LES MACHINES
BY JOE LOVE
There are human beings who function "like machines" and
there are machines which seem to be "almost human". So—the
problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it
but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being".
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Worlds of If Science Fiction, December 1954.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte. OnNovember 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child whodied. And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trialfor the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.
"Not Isobel," said her friends. "Not Isobel. Too mousey. So quiet.Surely it wasn't Isobel."
"But it's the quiet type you've got to watch out for," said others."Probably has a lover somewhere. She was younger than her husband youknow. Much younger. Too much younger."
"Killed him for his money," said the people on the street. "Read whereshe likes art and museums, stuff like that. Must be a queer one thatIsobel d'Larte."
The accusations piled high against Isobel, but she said nothing. Shesat in court, a tiny figure in black saying nothing, seemingly not evenlistening to the accusations of the Prosecutor.
"We will prove willful and premeditated murder," the Prosecutorthundered.
"Easily done," an old woman in the audience murmured spitefully. "Youngwife, old husband. Rich husband. Murder! Easily proved."
"First witness," the Prosecutor called. "Sergeant Melot."
Sergeant Melot took the stand. The witness chair creaked under hisweight. He answered a loud, "I do," when the clerk swore him in.
"Tell us about finding the body," the Prosecutor said. "Miss nodetails."
"A Mrs. Watson, servant of Arnaud d'Larte, called us at nine five P.M.on March 15. Her master was dead, she said. When we answered her callwe found Mr. d'Larte's body in his bedroom. He had been dead for aboutan hour."
"The cause?"
"Beaten to death. Beaten with an iron statue of Venus. Evidence of astruggle. Twenty wounds on his head."
"Twenty wounds, Sergeant Melot?"
"Twenty. The first, or second, would have been enough to kill him. Butthere were twenty."
The audience gasped and the Prosecutor smiled. "And where was Mrs.d'Larte?" he asked.
"Locked in her bedroom. Had to break the door down to get to her."
"Did you speak to her?"
"We spoke to her, but she didn't speak to us."
The audience laughed and the judge rapped for silence.
"The iron statue of Venus, the one found near Mr. d'Larte's body, youfound fingerprints on it, did you not?" Sergeant Melot nodded. "Whosefingerprints were they, Sergeant Melot?"
"Mrs. d'Larte's."
"Your witness," the Prosecutor told the Defense.
"No questions," said the Defense.
"Why ask questions," a spectator commented. "She's guilty."
"Next witness."
"Mrs. Abby Watson to the stand please."
Abby Watson strode to the witness chair. Her shrew-like eyes flickedsharply towards Isobel d'Larte then away. Her answer to the clerk whoswore her in was sharp and positive.
"How long have you worked for Mr. d'Larte?" the Prosecutor asked.