And it all stems, I guess, from faintheartedness. In our modern world people in the name of ideals and political goals go forth and send others to kill and die. There are ideas and goals that justify it. And I have a great idea and a great goaclass="underline" to create a method that improves man and human society. I won't spare myself, if need be. Then why am I afraid to give the command “No!” for the sake of my work? I have to be firmer, if I'm undertaking this work.
Especially since this isn't death. Death is the disappearance of information about a man, but the information is not lost in the computer — womb; it merely changes form, from electrical impulses and potentials to man. And I can always give them another double if they want….
I pondered until the hoses leaving the tank began contracting rhythmically, emptying out the excess liquid. Then I put on the Crown and gave the command.
It's not a pleasant sight: there was a man — and he dissolved. I still feel bad…. All right, pal, don't rush. I'll make you fine and dandy. Of course, I can't give you more brains than what I've got myself, but at least I'll give you looks that will make you reel. After all, you have lots of flaws, as I do: slightly bowed legs, hips too wide and fat, rounded shoulders, a stumpy torso, masses of excess hair on the legs, chest, and back. And protruding ears, and a jaw that makes me look like a complete dolt. And my forehead, and my nose. no, let's be self — critical. It just won't do!
August 6. Experiment number 2 — things get harder by the hour! Today I decided to improve on the looks of a new double and got so messed up that I don't even want to think about it.
I began knowing exactly what was “not it” in my looks. (Actually, it's all “not it,” if it can be changed.) But what was “it?” In my experiments with the rabbits the criterion for “it” was whatever I felt like. But a man is no rabbit; even though they say one head is good, and two are better, no one ever thought that in a biological sense.
After my command of “You may!” the image of the new double appeared and the semitransparent lilac muscles of the stomach had started disappearing under a layer of yellow fat, I gave the signal “That's not it!” The computer, obeying my imagination, dissolved the fat tissue where I saw it: on the stomach and near the neck, leaving it on the back and sides.
I hadn't noticed that right away, because I was working on the face. Mentally I gave the double a noble brow, but when I looked at the profile, I was aghast: the skull had been flattened! And the shape of the brow contradicted the rest of the face.
In a word, I was lost. The computer took that for a total “not it” and dissolved the double.
I was at dead — end. “It was obviously the beauty of the human body. There are classical examples of it. But… turning my double into a pleasant — looking man with classic features in the course of two hours of synthesis was something that was beyond the powers of not only me, but of the most qualified member of the Artists' Union of the USSR! My only hope was that the computer was remembering all the changes made on the double.
Then I gave the order “You may!” once more. Yes, the computer — womb remembered everything: the double retained all my clumsy changes. That was better, I could work as many sessions as was necessary.
In that session I got rid of the excess fat from the double's body. His pot belly disappeared. You could even see his waist. And his neck took on definite outline. That was enough for a start. “No!” Everything disappeared and I ran over to the city library.
I'm leafing through Professor G. Gicescusy Atlas of Plastic Anatomy (I also have four richly illustrated books on Renaissance art), learning about the proportions of the human body, picking out the double's looks like a suit off the rack. The canons of Leonardo da Vinci, of Durer, the proportions of Schmidt — Friech…. It seems that in a proportionate man the buttocks are exactly at mid — height. Who would have thought!
God, what a poor engineer had to learn!
I'm taking Hercules as my basis since he is shown from all angles.
August 74. The twelfth experiment — and it's still not right. Still lopsided and vulgar. First one leg is shorter than the other, then the arms don't match. Now I'm going to try the proportions of Durer's Adam.
August 20. The proportions are right. But the face… an eyeless, dead copy with Krivoshein's features. Large rust — colored marble curlicues instead of hair. In a word, today was the twenty — first “No!”
Someone careful and suspicious inside me keeps asking “Is this it? The method you're developing now, is this the method?”
I think so, yes. Anyway, it's a step in the right direction. For now, in order to synthesize a man, I introduce only high — quality information about his body. But in the same manner we could (and in time we'll work out how to do it) introduce any information gathered by humanity into the computer — womb on the best human qualities, and create not only externally beautiful and physically strong people, but ones who are beautiful and strong in mental and spiritual qualities as well. Usually the good is mixed with the bad in people: he's smart but weak in spirit; he's got a strong will but applies it to trifles either through stupidity or ignorance, or he's firm, and kind, and smart, but sickly. and with this method we could get rid of all the bad and synthesize only the best qualities into a person.
“A synthetic knight without fear or flaw” — that must sound terrible. But what's the difference in the end: whether they're synthetic or natural? As long as there are plenty of them. There are so few “knights” — personally I only know them from movies and books. And yet we need them so much in real life. There'll be room and work for all of them. And each will be able to influence the world to be a better place.
August 28. It's working! Pathetic daubers with their brushes who try to capture the beauty and power of living person in a dead medium. Here it is, my “brush,” an electrochemical machine, a continuation of my brain. And I'm an engineer, not an artist. Without using my hands, through the power of my mind, I am creating beauty in life with life.
The delicate and precise proportions of Durer's Adam with the rippling muscles of Hercules. And the face is handsome. Two or three more tries… and I'm done.
September 1. The first day on the calendar! I'm on my way to the lab. I have pants, shirt, and shoes for him. Into the suitcase. And don't forget the movie camera — I'm going to film the appearance of the magnificent double. I'm anticipating what an effect that home movie will have someday when I show it!
I'm going over there, put on Monomakh's Crown, and mentally I'll give the order. no, I'll say it out loud, damn it, in a strong and beautiful voice, the way the Lord had spoken in a similar situation:
“You may! Appear into this world, double Adam — Hercules — Krivoshein!”
“And the Lord saw that it was good….”
Of course, I'm not God. I spent a month creating a man, and He managed on a shortened workday, Saturday. But was that work?
Chapter 16
Man has always considered himself smart — even when he walked on all fours and curled his tail like a handle on a lea — kettle. In order to become smart, he'll have to feel that he is stupid at least once.
— K. Prutkov — engineer, Thought 59
The next entry in the diary shocked student Krivoshein with its uneven, changed handwriting.
September 6. But I didn't want… I didn't want something like this! All I can do is shout to the sky: I didn't want it! I tried to make things come out well… without any mistakes. I didn't even sleep nights. I just lay there with my eyes shut, picturing all the details of Hercules' body, and then Adam's, noting which features should be added to my double.