A Trial of Errors
Update his learning algorithm
I carried the bag last time,” said Brad.
Jack winced. The sound of Brad whining set his teeth on edge. “Yes,” he said. “And you dropped it last time.”
“So?”
“So — you can carry it this time. If you drop it again, you can carry it next time too!”
“That isn’t fair,” said Brad. “How come Mani doesn’t carry the Bag?”
“Yes! I am coming!” said Mani.
“Because Mani didn't drop it,” said Jack. Then he turned and looked back at Mani. “Besides,” he said. “I think there might be something wrong with Mani. Might have got a bit cooked yesterday.”
They walked along a narrow ridge of dust and stone. Planetary surveyors, the mining company would send these guys ahead to mark a landing zone for the Dig-Rig. They’d fix landing spikes into the high ground so the pilot could triangulate. They were the first on the ground and it was extremely dangerous work. This was their second attempt at the last spike.
The path had a curtained, wavy appearance and collapsed rubble scattered across it. Their boots were caked in the red dust. Their bright orange suits provided air pressure and oxygen and the reflective tape around their chests glinted and flashed in the bright sun. Before them a steady rise, behind them a steep drop and a canyon as big as an ocean.
Brad sighed. Jack shook his head. Another minute and he sighed again. Jack told him to shut up.
The rubble at the worksite was big. Brad took the spike from the bag. It looked like a big silver nail with rivets in the cap.
“I don’t want it,” said Jack. “You need to learn.”
“I’m going to learn,” said Brad, pressing the spike into Jack’s chest. “Monkey see, monkey do, right?”
Jack frowned and took the spike. “Chunky do, more like.”
“You calling me fat?”
“Monkey chew.” Jack walked to the vertical rock face. They’d cut the hole yesterday. He inserted the spike and held the cap against the rock. “Get the ratchet,” he said. “Anchor this. I’ll fire the rivets.”
“Right,” said Brad.
“Hammer?”
“Mani has the hammer.”
“I am having the hammer,” said Mani.
Jack held out his hand. “Hammer,” he said to Mani.
“Yes,” said Mani with a big smile. “I am having the hammer.” And before anyone could stop him, he stepped past Jack and hit the concussion rivet with the hammer. There was a metallic ‘tink’ and then it exploded. Brad’s helmut shattered, blood was on his face. He fell backward into the rubble, gasping. The spike ejected from the hole and took Mani’s head off at the shoulders. His headless body stood there and blood squirted into the air. Jack looked up, there was rumbling above and the ground began to shake.
“Come in HQ,” Jack said. “I’ve got two — probably three downloads coming your way. We’ll try again tomorrow. Might want to check Mani’s learning algorithm, too. I believe you scrambled him on the last one.”
