 Why did David press the button?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories November 1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] "Your name is David Corbin. There were round dials set in a row above a speaker. Over the mesh-covered speaker, two knobs glowed red. "Your name is David Corbin. If you understand, press button A on your right." The mesh-covered hole and the two lights looked like a caricature of a face, set in a panel of dials. I reached down to the tightness that held my body, found the wide strap that held me and fumbled with the buckle. How do you describe being weightless when you are born into a world bound by gravity. There was no sensation of place, no feeling of up or down, no direction. "If you understand, press button A on your right." a door to my left that appeared to be air tight. I rubbed them across my face, feeling the solidity of flesh and bone, afraid to think too hard about myself. "My name ... my name is...." "Your name is David Corbin." The name meant nothing to me, but I thought about it, watching the relentless lights that shone below the dials. I floated against the door, twisting the handle in fear that it wouldn't turn. I pushed out into it and grasped the metal rail that ran along the wall. I reasoned it was there to propel yourself through the passageway in this weightless atmosphere. I turned on my side like a swimmer and went hand over hand, shooting down the corridor. Behind me I could see the opened door I had left, and the thought of that questioning voice made me want to move. After the first shock of looking out, I accepted the fact that I was in a space ship, yet I couldn't read the maps that were fastened to a table, nor understand the function or design of the compact machinery. Now it must tell me why I didn't. It had to help me, that flat metallic voice that repeated the same words. It must tell me.... "Your name is David Corbin. If you understand, press button A on your right." The red lights blinked out as I stood in patient attention, trying to outguess the voice. It was the only thing I saw that could help me, guard me against another shock like seeing outside of the clear portholes.
 He wanted to get more information from the voice.
 He understood his name.  The experiment was successful.  He wanted to leave the spaceship.  He wanted to get more information from the voice.