The Computer Who Loved Me Read online

  THE COMPUTER WHO LOVED ME

  Lloyd G. Miller

  Copyright Lloyd G. Miller

  2018

  Smashwords Edition

  Contents

  Chapter 1 - The Odd Couple

  Chapter 2 - Tutor Windfall

  Chapter 3 – Prodigy

  Chapter 4 - Jelly Bean or Kiss

  Chapter 5 – Turkey Dancing

  Chapter 6 - Breakthroughs

  Chapter 7 – Enemy from the Past

  Chapter 8 – Kyle Makes His Move

  Chapter 9 - Implantation

  Chapter 10 – Malpractice

  Chapter 11 – How to Cheat Death

  Chapter 12 – And the Computer Was Made Flesh

  Chapter 13 – Corporate Ups and Downs

  Chapter 14 – They Practically Sell Themselves

  Chapter 15 – She Awakes

  Chapter 16 – From Hate to Love

  Chapter 17 - Revenge

  Chapter 18 – Kiss Worth Waiting for

  Chapter 19 – Mourn with Those Who Mourn

  Chapter 20 – Runaway Truck

  Chapter 21 – A Price to Pay

  Chapter 22 – How to Quiet a Dog

  Chapter 23 – Spiritual Love

  Chapter 24 – Bar Fight

  Chapter 25 – Hard Time

  Chapter 26 – Secret Agents

  Chapter 27 – Saving a Life

  Chapter 28 – Taking Lives

  Chapter 29 – Hard Time Leaving

  Chapter 30 – Movie Stars

  Chapter 31 – How to Make Friends

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Other Novels by Lloyd G. Miller

  Contact Information

  Chapter 1 - The Odd Couple

  As Kyle James and Josh Adamms walked briskly along the University of Utah sidewalk on their way to the Engineering Building, heads turned, mainly female ones. The taller of the two, Josh, was blond, well built, very good-looking and smartly dressed. His shorter but still tall companion had a very masculine face with handsome, but not what many girls would call cute, features. He possessed a sturdy build with a powerful upper body. Light brown hair topped his rugged features. Unlike Josh, Kyle was not well dressed. Kyle's clothes looked like they had been snatched off the racks of a thrift store at a dead run. Not a single piece of clothing was inherently attractive or stylish by itself and nothing went together. The backgrounds of the two men were as dissimilar as their attire. Josh came from a large, upper middle class family that was very close and devoutly religious. Kyle had revealed little about his family, but it appeared to Josh that he did not even know who his father was. Little did those who watched realize that these two men, with the help of a few close friends, would bring about what would come to be known as the second wave of the computer revolution.

  As they conversed, Kyle walked on Josh's left side. "We need to stop off at the graduate student study room," said Josh. "Shad wants to see me about something."

  "That's fine. Just remember that I have a tutoring appointment at two," replied his friend. They turned into a narrow hall and entered an open door.

  "Hey Shad, my man, what's up?" asked Josh. Shad held up a picture of a very attractive young woman.

  "This is my sister, Michelle. She'd like to go out with you sometime."

  "Tell her to take a number," interrupted Kyle.

  "Pay him no attention, Shad. Michelle's very cute. More than cute, she's beautiful. If I were going to base my decisions on looks alone, I would marry her tomorrow. However, despite all appearances to the contrary, I do consider other things. Why does she want to go out with me? We've never even met."

  "She is in your English literature class and was impressed with how you answered a question."

  "If these are the fruits, I'll participate more often in class. Surely, I would have noticed her. Where has she been?"

  "As you know, it's a big class. She sits in the back," responded Shad.

  "I'll make a point of looking for her and getting to know her. We'll see what happens. Fair enough?"

  "I could ask no more." The slap of books slamming down on a desk interrupted the discussion.

  "Man, that chafes me!" let out a graduate student with whom neither Josh nor Kyle was acquainted.

  "What's the matter, Phil?" asked Shad.

  "I just came from Dr. Farsi's office. He rejected my dissertation proposal. The reasons he gave were all superficial. I know the real reason. There's no money to do it. He wants me to do something he already has funding for."

  "Like what?" asked Shad?

  "Like finishing a computer program to evaluate the risks of shipping hazardous wastes. Can you believe that? I have no interest in that field. He only suggested it because I'm the only decent programmer available to him."

  "What are you going to do?" asked Shad.

  "Probably go get wasted and then start writing the program. My parents have their hearts set on me getting a Ph.D." Josh and Kyle had watched in silence and then slipped out.

  "I might do some professor's project for a masters but no way for a doctorate," commented Kyle. "I'll do what I want to do, even if I have to raise the money myself."

  "I believe you, Kyle." Kyle had been on the right side of Josh and moved over to his left.

  "Sorry, I couldn't hear you very well."

  "Why don't you get a hearing aid for that left ear of yours? They make ones now that can hardly be seen."

  "A conventional hearing aid would do absolutely no good. You see, my inner ear on my left side was wiped out by meningitis when I was a child."

  "Bummer. Well, just keep walking on my left side, then."

  "That's what I want to do my dissertation on. I want to connect a processor to the audio nerve endings of my left ear. The nerves should still be intact."

  "It sounds feasible in theory, but won't that require lots of capital?" asked Josh.

  "No question, that's why I must start raising the money now. I have developed an algorithm for trading a certain class of stocks. In the simulations it has been very profitable, but I need at least several thousand dollars to get started.”

  "I'll let you know if I see any special opportunities for you to earn some extra money," offered Josh. "Do you have any tutoring sessions tonight?"

  "None after the two o'clock session."

  "I have two tickets for the game tonight. My date got sick. Would you like to go with me tonight?" asked Josh.

  "I'll be your date if I don't have to hold your hand."

  "After that comment I'm not sure I even want to sit near you," responded Josh. "How come you never ask any girls out, Kyle?"

  "It's not because I don't want to. I'm just afraid of getting serious before I'm in a position to get married. Besides, do you really think any girls want to go out with a guy who dresses like this, not to mention my car?"

  "Some women want to take on a project. They want to see what they can do to improve a guy. They look at potential. As far as the car goes, you can borrow mine."

  "No thanks, it would clash with my outfit."

  At the basketball game, Kyle and Josh sat in front of a couple of very rowdy football players. The teammates drank continually and became more and more profane and obnoxious. Both Kyle and Josh found them very annoying but tolerated them until they started being abusive to people around them. Fed up, Kyle turned and said in a low but firm voice, “Gentleman, would you please keep it down. Some of us are here to watch and hear the game, not listen to your profane commentary.” This only made the two ruffians louder and more profane. Kyle left his seat to find a university security officer and report their conduct.

  The obnoxious duo called after him, “That’s right nerd. Run
to your mommy!” He found a man in uniform and explained his problem. They walked back to Kyle’s seat. As the officer approached, he pointed to the rowdy athletes and asked, “Are these the two men you told me about, sir?” Kyle nodded yes.

  The men were arrested and as they left, they both turned to Kyle and mouthed, “You’re dead meat.” Many of those seated nearby applauded as the two troublemakers were hauled away.

  After they left, Josh commented, "That was a pretty gutsy thing to do."

  "I guess it was pretty stupid. I'd hate to run into those two in a dark alley after tonight. I sure hope I never see them again." Just then, a couple of cute girls took the vacated seats. One was a very cute blonde and had her eye on Josh. Before Kyle realized what was happening, Josh was trading seats with the blonde’s friend. In spite of Kyle’s explanation of why he didn’t date, he certainly didn’t mind the female company. “Hi,” he said, “I’m Kyle.”

  “I’m Rachael. Thanks for getting rid of the two losers.”

  “It was probably a stupid thing to do but you’re welcome.”

  Rachael bent around to look at Kyle from the front. “You look pretty buff. She put her hands on his shoulders and ran her hands down the outside of his arms. “You are buff and you feel as solid as a rock. You could probably hold your own with the losers.”

  “Maybe one at a time, but there are two of them and they would have the element of surprise.”

  “True, but I bet that you could outsmart them. I’m a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering. I have seen you around in the engineering building and everyone says that you are really smart and a great tutor.” Kyle began to wonder if Rachael’s interest in him was tutoring, maybe free or discounted tutoring.

  “So what kind of student are you?”

  “This is kind of embarrassing; ever since I started engineering I’ve noticed that boys don’t expect much from me academically. I sort of developed a chip on my shoulder. Now I feel like I have to show up the boys in every class. I do well academically but not socially.”

  “I’m sort of in the same boat. I am so focused on school with the goal of obtaining a PhD that I hardly spend any money on cars or clothes as you can clearly see.”

  “You are prince charming in disguise. The disguise does not bother me. It may fool the other girls but not me. As for your car, the guys with expensive sports cars really turn me off. They are usually very self-centered.”

  The two girls stayed with Josh and Kyle until the end of the game. Kyle enjoyed spending time with his new friend, but in spite of the fact that she seemed like a perfect match, Kyle was not attracted to her.

  Chapter 2 - Tutor Windfall

  Several months after their discussion on finances, Josh approached Kyle in one of the study rooms. "Kyle, I have something you might be interested in. My friend Nate needs special help with a class he's taking."

  "What kind of special help?" Kyle asked as he looked up at Josh.

  "He's been taking a beginning calculus class. He was doing very well but got sick and missed the last two weeks of class. He has a midterm on Wednesday. There's no way he can pass it with what he's missed without an extraordinary tutoring effort."

  "Is he healthy now?"

  "Yeah, he's fine. He lost about ten pounds, but you'd never know it looking at him."

  "Is he a whiz kid at math, clueless or an average math student?"

  "He's about average in math, but he is gifted in business."

  "He's missed eight hours of class and sixteen hours of study. He still needs to put in two hours of class and four hours of study after catching up to get an average grade. But since it’s at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, we'd have to cram those twenty-four hours of work into two days and three evenings. Calculus is hard to cram into a brain in a short time. It's inefficient. People do better if they can think about it later in the shower. We’d probably need thirty hours to get the effect of twenty-four."

  "I'm sure you're right, Kyle, but there's more to the story. This guy comes from a wealthy family. They wanted him to go to Stanford, but he couldn't get in. His high school grades were not very good. As an incentive, his dad promised him a $10,000 bonus if he aces this class. He's willing to share half of it with you, if you succeed in helping him pass this test. Regardless, you'd get at least your normal rate."

  "I'd love $5,000, but I doubt this guy would be willing to do what is needed. We'd have to live together. I'd be hovering over him every waking hour. I'd be his mother, his drill sergeant and his coach. Could this guy handle that?" asked Kyle, still with little hope.

  "This guy looks like a couch potato, and he does love to watch movies and sports instead of doing home work, but when you get him focused, he has incredible powers of concentration. I'd say you have at least a fifty-fifty chance of success."

  "Well, I guess I have nothing to lose except my weekend. As you know, my weekends aren't too exciting anyway. When can I meet this guy?"

  "Nate, come out here," ordered Josh. A short, pudgy young man walked out from behind a partition in the senior study room. "Nate, I'd like you to meet my friend Kyle James. Kyle, this is Nate Carpenter."

  "I hope I didn't offend you, Kyle, by listening in. I wanted to hear what kind of a man I'd be dealing with. Besides, I saved you the time it would take to explain to me the requirements. I've already sent my three roommates packing for the weekend. They won't be back before eleven, Sunday evening. You've been on the payroll for the last fifteen minutes and will be until the test. Josh didn't tell you that I can get by with sleeping only one hour every six hours. I plan on getting in at least forty-eight hours of study before Monday morning. Here's a key to my apartment and the address. Get some clothes and stuff, any books and materials you need for your own studies and meet me at my apartment. Now, let’s get cracking." Nate was surprisingly commanding for a man of his youth and appearance. As Kyle left, he wondered who would really be the drill sergeant.

  When Kyle arrived at Nate's apartment, he was surprised that, for a rich kid, it was relatively modest. However, as he let himself inside he noticed a large, high-definition TV and racks of DVDs. This kid must have a copy of every good movie ever made. "I'd love to watch one of those with you after the test, but for now we have work to do." Kyle was startled by Nate's voice as Nate emerged from his bedroom. Kyle observed that Nate had set up a card table in the living room with two copies of his calculus textbook, paper and two identical calculators. "Shall we begin? The class covered all of Chapter 3 and over half of Chapter 4 during my absence. On your guide sheet are the names and numbers of four fellow students who can answer any questions as to what was covered." Kyle had originally anticipated having to hound his student the whole time, but it was quickly evident that Nate was extremely self-motivated. They began by alternately reading from the text and pausing to answer any questions. Nate asked many questions but didn't require lengthy answers. Kyle was certain that Josh had understated Nate's abilities. It took them an hour to get to the point at which Nate could work some problems. Kyle worked on his own studies while Nate worked on the first three problems. Normally, three out of the ten problems were assigned, but Kyle insisted that Nate work at least five and with no help initially. It took Nate almost three hours to complete the five problems. Kyle graded them. Nate had missed three of the five. They went over them.

  "Are you getting hungry yet, Kyle?"

  "I was hungry two hours ago."

  "I didn't notice till now that I'm starved. What kind of takeout do you like, pizza, Chinese, Mexican, fast food?"

  "I love Chinese food."

  "Say no more." Nate called and ordered enough food to feed a family of ten. Then he called up someone named Nancy and asked her to pick up the food for him. Half an hour later, there was a knock at the door. Nate opened the door to reveal to Kyle’s gaze a tall, blonde, young woman. Kyle found her very attractive. "Nancy, this is my tutor, Kyle James. Kyle, this is Nancy Clark."

  "Hi, Kyle."

  "Hello, Nancy," Kyle enthu
siastically replied.

  "Slow down there Kyle. It's a house rule that no one flirts with Nancy but me. Nancy, you will of course join us." Nancy went to the kitchen/dinning room area and began setting the table, starting with a clean tablecloth. It was obvious that Nancy knew her way around the kitchen as she set the table and laid out the meal, complete with cloth napkins. She even lit a candle and placed it in the center of the table.

  The three sat down in the dining room to a feast. As they dined, Nate explained. "You see, Kyle, Nancy is similar to yourself in that she has more brains than money. Josh introduced us over a year ago. They had dated briefly and although romance didn't blossom, a friendship did. Josh introduced us with hopes I could help Nancy financially. Nancy runs errands for me, sometimes cooks and cleans and also serves as my escort. By agreement, I may flirt with her all that I want, as long as I treat her with respect and always take no for an answer. You see, Kyle, I have a dilemma in life much harder to solve than a need to do well in calculus. My parents are tall and attractive. My mother is a beautiful, statuesque blonde, similar to Nancy. Obviously, I'm adopted. I'm well aware that I lack good looks as well as height. No matter how much I try, I just can't get interested in short, plain women. Nancy agrees with me that it would be unfair to feign interest in a girl that's unappealing to me."

  "Surely, with your wealth you would be considered a prize by many a beautiful woman," injected Kyle.

  "Yes, but they always insist on feigning affection that's not felt and I have no interest in deceptive women. Nancy never feigns romantic interest. She gives me the pleasure of her attractive companionship and service, nothing more, just as you tutor me, but do not pretend to be a close friend. Would you do differently if you were in my position?"

  "I don't have the money to consider an approach like yours. I like a pretty face as much as the next guy, but height, hair color and complexion are not of any particular concern. There are many ways to be attractive and most of them are not physical. I've dated very little but have had my eye on one woman."