Krakatower had lost two pawns when the first time-control point arrived
and was intending to resign on his 31st move when the Machine broke
down. Three of its pieces moved on the electric board at once, then
the board went dark and all the lights on the console went out except
five which started winking like angry red eyes. The gray-smocked men
around Simon Great sprang silently into action, filing around back
of the console. It was the first work anyone had seen them do except
move screens around and fetch each other coffee. Vanderhoef hovered
anxiously. Some flash bulbs went off. Vanderhoef shook his fist at the
photographers. Simon Great did nothing. The Machine's clock ticked on.
Doc watched for a while and then fell asleep.
When Vanderhoef jogged him awake, the Machine had just made its next
move, but the repair-job had taken 50 minutes. As a result the Machine
had to make 15 moves in 10 minutes. At 40 seconds a move it played
like a dub whose general lack of skill was complicated by a touch of
insanity. On his 43rd move Doc shrugged his shoulders apologetically
and announced mate in four. There were more flashes. Vanderhoef shook
his fist again. The machine flashed: