mc.prey-第10部分

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ts　on　the　counter　to　the　left；　just　out　of　her　reach。　Now　they　were　too　close；　she　could　grab　them。　And　there　was　more…
　The　maid　came　in　behind　me。　〃Maria；〃　I　said；　〃did　you　clean　this　room？〃
　〃No；　Mr。　Forman。〃
　〃But　the　room　is　different；〃　I　said。
　She　looked　around；　and　shrugged。　〃No；　Mr。　Forman。　The　same。〃
　〃No；　no；〃　I　insisted。　〃It's　different。　Look。〃　I　pointed　to　the　lampshade；　the　changing　cloth。　〃Different。〃
　She　shrugged　again。　〃Okay；　Mr。　Forman。〃　I　read　confusion　in　her　face。　Either　she　didn't　follow　what　I　was　saying；　or　she　thought　I　was　crazy。　And　I　probably　did　look　a　little　crazy；　a　grown　man　obsessing　about　a　Winnie…the…Pooh　lampshade。
　I　showed　her　the　cube　in　my　hand。　〃Have　you　seen　this　before？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃No。〃
　〃It　was　under　the　crib。〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Mr。　Forman。〃　She　inspected　it；　turning　it　in　her　hand。　She　shrugged；　and　gave　it　back　to　me。　She　acted　casual；　but　her　eyes　were　watchful。　I　began　to　feel　unfortable。　〃Okay；　Maria；〃　I　said。　〃Never　mind。〃
　She　bent　over　to　scoop　up　the　baby。　〃I　feed　her　now。〃
　〃Yes；　okay。〃
　I　left　the　room；　feeling　odd。
　Just　for　the　hell　of　it；　I　looked　up　〃SSVT〃　on　the　Net。　I　got　links　to　the　Sri　Siva　Vishnu　Temple；　the　Waffen…SS　Training　School　at　Konitz；　Nazi　Regalia　for　sale；　Subsystems　Sample　Display　Technology；　South　Shore　Vocational…Technical　School；　Optical　VariTemp　Cryostat　Systems；　Solid　Surfacing　Veneer　Tiles　for　home　floors；　a　band　called　SlingshotVenus；　the　Swiss　Shooting　Federation…and　it　went　downhill　from　there。
　I　turned　away　from　the　puter。
　I　stared　out　the　window。
　Maria　had　given　me　a　shopping　list；　the　items　scrawled　in　her　difficult　hand。　I　really　should　get　the　shopping　done　before　I　picked　up　the　kids。　But　I　didn't　move。　There　were　times　when　the　relentless　pace　of　life　at　home　seemed　to　defeat　me；　to　leave　me　feeling　washed　out　and　hollow。　At　those　times　I　just　had　to　sit　for　a　few　hours。
　I　didn't　want　to　move。　Not　right　now。
　I　wondered　if　Julia　was　going　to　call　me　tonight；　and　I　wondered　if　she　would　have　a　different　excuse。　I　wondered　what　I　would　do　if　she　walked　in　one　of　these　days；　and　announced　she　was　in　love　with　someone　else。　I　wondered　what　I　would　do　if　I　still　didn't　have　a　job　by　then。　I　wondered　when　I　would　get　a　job　again。　I　turned　the　little　surge　suppressor　over　in　my　hand　idly；　as　my　mind　drifted。
　Right　outside　my　window　was　a　large　coral　tree；　with　thick　leaves　and　a　green　trunk。　We　had　planted　it　as　a　much　smaller　tree　not　long　after　we　moved　into　the　house。　Of　course　the　tree　guys　did　it；　but　we　were　all　out　there。　Nicole　had　her　plastic　shovel　and　bucket。　Eric　was　crawling　around　on　the　lawn　in　his　diapers。　Julia　had　charmed　the　workmen　into　staying　late　to　finish　the　job。　After　they　had　all　gone　I　kissed　her；　and　brushed　dirt　from　her　nose。　She　said；　〃One　day　it'll　cover　our　whole　house。〃
　But　as　it　turned　out；　it　didn't。　One　of　the　branches　had　broken　off　in　a　storm；　so　it　grew　a　little　lopsided。　Coral　is　soft　wood；　the　branches　break　easily。　It　never　grew　to　cover　the　house。　But　my　memory　was　vivid；　staring　out　the　window；　I　saw　all　of　us　again；　out　on　the　lawn。　But　it　was　just　a　memory。　And　I　was　very　afraid　it　didn't　fit　anymore。　After　working　for　years　with　multi…agent　systems；　you　begin　to　see　life　in　terms　of　those　programs。
　Basically；　you　can　think　of　a　multi…agent　environment　as　something　like　a　chessboard；　and　the　agents　like　chess　pieces。　The　agents　interact　on　the　board　to　attain　a　goal；　just　the　way　the　chess　pieces　move　to　win　a　game。　The　difference　is　that　nobody　is　moving　the　agents。　They　interact　on　their　own　to　produce　the　oute。
　If　you　design　the　agents　to　have　memory；　they　can　know　things　about　their　environment。　They　remember　where　they've　been　on　the　board；　and　what　happened　there。　They　can　go　back　to　certain　places；　with　certain　expectations。　Eventually；　programmers　say　the　agents　have　beliefs　about　their　environment；　and　that　they　are　acting　on　those　beliefs。　That's　not　literally　true；　of　course；　but　it　might　as　well　be　true。　It　looks　that　way。
　But　what's　interesting　is　that　over　time；　some　agents　develop　mistaken　beliefs。　Whether　from　a　motivation　conflict；　or　some　other　reason；　they　start　acting　inappropriately。　The　environment　has　changed　but　they　don't　seem　to　know　it。　They　repeat　outmoded　patterns。　Their　behavior　no　longer　reflects　the　reality　of　the　chessboard。　It's　as　if　they're　stuck　in　the　past。　In　evolutionary　programs；　those　agents　get　killed　off。　They　have　no　children。　In　other　multi…agent　programs；　they　just　get　bypassed；　pushed　to　the　periphery　while　the　main　thrust　of　agents　moves　on。　Some　programs　have　a　〃grim　reaper〃　module　that　sifts　them　out　from　time　to　time；　and　pulls　them　off　the　board。
　But　the　point　is；　they're　stuck　in　their　own　past。　Sometimes　they　pull　themselves　together；　and　get　back　on　track。　Sometimes　they　don't。
　Thoughts　like　these　made　me　very　uneasy。　I　shifted　in　my　chair；　glanced　at　the　clock。　With　a　sense　of　relief；　I　saw　it　was　time　to　go　pick　up　the　kids。
　Eric　did　his　homework　in　the　car　while　we　waited　for　Nicole　to　finish　her　play　rehearsal。　She　came　out　in　a　bad　mood；　she　had　thought　she　was　in　line　for　a　lead　role；　but　instead　the　drama　teacher　had　cast　her　in　the　chorus。　〃Only　two　lines！〃　she　said；　slamming　the　car　door。　〃You　want　to　know　what　I　say？　I　say；　'Look；　here　es　John　now。'　And　in　the　second　act；　I　say；　'That　sounds　pretty　serious。'　Two　lines！〃　She　sat　back　and　closed　her　eyes。　〃I　don't　understand　what　Mr。　Blakey's　problem　is！〃
　〃Maybe　he　thinks　you　suck；〃　Eric　said。
　〃Rat　turd！〃　She　smacked　him　on　the　head。　〃Monkey　butt！〃
　〃That's　enough；〃　I　said；　as　I　started　the　car。　〃Seat　belts。〃
　〃Little　stink…brain　dimrod；　he　doesn't　know　anything；〃　Nicole　said；　buckling　her　belt。
　〃I　said；　that's　enough。〃
　〃I　know　that　you　stink；〃　Eric　said。　〃Pee…yew。〃
　〃That's　enough；　Eric。〃
　〃Yeah；　Eric；　listen　to　your　father；　and　shut　up。〃
　〃Nicole　。。。〃　I　shot　her　a　glance　in　the　rearview　mirror。
　〃Sor…ry。〃
　She　looked　on　the　verge　of　tears。　I　said　to　her；　〃Honey；　I'm　really　sorry　you　didn't　get　the　part　you　wanted。　I　know　you　wanted　it　badly；　and　it　must　be　very　disappointing。〃
　〃No。　I　don't　care。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃Really；　Dad；　I　don't　care。　It's　in　the　past。　I'm　moving　on。〃　And　then　a　moment　later；　〃You　know　who　got　it？　That　little　suckup　Katie　Richards！　Mr。　Blakey　is　just　a　dick！〃　And　before　I　could　say　anything；　she　burst　into　tears；　sobbing　loudly　and　histrionically。　Eric　looked　over　at　me；　and　rolled　his　eyes。
　I　drove　home；　making　a　mental　note　to　speak　to　Nicole　about　her　language　after　dinner；　when　she　had　calmed　down。
　I　was　chopping　green　beans　so　they　would　fit　in　the　steamer　when　Eric　came　and　stood　in　the　kitchen　doorway。　〃Hey　Dad；　where's　my　MP3？〃
　〃I　have　no　idea。〃　I　could　never　get　used　to　the　idea　that　I　was　supposed　to　know　where　every　one　of　their　personal　possessions　was。　Eric's　Game　Boy；　his　baseball　glove；　Nicole's　tank　tops；　her　bracelet　。。。
　〃Well；　I　can't　find　it。〃　Eric　remained　standing　in　the　doorway；　not　ing　any　closer；　in　case　I　made　him　help　set　the　table。
　〃Have　you　looked？〃
　〃Everywhere；　Dad。〃
　〃Uh…huh。　You　looked　in　your　room？〃
　〃All　over。〃
　〃Family　room？〃
　〃Everywhere。〃
　〃In　the　car？　Maybe　you　left　it　in　the　car。〃
　〃I　didn't；　Dad。〃
　〃You　leave　it　in　your　locker　at　school？〃
　〃We　don't　have　lockers；　we　have　cubbies。〃
　〃You　look　in　the　pockets　of　your　jacket？〃
　〃Dad。　e　on。　I　did　all　that。　I　need　it。〃
　〃Since　you've　already　looked　everywhere；　I　won't　be　able　to　find　it　either；　will　I？〃
　〃Dad。　Would　you　please　just　help　me？〃
　The　pot　roast　had　another　half　hour　to　go。　I　put　down　the　knife　and　went　into　Eric's　room。　I　looked　in　all　the　usual　places；　the　back　of　his　closet　where　clothes　were　kicked　into　a　heap　（I　would　have　to　talk　to　Maria　about　that）；　under　the　bed；　behind　the　bed　table；　in　the　bottom　drawer　in　the　bathroom；　and　under　the　piles　of　stuff　on　his　desk。　Eric　was　right。　It　wasn't　in　his　room。　We　headed　toward　the　family　room。　I　glanced　in　at　the　baby's　room　as　I　passed　by。　And　I　saw　it　immediately。　It　was　on　the　shelf　beside　the　changing　table；　right　alongside　the　tubes　of　baby　ointment。　Eric　grabbed　it。　〃Hey；　thanks　Dad！〃　And　he　scampered　off。　There　was　no　point　in　asking　why　it　was　in　the　baby's　room。　I　went　back　to　the　kitchen　and　resumed　chopping　my　green　beans。　Almost　immediately：
　〃Daa…ad！〃
　〃What？〃　I　called。
　〃It　doesn't　work！〃
　〃Don't　shout。〃
　He　came　back　to　the　kitchen；　looking　sulky。　〃She　broke　it。〃
　〃Who　broke　it？〃
　〃Amanda。　She　drooled　on　it　or　something；　and　she　broke　it。　It's　not　fair。〃
　〃You　check　the　battery？〃
　He　gave　me　a　pitying　look。　〃　'Course；　Dad。　I　told　you；　she　broke　it！　It's　not　fair！〃
　I　doubted　his　MP3　player　was　broken。　These　things　were　solid…state　devices；　no　moving　parts。　And　it　was　too　large　for　the　baby　to　handle。　I　dumped　the　green　beans　on　the　steamer　tray；　and　held　out　my　hand。　〃Give　it　to　me。〃
　We　went　into　the　garage　and　I　got　out　my　toolbox。　Eric　watched　my　every　move。　I　had　a　full　set　of　the　small　tools　you　need　for　puters　and　electronic　devices。　I　worked　quickly。　Four　Phillips　head　screws；　and　the　back　cover　came　off　in　my　hand。　I　found　myself　staring　at　the　green　circuit　board。　It　was　covered　by　a　fine　layer　of　grayish　dust；　like　lint　from　a　clothes　dryer；　that　obscured　all　the　electronic　ponents。　I　suspected　that　Eric　had　slid　into　home　plate　with　this　thing　in　his　pocket。　That　was　probably　why　it　didn't　work。　But　I　looked　along　the　edge　of　the　plastic　and　saw　a　rubber　gasket　where　the　back　fitted　against　the　device。　They'd　made　this　thing　airtight　。。。　as　they　should。
　I　blew　the　dust　away；　so　I　could　see　better。　I　was　hoping　to　see　a　loose　battery　connection；　or　a　memory　chip　that　had　popped　up　from　heat；　anyway　something　that　would　be　easy　to　fix。　I　squinted　at　the　chips；　trying　to　read　the　writing。　The　writing　on　one　chip　was　obscured；　because　there　seemed　to　be　some　kind　of…
　I　paused。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Eric　said；　watching　me。
　〃Hand　me　that　magnifying　glass。〃
　Eric　gave　me　a　big　glass；　and　I　swung　my　high…intensity　lamp　low；　and　bent　over　the　chip；　examining　it　closely。　The　reason　I　couldn't　read　the　writing　was　that　the　surface　of