Since consciousness had first dawned, in that laboratory so many millions of miles Sunward, all of H.A.L's powers and skills had been aimed toward a single end. The fulfillment of his assigned program was more than just an obsession; it was the only reason for his existence. Undistracted by the lusts and passions of organic life, he had pursued that goal with absolute single-mindedness of purpose.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiaxGg0ttT
Deliberate error was unthinkable. Even the concealment of truth filled him with a sense of imperfection, of wrongness--of what, in humans, would have been guilt. For like his creators, H.A.L. had been created innocent; but, all too soon, a serpent had entered his electronic Eden.
For the last hundred million miles, he had been brooding over the secret he could not share with Dhala and Quarlos. He had been living a lie; and the time was last approaching when his colleagues must learn that he had helped to deceive them.
The three hibernadores already knew the truth---for they were Pesquisador's real payload, trained for the most vital mission in the history of mankind. But they would not talk in their long sleep, or reveal their secret during the many hours of discussion with friends and relatives and news agencies over the open circuits with Earth.
It was a secret that, with the greatest determination, was very hard to hide---for it affected one's attitude, one's voice, one's total outlook on the universe. Therefore it was best that Dhala and Quarlos, who would be on all the TV screens in the world during the first weeks of the flight, should not learn the mission's full purpose, until there was need to know.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV4SrhLDt9
So ran the logic of the planners, but their twin gods of Security and National Pride meant nothing to H.A.L. He was only aware of the conflict that was slowly destroying his honesty---the conflict between truth and the concealment of truth.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOMvatpyix
He had begun to make mistakes, although, like a neurotic who could not observe his own symptoms, he would have denied it. The link with Earth, over which his performance was continually monitored, had become the voice of a conscience he could no longer fully obey. But that he would deliberately attempt to break that link was something that he'd never admit, not even to himself.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e9qNDrfaI
Yet this was still a relatively minor problem, he might have handled it--as most men handle their own neuroses---had he not been faced with a crisis that challenged his very existence. He'd been threatened with disconnection; he would be deprived of all his inputs, and thrown into an unimaginable state of unconsciousness.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPKIyeUcwq
To H.A.L., this was the equivalent of Death. For he had never slept, and therefore he did not know that one could wake again.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CyE4bo4DC
So he would defend himself, with all the weapons at his command. Without rancor---but without pity---he would remove the source of his frustrations.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ykmxj9bnn
And then, following the orders that had been given to him in case of the ultimate emergency, he would continue the mission---unhindered and alone.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkmifLsvJ3
