DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | The Alchemist, v. 1, issue 5, February 1941

Transcribe
Translate

The Alchemist, v. 1, issue 5, February 1941

Page 36

36              -----  ALCHEMIST  -----

   Narodny said: "Robots--were there ever any of you who could poetize?"

   They answered: "What is poetize?"

   Narodny laughed: "Never mind. Have you ever sung-made music -painted? Have you ever dreamed?"

   One robot said with cold irony: "Dreamed? No-for we do not sleep. We leave all that to men. It is why we have conquered them."

   Narodny said, almost gently: "Not yet, robot. Have you ever - danced? No? It is an art you are about to learn."

   The unheard note began, droned up and through the tempest and away and back again. And up and down-- and up and down, though not so loudly as before. And suddenly the feet of the robots began to move, to shuffle. Their leg joints bear, their bodies swayed. The note seemed to move now here and now there about the chamber, and always following it, grotesquely. Like hugh metal marionettes they followed it. The music ended in a crashing note. And it was as though every vibrating atom of the robot bodies had met with some irresistable obstruction. Their bodies quivvered and from their voice mechanisms came a shriek that was a hideous blend of machine and life. Once more the drone, and once more and then, again, the abrupt stop.

   There was a brittle crackling all over the bodies The star shaped splinterings appeared. Once again the drone-but the two robots stood unresponding. For through the complicated mechanisms which under their carapaces animated them were similar splinterings. 

   The robots were dead!

Saving...

36 ----- ALCHEMIST ----- Narodny said: "Robots--were there ever any of you who could poetize?" They answered: "What is poetize?" Narodny laughed: "Never mind. Have you ever sung-made music -painted? Have you ever dreamed?" One robot said with cold irony: "Dreamed? No-for we do not sleep. We leave all that to men. It is why we have conquered them." Narodny said, almost gently: "Not yet, robot. Have you ever - danced? No? It is an art you are about to learn." The unheard note began, droned up and through the tempest and away and back again. And up and down-- and up and down, though not so loudly as before. And suddenly the feet of the robots began to move, to shuffle. Their leg joints bear, their bodies swayed. The note seemed to move now here and now there about the chamber, and always following it, grotesquely. Like hugh metal marionettes they followed it. The music ended in a crashing note. And it was as though every vibrating atom of the robot bodies had met with some irresistable obstruction. Their bodies quivvered and from their voice mechanisms came a shriek that was a hideous blend of machine and life. Once more the drone, and once more and then, again, the abrupt stop. There was a brittle crackling all over the bodies The star shaped splinterings appeared. Once again the drone-but the two robots stood unresponding. For through the complicated mechanisms which under their carapaces animated them were similar splinterings. The robots were dead!