Charless followed the machine to the larger room in the building, where he saw the final, complete logic computer assembled—and coupled to another instrument of similar but foreign construction. Between them was a small panel equipped with large orthicons, a speaker, and microphones.
The speaker sounded without preamble. "You and your kind, Jason Charless, admit that we are of higher intellect."
"Nonsense. What are you?"
"We are—Machines."
"Magnificent," scorned Charless.
"We are but a chain of machinery, linked by electricity. You are but a collection of chemicals, linked mostly by carbon atoms."
"But there is a difference—"
"Naturally," interrupted the machine, "just as there is a difference between human and plant."
"But there is no parallel."
"Oh, but there is."