her appearance a little surprising at first, but I will explain."
A lecturing note crept into his voice.
"After I had discovered my method of animation, my first inclination was to construct an approximately anthropoid form as a convincing demonstration. On second thoughts, however, I decided against mere imitation. I resolved to proceed functionally and logically, remedying certain features which seemed to me poorly or weakly designed in man and other existing creatures. It also proved necessary later to make a few modifications for technical and constructional reasons.
However, in general, Una is the result of my resolve." He paused, looking fondly at the monstrosity.
"I—er—you did say 'logically'!" I inquired.
Alfred paused for some time before making his comment. He went on staring at the creature which still kept its eyes fixed on him. One could almost see him causing what he likes to think of as his better nature to override mere prejudice. He now rose nobly above his earlier, unsympathetic remark.
"I do not consider it proper to confine so large an animal in such restricted quarters," he announced.
One of the horny eyelids clicked again as it blinked.
"I like him. He means well. He will do," the great voice rumbled.
Alfred wilted a little. After a long experience of patronizing dumb friends, he found it disconcerting to be confronted by a creature that not only spoke, but patronized him as it did so. He returned its steady stare uneasily.
Dixon, disregarding the interruption, resumed:
"Probably the first thing that will strike you is that Una has no distinct head. That was one of my earliest rearrangements; the normal head is too exposed and vulnerable. The eyes should be carried high, of course, but there is no need whatever for a demidetached head.
"But in eliminating the head, there was sight to be considered. I therefore gave her three eyes, two of which you can see now, and one which is round the back—though, properly speaking, she has no back. Thus she is easily able to look and focus in any direction without the complicated device of a semirotatory head."
"Her general shape almost ensures that any falling or projected object would glance off the reinforced plastic carapace, but it seemed wise to me to insulate the brain from shock as much as possible by putting it where you might expect the stomach, I was thus able to put the stomach higher and allow for a more convenient disposition of the intestines."
"How does it eat?" I put in.
"Her mouth is round the other side," he said shortly. "Now, I have to admit that at first glance the provision of four arms might give an impression of frivolity. However, as I said before, the hand is the perfect tool—it is the right size. So you will see that Una's upper pair are delicate and finely moulded, while the lower are heavily muscular."
"Her respiration may interest you, too. I have used a flow principle. She inhales here, exhales there.
An improvement, you must admit, on our own rather disgusting system."
"As regards the general design, she unfortunately turned out to be considerably heavier than I had expected—slightly over one ton, in fact—and to support that I had to modify my original plan somewhat. I redesigned the legs and feet rather after the pattern of the elephant's so as to spread the weight, but I'm afraid it is not altogether satisfactory; something will have to be done in the later models to reduce the overall weight."
"The threelegged principle was adopted because it is obvious that the biped must waste quite a lot of muscular energy in merely keeping its balance, and a tripod is not only efficient, but more easily adaptable to uneven surfaces than a fourlegged support."
"As regards the reproductory system—"
"Excuse me interrupting," I said, "but with a plastic carapace, and stainless steel bones I don't—er —quite see —"
"A matter of glandular balance: regulation of the personality. Something had to be done there,
A lecturing note crept into his voice.
"After I had discovered my method of animation, my first inclination was to construct an approximately anthropoid form as a convincing demonstration. On second thoughts, however, I decided against mere imitation. I resolved to proceed functionally and logically, remedying certain features which seemed to me poorly or weakly designed in man and other existing creatures. It also proved necessary later to make a few modifications for technical and constructional reasons.
However, in general, Una is the result of my resolve." He paused, looking fondly at the monstrosity.
"I—er—you did say 'logically'!" I inquired.
Alfred paused for some time before making his comment. He went on staring at the creature which still kept its eyes fixed on him. One could almost see him causing what he likes to think of as his better nature to override mere prejudice. He now rose nobly above his earlier, unsympathetic remark.
"I do not consider it proper to confine so large an animal in such restricted quarters," he announced.
One of the horny eyelids clicked again as it blinked.
"I like him. He means well. He will do," the great voice rumbled.
Alfred wilted a little. After a long experience of patronizing dumb friends, he found it disconcerting to be confronted by a creature that not only spoke, but patronized him as it did so. He returned its steady stare uneasily.
Dixon, disregarding the interruption, resumed:
"Probably the first thing that will strike you is that Una has no distinct head. That was one of my earliest rearrangements; the normal head is too exposed and vulnerable. The eyes should be carried high, of course, but there is no need whatever for a demidetached head.
"But in eliminating the head, there was sight to be considered. I therefore gave her three eyes, two of which you can see now, and one which is round the back—though, properly speaking, she has no back. Thus she is easily able to look and focus in any direction without the complicated device of a semirotatory head."
"Her general shape almost ensures that any falling or projected object would glance off the reinforced plastic carapace, but it seemed wise to me to insulate the brain from shock as much as possible by putting it where you might expect the stomach, I was thus able to put the stomach higher and allow for a more convenient disposition of the intestines."
"How does it eat?" I put in.
"Her mouth is round the other side," he said shortly. "Now, I have to admit that at first glance the provision of four arms might give an impression of frivolity. However, as I said before, the hand is the perfect tool—it is the right size. So you will see that Una's upper pair are delicate and finely moulded, while the lower are heavily muscular."
"Her respiration may interest you, too. I have used a flow principle. She inhales here, exhales there.
An improvement, you must admit, on our own rather disgusting system."
"As regards the general design, she unfortunately turned out to be considerably heavier than I had expected—slightly over one ton, in fact—and to support that I had to modify my original plan somewhat. I redesigned the legs and feet rather after the pattern of the elephant's so as to spread the weight, but I'm afraid it is not altogether satisfactory; something will have to be done in the later models to reduce the overall weight."
"The threelegged principle was adopted because it is obvious that the biped must waste quite a lot of muscular energy in merely keeping its balance, and a tripod is not only efficient, but more easily adaptable to uneven surfaces than a fourlegged support."
"As regards the reproductory system—"
"Excuse me interrupting," I said, "but with a plastic carapace, and stainless steel bones I don't—er —quite see —"
"A matter of glandular balance: regulation of the personality. Something had to be done there,
Similar Books
