Sometimes It Is Rocket Science Read Online Free Page B

had picked out looked the same as they had when he was a child.  He remembered playing hide-and-seek in the magnificent gardens and splashing in the fountain, rather than the pool in the backyard, on hot summer days.
    He abandoned his luggage in favor of trailing Georgiana up the paved walkway.  Her strides were long, hurried.  Even though she was in heels, he had to jog to keep up with her.
    Georgiana slid her finger across a keypad discretely tucked into a niche in the limestone wall.  She tapped in an eight-digit code.  The door locks opened with an audible click.  She smiled back at Robert before pushing open the heavy, cherry door. 
    “NORA, it’s Georgiana,” she called out, voice bouncing off the marble floors and curved staircase.  “I have Robert Norwood with me.  He’s going to be living in the house while Dan recovers. He’s to have the same access that I do.”
    “Who are you…?” Robert started, only to be cut off mid-question.
    “Please provide override code.”
    Robert’s mouth fell open.  The voice coming from hidden speakers was his mother’s.  Though slightly modulated, he would have recognized that crisp, beloved tone anywhere.  Georgiana placed a small, cool hand on his wrist and shook her head.
    “Override code G-C-11432-A.”
    “Code accepted.  Full access granted to Robert Norwood.  Please input his codes and biometric information into my database, Georgie dear.”
    Georgiana scowled at the endearment.  “Your father did that.  He thought it was funny.  It’s one of the few bits of source code I don’t have access to.”
    “That’s Nora?”
    ”NOrwood Residential Artificial intelligence.  NORA.”  Georgiana gestured towards one of the small cameras tucked in the corner of the room.  “Multiple cameras, sensor suites, and audio pick ups in almost every room.  Sensors and audio, but no cameras, in the bathrooms.  I should warn you that all matter that passes through the toilets is subjected to analysis.  NORA monitors the vital signs of everyone in the house.  She was the one who noticed your father’s heart attack.”
    “And the house called the ambulance.”  Norwood Systems had been a technology pioneer for decades, but none of their past or current projects were as impressive as what his father had built on his own.
    “Not exactly.  NORA isn’t connected to emergency services, yet.  Your father wanted to wait until we had all the bugs worked out.  She called me and I called the ambulance.”  She stroked one of the walls lovingly.  For the first time in his life, Robert was jealous of a piece of marble.  “She’s a good system.”
    “What else does she control or monitor?”
    Georgiana tugged on his wrist and started up the wide, curved staircase.  Their footsteps were silent on the plush, white carpet.  “The basics: lighting, the HVAC system, security, the entertainment systems, the outdoor irrigation system, the pool, and a few appliances.  She’s also connected to the Internet, so she monitors the news and weather.  I don’t know Dan’s current settings, but she’s entirely customizable.  We set up a barcode system so she keeps inventory in the kitchen and places an order with the company that delivers Dan’s groceries when stock is low.  If there’s anything you like, you’ll have to add it manually and she’ll automatically upload it into the inventory masterlist.”
    “She has my mother’s voice.”
    “Yes.  Your father wanted something familiar, I guess.  It took weeks, but we uploaded every recording we could find of your mother.”  Georgiana squeezed his wrist, smiled apologetically.  “I’m sorry.  I should have warned you about that.  It must have been a shock.”
    “It was.”  He didn’t know which was more surprising:  that his father’s house talked or that it spoke with his long-dead mother’s voice.  “Is there anything else?”
    “NORA controls the robotic mop and vacuums.  I think Dan