Read Online Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine by Jay Williams, Abrashkin Abrashkin - Free Book Online Page A

young people.
    Dr. Grimes, his vinegary face wrinkled in a smile, said, “Ah, Mrs. Dunn, this roast beef is delicious.”
    â€œThank you. Have some more dumplings, Dr. Grimes. I remembered how much you liked them.”
    â€œI must make a point of coming down to visit more often.”
    â€œGood!” cried the Professor. “After a month or two of Mrs. Dunn’s cooking and my music, you’ll be a different man.”
    â€œReally? Who will he be?” asked Dr. Quibberly, absent-mindedly.
    â€œOh, he’ll still be Dr. Grimes—but a fat and jolly-looking Dr. Grimes,” laughed the Professor.
    Dr. Quibberly raised his head and peered at Dr. Grimes. “I find it impossible to imagine such a thing,” he said.
    â€œNothing is impossible to imagine,” said the Professor. “To a scientist, all things are possible. And the next step is to make them happen.”
    â€œLike your computer, eh, Bullfinch?” Dr. Grimes said. “That is, if it really works.”
    â€œI think I may confidently say that you will be surprised,” said the Professor.
    Danny groaned.
    â€œWhat did you say, Dan?” his mother asked.
    â€œEr—I said—uh—please pass the data.”
    â€œThe what?”
    â€œI mean, the dumplings.”
    Dr. Quibberly was saying, “And do you mean that you can really give instructions to your computer by simply speaking to it?”
    â€œExactly. You know that the large digital computers—like International Business Machines’ large computer Number 705, for instance—have push buttons for the memory address selector. However, my machine can receive instructions and addresses by the voice pattern coming through the microphone—”
    â€œAnd does it reply with a voice?” asked Dr. Grimes.
    â€œNo, no. By means of an electric typewriter. I have also eliminated punch cards, because of my new magnetic tape.”
    â€œFantastic.”
    â€œYes, it is. Danny can tell you about it. He’s seen it in operation and has been keeping it up to date for me while I’ve been away. Haven’t you, Dan?”
    â€œEep!” said Danny. He managed a faint shadow of a smile. “I—I sure have, Professor,” he got out, at last.
    Mrs. Dunn served dessert—fresh, hot peach pie—and Danny could not manage to eat more than two pieces. Then he leaned over and whispered something to Irene.
    The Professor pulled a number of sheets of ruled paper from his jacket pocket. “Now, gentlemen,” he said, as Mrs. Dunn cleared the table and brought out the coffee, “before we go in for the first tests, let us program our material. I have blanks right here on which we can set down the necessary operations and addresses.”
    â€œIs your programming similar to that used for other computers?”
    â€œIn general, yes.”
    They drew their chairs close together and began to work. An hour went by and then the Professor gathered together the papers.
    â€œI think,” he said, “we’re ready to begin.”
    He pushed back his chair and rose. “Danny, my boy,” he said, “you may lead the way…”
    He pulled off his glasses and looked round the dining room.
    â€œWhere is the boy?” he asked.
    â€œHe has probably run out to play with his little friend,” said Dr. Quibberly.
    â€œHmm. That’s strange. I was sure he’d want to see this,” said Professor Bullfinch. “Well, we will have to commence without him. Please follow me.”
    CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    Sabotage!
    Danny and Irene were not playing. They had slipped out to the laboratory, where Danny once again tried to find out what was wrong with the computer. He examined the social studies report carefully in the hope of finding a clue, and once more checked over all the parts of the machine. He stood up, at last, wiping his forehead, and said, “I give up.”
    â€œPerhaps