"Unlock Special File Zebra."

[libertango]

Don't explain computers to laymen. Simpler to explain sex to a virgin. Wyoh couldn't see why, if Mike knew where Alvarez kept records, Mike didn't trot over and fetch.

I gave up. "Mike, can you explain?"

"I will try, Man. Wyoh, there is no way for me to retrieve locked data other than through external programming. I cannot program myself for such retrieval; my logic structure does not permit it. I must receive the signal as external input."

"Well, for Bog's sake, what is this precious signal?"

"It is," Mike said simply, "'Special File Zebra'" -- and waited.

"Mike!" I said. "Unlock Special File Zebra." He did, and stuff started spilling out. Had to convince Wyoh that Mike hadn't been stubborn. He hadn't -- he almost begged us to tickle him on that spot. Sure, he knew signal. Had to. But had to come from outside, that was how he was built.

-- Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

Comments

[aamusedinatx.livejournal.com]

Wyoming Knott was always one of my favorite female characters in the Heinlein universe. And the Moon is a Harsh Mistress one of his better books.