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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..23c86ca --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65128 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65128) diff --git a/old/65128-0.txt b/old/65128-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4589f20..0000000 --- a/old/65128-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,833 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Miserly Robot, by R. J. Rice - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Miserly Robot - -Author: R. J. Rice - -Release Date: April 21, 2021 [eBook #65128] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISERLY ROBOT *** - - - - - The Miserly Robot - - By R. J. Rice - - Lowndes didn't like Nestor. For Nestor - was a robot--managing his finances. And Nestor - had only one thought in his brain: save money! - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - October 1958 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -The old robot was one of the few remaining hand-made productions of -the Rotulian era--an era which had seen each individually constructed -robot reach the zenith in the various professional fields. An era -totally unlike present-day Cornusia and its slip-shod electro-assembly -line robotic productions. And indeed slip-shod were these productions, -many Cornusians agreed. Loudly and indignantly they howled that the -stupid Cornusian robots, conspicuous by their dress (multicolored sport -coats, striped trousers, curling shoes and brightly feathered hats) did -nothing but prance around all day and engage in horseplay. - -Not so the old robot.... - -From that long-ago day when his final bolts had been lovingly tightened -by grimy machinists and tabac-chewing electronicians, he had been -fabulous. Even the Rotulian elders, accustomed as they were to robotic -achievements, had been stunned by his rapid rise in the fields of -finance and economics. And even the irascible bearded banker, Tesmit -Lowndes, after an eighty year association with the robot in investment -circles, would admit, although grudgingly if questioned, that the robot -was "sharp with a kredit." - -Upon the early demise of the elder Lowndes (at age ninety, and there -were raised eyebrows in Cornusian society at such an early departure) -his will, officially striped in red and green and properly opened -in the presence of the required seven witnesses was found to state -unequivocally: "It is my last testament, under the laws of Cornusia, -that my longtime and good friend Nestor shall operate the finances -of my estate for my son Harry, sole survivor, until...." And there -followed, set down in tiny multitudinous lines of legal terminology -peculiar to the age, the conditions and the length of the operation of -the estate. - -So it was that the robot Nestor became involved, through no fault of -his own, with certain people who-- - - * * * * * - -"Nestor," said Harry Lowndes to the robot who had entered the study -in answer to the pull on the bell cord, "I must have an advance on my -allowance." - -Nestor stopped just inside the door. He was a small and chunky robot, -much older than the slender six-tube types presently in use. His somber -clothing, unlike the gaily clad, stupid Cornusian robots, gave evidence -that he was a production of the Rotulian era. A blue-serge suit decked -his blocky metal frame. A conservative black and white zebraic tie, -a type popular with professional men, was knotted neatly into his -spotlessly white button-down collar and draped in graceful folds over -his aud screen. Thick, horn-rimmed focals perched on his stub nose and -magnified his magenta eye sockets. - -He was carrying two bulky ledgers, a huge well-worn legal-looking -volume and half a dozen much-thumbed copies of the Uni-Worlds Financial -Journal. As Lowndes finished speaking Nestor shuffled toward the desk, -set the armload down and stepped back, removing his black bowler and -exposing to Lowndes' view a worn, blue-gray pate from which tiny specks -of aconium flaked--a sign of rapid aging in the Rotulian robot. - -"Master Lowndes," said Nestor, "an advance will be impossible. -According to the terms of your late father's will--" - -Lowndes interrupted, red-faced. He slammed his fist down on the -desk top. "All right. All right, Nestor," he growled. "So my father -left you, his financial adviser, in charge of the estate. I'm not -complaining. You're making kredits. But can't you loosen up a little -bit? All I need is a five hundred advance on next month's allowance." - -Nestor leaned forward to place the black bowler on the corner of the -desk. "I'm sorry, Master," he said, straightening back up slowly. "The -will allows you one thousand kredits." - -"I know what the will allows me," yelled Lowndes. - -"Master," said Nestor, "I am trying to preserve the estate. Your -interests are paramount with--" - -"Nestor, I've got to have five hundred kredits!" - -The robot did not answer. His aud lights flickered. - -Lowndes cooled down. "Nestor," he asked, "can't you find a loophole in -the terms of the will?" He pointed to the legal-looking volume setting -on the desk. "How about digging through that?" - -Nestor did not answer. His aud lights still flickered fitfully. - -"Nestor, I am sorry I spoke shortly to you." - -Silence. - -Lowndes stared at the motionless robot. "Now look here Nestor, you -heard me apologize." - -Still silence. - -"Please, Nestor," Lowndes pleaded. "I know you can figure out a way. -Just this once. Please Nestor." - -Suddenly Nestor's cranial lights lit up. His aud lights flashed on. He -looked like a Christmas tree. His relays began to click-clack. His aud -box hummed. He sounded like a swarm of bees. - -Lowndes stared in amazement. Nestor's deep thought processes never -failed to fascinate him. As he watched, abruptly all the lights cut -out. The relays gave a final "clack." For a minute there was silence. -Then Nestor spoke: "Master, I have converted a majority of the -holdings ... yet five hundred cash kredits remain in Central National -Repository. Under provisions of section four, paragraph seven, -sub-paragraph eighteen of the Quarto Code, this amount could be carried -to the ledgers as a gift to you, deductible. Your signature would not -be required for the cash transfer." - -Lowndes eyes gleamed. "I'm proud of you, Nestor. How long will it take -to get the kredits?" - -"Master, as I mentioned, I have converted all but--" - -"For pete's sake Nestor, I've got to have those kredits by seven -tonight!" - -"Master, please! Allow me to explain the disposition of the converted -assets. I am certain that we are facing a recession comparable to that -suffered by the ancients in the twenty-ninth year of the twentieth -century. Therefore, I have withdrawn--" - -Again Lowndes broke in. "Look, Nestor, tell me later. Let's get the -five hundred!" - -"Perhaps we should reconsider, Master. Even though legal, this action -is irregular." - -"Reconsider! Whadya mean, reconsider! You figured it out, didn't you? -Nestor, someday you'll blow your tubes from worry. Now how about -getting those kredits!" - -"All right, Master. I shall go." The robot shuffled from the study, his -tempite joints creaking with age. - - * * * * * - -Lowndes stared after him. So Nestor was converting assets, he thought. -He'd bet a herd of two-headed Venusian horses that the robot would -more than quadruple any investment. He'd probably buy into some -new uni-space enterprise. Even though it rankled to have the robot -controlling the finances, still he had to admit that old Nestor was a -financial wizard. Under the terms of the will of the departed elder -Lowndes, Nestor was to control the estate investments until Harry -reached the age of thirty--or until Nestor ceased operating. And in -the meantime, though it was at times galling to have to live on the -allowance--Harry termed it a dole--of one thousand kredits a month, he -consoled himself by reflecting that Nestor couldn't possibly last much -longer--he'd already had several major overhauls. Besides, he, Harry, -would be thirty in three more years. Anyway, Nestor wasn't too hard -to get along with. He was just too conscientious. But he _was_ making -kredits by the barrelful. Harry thought, I've been pretty lucky talking -Nestor out of the five hundred. Maybe I've found the secret of handling -him. Anyway, I'd better watch myself. If I couldn't pay Sliman, I'd -really be in the soup. At the thought of Sliman, he scowled. Too bad I -can't take Nestor down there and clean out that sharp-suited gambler. -Too bad the law forbids calculators like Nestor to enter establishments -such as Sliman's Snake Eyes Club. Wow! What Nestor wouldn't do to -Sliman's roulette wheel. And as for the dice game--! Well, he'd pay -Sliman the five hundred and that'd be all! He was through!! From now on -he'd better devote his time to Judy. Of course, he reflected, she was a -trifle expensive for his one thousand kredit allowance, always wanting -jewelry and those cute Martian minks, but--His thoughts shifted. She'll -be plenty burned, he thought, because I didn't show up at the Krinkled -Worlds Club last night. I should never have stopped in at Sliman's when -I had a date with her. Apologies are definitely in order. I'd better -talk to her and get out of the dog-- - -The video-screen hanging on the wall shrilled. He got up from the desk, -walked over to press the "On" switch. - -The head and shoulders of an attractive female appeared on the screen. -Her shoulder length auburn hair framed a face dominated by green eyes -and sulky red lips. - -"Judy," said Lowndes enthusiastically, "I was just thinking of you." - -"Don't 'Judy' me, you beast," she flung back at him. - -"Why, sweets, what's wrong?" he asked innocently. - -"You know well enough what's wrong," she flared. "I waited for you -at the Club last night. But you never showed!" Her temper, clued by -her auburn hair, was showing. "And I waited for my birthday present! -But I suppose it never occurred to you"--she stressed the _you_ -nastily--"that last evening was _also_ my birthday!" - -"Sweets, I'm sorry." He sidled away from the green eyes glaring at him -and added, "I'll see you tonight at eight-thirty." - -She snorted. Then, noticing his furtive movement away from her she -yelled, "Harry Lowndes, you come right back here in front of this -screen where I can see you. I want to know where you were last night!" - -He came back, a sheepish grin spread over his face. "I stopped in at -Sliman's," he said. - -Her carmined lips tightened. "Sliman's! All right, Harry Lowndes, how -much did you lose?" - -"Five hundred." - -Her green eyes flashed. "Lost five hundred!" she screamed. "That five -hundred would have bought me a birthday present!" Her voice dropped -several octaves. "I'm through, Harry. I'm sending your ring back in the -morning." - -He was shaken. "Sweets, it'll never happen again. I'm paying Sliman -off tonight and, believe me, sweets it is the last time." - -"I mean it, Harry." - -He groaned. "Judy, please! What of our plans?" - -"Plans! Did you think I'd marry you on a pitiful one thousand kredits a -month?" - -He was desperate. "Judy, you can't do this. I'll speak to Nestor. I'll -get him to increase the allowance." - -She laughed at him, biting, sarcastic laughter. "Speak to Nestor! You -couldn't get Nestor to do anything. He controls _your_ estate. Or -didn't you know?" - -"Judy, please listen. I will--" - -"Good-bye Harry. Your ring will--" - -He tried desperately to hold her on the screen, cutting in with, "Judy, -it will be only a year or two until Nestor quits operating. Then we -will have the estate." - -She was furious. Her anger, smouldering till now, erupted white-hot. -"_You actually expect me to wait for that senile walking adding machine -to run down?_" She was raging now, whiplashing him with abuse. "Why, -you spineless worm! You cheap excuse for a man! If you were half the -man you pretend to be, you'd _make_ that stupid robot quit operating! -Good-bye!" - - * * * * * - -The impact of her words had stunned him. He walked to the desk, slumped -limply, held his head in his hands. Unseeing he stared at the ledgers, -the much-thumbed journals. His eyes were bleak. Even now, still -reeling under her scorn and smarting under her abuse, he thought of -her. Recalled his last glimpse of her, auburn-haired and red-lipped. -Flinched at the memory of her green eyes, glittering with rage, boring -into him. - -He groaned, ran his hands through his dark hair, then rose. His face -was grim. He walked to the garage, rummaged in the trunk of the little -ground scooter, pulled out the three pronged ironite wheel wrench. He -carried it back to the study, laid it beside the desk and sat down to -wait for Nestor.... - -The old robot shuffled into the study, his diaphragm tubes pulsing -under the strain of the four square trip to Central National. He -pulled a thick roll of orange colored kredits from the pocket of his -blue-serge coat, and handed it to Lowndes. "There you are, Master," he -wheezed. - -"Thank you, Nestor," Lowndes replied. He walked toward the study -windows, glanced out into the sunlighted patio, then turned back to -face the robot. "Nestor," he said, "a problem has come up. Do you -think it could be possible to increase the allowance. You see, I am -planning marriage." - -Nestor's magenta eye sockets flickered slightly after Lowndes had -finished speaking. "Might I offer a suggestion, Master?" he asked. - -"Go ahead." - -"Master, it is rumored in the city that you have been frequenting the -establishment of Sliman, the gambler." - -Lowndes glared at the robot. "Whadya talking about? What's Sliman -got do with all this? I asked you if you couldn't work out a liberal -increase. I want to get married!" - -"I have an answer for you, Master. But I thought it politic to mention -that the odds at Sliman's are definitely against you." - -"Forget about Sliman!" snarled Lowndes. "How about the increase?" - -The robot's words thudded into Lowndes brain. "An increase is -impossible. Master!" he said. He went on, his aud tones crackling, -"Indeed, I may have already overstepped in gifting you the five -hundred kredits. The testament and tort attorneys may never allow it, -especially since it was in payment of a gambling debt! Good day!" -Nestor reached for the black bowler he had placed on the desk and set -it neatly in the center of his worn pate. He picked up the armload -of books and journals, and headed for the door. He turned back for a -moment to face Lowndes and add "And Master, if you will forgive my -impertinence, I should like to say that I do not believe a marriage -with Miss Judy would be prudent." - -In that moment Lowndes' face turned livid with anger. Seizing the heavy -wheel wrench, he lunged for the blue-clad robot. He brought the wrench -down squarely in the center of the black bowler. - -SSSSSSSSSSS ... SSSSSSTTTTT ... CRACKLE ... SSSSSSTTTT.... - -The heavy pronged ironite wrench crashed into Nestor's cranial tubes, -drove through the blue-gray worn pate, sliced into the fragile -old-style gretile metal, battered and shredded the robot's upper works -into a twisted mass. - -Again and again, in maniacal fury Lowndes slammed the ironite prongs -down. Nestor crashed to the floor in a final hiss and crackle. - -Lowndes stared at the robot's smashed remains, stared at blue-gray -old-fashioned gretile metal scattered in a twisted heap of powdered -tubes, shredded relays and curling tensit wires. Off to one side the -ledgers lay where they had fallen. He reached out and picked up one -of them. He thumbed through the pages, ran his eyes over the lists of -holdings set down in Nestor's precise hand. What was this? The page -titled Central National showed withdrawals. Where was the balance? His -eye riveted on the final figure.... Zero! He threw the ledger down, -reached hurriedly for the other. Hah! here were further listings. -He flipped rapidly through page after page, intent on the balance. -Page after page--One-World Banking--Coxcomb Trust--Martian Financial -Institute--Venusian Investors--Cornusian Tex Fund--But--But what was -this? All showed withdrawals. All showed balance Zero! - -BALANCE ZERO! - -He sagged against the corner of the desk, his face pale. His hands -shook. Where were the kredits? What had Nestor done with them? Sweat -broke out on his forehead. Steady, Steady--he dragged himself back from -panic. His mind worked. Let's see. Central National is the biggest of -the repositories; Nestor held the working capital down there. If he -converted the kredits, they'd know. He'd tell them; he's dealt with -them for over eighty years. I'd better go down and find out. I'll tell -them.... He was busy, his mind churning and twisting, concocting a -story.... - -He felt much better as he walked toward the study door. Thoughts -intent on Judy, green-eyed, red-lipped, curvaceous Judy, and on the -kredits certain to be invested somewhere in the maze of holdings, he -stepped over the pile of smashed tubes, twisted relays and scorched -tensit wires that had been Nestor. He eyed the pile. Nestor, he -reflected, has met with an unavoidable accident. An accident, -coincident with a tube failure on Nestor's part, whereby the ground -scooter broke its electronic control and ran over the robot. And in the -same line of thought ... I shall have to drag him over and stack him in -front of the garage and use the wheel wrench on the fenders and head -lamps of the scooter. They shall have to be battered to show that.... - - * * * * * - -He was smiling as he started for the big, eight-sided structure, -Central National.... A four square trip, and one which Nestor had made -earlier in the day.... - -Vice-president Milligan, a thin, narrow-shouldered man who affected a -pince-nez greeted Lowndes. He offered a cool hand: "Mr. Lowndes, this -is indeed a pleasure. We don't see you down here very often. Have a -seat." - -"No, not very often," said Harry, dropping the hand and sitting down, -"Nestor handles the accounts." - -"Well, Mr. Lowndes, what can we do for you?" - -"Mr. Milligan, Nestor has suddenly blown a tube and has decided to turn -in for an overhaul." - -"Sorry to hear that. These tube failures can be so sudden. Matter of -fact, I believe I saw Nestor in our investment department an hour or so -ago." - -"That's right, he was," said Lowndes. "But after the tube blew, he -became very concerned as to whether the balance he showed in the -ledgers was correct." Lowndes smiled, "I told him I'd find out, Mr. -Milligan. Sort of humor him, y'know." - -Milligan rose, pulled his pince-nez out of his suit pocket and placed -it squarely on the tip of his nose. He looked over at Lowndes and said, -"Mr. Lowndes, you are fortunate to have Nestor handle the financial -affairs for the estate. Your father showed exceptional judgment in the -selection. Naturally, we at Central National were elated--why, we've -held your family's finances and dealt through Nestor for over eighty -years. In fact, ever since your father organized Lowndes Methodical -Investments." Milligan started for the door, "Now," he said, "if you'll -excuse me, I'll go and check on the accounts balance." - -He came back frowning. He removed the pince-nez from his nose and held -it in his hand. He appeared concerned. "Mr. Lowndes," he said, "Nestor -has closed out the accounts. Every kredit has been withdrawn--not only -here, but in all our correspondent repositories." He paced back and -forth in front of Lowndes. He stopped, peered down and added, "A five -hundred thousand withdrawal, Mr. Lowndes." - -"Five hundred thousand," repeated Harry. He reached for his -handkerchief. His forehead was beginning to bead with sweat. - -"We have explicit confidence in Nestor's ability, Mr. Lowndes -but--" Milligan looked sharply at Harry. "Are you sure he hasn't -had an unreported tube failure during the past few days? After all, -withdrawing five hundred thousand kredits--" he broke off. - -"Five hundred thousand kredits!" said Harry. - -"I agree with you, Mr. Lowndes. Indeed a sizable amount." Milligan -gave a weak laugh. "Naturally," he continued, "we are loath to lose -an account of this size. That is the reason I inquired as to possible -failure on Nestor's cranial range. His actions certainly have been -strange--" - -Lowndes interrupted, "What? What's strange? He was all right this -morning." - -Milligan was agitated. "Are you sure, Mr. Lowndes? First of all, Nestor -told Farrell, our investment man that we Cornusians were headed for -a recession of even greater severity than that experienced by the -ancients in the twenty-ninth year of the twentieth century." - -Lowndes' hands were shaking. He fumbled for a Martian rolled plovur, -lit it and inhaled the greenish fumes. "Why," he said, "Nestor told me -the same thing this morning. What does that prove?" - -Milligan stared at the greenish fumes with distaste. He did not smoke. -He said shortly, "Allow me to continue, M. Lowndes. I am as distressed -by this affair as you are. After all, five hundred thousand kredits." -He broke off, eyed the green fumes curling from the tip of Lowndes' -plovur, then continued, "Frankly, Mr. Lowndes, I never heard of -anything so fantastic." - -Lowndes couldn't control his hands. He dropped the plovur on the -carpet. He stood. He couldn't control his shaking legs. He grasped the -edge of Milligan's desk. "What-dya mean, you never heard of anything so -fantastic?" he croaked weakly. "What'd Nestor tell Farrell he was going -to do with the kredits?" - -Milligan's face blanched. His voice in turn quavered. "What? You mean -_you_ don't know? Why, Nestor told Farrell he was going to tell you--in -case an emergency came up. Farrell says Nestor walked out of here with -a great big grip jammed full of the kredits. Said he was going to -_bury_ them. Said he'd be back and redeposit them after the recession -was going good--when a kredit would be worth a kredit!" - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISERLY ROBOT *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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J. Rice</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Miserly Robot</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: R. J. Rice</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 21, 2021 [eBook #65128]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISERLY ROBOT ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>The Miserly Robot</h1> - -<h2>By R. J. Rice</h2> - -<p>Lowndes didn't like Nestor. For Nestor<br /> -was a robot—managing his finances. And Nestor<br /> -had only one thought in his brain: save money!</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -October 1958<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The old robot was one of the few remaining hand-made productions of -the Rotulian era—an era which had seen each individually constructed -robot reach the zenith in the various professional fields. An era -totally unlike present-day Cornusia and its slip-shod electro-assembly -line robotic productions. And indeed slip-shod were these productions, -many Cornusians agreed. Loudly and indignantly they howled that the -stupid Cornusian robots, conspicuous by their dress (multicolored sport -coats, striped trousers, curling shoes and brightly feathered hats) did -nothing but prance around all day and engage in horseplay.</p> - -<p>Not so the old robot....</p> - -<p>From that long-ago day when his final bolts had been lovingly tightened -by grimy machinists and tabac-chewing electronicians, he had been -fabulous. Even the Rotulian elders, accustomed as they were to robotic -achievements, had been stunned by his rapid rise in the fields of -finance and economics. And even the irascible bearded banker, Tesmit -Lowndes, after an eighty year association with the robot in investment -circles, would admit, although grudgingly if questioned, that the robot -was "sharp with a kredit."</p> - -<p>Upon the early demise of the elder Lowndes (at age ninety, and there -were raised eyebrows in Cornusian society at such an early departure) -his will, officially striped in red and green and properly opened -in the presence of the required seven witnesses was found to state -unequivocally: "It is my last testament, under the laws of Cornusia, -that my longtime and good friend Nestor shall operate the finances -of my estate for my son Harry, sole survivor, until...." And there -followed, set down in tiny multitudinous lines of legal terminology -peculiar to the age, the conditions and the length of the operation of -the estate.</p> - -<p>So it was that the robot Nestor became involved, through no fault of -his own, with certain people who—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Nestor," said Harry Lowndes to the robot who had entered the study -in answer to the pull on the bell cord, "I must have an advance on my -allowance."</p> - -<p>Nestor stopped just inside the door. He was a small and chunky robot, -much older than the slender six-tube types presently in use. His somber -clothing, unlike the gaily clad, stupid Cornusian robots, gave evidence -that he was a production of the Rotulian era. A blue-serge suit decked -his blocky metal frame. A conservative black and white zebraic tie, -a type popular with professional men, was knotted neatly into his -spotlessly white button-down collar and draped in graceful folds over -his aud screen. Thick, horn-rimmed focals perched on his stub nose and -magnified his magenta eye sockets.</p> - -<p>He was carrying two bulky ledgers, a huge well-worn legal-looking -volume and half a dozen much-thumbed copies of the Uni-Worlds Financial -Journal. As Lowndes finished speaking Nestor shuffled toward the desk, -set the armload down and stepped back, removing his black bowler and -exposing to Lowndes' view a worn, blue-gray pate from which tiny specks -of aconium flaked—a sign of rapid aging in the Rotulian robot.</p> - -<p>"Master Lowndes," said Nestor, "an advance will be impossible. -According to the terms of your late father's will—"</p> - -<p>Lowndes interrupted, red-faced. He slammed his fist down on the -desk top. "All right. All right, Nestor," he growled. "So my father -left you, his financial adviser, in charge of the estate. I'm not -complaining. You're making kredits. But can't you loosen up a little -bit? All I need is a five hundred advance on next month's allowance."</p> - -<p>Nestor leaned forward to place the black bowler on the corner of the -desk. "I'm sorry, Master," he said, straightening back up slowly. "The -will allows you one thousand kredits."</p> - -<p>"I know what the will allows me," yelled Lowndes.</p> - -<p>"Master," said Nestor, "I am trying to preserve the estate. Your -interests are paramount with—"</p> - -<p>"Nestor, I've got to have five hundred kredits!"</p> - -<p>The robot did not answer. His aud lights flickered.</p> - -<p>Lowndes cooled down. "Nestor," he asked, "can't you find a loophole in -the terms of the will?" He pointed to the legal-looking volume setting -on the desk. "How about digging through that?"</p> - -<p>Nestor did not answer. His aud lights still flickered fitfully.</p> - -<p>"Nestor, I am sorry I spoke shortly to you."</p> - -<p>Silence.</p> - -<p>Lowndes stared at the motionless robot. "Now look here Nestor, you -heard me apologize."</p> - -<p>Still silence.</p> - -<p>"Please, Nestor," Lowndes pleaded. "I know you can figure out a way. -Just this once. Please Nestor."</p> - -<p>Suddenly Nestor's cranial lights lit up. His aud lights flashed on. He -looked like a Christmas tree. His relays began to click-clack. His aud -box hummed. He sounded like a swarm of bees.</p> - -<p>Lowndes stared in amazement. Nestor's deep thought processes never -failed to fascinate him. As he watched, abruptly all the lights cut -out. The relays gave a final "clack." For a minute there was silence. -Then Nestor spoke: "Master, I have converted a majority of the -holdings ... yet five hundred cash kredits remain in Central National -Repository. Under provisions of section four, paragraph seven, -sub-paragraph eighteen of the Quarto Code, this amount could be carried -to the ledgers as a gift to you, deductible. Your signature would not -be required for the cash transfer."</p> - -<p>Lowndes eyes gleamed. "I'm proud of you, Nestor. How long will it take -to get the kredits?"</p> - -<p>"Master, as I mentioned, I have converted all but—"</p> - -<p>"For pete's sake Nestor, I've got to have those kredits by seven -tonight!"</p> - -<p>"Master, please! Allow me to explain the disposition of the converted -assets. I am certain that we are facing a recession comparable to that -suffered by the ancients in the twenty-ninth year of the twentieth -century. Therefore, I have withdrawn—"</p> - -<p>Again Lowndes broke in. "Look, Nestor, tell me later. Let's get the -five hundred!"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we should reconsider, Master. Even though legal, this action -is irregular."</p> - -<p>"Reconsider! Whadya mean, reconsider! You figured it out, didn't you? -Nestor, someday you'll blow your tubes from worry. Now how about -getting those kredits!"</p> - -<p>"All right, Master. I shall go." The robot shuffled from the study, his -tempite joints creaking with age.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Lowndes stared after him. So Nestor was converting assets, he thought. -He'd bet a herd of two-headed Venusian horses that the robot would -more than quadruple any investment. He'd probably buy into some -new uni-space enterprise. Even though it rankled to have the robot -controlling the finances, still he had to admit that old Nestor was a -financial wizard. Under the terms of the will of the departed elder -Lowndes, Nestor was to control the estate investments until Harry -reached the age of thirty—or until Nestor ceased operating. And in -the meantime, though it was at times galling to have to live on the -allowance—Harry termed it a dole—of one thousand kredits a month, he -consoled himself by reflecting that Nestor couldn't possibly last much -longer—he'd already had several major overhauls. Besides, he, Harry, -would be thirty in three more years. Anyway, Nestor wasn't too hard -to get along with. He was just too conscientious. But he <i>was</i> making -kredits by the barrelful. Harry thought, I've been pretty lucky talking -Nestor out of the five hundred. Maybe I've found the secret of handling -him. Anyway, I'd better watch myself. If I couldn't pay Sliman, I'd -really be in the soup. At the thought of Sliman, he scowled. Too bad I -can't take Nestor down there and clean out that sharp-suited gambler. -Too bad the law forbids calculators like Nestor to enter establishments -such as Sliman's Snake Eyes Club. Wow! What Nestor wouldn't do to -Sliman's roulette wheel. And as for the dice game—! Well, he'd pay -Sliman the five hundred and that'd be all! He was through!! From now on -he'd better devote his time to Judy. Of course, he reflected, she was a -trifle expensive for his one thousand kredit allowance, always wanting -jewelry and those cute Martian minks, but—His thoughts shifted. She'll -be plenty burned, he thought, because I didn't show up at the Krinkled -Worlds Club last night. I should never have stopped in at Sliman's when -I had a date with her. Apologies are definitely in order. I'd better -talk to her and get out of the dog—</p> - -<p>The video-screen hanging on the wall shrilled. He got up from the desk, -walked over to press the "On" switch.</p> - -<p>The head and shoulders of an attractive female appeared on the screen. -Her shoulder length auburn hair framed a face dominated by green eyes -and sulky red lips.</p> - -<p>"Judy," said Lowndes enthusiastically, "I was just thinking of you."</p> - -<p>"Don't 'Judy' me, you beast," she flung back at him.</p> - -<p>"Why, sweets, what's wrong?" he asked innocently.</p> - -<p>"You know well enough what's wrong," she flared. "I waited for you -at the Club last night. But you never showed!" Her temper, clued by -her auburn hair, was showing. "And I waited for my birthday present! -But I suppose it never occurred to you"—she stressed the <i>you</i> -nastily—"that last evening was <i>also</i> my birthday!"</p> - -<p>"Sweets, I'm sorry." He sidled away from the green eyes glaring at him -and added, "I'll see you tonight at eight-thirty."</p> - -<p>She snorted. Then, noticing his furtive movement away from her she -yelled, "Harry Lowndes, you come right back here in front of this -screen where I can see you. I want to know where you were last night!"</p> - -<p>He came back, a sheepish grin spread over his face. "I stopped in at -Sliman's," he said.</p> - -<p>Her carmined lips tightened. "Sliman's! All right, Harry Lowndes, how -much did you lose?"</p> - -<p>"Five hundred."</p> - -<p>Her green eyes flashed. "Lost five hundred!" she screamed. "That five -hundred would have bought me a birthday present!" Her voice dropped -several octaves. "I'm through, Harry. I'm sending your ring back in the -morning."</p> - -<p>He was shaken. "Sweets, it'll never happen again. I'm paying Sliman -off tonight and, believe me, sweets it is the last time."</p> - -<p>"I mean it, Harry."</p> - -<p>He groaned. "Judy, please! What of our plans?"</p> - -<p>"Plans! Did you think I'd marry you on a pitiful one thousand kredits a -month?"</p> - -<p>He was desperate. "Judy, you can't do this. I'll speak to Nestor. I'll -get him to increase the allowance."</p> - -<p>She laughed at him, biting, sarcastic laughter. "Speak to Nestor! You -couldn't get Nestor to do anything. He controls <i>your</i> estate. Or -didn't you know?"</p> - -<p>"Judy, please listen. I will—"</p> - -<p>"Good-bye Harry. Your ring will—"</p> - -<p>He tried desperately to hold her on the screen, cutting in with, "Judy, -it will be only a year or two until Nestor quits operating. Then we -will have the estate."</p> - -<p>She was furious. Her anger, smouldering till now, erupted white-hot. -"<i>You actually expect me to wait for that senile walking adding machine -to run down?</i>" She was raging now, whiplashing him with abuse. "Why, -you spineless worm! You cheap excuse for a man! If you were half the -man you pretend to be, you'd <i>make</i> that stupid robot quit operating! -Good-bye!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The impact of her words had stunned him. He walked to the desk, slumped -limply, held his head in his hands. Unseeing he stared at the ledgers, -the much-thumbed journals. His eyes were bleak. Even now, still -reeling under her scorn and smarting under her abuse, he thought of -her. Recalled his last glimpse of her, auburn-haired and red-lipped. -Flinched at the memory of her green eyes, glittering with rage, boring -into him.</p> - -<p>He groaned, ran his hands through his dark hair, then rose. His face -was grim. He walked to the garage, rummaged in the trunk of the little -ground scooter, pulled out the three pronged ironite wheel wrench. He -carried it back to the study, laid it beside the desk and sat down to -wait for Nestor....</p> - -<p>The old robot shuffled into the study, his diaphragm tubes pulsing -under the strain of the four square trip to Central National. He -pulled a thick roll of orange colored kredits from the pocket of his -blue-serge coat, and handed it to Lowndes. "There you are, Master," he -wheezed.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Nestor," Lowndes replied. He walked toward the study -windows, glanced out into the sunlighted patio, then turned back to -face the robot. "Nestor," he said, "a problem has come up. Do you -think it could be possible to increase the allowance. You see, I am -planning marriage."</p> - -<p>Nestor's magenta eye sockets flickered slightly after Lowndes had -finished speaking. "Might I offer a suggestion, Master?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Go ahead."</p> - -<p>"Master, it is rumored in the city that you have been frequenting the -establishment of Sliman, the gambler."</p> - -<p>Lowndes glared at the robot. "Whadya talking about? What's Sliman -got do with all this? I asked you if you couldn't work out a liberal -increase. I want to get married!"</p> - -<p>"I have an answer for you, Master. But I thought it politic to mention -that the odds at Sliman's are definitely against you."</p> - -<p>"Forget about Sliman!" snarled Lowndes. "How about the increase?"</p> - -<p>The robot's words thudded into Lowndes brain. "An increase is -impossible. Master!" he said. He went on, his aud tones crackling, -"Indeed, I may have already overstepped in gifting you the five -hundred kredits. The testament and tort attorneys may never allow it, -especially since it was in payment of a gambling debt! Good day!" -Nestor reached for the black bowler he had placed on the desk and set -it neatly in the center of his worn pate. He picked up the armload -of books and journals, and headed for the door. He turned back for a -moment to face Lowndes and add "And Master, if you will forgive my -impertinence, I should like to say that I do not believe a marriage -with Miss Judy would be prudent."</p> - -<p>In that moment Lowndes' face turned livid with anger. Seizing the heavy -wheel wrench, he lunged for the blue-clad robot. He brought the wrench -down squarely in the center of the black bowler.</p> - -<p>SSSSSSSSSSS ... SSSSSSTTTTT ... CRACKLE ... SSSSSSTTTT....</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The heavy pronged ironite wrench crashed into Nestor's cranial tubes, -drove through the blue-gray worn pate, sliced into the fragile -old-style gretile metal, battered and shredded the robot's upper works -into a twisted mass.</p> - -<p>Again and again, in maniacal fury Lowndes slammed the ironite prongs -down. Nestor crashed to the floor in a final hiss and crackle.</p> - -<p>Lowndes stared at the robot's smashed remains, stared at blue-gray -old-fashioned gretile metal scattered in a twisted heap of powdered -tubes, shredded relays and curling tensit wires. Off to one side the -ledgers lay where they had fallen. He reached out and picked up one -of them. He thumbed through the pages, ran his eyes over the lists of -holdings set down in Nestor's precise hand. What was this? The page -titled Central National showed withdrawals. Where was the balance? His -eye riveted on the final figure.... Zero! He threw the ledger down, -reached hurriedly for the other. Hah! here were further listings. -He flipped rapidly through page after page, intent on the balance. -Page after page—One-World Banking—Coxcomb Trust—Martian Financial -Institute—Venusian Investors—Cornusian Tex Fund—But—But what was -this? All showed withdrawals. All showed balance Zero!</p> - -<p>BALANCE ZERO!</p> - -<p>He sagged against the corner of the desk, his face pale. His hands -shook. Where were the kredits? What had Nestor done with them? Sweat -broke out on his forehead. Steady, Steady—he dragged himself back from -panic. His mind worked. Let's see. Central National is the biggest of -the repositories; Nestor held the working capital down there. If he -converted the kredits, they'd know. He'd tell them; he's dealt with -them for over eighty years. I'd better go down and find out. I'll tell -them.... He was busy, his mind churning and twisting, concocting a -story....</p> - -<p>He felt much better as he walked toward the study door. Thoughts -intent on Judy, green-eyed, red-lipped, curvaceous Judy, and on the -kredits certain to be invested somewhere in the maze of holdings, he -stepped over the pile of smashed tubes, twisted relays and scorched -tensit wires that had been Nestor. He eyed the pile. Nestor, he -reflected, has met with an unavoidable accident. An accident, -coincident with a tube failure on Nestor's part, whereby the ground -scooter broke its electronic control and ran over the robot. And in the -same line of thought ... I shall have to drag him over and stack him in -front of the garage and use the wheel wrench on the fenders and head -lamps of the scooter. They shall have to be battered to show that....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He was smiling as he started for the big, eight-sided structure, -Central National.... A four square trip, and one which Nestor had made -earlier in the day....</p> - -<p>Vice-president Milligan, a thin, narrow-shouldered man who affected a -pince-nez greeted Lowndes. He offered a cool hand: "Mr. Lowndes, this -is indeed a pleasure. We don't see you down here very often. Have a -seat."</p> - -<p>"No, not very often," said Harry, dropping the hand and sitting down, -"Nestor handles the accounts."</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Lowndes, what can we do for you?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Milligan, Nestor has suddenly blown a tube and has decided to turn -in for an overhaul."</p> - -<p>"Sorry to hear that. These tube failures can be so sudden. Matter of -fact, I believe I saw Nestor in our investment department an hour or so -ago."</p> - -<p>"That's right, he was," said Lowndes. "But after the tube blew, he -became very concerned as to whether the balance he showed in the -ledgers was correct." Lowndes smiled, "I told him I'd find out, Mr. -Milligan. Sort of humor him, y'know."</p> - -<p>Milligan rose, pulled his pince-nez out of his suit pocket and placed -it squarely on the tip of his nose. He looked over at Lowndes and said, -"Mr. Lowndes, you are fortunate to have Nestor handle the financial -affairs for the estate. Your father showed exceptional judgment in the -selection. Naturally, we at Central National were elated—why, we've -held your family's finances and dealt through Nestor for over eighty -years. In fact, ever since your father organized Lowndes Methodical -Investments." Milligan started for the door, "Now," he said, "if you'll -excuse me, I'll go and check on the accounts balance."</p> - -<p>He came back frowning. He removed the pince-nez from his nose and held -it in his hand. He appeared concerned. "Mr. Lowndes," he said, "Nestor -has closed out the accounts. Every kredit has been withdrawn—not only -here, but in all our correspondent repositories." He paced back and -forth in front of Lowndes. He stopped, peered down and added, "A five -hundred thousand withdrawal, Mr. Lowndes."</p> - -<p>"Five hundred thousand," repeated Harry. He reached for his -handkerchief. His forehead was beginning to bead with sweat.</p> - -<p>"We have explicit confidence in Nestor's ability, Mr. Lowndes -but—" Milligan looked sharply at Harry. "Are you sure he hasn't -had an unreported tube failure during the past few days? After all, -withdrawing five hundred thousand kredits—" he broke off.</p> - -<p>"Five hundred thousand kredits!" said Harry.</p> - -<p>"I agree with you, Mr. Lowndes. Indeed a sizable amount." Milligan -gave a weak laugh. "Naturally," he continued, "we are loath to lose -an account of this size. That is the reason I inquired as to possible -failure on Nestor's cranial range. His actions certainly have been -strange—"</p> - -<p>Lowndes interrupted, "What? What's strange? He was all right this -morning."</p> - -<p>Milligan was agitated. "Are you sure, Mr. Lowndes? First of all, Nestor -told Farrell, our investment man that we Cornusians were headed for -a recession of even greater severity than that experienced by the -ancients in the twenty-ninth year of the twentieth century."</p> - -<p>Lowndes' hands were shaking. He fumbled for a Martian rolled plovur, -lit it and inhaled the greenish fumes. "Why," he said, "Nestor told me -the same thing this morning. What does that prove?"</p> - -<p>Milligan stared at the greenish fumes with distaste. He did not smoke. -He said shortly, "Allow me to continue, M. Lowndes. I am as distressed -by this affair as you are. After all, five hundred thousand kredits." -He broke off, eyed the green fumes curling from the tip of Lowndes' -plovur, then continued, "Frankly, Mr. Lowndes, I never heard of -anything so fantastic."</p> - -<p>Lowndes couldn't control his hands. He dropped the plovur on the -carpet. He stood. He couldn't control his shaking legs. He grasped the -edge of Milligan's desk. "What-dya mean, you never heard of anything so -fantastic?" he croaked weakly. "What'd Nestor tell Farrell he was going -to do with the kredits?"</p> - -<p>Milligan's face blanched. His voice in turn quavered. "What? You mean -<i>you</i> don't know? Why, Nestor told Farrell he was going to tell you—in -case an emergency came up. Farrell says Nestor walked out of here with -a great big grip jammed full of the kredits. Said he was going to -<i>bury</i> them. Said he'd be back and redeposit them after the recession -was going good—when a kredit would be worth a kredit!"</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISERLY ROBOT ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. 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