The small computer on the table in front of me now began to do some funny calculations, and the result came back, spectacularly, in the margin of about half a second.

“That’s just how I want it!” spluttered the computerized voice.

“How?” I said. “Do you mean... you want it to happen or do you not want it to happen?”

“Oh no,” the computer interrupted. “I do not want it to happen. I do not want it to happen.”

“Then don’t do it.”

The computer waited, and said nothing. But when it spoke, its voice became suddenly urgent, and it began to choke up. “I... I don’t want it to be a failure.”