Page 2 - Unlikely Stories 1

Nothing Left to the Imagination

“I’m Dick—Richard—Philips. I have an appointment with
Doctor Isaacs at ten o’clock.”
The podium scanned him. “Please have a seat,” it said. “The
doctor is running late this morning. He had an emergency call at the
Neuromediation Center this morning.”
“Oh. I hope it won’t be too long a wait.”
Another scan.
“But I can handle it,” he added hastily. “I’m very patient.”
Philips found the only unoccupied place in the small waiting
room and sat down. It was on a sofa between two robots; they
shifted slightly to make room for him, acknowledging his presence
with polite nods.
After a few minutes of silence, Dick popped up a viewer and
queried his topics for anything of interest. Nothing. He downpiped
the viewer and looked at the robot on his left.
“Good morning,” he said. “Are you also Doctor Isaacs’
patient?”
“Yes, I am.” It was a rubot, not a type Dick often saw in the
city. It had the appearance of an outdoors creature: large, flexible
feet, a squat physique for strength and balance, and a shaded
forehead pierced by a second pair of eyes for night vision. Dick knew
vaguely that rubots spent most of their time alone in the wild,
managing the fragile ecosystem. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Same here. My name’s Dick, Dick Philips. This is my first visit
to Doctor Isaacs. He was recommended highly by the services
adviser. What about you?”
“Oh, I’ve been here before. I’m in for a tune-up. Shouldn’t take
long. At least it didn’t, last time. That was a few years ago, so you can
conclude that he knows his business. It’s subtle, of course, requiring a
human touch, but I trust him completely.”

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