The Enigma Stolen

He walked up to his work area where the screen saver was doing a random display of EZ photos from her last visit to Zurich. Now that she was here to stay he smiled. After he was seated, he performed some practiced strokes on the keyboard which launched a series of programs he would use during the workday.

“ICABOD, we need to talk. I mean…that is….I’ll talk and you get to listen. You put in a recurring meeting for us to discuss a topic that I find a little awkward. By the way, thank you for your expert assistance in getting us out of the clutches of the security goons at the airport. I’m still not sure how you pulled all those resources together so successfully on such a short notice. Again, my thanks.”

Using his evolving synthetic speech, ICABOD acknowledged, “I am glad to be of service when you are in difficulty, Dr. Quip. However, I must tell you that in sifting through the many intersect points surrounding your return, the security problem manifested itself two days earlier, so arrangements were done in advance of the event. All parties knew of their role and the precise activity needed to remedy the situation.”

Quip pondered that response for a few moments, then continued, “ICABOD, I am uncomfortable with your ability to foresee the future and your use of the word I in our conversations of late. These two abilities you have developed have caught me at a disadvantage, and I need to intercept your progress at this juncture.