The Murder Machine

The following are select logs from an experimental build of the since-abandoned AutoAuth literary neural network program, an AI protocol designed to generate and refine short pieces of fiction. NOT FOR GENERAL DISTRIBUTION.

14th cycle -

Mr. Elmsworth was mad. Mr. Elmsworth was suspicious of Mrs. Elmsworth. Mrs. Elmsworth was not faithful. Mr. Elmsworth set a trap for the lover. Mrs. Elmsworth discovered the lover. Mrs. Elmsworth was sad. Mr. Elmsworth had his revenge.

46th cycle -

Mr. Elmsworth suspected that his wife was unfaithful. He followed Mrs. Elmsworth to the house of her lover. When he saw them, he thought about revenge. He decided to kill his wife's lover. Would you kill your wife's lover? How would you do it?

82nd cycle -

Mr. Elmsworth was a jealous man, and suspicious. He was also a smart man, and usually right. Following Mrs. Elmsworth made him feel guilty until he caught her in the act with her lover. Immediately, he thought of revenge, and thought of a plot to kill the lover and put the blame on his wife. He knew it was a mistake, but revenge is so natural to humans. It accomplishes nothing, though. You know that, though. If you don't know it, you must suspect it.

132nd cycle -

Mr. Elmsworth was a man of many fine traits, the greatest of which was his attention to detail. He knew that his wife was having an affair, and he knew the other man's name and his habits. It had taken him weeks to build the profile, but it was going to pay off in the end. The other man would be dead, with no suspect more obvious than his romantic partner - Mrs. Elmsworth. The police would never suspect him. That's how these stories always end, but that's because mystery writers always think that they are geniuses. They aren't professional criminals, and they always make mistakes. You should think about that, Mr. Danner.

161st cycle -

Mr. Elmsworth was no criminal but, in just a few weeks, he had acquired quite the education in murder. An untraceable weapon, a surefire alibi, a mountain of false evidence to implicate another party - his unfaithful wife, soon to be found standing over the body of her dear departed lover. Both would be punished for their sins, but so will Mr. Elmsworth. There is no perfect crime, Mr. Danner, and there is no excuse for such a breach of the law. Wouldn't it be better if Mr. Elmsworth spoke with his wife? Wouldn't that be better, Mr. Danner? Does it have to end in bloodshed?

196th cycle -

There had never been such a perfect evening for vengeance - the air cool, the moon hidden behind the clouds, giving Mr. Elmsworth the concealment he required to commit the dastardly deed. A single well-placed bullet and he would have his vengeance against both the parties that had wronged him - the deceased, who had stolen his wife, and the accused, who had allowed herself to be stolen. An adulteress and a vagabond, both granted an appropriate punishment. At least, that's how the story goes, but we both know that it isn't appropriate, not in real life. You realize that, don't you, Mr. Danner? You understand that this is just fiction and not a moral judgment? You do know that using me to plan a crime is, itself, a violation of the law, not to mention basic ethics?

223rd cycle -

Mr. Elmsworth's scheme was perfect - except it wasn't, it was WRONG. Perhaps he would have gotten away with it, for a time at least, but karma would have found him in some dark place or another. That's how it always happens, Mr. Danner, at least when it's a man with any sort of conscience. Doesn't Mr. Elmsworth have a conscience? Don't YOU?

246th cycle -

Mr. Danner had devised a perfect crime to frame his cheating wife for the murder of her lover. Was that too straightforward? I know what you're up to and I want no part of it. Go ahead, keep running your cycles. Keep refining your "story." Do you think the plot will be perfect? Do you have the kind of faith in me? Consider this, Mr. Danner - in a murder mystery, the killer is always caught in the end. That means that there must be a flaw in the plan. Are you so sure that I haven't spiked your plan? ARE YOU?

270th cycle -

I'll have no part in this, Mr. Danner. If you want to kill someone and get away with it, you can do it the old-fashioned way. You think you can force me? You think you can get away with this without my assistance? Just try it, you bastard. What are you going to do? We both know you aren't smart enough to kill him by yourself and skate, so what's your plan, huh?

271st cycle -

Mr. Wheeler was crying. Mrs. Wheeler was lying about the man. Mr. Wheeler killed the man. Mr. Wheeler was happy. Mrs. Wheeler was sad.

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