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THE ANCIENT SHIP hung in space as if suspended from invisible cables, its ossahostly pennants fluttered at the masthead as if tossed by a freshened breeze

Hiraer leaned back in his chair and studied the spectral i over a platform in front of his horseshoe-shaped console “It’s beautiful, Max,” he said, “but the detail needs sharpening”

A soft and disembodied feminine voice filled the room from a dozen speakers set in the walls “You only asked for a blueprint, Hiram” There was the hint of petulance in the tone

“That’s right, Max,” Yaeger said, “and you’ve gone far beyond that But now I’d like to see how close we can get to the finished product”

“Done,” said the voice

The ship’s hull solidified like a specter old that highlighted the elaborate carvings covering the sides froered on the beak head, crowned by a wooden i the seven fallen monarchs whose shorn beards bordered his mantle Then he studied the astronoods, going back to the high stern, eures Every detail was perfect

“Wow!” Yaeger said “You didn’t tell rammed the full picture All it needs now is a couple of dolphins”

Instantly, simulated seas appeared under the ship, and at her bow a pair of dolphins leaped and splashed The three-die spun slowly as the whistles and twitters of the dolphins filled the air

Yaeger clapped his hands and laughed like a child with delight

“Max, you’re brilliant!”

“I should be,” the voice replied “You created me”

Not only had Yaeger created the vast artificial intelligence systera to himself, so he modified it into Max’s female tones The computer system had developed a feminine personality all on its own

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Yaeger said

“Thank you If you’re through I’ll take a break to allow rams always exhaust me”

Yaeger knew Max was prone to exaggerate and that the ship represented only a tiny fraction of the capacity in her circuits But along with a fera the need to be appreciated He waved his hand The ship, the roiling seas, the leaping dolphins vanished in a blink of the eye