The Greatest Science Fiction Works of Philip K. Dick. Филип Дик

machines haven’t given any reading at all. Nothing but a blank. A total blank.”

      Sherikov’s features registered disbelief. “But that isn’t possible. Some odds exist at all times.”

      “The odds exist, but the machines aren’t able to calculate them.”

      “Why not?”

      “Because a variable factor has been introduced. A factor which the machines can’t handle. They can’t make any predictions from it.”

      “Can’t they reject it?” Sherikov said slyly. “Can’t they just—just ignore it?”

      “No. It exists, as real data. Therefore it affects the balance of the material, the sum total of all other available data. To reject it would be to give a false reading. The machines can’t reject any data that’s known to be true.”

      Sherikov pulled moodily at his black beard. “I would be interested in knowing what sort of factor the machines can’t handle. I thought they could take in all data pertaining to contemporary reality.”

      “They can. This factor has nothing to do with contemporary reality. That’s the trouble. Histo-research in bringing its time bubble back from the past got overzealous and cut the circuit too quickly. The bubble came back loaded—with a man from the twentieth century. A man from the past.”

      “I see. A man from two centuries ago.” The big Pole frowned. “And with a radically different Weltanschauung. No connection with our present society. Not integrated along our lines at all. Therefore the SRB machines are perplexed.”

      Reinhart grinned. “Perplexed? I suppose so. In any case, they can’t do anything with the data about this man. The variable man. No statistics at all have been thrown up—no predictions have been made. And it knocks everything else out of phase. We’re dependent on the constant showing of these odds. The whole war effort is geared around them.”

      “The horse-shoe nail. Remember the old poem? ‘For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of the shoe the horse was lost. For want of the horse the rider was lost. For want—’”

      “Exactly. A single factor coming along like this, one single individual, can throw everything off. It doesn’t seem possible that one person could knock an entire society out of balance—but apparently it is.”

      “What are you doing about this man?”

      “The Security police are organized in a mass search for him.”

      “Results?”

      “He escaped into the Albertine Mountain Range last night. It’ll be hard to find him. We must expect him to be loose for another forty-eight hours. It’ll take that long for us to arrange the annihilation of the range area. Perhaps a trifle longer. And meanwhile—”

      “Ready, Commissioner,” Kaplan interrupted. “The new totals.”

      The SRB machines had finished factoring the new data. Reinhart and Sherikov hurried to take their places before the view windows.

      For a moment nothing happened. Then odds were put up, locking in place.

      Sherikov gasped. 99-2. In favor of Terra. “That’s wonderful! Now we—”

      The odds vanished. New odds took their places. 97-4. In favor of Centaurus. Sherikov groaned in astonished dismay. “Wait,” Reinhart said to him. “I don’t think they’ll last.”

      The odds vanished. A rapid series of odds shot across the screen, a violent stream of numbers, changing almost instantly. At last the machines became silent.

      Nothing showed. No odds. No totals at all. The view windows were blank.

      “You see?” Reinhart murmured. “The same damn thing!”

      Sherikov pondered. “Reinhart, you’re too Anglo-Saxon, too impulsive. Be more Slavic. This man will be captured and destroyed within two days. You said so yourself. Meanwhile, we’re all working night and day on the war effort. The warfleet is waiting near Proxima, taking up positions for the attack on the Centaurans. All our war plants are going full blast. By the time the attack date comes we’ll have a full-sized invasion army ready to take off for the long trip to the Centauran colonies. The whole Terran population has been mobilized. The eight supply planets are pouring in material. All this is going on day and night, even without odds showing. Long before the attack comes this man will certainly be dead, and the machines will be able to show odds again.”

      Reinhart considered. “But it worries me, a man like that out in the open. Loose. A man who can’t be predicted. It goes against science. We’ve been making statistical reports on society for two centuries. We have immense files of data. The machines are able to predict what each person and group will do at a given time, in a given situation. But this man is beyond all prediction. He’s a variable. It’s contrary to science.”

      “The indeterminate particle.”

      “What’s that?”

      “The particle that moves in such a way that we can’t predict what position it will occupy at a given second. Random. The random particle.”

      “Exactly. It’s—it’s unnatural.”

      Sherikov laughed sarcastically. “Don’t worry about it, Commissioner. The man will be captured and things will return to their natural state. You’ll be able to predict people again, like laboratory rats in a maze. By the way—why is this room guarded?”

      “I don’t want anyone to know the machines show no totals. It’s dangerous to the war effort.”

      “Margaret Duffe, for example?”

      Reinhart nodded reluctantly. “They’re too timid, these parliamentarians. If they discover we have no SRB odds they’ll want to shut down the war planning and go back to waiting.”

      “Too slow for you, Commissioner? Laws, debates, council meetings, discussions…. Saves a lot of time if one man has all the power. One man to tell people what to do, think for them, lead them around.”

      Reinhart eyed the big Pole critically. “That reminds me. How is Icarus coming? Have you continued to make progress on the control turret?”

      A scowl crossed Sherikov’s broad features. “The control turret?” He waved his big hand vaguely. “I would say it’s coming along all right. We’ll catch up in time.”

      Instantly Reinhart became alert. “Catch up? You mean you’re still behind?”

      “Somewhat. A little. But we’ll catch up.” Sherikov retreated toward the door. “Let’s go down to the cafeteria and have a cup of coffee. You worry too much, Commissioner. Take things more in your stride.”

      “I suppose you’re right.” The two men walked out into the hall. “I’m on edge. This variable man. I can’t get him out of my mind.”

      “Has he done anything yet?”

      “Nothing important. Rewired a child’s toy. A toy vidsender.”

      “Oh?” Sherikov showed interest. “What do you mean? What did he do?”

      “I’ll show you.” Reinhart led Sherikov down the hall to his office. They entered and Reinhart locked the door. He handed Sherikov the toy and roughed in what Cole had done. A strange look crossed Sherikov’s face. He found the studs on the box and depressed them. The box opened. The big Pole sat down at the desk and began to study the interior of the box. “You’re sure it was the man from the past who rewired this?”

      “Of course. On the spot. The boy damaged it playing. The variable man came along and the boy asked him to fix it. He fixed it, all right.”

      “Incredible.” Sherikov’s eyes were only an inch from the wiring. “Such tiny relays. How could he—”

      “What?”

      “Nothing.”