My Other Car is a Spaceship Read Online Free PDF

day? I have to sleep sometime.”
    “True. However, you will find that the effort necessary on your part to maintain station-keeping orbit and other basic tasks will be minimal, and many ship’s functions are automated. Your unconscious mind will quickly learn to monitor Adventurer’s status and perform minor tasks while you sleep. Except during battle conditions and interstellar flight, the ship will require little conscious thought on your part to keep it operating normally. The rest of the time you can spend on training and leisure activities.”
    “ Interstellar flight.” Hal shook his head in wonder. “I like the sound of that. All right then, let’s do it.”
    Nude gestured to one of the slabs that served as beds . Hal hopped on and found that it was much more comfortable than it looked, automatically conforming to his shape. Nude pressed a small handheld device to Hal’s temple. He felt an icy sensation that lasted but an instant and then was gone.
    Hal rubbed the area, which was tender, but only just. He braced himself. “Okay, whatever you’re gonna do next, I’m ready.”
    “We are done.”
    “That’s it? ” Hal relaxed. “That was fast.”
    “The procedure is entirely painless. You may sense a sort of tickling or itching as the implant goes to work. The sensation is purely imaginary; there are no pain sensors in the human brain. What you will feel is your brain attempting to make sense of the new signals it is receiving. Do not worry. This is all a normal part of the integration process. Within an hour, your consciousness will have expanded to take in the whole of the ship. I am told it is quite an enlightening experience.”
    Hal nodded his understanding. Then a moment later, “Say, Doc, Kalen tells me that this assignment will last several months and then I can return to my normal life. I take it this procedure is reversible. You can take the implant back out of me, right?”
    “Remove it? Dear me, no. It is part of your being for the rest of your life.” When Nude saw Hal sit up in alarm, he continued. “Do not worry. Once you are removed from this ship, the implant will no longer serve a purpose and can be deactivated. You will suffer no long-term effects from its use.”
    “Oh. ” Hal lay back on the slab, not exactly pleased at the idea of thousands of tiny spider-web-like tendrils extending throughout his brain. What if the implant woke up somehow and ran amok? He momentarily pictured it waving its tendrils and screaming, ‘Exterminate! Exterminate!’ before shoving the thought forcefully from his mind.
    “ I guess that’ll have to do. Now what?”
    “For the moment, just lie back and let the implant do its work. I will monitor your condition; however, I do not expect any complications.”
    “Complications?”
    Nude hesitated for a second, then looked to Kalen.
    The human answered, “In a very small percentage of implants, the patient’s brain chemistry is incompatible with the device and rejects it.”
    “ Rejects it? Um, just for grins, what happens to the patient if the implant is rejected?”
    “Moderate to severe brain damage , potentially death.”
    At Hal’s horrified expression, Nude jumped in. “Do not worry. I am reasonably certain that will not be the case here.”
    “ Reasonably certain?” Hal swallowed hard. “I hope you’re right.”
    He pictured Carol standing over his grave. Would she cry? “I suppose it’s too late to back out now.”
    “Quite.”
    Kalen rose to leave. “I’ll come back when the doctor says you’re fit for duty. In the meantime, just relax and let the implant do its job.”
    What have I gotten myself into?
    As Hal lay there, trying not to worry about his brain turning to mush, he had time to think about what would happen back home when he didn’t return right away. The newspapers would pile up, as would the mail. The mortgage would default and his utilities would be cut off for nonpayment. Bernie Carver, an old friend, probably