Read Online How It Ends: Part 1 - The Evaluation by Scott C Lyerly - Free Book Online

say.”
    “Try.”
    “Do you know anything about robots at all?
Do you know they have these neural net systems that allow for
knowledge to be learned? They’re built loaded with a certain amount
of basic knowledge and the rest is learned through—believe it or
not—schools?”
    “Yes, I know. I’m studying robotic
engineering at NYU. This is the first time I’ve participated in an
evaluation of any sort. Kilgore is pretty much beyond my
expectations.”
    “You should know better.”
    “Better than what?”
    The nurse refused to say any more. Anita
sighed.
    “Did you have anything else you wanted to
add to this interview?”
    Wordlessly the nurse raised herself from the
chair. She walked out of the small room.

    * * *

    At the end of the day came one of the cases
Sidney had been waiting to observe. At the end of the day came Mrs.
Edna Carroway. Drs. Kilgore and Hermann met her in the waiting
room. Anita stood behind them. The room had been set aside for
relatives of patients who were residents at the geriatric facility.
Unlike the general visitor’s lounge, which was a sparse featureless
room with mismatched furniture both torn and coffee-stained, this
room was warmer, softer, more inviting.
    Mrs. Carroway was an old woman with a deeply
lined face. Recent years had seen more frowns than smiles. The
crow’s feet elongated down the side of her face. Her weary eyes had
the faded quality of the elderly. Long years of fighting the
inevitable. She was diminutive. Slight of build with sloping
shoulders that were warmed by a shawl.
    Before they entered the waiting room the
robot gave Sidney and Anita the details of Mrs. Carroway’s
situation in its smooth even voice.
    “Mrs. Carroway’s husband, Gregory, is
gravely ill. He has an aggressive form of cancer that has now
spread to his lungs, pancreas, and bladder. The cancer is stage
four. He is terminal. Chemotherapy has been unsuccessful and his
age prohibits the use of radiation. After careful consideration we
have therefore determined that the best course of action for Mr.
Carroway is physician-assisted suicide.”
    Sidney nodded. Anita flipped through her
notes. Other than the last interview there had been nothing
interesting to report. Robots had been treating patients in
controlled tests for several months now. This robot diagnosing and
prescribing treatments for patients was nothing new. This
appointment might change that. End of life care. How could a robot
be as comforting as a human?
    “Dr. Kilgore, we don’t want to intrude on
your patient. I would however like to observe the procedure. If you
would prefer we can watch by remote.”
    Sidney inclined his head toward the nurses’
station. He wondered if the robot would pick up the subtleties.
    “I will leave the decision up to you, Dr.
Hermann. Gregory Carroway has been in hospice care here for a
number of months. Privacy is one of the attributes that is lost
when one enters hospice care. He and his wife have grown used to
that. All manner of personnel come in and out of the room on a
regular basis. Nurses, doctors, even janitors. If it would make
your observations more precise, I welcome you into the room to
observe.”
    Score one for the robot , thought
Sidney. Then again, it’s willing to compromise its patient’s
comfort and privacy. Score one for me.
    “Of course,” continued Kilgore, “I must
consult with Mrs. Carroway before I give you full leave to
personally observe. I would not choose to cause her more discomfort
than she is already feeling at this time.”
    Damn , thought Sidney.
    Drs. Kilgore and Hermann entered the waiting
room with Anita behind them. Edna Carroway stood from her chair
with the slow motion of brittle bones. She pulled her shawl closer
around her shoulders and using a plain wooden cane hobbled forward
to greet the robot.
    “Good afternoon, Mrs. Carroway,”
    “Hello, Dr. Kilgore.” Her voice was as frail
as her appearance.
    “May I introduce to you Dr. Sidney Hermann
and