Tuesday, October 22, 2013

"What Would Dogs Do - Part 6" (short story)


While they waited for Margolis, Harrison and Goldberg fed and watered the dogs but then they took them back outside again.  It was such an incredible thing to hear them saying any words at all and both daydreamed a little about what they might say next.

When Margolis arrived, she was obviously feeling the same excitement as Goldberg had shown when he came over.  Part of that was her pleasure in seeing Goldberg was already there and she was trying to contain any sign of it but there was clearly more.

Goldberg saw her and walked over to her then said, "Good day," and then greeted her with a quick kiss.  This surprised her all the more but she quickly realised there must not be a secret anymore and she smiled.

Margolis wasn't pretty the way Hollywood thinks and most the time she was so serious about her work that people would only think of her as a scientist anyway.  But when she smiled any man on the planet would give everything he owned to see her do it again.  Goldberg was a lucky man.

She couldn't hold her news any longer and said, "Professor, I think the dogs are talking a little bit."

"Well, let's hear what they have to say then," said Harrison.  "Did Steve tell you what he has heard from his dogs?"

She replied a bit sheepishly, "Yes.  I saw him last night and we talked about it.  He wasn't sure it was solid enough to bring them over to you.  When I heard it, I said definitely see you as I was sure you would want to know."

Goldberg said, "Baby, there's something new.  When the dogs here heard mine talking, they started talking too."

Harrison interrupted, "Baby?"

"OK, Boss.  Sorry about that.  I'm just happy you know about us and I'll try to keep a lid on that kind of talk."

Margolis didn't pay any attention to the exchange and asked right away, "You mean they are learning from each other?"

"Exactly," said Harrison.

"The dogs spent very little time together last night so we didn't see this phenomenon," said Margolis.

"Did your dogs say the same things," asked Goldberg.

"No!  That's what fascinates me," exclaimed Margolis.

"Don't tease me," said Goldberg, laughing.

"I don't mean to tease.  I heard them say FOOD and they might have said WATER but everything is slurred."

"This is wonderful," said Goldberg.  "It wouldn't surprise me if the others pick it up too.  Shall we take them back to the food and water to see what happens?"

Harrison was about to agree when the phone rang and it was Ford.  The conversation was quite animated and neither Goldberg nor Margolis could make any sense of what the actual exchange might have been.

"Call the others and arrange for them to meet over here in two hours, if you will.  I need to go into the University to see Ford.  We've obviously got to review how we will manage socialising the dogs as there is clear benefit for the program in doing it but there may be more."  Harrison spoke quickly and was clear in a hurry.

"No problem, Boss.  May I ask why the rush," asked Goldberg.

"Not just yet, Steve.  There wasn't much Ford could say over the phone but it looks like we may have a problem.  I will be back in two hours.  Feel free to bring the others over sooner than that but I'm sure it will take me two hours to return."

No comments: