Insurance? It only requires a simple yes or no."

Moore shrugged and tapped it out, while Shea watched with awe.

The spaceman said, "How does it answer? Does it talk?"

Moore laughed gently, "Oh, no. 1 don't spend that kind of money,
This model just prints the answer on a slip of tape that comes out
that slot"

A short strip of tape did come out as he spoke. Moore removed it
and, after a glance, said, "Well, Multivac says yes."

"Hah!" cried Brandon. "Told you. Now ask why."

"Now that's silly. A question like that would obviously be against