第28部分(第2/7 頁)

Ted　said。

〃I　thought　he　was　so　smart；〃　Barnes　said。

〃Give　him　a　chance；〃　Ted　said。　〃After　all；　he's　speaking　our　language；　not　the　other　way　around。〃

〃The　other　way　around；〃　Harry　said。　〃Good　idea。　Let's　try　the　other　way　around；　see　if　he'll　deduce　the　equation　that　way。〃

Harry　typed：

0004212232　=　YES。　YES。　=　0004212232

There　was　a　long　pause；　while　they　watched　the　screen。　Nothing　happened。

〃Is　he　thinking？〃

〃Who　knows　what　he's　doing？〃

〃Why　isn't　he　answering？〃

〃Let's　give　him　a　chance；　Hal；　okay？〃

The　reply　finally　came：

YES。　=　0004212232　2322124000　=　SEY

〃Uh…uh。　He　thinks　we're　showing　him　mirror　images。〃

〃Stupid；〃　Barnes　said。　〃I　knew　it。〃

〃What　do　we　do　now？〃

〃Let's　try　a　more　plete　statement；〃　Harry　said。　〃Give　him　more　to　work　with。〃

Harry　typed：

0004212232　=　0004212232；　YES。　=　YES。　0004212232　=　YES。

〃A　syllogism；〃　Ted　said。　〃Very　good。〃

〃A　what？〃　Barnes　said。

〃A　logical　proposition；〃　Ted　said。　The　reply　came　back：　；=；

〃What　the　hell　is　that？〃　Barnes　said。

Harry　smiled。　〃I　think　he's　playing　with　us。〃

〃Playing　with　us？　You　call　that　playing？〃

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　Harry　said。

＇＇186＇＇　〃What　you　really　mean　is　that　he's　testing　us…testing　our　responses　to　a　pressure　situation。〃　Barnes　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃He's　only　pretending　to　be　stupid。〃

〃Maybe　he's　testing　how　smart　we　are；〃　Ted　said。　〃Maybe　he　thinks　we're　stupid；　Hal。〃

〃Don't　be　ridiculous；〃　Barnes　said。

〃No；〃　Harry　said。　〃The　point　is；　he's　acting　like　a　kid　trying　to　make　friends。　And　when　kids　try　to　make　friends；　they　start　playing　together。　Let's　try　something　playful。〃

Harry　sat　at　the　console；　typed：　===