Chapter 8Proktor swore as the warning light came on. He overrode it and the console whispered gently to him.
“No, Proktor, you’re too tired. I can’t accept your override now. The probability of your making material errors is too high.” Proktor’s jaw set and he activated the override again, keying in a ‘most urgent’ code.
“No, Proktor,” said the console, a little more firmly. “It’s not ‘most urgent’ and you know it. Now, stop working and go to bed. You’re too tired.”
The fingerboard went dead under Proktor’s hand and in exasperation he kicked the console viciously.
“Ooo,” said the machine plaintively. Proktor swore again, very loudly, and angrily disconnected the link from the back of his hand. Damned machine, he thought. Designed to produce voice inflections that would take the user aw
