HARLAN ELLISON
KEYBOARD
Chris Hudak knew he was in trouble when his computer bit him. Not hard, not the
first time. Just a nip. The merest drawing of blood from his index finger.
Chris looked down as the drop of crimson spattered on the keyboard, examined the
finger, sucked at the puncture for a moment, then quizzically stared at the rows
of input pads. The H key had sprouted a fang. Not a large fang/something like a
baby shark incisor. Just enough to draw blood.
From the kitchen, Sharilyn called, "French toast's ready." He sucked his finger
and got to his feet.
When he walked into the kitchen, she looked up from the sizzling pan. "What's
the matter?"
He walked to the breakfast nook and slid in. He stared at the finger. The
surface tension of a new bead of blood was about to break. "My damned computer
bit me."
She looked at him. "Say what?"
"Bit me. The damned computer. It has teeth."
"Chris..."
"I'm not kiddin', Sharilyn. The damned thing grew a tooth and took a nip out of
me."
"Oh, come on, don't start with me this early. I thought we'd talked out the
problem last night."
"This has nothing to do with last night's argument. This is a new thing, and I'd
appreciate it if you'd come over here and take a look at my hand before you
start telling me I'm losing it. Or go in the other room and check out the
keyboard. The H key."
Carrying the pan, she came to him, and looked down. He held up his hand. The
finger was starting to glow an unsavory bluish-green. The bead broke and dropped
red on the tablecloth. "Hully Jeezus," she said.
"Yeah," he said mininatively. "Ain't that a bitch."
"So what did you stick it with?"
He looked up at her. "You're not getting it, are you? I didn't stick it with
