Pygmalion Unbound Read Online Free Page B

Theorem, with the command to solve straight out of the tank, and it would freeze up for good. Meaning a reboot. That would be tricky and take him back to step one.
    Intelligence, the raw data of sentience, could be downloaded. But the superego, the undefinable “it” that held it all together and made it not-a-glorified-Mac — that took time.
    But for all the slow start, it was a wonder — she , he corrected himself. She . Female. Very female.
    This was Franklin’s chance to play God, and if it worked, it meant a shot at scientific immortality. The Nobel. Right alongside Einstein, Fujita, Watson and Crick. Not bad for a kid from the Alabama coast.
    For all that, he was willing to forgive Crane his little obsession in creating her.

    It’s like dealing with a child , Alannah Kelly thought. A friendly but reserved child, who had to be drawn out. She could identify basic shapes and colors, household items, animals and machines, recite facts in a flat voice.
    Bigger concepts — that was a bit different.
    Maria’s room might have been in any hospital. It was sterile, white and chrome, windowless, a single metal-frame bed, nightstand and a chair. A small bathroom sat sterilized and so far unused and locked. No TV, no radio — just a silvery bubble in two corners for the monitor cameras.
    “How do you feel, Maria?”
    Her face clouded over. “Feel?”
    Of course , Kelly thought. She has no experience to judge against. No childhood bumps or scrapes. No torn ligaments or twisted ankles or menstrual cramps or migraines. No on-top-of-the-world feelings after acing a calculus test or depths of worthlessness after being dumped by the cute boy in class for the vapid cheerleader with bigger tits. “Are you experiencing physical pain?” she asked.
    “No.” Maria shook her head, the raven hair waving on each side of her face. “All my systems are functioning nominally.” The voice was flat, toneless.
    “Do you feel happy? Sad?”
    Again, the blank look in the dark almond-shaped eyes. “I know the meaning of those terms. I do not know how to apply them to myself.”
    You will. Unfortunately . “That’s fine, Maria.” She turned to Franklin. “Let’s get her dressed.”
    “I’ll be outside,” Franklin said, and stepped through the door.
    Kelly opened the bathroom and turned to Maria. “Come here.” Inside the door was a full-length mirror. Maria obeyed, stopped when she saw the mirror. “Take off your gown.”
    Maria pulled it off over her head, stood there naked, letting Kelly appraise her. Slim body, narrow hips and waist and slender buttocks, full breasts with large dark aureolas.
    Crane hadn’t missed a trick — even the full dark triangular thatch between muscular thighs and long legs. Her face was a narrow oval, with high cheekbones, dark almond eyes and full brows. She was olive skinned, with a long cascade of curly raven hair, all of which bespoke a mixed genetic heritage. Some Oriental mixed in with Amerindian and eastern European.
    Where did Crane find this cell line ?
    Kelly went to the small dresser, withdrew a pair of underwear, a brassiere, a set of light blue cotton scrubs and sandals. “Put these on,” she said.
    “Why? This is more comfortable.”
    “It’s something people do,” Kelly said. “It’s proper.”
    Maria did as she was told, totally unselfconscious. Franklin obviously hadn’t programmed in a nudity taboo, and she hadn’t developed one. She could walk stark naked down Colfax Avenue and not bat an eyelash.
    “Come with me,” Kelly said, holding out her hand. Maria took it without hesitation, and Kelly led her into the hallway, with Franklin in tow. “Is there anywhere outside where we can take her without too many gawkers?”
    “Got a little green space outside, in the quadrangle,” Franklin said.
    “Perfect.” Kelly led Maria by the hand into the hallway.
    The American Cybernetics campus was built like an old Roman villa, a square formed by the four lab buildings