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COLLECTOR'S EDI ... 19 STORIES-5 NEVER- BEFORE-PUBLISHED. FEATURING PHILIP K. DICK, ROBERT SIIVERBERG, HARLAN ELLISON, DAMON KNIGHT, AND GREGORY BENFORD. EDITED BY DON MYRUS THE BEST OF Dnnrui SCIENCE FICTION NO.5

bought by about one million people.

EDITED BY DON MYRUS "

THE BEST OF DRJlfUl SCIENCE FICTION NO. 5

SPECIAL EDITORIAL SERVICES FOR THIS BOOK WERE PROVIDED BY AARON OMNI ENCORE/PART ONE NORMAN. SPECIAL DESIGN BY RICHARD BLEIWEISS. 6 RAUTAVAARA'S CASE by Philip K. Dick

BETSY VAYDA, ASSISTANT EDITOR. 11 A TRIBUTE TO PHILIP K. DICK by Michael Kurland 12 ONLY YOU FANZY by Sherwood Springer

". 14 LESSON ONE by James Randi FACING PAGE PAINTING BY 17 PICTORIAL by Rudolf Hausner HELMUT K. WIMMER 24 THE HUNTING OF HEWLISH by Sam Nicholson Acknowledgements "Basileus" by Robe'l Silverberg copyrighl 1983 by Agberg. Lid. 32 NEW IS BEAUTIFUL by Tony Holkham "The Soul Painter and the Shapeshifier and "The Palace ai Midnight" by Robed A ROBERT SILVERBERG CELEBRATION Silverberg copyright 1981 by Agberg. Lid Robert Silverberg Appreciation" by Harlan 40 BASILEUS Ellison copyrighl £ 1983 by The Kilimanjaro Corporalion "Helen O'Loy by Lesler del Rey reprinted b\ permission ol the author and 48 THE SOUL PAINTER AND THE SHAPESHIFTER the author's agents, Scott Meredith Literary

Agency. Inc . 845 Third Avenue. New York. New 56 THE PALACE AT MIDNIGHT York 10022 "Down There" by Damon Knighl reprinted by permission ol the author. "The 63 AN APPRECIATION by Harlan Ellison Touch'" by Gregory Benford copyrighl IB 1953 by Abhenlord Assoc. Inc Cover painting SCIENCE FICTION CLASSICS by James Christen sen courtesy ot the Will Stone Collection Painlings pages 66 and 120-121 Lester del by Gerard Di-Maccio courtesy ot Galerie 66 HELEN O'LOY by Rey Ra. Paris V 71 PICTORIAL by Chesley Bonestell 78 DOWN THERE by Damon Knight

f. 10D22. All rights I tiing may b- reproi SCIENCE FICTION ORIGINALS le publisher Published WW ihe United Stales ot America 84 THE TOUCH by Gregory Benford and in Canada. First edition Printed in the United Slates ol America by Meredith Printing Corporalion and distributed in the U.S.A., THE LOST SECRET by Laurence M. Janifer Canada, U.S. territorial possessions, and the world (except the U.K.) by Curtis Circulation 96 THERE WERE PEOPLE ON BIKINI by William Tenn Company. 21 Hei derson Drive. Wesl Caldwell, N.J. 07006. Distr luted in the U K. by Comag 101 VILLAGE OF THE CHOSEN by Alan Dean Foster Ltd . Tavistock Rt ad, West Drayton. Middlesex. UB7 70E. Englar 3 Certain ol the materials were previously published in OMNI ENCORE/PART TWO Omni and were copyrighted 1978 to 1982 inclusive by Omni Publications International 108 MALTHUS'S DAY by Jayge Carr Lid Omni is the registered trademark ot Omni 113 PICTORIAL by Gervasio Gallardo 120 BODY BALL by John Keefauver 124 PRIME TIME by Norman Spinrad

130 IN THE HEREAFTER HILTON by Bob Shaw 134 AND WHETHER PIGS HAVE WINGS by Nancy Kress 139 PICTORIAL by Ernst Fuchs autavaara's Case" by Philip K.

Dick is a startling and provocative metaphor concerning religion— in this "case" the ironic contrast between Christianity and the theology of a non-human species from a faraway planet. Glowing with vivid imagery, the story involves an extraordinarily unorthodox conflict over the doc- trine of the Eucharist. The message in Dick's brilliant construction is that one's faith may be another's anathema. Yiddish humor, such as that to be enjoyed in Sherwood Springer's "Only You Fanzy," is encountered from time to—time in science-fiction literature. Avram Davidson has worked the vein "The Golem," for ex- ample—as has William Tenn, who with hilarious effect gave us the memorable, "On Venus Have We Got a Rabbi." Springer's short-short onnrui concerns a madam and a Mr. Lefkoviz. He performs a mitzvah (good deed) on her behalf—but a mitzvah, maybe exactly it isn't. James Randi's "Lesson One" involves a venerable stage illusionist and his prodigiously gifted young protege. That Randi chose to write about such a pair will not surprise those readers who are aware of his colorful career as a magician and escape artist. But since he has also gained great notice as a dedicated debunker of ESP and other so- called paranormal performances, the denouement of his story is sure to raise some eyebrows. "The Hunting of Hewlish" by Sam Nicholson delineates the beguiling aspects of a highly evolved civilization on future Earth. It's a love story, although one quite different from the emotion-wrought romances all too familiar since the Age of Chivalry. Nicholson's vision takes place in a cool, super-sophisticated and somewhat complacent high-tech society.

In "New is Beautiful," Tony Holkham presents a postwar world com- pletely different from that usually imagined. Instead of the stereotypical retrogression to a primitive status, mankind emerges as a race of Ein- steinian wunderkinder who are smart enough to know that even the brightest of students can be enriched by a wise, experienced tutor. —

IK The aliens saved the woman's life only to tind themselves defending their action before a board of inquiry RAUTAVAARA'S GASE BY PHILIP K. DICK

reasoning al the lime. The three technicians of the floating globe We could not get there in lime to save sion or analyze our signaled that it had found no monitored fluctuations in interstellar mag- the three Earthpersons, but we did dis- The robol function in the two males and that netic fields, and they did a good job until patch a robot to see whether any of them brain their neural tissue degenerated. Re- the moment they died. could be regenerated. Earthpersons do not had Rautavaara, a slight brain Basalt fragments, traveling at enormous like us, but in this case Iheir survey globe garding Agnela could be detected. So in Rauta- velocity in relation to their globe, ruptured was operating in our vicinity. There are rules wave vaara's the robot would begin a res- their barrier and abolished their air supply. governing such emergencies that are case

toration attempt. Since it could nol make a The two males were slow to react and did binding on all races in Ihe galaxy. We had decision on its own, however, it nothing. The young female technician from no desire to help Earihpersons, but we obey judgmenl told it to make Ihe at- Finland, Agneta Rautavaara, managed to the rules. contacted us. We fault the guilt, so to speak iii gel her emergency helmet on, but the hoses The rules called for an attempt on our tempt. The — therefore lies with us. we been on the tangled; she aspirated and died; a mel- part to restore life lo the three dead tech- Had have better. ancholy death, strangling on her own vomit. nicians, but we allowed a robol to take on scene, we would known We blame. Herewith ended the survey task of EX208, the responsibility, and perhaps there we accept Ihe hour later the robot signaled lhal it their floating globe. In another month the erred Also, Ihe rules required us to notify An significant brain function in technicians would have been relieved and the closest Earth ship of the calamity, and had restored Raulavaara by supplying her brain with I this relumed to Earth. we chose not to. will not defend omis-

PHOTOGRAPH BY HUBERT KRETZSCHMAR I

i " " "

said, gravely. at full with oxygen-rich blood from her dead body. The proximations. It is an Earth slur regarding "Look," she said to Travis and Elms. "There." Elms nodding tavaara's brain function both Centauri system and the Sol system. oxygen, but nol the nutriments, came from our origin in Ihe Proxima Centauri system. The figure wore a traditional white robe Frightened, Agneta said to the figure. "Go video and audio transduction, which of Later, in discreet discussion with my

easy on us. The three of us have been course was recorded; meanwhile, the mat- companions. I suggested that attempt the robot. We instructed it to begin synthe- What it implies is that we are not authentic, and sandals: his hair was long and f we sis of nutriments by processing Rauta- that we merely simulate life. with what looked like moonlight, r through a major trauma." She wondered, ter of censuring us was put in suspension. to infuse our own conception of the After-

suddenly, whelher Travis and Elms re- I personally found myself fascinated life Guide of Soul into ar- vaara's body, using it as raw material. This This was our reward in the Rautavaara his iace was gentle and wise. Just like in by the Rautavaara's is the point at which the Earth authorities case. To be derided. And indeed there was the holoads the churches back home put membered that they had been killed, that the Earth idea of the Savior It was, for us. tificially sustained brain. My point: It would later made their most profound objection. an inquiry. out. Agneta thought. Robed, bearded, wise their bodies had been destroyed. an antique and quaint conception— not be interesting to see how she reacted. But we did not have any other source of and gentle, and his arms slightly raised. The figure smiled, as if to reassure her. because it was anthropomorphic but be- At once my companions pointed out to nutriments. Since we ourselves are a Within the depths of her damaged brain Even the nimbus is there. How odd that our "Travis," Agneta said, bending down over cause it involved a schoolroom adjudica- me the contradiction in my logic. I had ar- plasma, we could not offer our own bodies Agneta Rautavaara tasted acid vomit and preconceptions were so accurate! him as he sat at his console. "I want you tion ol the departed soul. Some kind of tote gued at the inquiry lhat Rautavaara's brain for the purpose. recoiled in fear and aversion. All around "Oh, my God," Travis said, Both men to listen to me. Neither you nor Elms sur- board was involved, listing good and bad was a window on the next world and. hence,

They objected that we could have used her EX208 lay in splinters. She could see stared, and she stared, too. "He's come vived the accident, survived the basal! acts: a transcendent reporl card such as justified— which exculpated us. Now I ar- the bodies of Rautavaara's dead compan- Travis and Elms; they had been torn to for us." particles. That's why he's here. I'm the only one finds employed in the teaching and gued that what she experienced was a ions. But we fell that, based on the robot's bloody bits, and the blood had frozen. Ice "Well, it's fine with me," Elms said. one who wasn't—" She hesitated. grading of elementary-school children. projection of her own mental presupposi- reports, the other bodies were too contam- covered the interior of the globe. Air gone, "Sure, it would be fine with you," Travis "Killed," Elms said. "We're dead, and he This, to us, was a primitive conception tions, nothing more.

has for To the figure he said, of Savior, while I lis- propositions "It . come us," Ihe and and true," f said. . "Both are inated by radioactivity and hence were toxic temperature gone . What's keeping me said bitterly. "You have no wife and chil- watched to Rautavaara; nutriments derived from alive? she wondered. She put her hands dren. And what about Agneta? She's only "I'm ready, Lord. Take me." tened —while we watched and listened as is a genuine window on the next world, and

"Take of it those sources would soon poison her brain. up and tduched her face— or rather tried three hundred years old; she's a baby." both them." Travis said. "I'm a polyencephal ic entity— I wondered what is a presentation of Rautavaara's own sending radio call. I'm reaction racial propensities." If you do not accept our logic, it does not to touch her face. My helmet, she thought. Christ said, "I am the vine, you are the out a HELP And Agneta Rautavaara's would have cultural, telling them what's taking place here. I'm been to Savior, Guide of Soul, in matter to us; this was the situation as we / got it on in time. branches. Whoever remains in me. with me a a the based What we had, essence, was a model construed it from our remote point. This is The ice, which covered everything, be- in him. bears fruit in plenty: for cut off from going to report it before he takes me or on our expectations. into which we could introduce carefully se- tries to take me." Her brain, after all. was maintained lected variables. could introduce into why I say our real error lay in sending a gan to melt. The severed arms and legs of me. you can do nothing." by We "You're robot rather lhan going ourselves. If you her two companions rejoined their bodies. "I'm getting the EX out of this vector, dead," Elms told him. our equipment, by the original mechanism Rautavaara's brain our own conception of wish to indict us. indict us for that. Basalt fragments, embedded in the hull of Travis said. "I can still file a radio report," Travis said. that our rescue robot had brought to the the Guide of the Soul and thereby see how We asked Ihe robot lo patch into Rau- the globe, withdrew and flew away. "My little children." Christ said, "I shall but his face showed his resignation. scene of the accident. II would have been our rendition differed practically from the tavaara's brain and transmit her thoughts Time. Agneta realized, is running back- not be with you much longer." To the figure. Agneta said. "Give Travis too risky to disconnect it: too much brain puerile one of the Earthpersons. to us so that we could assess the physical ward. How strange! "Good," Travis said. The EX was now a little lime. He doesn't fully understand. damage had occurred already. The total This was a novel opportunity to test out condition of her neural cells. Air returned; she heard the dull tone of moving at peak velocity in the direction of But I guess you know that; you know apparatus, involving her brain, had been our own theology. In our opinion the Earth- The impression that we received was the indicator horn. Travis and Elms, grog- the Sirius axis; their star chart showed everything." transferred to the site of the judicial inquiry. persons' theology had been tested suffi- sanguine. It was at this point lhat we noti- gily, got to their feet. They stared around massive flux. The figure nodded. a neutral ark located between the Proxima ciently and had been found wanting. fied the Earth authorities. We informed them them, bewildered. She felt like laughing. "Damn you, Travis." Elms said savagely. and the Earth Board of Inquiry lis- ot the accident that had destroyed EX208; but it was loo grim lor that. Apparently the "This is a great opportunity. I mean, how We tened this activity we informed them that two of the techni- force ot the impact had caused a local time many people have seen Christ? I mean, it to and watched in Rau- cians, the males, were irretrievably dead; perturbation. Is Christ. You are Christ, aren't you?" he tavaara's brain, and we realized jointly what we informed them that through swift etforts "Both of you sit down," she said. asked the figure. had happened. But we did not agree on

our evaluation of it. the six Earth- on our part we had the one female showing Travis said thickly, "I — okay; you're right." Christ said. "I am the Way, the Truth, and Whereas stable cephalic activity— which is to say, He seated himself at his console and the Life. No one can come to the Father persons saw it as pernicious, we saw it as for we had her brain alive. pressed the button that strapped him se- except through me. If you know me, you grand— both Agneta Rautavaara and "Her what?" the Earthperson radio op- curely in place. Elms, however, just stood. know my Father, too. From this moment you for us. By means of her damaged brain, erator said, in response to our call. "We were hit by rather large particles.' know him and have seen htm." restored by an ill-advised robot, we were "We are supplying— her nutriments de- Agneta said. "There," Elms said, his face showing in touch with the next world and the pow- it ers that ruled it. rived from her body "Yes," Elms said. happiness. "See? I want known— that I am "Oh, Christ," the Earthperson radio op- "Large enough and with enough impact very glad of this occasion, Mr. " He broke The Earthpersons' view distressed us. erator said. "You can't feed her brain that to perturb time," Agneta said. "So we've off. "I was going lo say, 'Mr Christ.' That's "She's hallucinating," the spokesperson way What good is just a brain?" gone back to before the event." stupid; that is really stupid. Christ. Mr. Christ, of the Earthpeople said. "Since she has no "It can think," we said. "Well, the magnetic fields are partly re- will you sit down? You can sit at my console sensory data coming in. Since her body is "All right We'll take over now," the Earth- sponsible, "Travis said. He rubbed his eyes: or at Ms. Rautavaara's. Isn't that right, Ag- dead Look what you've done to her." person radio operator said. "But there will his hands shook. "Get your helmet otf, Ag- neta 7 This here is Walter Travis; he's not a We made the point that Agneta Rau- tavaara happy. be an inquiry." neta. You don't really need it." Christian, but I am; I've been a Christian was

"Was il not right to save her brain?" we "But the impact is coming," she said. all my life. Well, most of my life. I'm not sure "What we must do." the human spokes- asked. 'After all, the psyche is located in Both men glanced at her. about Ms. Rautavaara. What do you say, person said, "is shut down her brain." "And off from the next world?" we the brain. The physical body—is a device "We'll repeat Ihe accident," she said. Agneta?" cut us by which the brain relates to "Shit," Travis said. "I'll take the EX out of "Stop babbling, Elms," Travis said. objected. "This is a splendid opportunity "Give me the location ot EX208," the here." He pushed many keys on his con- Elms said, "He's going to judge us." to view the afterlife. Agneta Rautavaara's Earthperson radio operator said. "We'll send sole. "It'll miss us." Christ said, "If anyone hears my words brain is our lens. The scientific merit out- a ship there at once. You should have no- Agneta removed her helmet. She stepped and does not keep them faithfully, it is not weighs the humanitarian." This the position took the in- . I was we at tified us at once before trying your own out of her boots, picked them up . . and I who shall condemn him, since have come rescue efforts. You Approximations simply then saw the figure. not to condemn Ihe world but to save the quiry. It was a position of sincerity, not of do not understand somatic life forms." The figure stood behind the three of them. world; he who rejects me and refuses my expedience.

It is offensive to us to hear the term Ap- It was Christ. words has his judge already." The Earthpersons decided to keep Rau- We decided to perform the act. since we "But Ihe Savior is eating Travis!" another wa:chcd irlcnlly as Ihe figure died. maintained Ihe gear supporting Rauta- of the Earthpersons exclaimed. "I killed it," Elms said. "I killed Christ."

vaara's brain. To us, this was a much more "In your religion," I said, "is it not the He held the laser rifle pointed at himself, interesting issue than the outcome of the case that you eat the flesh of your God and groping for the trigger. inquiry. Blame is a mere cultural matter; it drink his blood? All thai has happened here "That wasn't Christ." Agneta said. "It was does not travel at all well across species is a mirror image of that Eucharist."' something else. The opposite of Christ." boundaries. "1 order her brain shut down!" the She took the gun from Elms.

I suppose the Earthpersons could re- spokesperson for the board said; his face Elms was weeping. gard our intentions as malign. I deny that: was pale: sweat stood out on his forehead.

we deny that. Call it, instead, a game. It "We should see more first." I said. I found The Earthpersons on the Board of In- would provide us aesthetic enjoyment to it highly exciting, this enactment of our own quiry possessed the majority vote, and they witness Rautavaara confronted by our sacrament, our highest sacrament, in which voted to abolish all activity in Raulavaara's Savior, rather than hers. our Savior consumes us. artificially sustained bran. This disap- pointed us, but there was no remedy for To Travis, Elms, and Agneta, the figure, "Agneta," Elms whispered, "did you see such as we. raising its arms, said. "I am the resurrec- that? Christ ate Travis. There's nothing left We had seen the beginning of an ab- tion. It anyone believes in me, even though but his gloves and boots." solutely stunning scientific experiment: the he dies, he will live, and whoever lives and Oh, God. Agneta Rautavaara thought. theology of one race grafted onto that of believes in me will never die. Do you be- What is happening? I don't understand. another. Shutting down the Earthpersons lieve this?" She moved away from the figure, over to brain was a scientific tragedy. For exam- "I sure do," Elms said heartily. Elms. Instinctively. ple, in terms of the basic relationship to PHILIP K. DICK Travis said, "It's bilge." "He is my blood," the figure said as it God, the Earth race held a diametrically To herselt, Agneta Rautavaara thought. licked its lips. "I drink of this blood, the opposite view from us. This of course must AN APPRECIATION BY MICHAEL KURLAND it, I'm not sure. I just don't know. blood of eternal life When I have drunk be attributed to the fact that they are a

"We have to decide if we're going to go I will live forever. He is my body, I have no somatic race while we are a plasma. They

with him," Elms said. "Travis, you're done body of my own: I am only a plasma. By drink the blood of their God; they eat his In the Pantheon of science fiction writers, in that durasteel Philip K. Dick's fiction is a complex mosaic of ideas, per- for; you're out. Sit there and rot— that's your eating his body, I obtain everlasting life. flesh; that way they become immortal. To Valhalla With eternag as sp res 'C-served for those who Talked sonalities, contrivances, devices, and imagery, contained in fate." To Agneta he said. "I hope you find This is the new truth that I proclaim, that I them, there is no scandal in this. They find the Talk Walked Walk. multilayered universe gradually itself. It it and the Philip Kendred Dick's place a which only reveals for Christ, Agneta. I want you to have eter- am eternal." it perfectly natural. Yet to us is dreadful. is at the table in a special corner of the Great Mar- is a universe usually not very pleasant, the in nal life like I'm going to have. Isn't that right, "He's going to eat us. too," Elms said. That the worshiper should eat and drink its round though people bleoid Hall next to Ihe electric fire Ihe table reserved for it are, if anything, all too human. No heroes to here; Lord?" he asked the figure. Yes. Agneta Rautavaara thought. He is. God? Awful to us: awful indeed. A dis- — be found The figure nodded. She could see now that Ihe figure was an grace and a shame -an abomination. The those who have striven and succeeded in that most noble just fallible human beings, endowed by their creator with fair and most difficult task a writer can attempt: making his read- shares of greed, tear, ignorance, and ineptitude. And these Agneta said, "Travis, I think- -well, I feel Approximation It is a Proxima life form, she higher should always prey on the lower; ers think. mundane with reluctantly forcefully you should go along with this. I—" She did realized. He's right; he has no body of his the God should consume the worshiper. people, whom we but

It is entertain all, relate, their fearsome not want to press the point that Travis was own. The only way he can get a body is— We watched as the Rautavaara case was good to one's readers; but, after that is go through dreary daily chores in and a given. The reader is not captive. If he is not entertained in oppressive surroundings, the least of which would daunt a dead. But he had to understand the situ- "I'm going to kill him." Elms said. He closed— closed by the shutting down of suitable fashion, he will close book. Making the Heinlein hero. ation; otherwise, as Elms said, he was popped the emergency laser rifle from its her brain so that all EEG activity ceased some the reader empathize with the characters, making the reader Although he concentrated on his protagonist and the hu- doomed. "Go with us," she said. rack and pointed it at the figure. and the monitors indicated nothing. We felt laugh, cry, in fear, tremble with delight- -all man situation surrounding Phil pro- "You're going, then?" Travis asked with The figure said, "The hour has come." disappointment. In addition, the Earthper- gasp these gain him, Dick was unusually some bitterness. "Stay away from me," Elms said. sons voted out a verdict of censure of us the writer a seat in Ihe Great Marbleoid Hall. But making the fligate with those structural and social ideas that are the heart think, is of of fiction. Phil "Yes," she said. "Soon you will no longer see me," the for our handling of the rescue mission in reader ah, there the test the Hero. For such is the and muscle science would throw away in a round table reserved. And there sits Philip K. Dick now, deep one-line reference a notion around which some less holo- Elms, gazing at the figure, said in a low figure said, "unless I drink of your blood the first place. in argument with the lady on his left. phrastic writer would craft an entire novel. The film Blade voice, "Quite possibly I'm mistaken, but it and eat of your body. Glorify yourself that It is striking, the gulf that separates races

II is my feeling that Phil, in his own mind, wrote neither Runner, for example, is based on something less than five seems to be changing." I may live." The figure moved toward Elms. developing in different star systems. We science fiction nor fantasy. Conceivably, write fiction of Philip novel, She looked, but saw no change. Yet Elms Elms fired the laser rifle. The figure stag- have tried to understand the Earthper- he didn't percent the K. Dick Do Androids Dream of at all. Dick spent his life in a strange and alien universe, which Electric Sheep 7 seemed frightened. gered and bled, it was Travis's blood. Ag- sons. and we have failed. We are aware, interfaced with ours only occasionally, briefly, and unpre- can ourselves mirrored in Phil Dick novel. The tigure, in its white robe, walked slowly neta realized. In him. Not his own blood. too. that they do not understand us and are We see a We dictably. the chronicler of It his to the us its various institutions, the toward the seated Travis. The figure halted This is terrible. She pul her hands to her appalled in turn by some of our customs. He was Oz. was genius be see world around and but able to transcribe the vision of his universe in mirror very special close by Travis, stood for a time, and then, face, terrified. This was demonstrated in the Rautavaara all its mad glory, Phil Dick gives us a view. We look around and to exhibit it before his readers like a wizard lapidarist facades and behind screens and clearly discern the con- bending, bit Travis's face. "Quick," she said to Elms. "Say. 'I am case. But were we not serving the pur- displaying the many facets of a prize adamant. fused little man turning the cranks and pulling Ihe knobs that Agneta screamed. Elms stared, and innocent of this man's blood.' Say it before poses of detached scientific study? I my-

Phil wrote of the future, yes. but it the fearsome future operate the Mighty W\zatd. Travis, locked into his seat, thrashed. The it's too late." self was amazed at Raulavaara's reacfion was of his personal world a world where the free will of man was figure calmly ate him. "I am innocent of this man's blood," Elms when the Savior ate Mr. Travis. I would have — whispered hoarsely. wished to see this most holy of the sacra- increasingly hedged in by the obsessive rules of a society Philip K. Dick, a prolific, internationally renowned SF au- not of his making the bizarre abilities of machines thor, died of a stroke on March 2, 1982 in Los Angeles, Cal- "Now you see, " the spokesperson for the The figure fell. Bleeding, it lay dying. It ments fulfilled with the others, with Rau- and by past his understanding. ifornia. He was 53 years oid. Board of Inquiry said, "this brain must be was no longer a bearded man. It was tavaara and Elms as well. of free will Phil's writing. For shut down. The deterioration is severe: the something else, but Agneta Rautavaara But we were deprived of this. And the The question permeates him the individual mind the ultimate castle, constantly under Michael Kurland, himself an SF author (including Pluribus experience is terrible for her; it must end." could not tell what it was. It said, "Eli. Eli, experimenl. Irom our standpoint, failed. was siege by the blind forces of nature, the enmity of one's fellow and The Unicorn Girl,), knew Dick well when they both lived I said, "Mo. We tram the Proxima system lama sabachthani?" And we live now, too, under the ban of man, and the cunning malice of animate machines. in Marin county. find this turn of events highly interesting." As she and Elms gazed down at it. they unnecessary moral blame. — "

He could afford the best, but this one was on the house ONLY YOU FANZY BY SHERWOOD SPRINGER

Throughout the habitable domes of the ample, Fanzy was ample. What was more, architecture. Sums clicked in her head. solar system, from Venus to the even a critical connoisseur of amplitude "We're looking at five hundred robles, moons of Jupiter, there are beings would have been forced to admit that Mr. Lefkoviz," she said. who will tell you. if the subject comes up. Mother Nature, in overendowing, had used Mr. Lefkoviz was also staring at the ar- that the Titanians as a race are shrewd, fine judgment in contouring the land- chitecture. Then, pulling out a small roll of crafty opportunists of a high order. scape. currency, he peeled off five crisp hundred- 7 " This, of course, is a myth. True, there are "What do you want Fanzy asked. roble notes and placed them on the desk natives of Titan who may possess these "I want you, Fanzy." in front of her. characlerislics, but they are probably no "Are you some kind of nut or some- "So who haggles?" he said.

more numerous, relatively speaking, than thing?" Fanzy took a deep breath and let it es-

similar inhabitants of any other clime. If "Is it only a nut, Fanzy, that would ask cape through her teeth. There was no way pressed for an example, however, one might for you?" out for her now. but—what the hell, she bring up Mr. Lefkoviz. At this, she dropped the papers on to thought, five hundred robles was five One evening, at the tail end of a busi- her desk and looked at Mr. Lefkoviz with hundred robles. As she picked up the ness trip to Mars, Mr. Lefkoviz rode a rack- mild interest. Middle-aged, balding a little money and placed it in a desk drawer, she shu along the silicon streets of Crater City on top, a certain thickening at the belt line. couldn't help wondering what the current until, finally, he reached the D2 Mescence and apparently an outlander with antece- record was in the G'ness Book. Mall. Fanzy's Place was third on the left. dents not dissimilar to her own, Mr, Lef- An hour later she accompanied him per-

Mr. Lefkoviz banged on the door with his koviz in no way turned her off physically. sonally to the door. It certainly had been muggerstik. Through a peephole a pair o( In addition, he had that air of assurance, an interesting evening. Maybe she should purple eyes gave him the once-over. The quiet humor, and flattering determination. keep her hand in occasionally just for door slid sideways, and Mr. Lefkoviz He also was practice. Too bad Lefkovizes came along crossed the threshold. Fanzy slapped a lid on her thoughls. She only once in a lifetime. already lover. for In that, wrong. "Can I help you?" the girl asked. Clad had an adequate As Fanzy was only in sandals and a simple yellow tunic business, going back on the floor was just that was draped to a point lifteen centi- retrogressing. Early the next morning the door in D2 meters below her navel, she was obviously "Mr. Lefkoviz, it's out of the question. One Mescence Mall was again hammered by a Callistan, violet skin and all. of my delightful playmates will take care of a muggerstik. There stood Mr. Lefkoviz.

"I'm looking for Fanzy," Mr. Lefkoviz said. you. Have you ever been caressed by a "All night I couldn't sleep, thinking of you," "You have an appointment?" furry wogglie from Ceres? She's soft as a he said to Fanzy, who hadn't yet got the "No appointment." teddy bear." blanket fuzz out of her eyes. it's crack of "Can you tell me the nature of your busi- "No, Fanzy. A wogglie I don't want." "My God, Mr. Lefkoviz, the ness?" "How about a mermaid, then? They do dawn. Can't we have some coffee?"

"In such a place there is another kind of it, too, you know. You just have to know "So fine, bring coffee." business?" which scales to lift," Fanzy looked at him with suspicious eyes.

"Oh." the girl said. "In that case /'//show "Oh? Every day I learn. "My price, you know, is no cheaper this you around." "How about trying one of our rare woo- time." brought "No, I have to have Fanzy." woo androids, imported from Stateside? Without a word Mr Lefkoviz out ." "I'm sorry. That's impossible Among other things, she'll blow your mind." what was left of the roll and handed it to "Why impossible?" "No." her. She leafed through it and found it pre- "For one thing, Fanzy's not one of the "Well, then, we come to the giant vulva cisely correct. They dawdled through cof- girls. She's director here. And for another, plant from Venus. You can slip into her up fee, and Fanzy led him upstairs. she's retired. From floor duly, that is." to your armpits. Believe me, the massage This time, at leave-taking, she held onto

"That she can be telling me herself. Tell you get from her is the living end. I mean his hand. All things considered, clients of her Mr. Lefkoviz is here." ultimate." his caliber should be tendered some ap- Persistence may indeed be the most "It's no use My mind is made up. For preciation.

powerful force in our society. It was ob- you I've got plenty of robles. How much do "When am I going to see you again?" vious the violet-skinned filly was not going you want?" she asked. fo dissuade Mr. Lefkoviz from reaching his There is no shaking this clown. Fanzy "Who knows?" he said, "I'm going back objective. She decided to let her boss han- thought. Her simplest course was to name to Titan today." dle the situation. a figure so outrageous the poor John would "Titan? Why, what a coincidence! My The director was working on govern- have to beat a retreat. She stood up, mother lives on Titan." ment forms when Mr. Lefkoviz was ush- stretched her arms out to the side, and "I know," said Mr. Lefkoviz. "She gave

ered into her office. If one liked his females gazed down at her extensive mammary me a thousand robles to give to you." PAINTING BY ERNST FUCHS and he looked up just as the

edw(or (he past five " "ountinq the

stened. he heard something

ind polite inquiries, the Big Question. " —

seemed to have sprung up between them. his way down the narrow stairs, Rumson derstand. I came to the city to look for you

With total candor, Willie admitted that he began taking well-worn books from the because I thought you perhaps could tell had been in trouble with the law. Nothing ceiling-high cases. There were the long me what it's all about. I've been to some serious, but ii had meant not graduating. rows of books that were marked with red of the labs where they test these things." To Rumson, the pattern was familiar. His dots on the spines. Those were on conjur- He fouched one thick volume on the table. long-standing and otten-contirmed claim ing. Although there were many volumes on "I spent a whole day with this guy, He was was that people who entered this calling that subject, there were twice as many that a dummy. Fell for everything. Used to read were misfits unable to find a proper fit with bore blue labels— the group Rumson pre- magic magazines and thought he knew the the rest of humanity— odd-shaped per- ferred to call the bullshit section. From whole thing. Anything I did fooled him. and sonalities with hard-to-accept ways of among them the older man chose several. he wanted to stick me in a cage to test me." thought and behavior who carved their own The boy seemed rather apprehensive. Looking a bit taller than before, the boy slid places in society by synthesizing a fantas- Perhaps he realized that he had hit a sore off the chair and stood up. "But I didn't tic environment of their own. He recog- spot. He couldn't help having heard about show him any of the real stuff, because he nized in the eager youngster the hunger Rumson's constant battle against the thought he could stick it in a test tube." that he himself had felt at that age— the paranormalists. his many articles and sev- "Go to sleep, Willie. We'll talk in the need to learn and grow in this difficult busi- eral books on the subject, and his frequent morning," Rumson said -wifh a sigh. And. ness. It was only done at the feet of a mas- lectures delivered at places of learning all he Ihought silently, in the morning either ter, and as the two of them stepped into over the world. Rumson had discovered he'd convince him he was wrong or he'd the huge house that the boy had only read that the boy knew his personal history quite be on his way. The years that had passed about but had not dared to hope he might thoroughly, and that was part of what made had not faded the memory of his own bat- visit, Rumson telt the weight of his sud- him the Great Rumson. tle against the irrationality that hinted of su- denly acquired responsibility. "Look, young man. I've been poking pernormal powers that seemed just out of There was the required tour of the place, about in this magic business twice as long reach, and he was not about to enler fhe with pauses to examine the artifacts gath- as you've been alive. Do you know what lists again to fight that enemy. ered over the years from all parts of the magic really means? The dictionary says The boy climbed to the upper room, fol- world. They found the secret buzzer that it's 'an attempt by man to control nature by lowed by the fickle cat. and Rumson turned opened the bookcase, which revealed a means of spells and incantations.' Well. I've wearily (o his own room and sleep. locked door behind it. They noted the tried spells and incantations. They don't strange wall clock with the numbers subtly work. Cheating works. That's what you and Like electricity. No, more like the smell transposed. A clap of the hands— per- I are involved in. We're actors playing the of a hot soldering iron. It was a foreign sort formed just so — flooded the house with The parts of magicians. But real magic? As the of flavor in the air that Rumson could not Planets of Gustav Hoist from concealed man said. 'No, Virginia, there is no Santa label but that had brought him out of bed speakers. Glaus.' with a start. A glance showed it was very The questions spilled from the boy with- "I think you're wrong," the boy said very close to sunrise, and there was a tingling out pause, and by the time they troubled quietly. There was a total stillness in the presence all about that was not part of any to look, it was past midnight. The small room, broken only when Rumson took a experience he'd ever known. It had to be room, the one with the sloping ceiling deep breath and looked over his glasses the boy, he thought, and he headed for the against the roof, was assigned to the kid. at the boy, who met his gaze confidently. stairs. The door to the room was just barely

Meanwhile, Rumson went about covering "Well, I may be. And perhaps you can open, and the cat lay sphinxlike staring into up the birdcages and latching the doors prove it. But I very much doubt it." He put the soft gray glow that came from beyond in the usual bedding-down routine. Rum- his hand on the small stack of books that that door. As he mounted higher, the tin- son wondered how this pupil would work he'd selected. "I've confronted the authors gling and the tension he felt mounted, too. out, but he gave up such speculation as of all these books— scientists, mind you He reached the landing. Now he saw premature. It would be weeks before he and I've beaten every one of them flal." He into the boy's room. Willie was sealed on would be able to answer that question. could not resist the dramatic gesture that the rug. forehead beaded with sweat, to- As he ushered the cat out of his den for suggested itself, and with his index finger tally occupied with staring at a ball-point the night, he heard a small voice at the top he toppled the stack across the table. pen fhat lay before him. The tip of the pen of the stairs. The boy, outlined against the "I've gone about for fifteen years now rose slowly and sank again. Again it rose, hall light, called him. "Mr Rumson, do you offering this check," he said, tossing into and it remained erect. The entire pen ro- ... do you know about the real magic, too?" the boy's lap the thin black wallet that he'd tated and then rose an inch, then two. The Rumson's heart sank as he heard these waved before so many other audiences, boy was frozen in the effort. Rumson walked words. He had been hesitant to broach that "payable to anyone who can produce just into the room to the boy's side, and he didn't subject with the boy, hoping that it would one 'psychic' miracle for me. Fifteen years. know whether he made a sound. He knew

never come up. Palmistry, astrology, all the And I never gave up a nickel." what he had to do. usual claptrap, he supposed. The other They both waited. Rumson's cat walked Together, the pupil and the master put studenl, years back, had been like that, stiff-legged across the table, picking her their wills to work on the object before them. always coming up with that kind of crap. way among the fallen books. The huge It rose strongly this lime, steadily and surely. That one hadn't lasted long. clock on the far wall ticked thunderously. In the back of Rumson's mirid a thought "You'd better come down here, and we'll Then the boy spoke. flitted. He had not been a pupil in a long talk awhile," Rumson said. As the boy made "I've been doing some things t don't un- time. This was real. This was Lesson One. BwSl^S.-' jM

/ ^^ . -^

^^^a Bfcr*~~

THE HUNTING OF HEWLISH

' :.;'.:

"We'll hui

"The rulers ol fr\e galaxy — "

aft. sails taken like low-soaring birds over the deep blue "I won't. I hate voice programming. It was lines to buoys The had been ful ordeal with the expected winners." Trivec scouts are here already." anne?" she asked pleasantly. Terran waves. my worst subject at school. Roxanne, dear, down and stowed away, carefully, and the "You'll get seasick, too," the skipper "Let 'em scout. Could you crew out there The three sat down and Sibyl continued, "How beautiful!" Roxanne exclaimed. begin all over again for me." masts were but skeletons of glory. grumbled. for the Hope?' "Roxanne wouldn't come. She says she has sailors still leaving the boats. is "From here, yes. A wretched sport. One "No. Let's watch the boats. How else can The were "What seasickness?" Hewlish drew a deep breath. "No. I can't to get up early and sail. Ridiculous, don't climbs into a narrow shell lhat dips and one hunt sailors?" Only Captain Mack and young Hewlish re- Captain Mack smiled. "Want to sail, hey? get dispensation. You're lucky, being re- you think?" the Terran Hope. tilts-—and the sun inflames the skin—and Sibyl leaned back against the cushions, mained aboard Come here at O nine hundred hours to- tired and rich enough to ride your hobby." Captain Mack growled, "So you're hunt- jib- the salt foam stings the eyes—and one must one arm curved over her head. "I wonder. The skipper eased the tension of the morrow. Hewlish and I will take you for a They sat for a moment. Then Hewlish ing alone." lithely aft to the cockpit, where grasp horrid, wet ropes." Does passion rose scent go with satin?" stay, walked short run before the wind freshens." asked, "Shall I program a drink?" Sibyl shrugged languidly. "I ought to be. grunted, "We've never hunted sailors." "The boats are very beautiful." Hewlish was sitting, and "Coming "Thank you. I'll be here." "Not for me, thanks. You're not drinking, It's no fun without Roxanne. I'm rather sad. "That's true. But let's hunt them on land." Sibyl's smooth, curling lashes sank to ashore? We won't be altering anything for She bowed and walked away, swiftly and either?" really. Twins sometimes are only half-peo- 'A hunt is a hunt, dear Sibyl. Shall we rest on her cheeks, and she slept. tomorrow's race." gracefully. "I don't like robot bartenders. The cus- ple when they're alone." Captain. I'm enjoying the share or divide our prey?" The race took all afternoon to sail the "I'll stay awhile, Hewlish asked, "Why did you do that?" tomer has nothing to say. I developed a "You and Roxanne will have to take sep- "Sailors are not wealthy men. Even a ancient Olympic circle. Roxanne followed sea. wringing my holiday of every drop." "To get rid of her. She'll forget and ov- bartender that was viable along six cate- arate paths when you mate," Hewlish said whole one apiece will scarcely make the the maneuvers closely. When the race was "You're fatigued." ersleep. Huntresses don't rise early." gories; but the chief ordered the brain for by way of rejoinder. the screen, "I'm enjoying that, too." political unit." hunt worth the effort." over, she softly ordered "Hold "Why would men pay to have her? Sex a "Oh, I never think of it. Roxanne keeps "How can you be so stupid? Sailing is a for further category." "As you like." is free, reciprocal." They continued to sit. At last Hewlish reminding me. I'm bored with hunting, but Captain turned toward the Mack bow "It's I wealthy sport." The three-dimensional scene froze in its not payment on demand. The men came to life. "There— she is! No— there's really don't want a change." "And therefore, dear Roxanne, the exuberance of sail and spray. Roxanne again, but stopped. A slim, white-cloaked enjoy—and bestow, endow." something different 'A change from what? What are you?" sportsmen are poor." looked at her sister. Sibyl was listening girl, sun cowled and gloved, was standing "What for? It doesn't seem logical." Captain Mack glanced at the satin- Hewlish asked. on the pier. Under the cloak her daytime "It's not. It's a primitive blonde "I Sibyl turned with a flouncing of lace and passively. magic—a be- gowned who was approaching the don't know. What are you— I mean, sank into the soft cushions nested on the "Teams," Roxanne murmured to the cube. suit clothed her in gold from her cushioned witchment. Stay clear of Roxanne and Si- refreshment area, gracefully fending off when you're not sailing?" opalescent floor. She picked up a crystal "Today's winner. Now inform." soles to her throat. byl, Hewlish, or before you know it, you'll dance bids. He said, "That's Sibyl." "My job is to develop increasingly com- in low voice. "Captain Mack, without credit cube and pressed it. A sailboat flashed onto the screen and She spoke a be a to your name." "Have you met both girls?" plicated robots. I sail to use my human

An inner wall of the room became a froze for a moment while the voice said, congratulations. I'm Roxanne. May I come "Heed your own warning, skipper. You "Seen 'em, not met 'em. On my last transit, muscles and skills — to know uncertainty, 9 " viewing screen. Rainbows pinwheeled into "Name, Terran Hope." Another flash, and aboard were the one who invited her aboard." before I retired from the starship service. decisions, fatigue," infinity as a voice asked, 'Animal, Vege- a grizzled, still-handsome old salt stood "Sorry, no." "She won't come. Don't sit here, won- They like to hunt in space. Spearing fish in "What horrid things to know! And you table, or Mineral?" there, a broad smile on his face and a sharp "Why not?" dering about her. There'll be plenty of a barrel, that's what it is." must be very clever otherwise, making ro-

"Animal." squint to his eyes. The voice said, "Name, "To be frank, I know about you and your women at the ball tonight." Sibyl approached their table. Both men bots. You make me feel so stupid. Memo- "Primates or nonprimates?" Captain Mack." sister. The huntresses. The Hope's win to- rose. She smiled. "Captain Mack? And this rizing all those category responses!" "Primates." "Truly a brave breed," Roxanne ob- day gives us honor, not wealth." The first-race ball was past its full tide must be Hewlish. Are you waiting for Rox- "Galactic knowledge now encompass- "Human or subhuman?" served, "to court wind erosion of the flesh "I'm not hunting now. I'm curious. What and on the ebb when Captain Mack ar- "Human." and solar burning." is this satisfaction for which you roughen rived, clad in his dress uniform. He saun- "Terran or Galactic?" One after another the Terran Hope's and abuse your body?" tered around the circumference of the great "Hold!" crewmen were displayed on the screen, Hewlish had come forward from the circular hall, smiled benevolently at the The pinwheels froze. Sibyl called to Rox- until a firm-jawed young man looked into cockpit. "The freedom of direct action, dancers, bowed here and there to ac- scrutinized his without robot interference." He spread out quaintances, finally set his for anne. "Come and help me. How do I an- the recording lens. They and course swer? There are sailors on all the water handsome face. He had a serious coun- his palms. "These hands haul the sails." the tables in the refreshment bay. planets." tenance and was frowning slightly, as if re- "Thus you've bruised and wounded Alone at a near table sat Hewlish. cor- Roxanne swung from the window and senting the necessity of facing the throng them." rectly but not festively attired. He beck- sat beside her sister. "Well, do we want to of reporters gathered for the regatta. 'And toughened them." oned the captain to join him. hunt Gaiactics?" The voice intoned, "Name, Hewlish." "How strange! I thought you would say Captain Mack seated himself and said, "1 really can't like Gaiactics. They're either Roxanne gasped. "Hold!" She studied the beauty of the boats fascinated you." "I thought you'd have paired off and been the wrong shape or too knobby or wear the young man, then said, "Clear!" "The aliveness of the boats. My own gone by now." their ears and eyes at odd angles." The screen resumed being a wall, Rox- aliveness. It's a feeling Terra lost many "Pairing seemed too routine — too cut and

"Then you know the answer." anne jumped up. Sibyl stirred and re- centuries ago, Look at you, Roxanne dried. The women seemed dull. I suppose Sibyl restarted the pinwheel and said, sponded languidly. "Where are you going?" cosseted, eating what robots give you, it's their contrast to Roxanne." "Terran." "Hunting. Will you come?" making up deficiencies with pills instead "What could you see of Roxanne? Just

The voice intoned, "Name the cat- "Beating the bushes isn't my style." of with air and sunlight. A huntress? I pity a shadowed face inside a hood." egories, from the greater to the lesser." "No, dear Sibyl. You're the python coiled the fool who lets you catch and bleed him!" "Well, I can't get her out of my mind.

Sibyl sighed and said carefully, "Human on a limb above the water hole." "But I'm not hunting now. I don't under- Maybe it was her voice, or her manner." sports. Sailing. The Atlantic Rift Regatta. "The regatta teams will be at tonight's stand the aliveness of sailing. Can you ex- "So you've been waiting for her?"

Now inform." ball. Good hunting, sister." plain it?" "She didn't come. I don't know what I've The pinwheels gave place to a view of Roxanne left the room and entered her "It can't be meaningfully explained, only been waiting for. When did you get here?" the sailcraft now jostling for position be- dressing alcove. experienced." 'Uust now— to be courteous to the re- yond the starting buoys for the first race. Sibyl lay dreamily winding a blond curl "Take me sailing." gatta committee. I'm singleminded about

"Oh, drat," said Sibyl. "I programmed around one pearly finger, thinking of Hew- Captain Mack growled, "Ask at the other regattas. Women don't interest me when wrong. These are only the boats." lish— the hunting of Hewlish. boats." I'm competing. All I think about is winning."

"You should have continued the cate- "No. I expect to be drenched, buffeted, "The winning boat will have to compete gories and said, 'Teams.' Now you'll have The sailcraft bobbed in their slots about bruised, and salt stung. The only compen- on Trivector. A shallow, rocky sea, and the to begin all over again." the yacht basin, prows to the pier and stern sation will be the undergoing of the fright- three moons play havoc with the tides. The 26 " " " "

It's fell off es several classes of what, for all practical the course. always wise." happier." She sprang to the pier "Thank on the tacks and was sluggish around As they sealed themselves, Sibyl said. "Yes—which is why I can't see how you purposes, ate infinities. No single master Roxanne watched them rig the sails, you, Captain Mack. Remember what I told the buoys, and her flying dash to the finish "Program for me. dear Hewlish." acquired a taste for an unprogrammed computer can do the sorting and reas- which fluttered and whipped in the breeze. you, Hewlish." pulled her only to a third place. "Sibyl, the food categories are simple. combination."' ." signing. The human brain is still the most "Back sail! Cast off!" She ran joyfully away. Hewlish was crestfallen and would not Breakfast, Lunch, Tea. Dinner He reached "Oh. but Roxanne and I had parents! economical computer. The least it can do Hewlish jumped to the pier, released the Hewlish said to the skipper. "The nerve follow the rest of the crew, ashore. to the center of the table and turned the Parents make all the difference. The four is the preliminary indexing. What's so dif- bowline, and jumped back, giving the boat of her! She can't really handle a jib." Captain Mack said. "Don't take it so hard. order unit toward them. "Which would you of us could program for six dishes and di- ficult about responding to Animal, Vege- a vigorous shove Captain Mack continued "Naturally— she lacked muscle power." With a first and a third, we're still leading, like?" vide and share and combine as we wished, table, Mineral?" to warp the boat out of the slot with the boat "I mean, in the channel. It was just be- Tomorrow we'll win." "Tea— but I want pancakes." and not a morsel was wasted."

"Because I never can remember how to hook. When she was clear, they hauled the ginner's luck." "It's the circle again. True, I'm more used "Pancakes are a Breakfast category." "Was your mother as giddy as you?" program for fish or birds, or flyovers or hats, sails over, she caught the wind, and the "She seems to have an intuition about to the circle." "No. Breakfast pancakes have syrup. I "Oh, yes. Papa said that coming home or why air, water, and transportation are hull pivoted against the rudder. boats." "Of course you are. Come ashore— to want pancakes with jam." was like stepping onto a carousel. He never Mineral." sailing definite physical laws." the casino, "With waffles "How marvelous!" Roxanne squealed. "But has perhaps." Tea you can have with jam." understood why Roxanne and I left home

"The logic is very sound Is air Animal? "No power unit needed at all!" "So has singing or playing an instru- They secured the gear, adjusted the "But I want pancakes Sometimes Rox- to seek adventure, but Mama wished us

Or Vegetable?" "The wind is power," Hewlish said. "Hu- ment, you know." mooring lines, and stepped ashore. anne and I program both Breakfast and good hunting."

"But I'm not logical." man muscles are power." "Captain, are you saying the girl sails Two familiar sun-cloaked figures greeted Tea. and I use her jam pot with my pan- "Will you ever say something amusing

"Of course you arel Every human being The Hope glided on even keel. In the better than I do?" them. "Ah. Captain Mack." said Roxanne, cakes. But she really doesn't like my syrup to me. Sibyl?" is logical." narrow channels the breeze shifted, died, "No, Hewlish Calm down, man." "now you must walk the gardens with me on her waffles." "Not while I'm hungry."

"Oh, dear me, Hewlish, nol" Sibyl gusted again, and the boat tacked one way "Roxanne's too slow changing tack. She and explain the race in detail. I shall scold "Discard the watfles and syrup." "I veto the pancakes. Choose a viable laughed, in light musical tones that charmed and then another. continually plays the sail." you properly for losing the current at the "Well. yes. but food wasting is the worst category." him more than her gown. "I loathe boats Roxanne said critically to Hewlish, who "Yes. Forget it." second buoy," crime in the galaxy. I'd be arrested if I left "You choose first." and robots, yet I'm amusing myself with a was hauling the jib, "I perceive you sail by "Do you want to replace me as jibman?" "They set the buoy in the riptide. Whether food in a public place." Hewlish programmed firmly, "Dinner. sailing captain and an expert robotist." the rule book, not by the boat." "No, what's the matter with you?" from ignorace or devilment," said Captain 'Are you hinting that I should eat the waf- Meat— steak. Vegetable— potato crisps. "Would you like to dance?" Hewlish sug- "What do you mean?" "Well, the boat did sail better. Maybe just Mack, "we'd better not inquire, "and he fol- fles and syrup?" Vegetable— mixed salad. Beverage—cof- gested. "Always at the same moment you follow the weight distribution—when she moved lowed Roxanne. "Would you. dear Hewlish?" fee. Now serve." if "Oh. yes, you'd be so kind. Just one the mainsail. You don't feel what the boat forward to take the jib Hewlish said to Sibyl. "May I escort you "No, I would not. What a selfish ques- He looked inquiringly at Sibyl. She said, dance, before I return to Roxanne." wants to do." "Will you forget it? We've got a big race to your helix, or will you follow your sister?" tion! I don't understand why men endow "The steaks are always small. You didn't The couple rose and joined the dancers "You think you know better than I do?" this afternoon." — "Neither. I don't know what to do." you with riches." program a dessert You really could eat a waiting for the next configuration. "I think I sense the boat better." "Sure, sure. It's just—well "About what?" "Neither do I. But I did hope you'd en- dessert, don't you think." "Young fool!" Captain Mack muttered. "We won without you yesterday." "Roxanne. She's so mischievous." dow me with pancakes. You said you de- "Like watfles and syrup?" "That's the last I'll see of him tonight." "You were sailing an open circle. In a Thai afternoon Sibyl and Roxanne sank "Mischievous, indeed! I wish she—had sign the robots." She smiled a slow, dazzling smile. "It But Hewlish returned alone after the channel the wind comes trickily. Give me onto their cushions and programmed the never come aboard. Let. me tell you configuration. He said, "Her helix cab was the rope." channel regatta. Roxanne said. "Sibyl, you Sibyl glanced around uncertainly "Must on standby at the flyover platform." Captain Mack warned, "The boat is too must be ready to dress and helix to the we talk standing here?"

"You didn't ask her to pair?" light with only three aboard. She'll heel over mooring basin. After the race Hewlish will "No— that is — may I escort you to the

"Well, no, I couldn't, somehow. She was when the wind freshens." need consolation." pavilion?" gracious, but not interested. That is, when "Not completely over," Roxanne an- "You're certain they'll lose?" "Oh, yes. You must be hungry after the we were dancing, I thought she was inter- swered. "I observed during the race yes- "Thanks to my newly discovered sailing long sail." ested—and then I decided she wasn't— terday that, when the sails lay over, the wind talent, yes. I've shaken Hewlish's confi- "I'm disgusted with myself. 1 don't want and then I just wanted time to stop be- spilled out and the boat righted." dence—and Captain Mack's confidence to look at food right now." cause she was so lovely— —and her voice Roxanne took the line in her gloved in him. At crucial moments they'll hesitate. "You'll have to, in the pavilion. Besides, was like music. She's hands. Whether it was a new breeze or a That's the time for you to move in." you'll have to program for me. Food cate- "Bewitching," Captain Mack completed quicker response, the Hope glided more "He may turn to Captain Mack instead gories bewilder me." the thought. He stood up. "I've made my easily. of to me." They crossed a flower- bordered lawn and appearance. I can go back to the tower After the last channel, when they were "I'll come with you and divert Captain entered the pavilion. The robot maitre and shed these confounded ceremonials." proceeding across the open sea, the ris- Mack." — d'hbtel Hipped the number 33, and the Hewlish rose also. Captain Mack said, ing wind came strongly and pulled the sail "Even so"— Sibyl looked sulky "Hew- number over a corresponding table lit up. "Plenty of girls— ready, willing, and able." away from Roxanne. lish isn't real prey." "Oh, I'd prefer a window table," Sibyl said. "Yes, but Sibyl makes the whole routine "On the rail!" roared Captain Mack. "To me, Hewlish seemed stubborn and "The robot is programmed for the con- seem— routine." Hewlish took hold of the jib line, close- disagreeable." venience of the serving wagons." hauled the sail, and jumped to join Rox- "You upset and contused him." "Let's step aside then. Others can take '" When Captain Mack and Hewlish ar- anne, who was clinging for dear life to the "I set him up for you. Don't you want to the middle tables rived at the Terran Hope the next morning, tilted rail. console him?" Hewlish looked curiously at Sibyl. "Do

Roxanne was waiting in the cockpit. She "How exciting!" she chirped. "Much "I suppose I do. I don't want him to lose you often circumvent robots?" was wearing a black jacket, thick black better than hunting!' the final race tomorrow." "Doesn't everyone? Step aside and let gloves, black waterproof trousers and The lower rail plowing a furrow of foam, "Then come and watch the results of my this other couple have the table." boots, and a close-fitting black cap. they flew over the water and gained the handiwork today. I've never known you to Hewlish stepped aside. One after an- "Do we sail the circle?" she asked. lee of the mooring basin. be so difficult." other, he bowed four couples ahead of

"Today's race is to be from buoy to buoy "Oh, I'm drenched!" Roxanne com- them, until a window table lit up and Sibyl through the channels," said Captain Mack, plained, cajoling attention. "And salt stung The Terran Hope made a good start in swept triumphantly past the glistening ro- tightening the jibstay. "We'll take a look at and sun inflamed! But I've never been the race but somehow lost her speed. She bot maitre d'hbtel. — "

would make me so very happy," she said. "That was only because you were here "Yes. I was lucky in my schooling. My let take, with tonight's would you Your I — much me Roxanne? dance me at ball, please?" the Terran Hope, promise I would." He then programmed the pancakes and because you " He paused. "Do you al- parents believed reading was a good jewels are grander than mine." "Will you pair afterward?" 'And then?" the waffles. keep the carousel turning?" mental discipline." ways here's I "Now a sisterly act. You leave me "Hewlish, like you too much. I don't want "I don't know. Why do you ask?"

He scarcely tasted his dinner, so be- "It's fun, isn't it? Why slop it? When shall "In that case I can lend you a book that hunting alone and empty my jewel cases to pair with you as I'd pair with prey. You're "Because I'm a lonely man. I never mated witched was he her childish glee over we meet at the ball tonight?" will be much less burden than cassettes by I as well." too fine and honest. wish the holiday could when I was in the starship service, be- the pancakes and jam. Before he realized 'Just to dance?" on the same matter. But I'm keeping you "Yes. And when you mate with a rich oli- goon forever." cause I would seldom have seen my mate he been, the steak else one do at a ball?" late. Will you dine with how hungry had was "What does me?" I garch, shall expect magnificent presents. "It I can— as long as our nonsensical car- or offspring. didn't mate when I retired, gulped down, and the waffles followed just "One pairs. If you're a huntress, you must "Yes, thank you. But only a brief meal. Our parents endowed us unequally with ousel keeps turning. Will you mate with me? because I met no woman who shared my quickly. pair." I'm eager to begin reading." as brains, and it's only fair that your abun- I have little wealth, but you'd share it equally, passion for the sea." He paused. "Can a "I'm glad the pavilion." "But I'm not hunting. Shall we meet at You'll take care of the you suggested "Excuse me. good dance should make up for my lack." such as it is." huntress understand thai a man might have he said. "I feel much better." the same refreshment table, aboul nine book, won't you? Books are expensive and Roxanne laughed and returned to read- "Oh. I accept you, dear Hewlish! I'm sorry a passion for anything except— passion?" Sibyl smiled to herself. else shall o'clock?" hard lo replace. From observing you on "What my ing the book. you're not yet rich, but I'll never find a mate "A huntress, of all people, knows that a

I suggest?" "Eight o'clock." last space cruise, I did not suppose you more clever or sensible." man's passion is but an inner room of his could than one "Very well. you may see to my even the alphabet." "We dance more dance Now me knew The third and final race was the closest Hewlish put his arms around her, pulled heart. It must be approached by the right

tonight's ball, though f would have to helix." Roxanne laughed. "Did you observe us? at — of all, The other boats, with few chances off her sunhood, kissed her smooth lips avenue, and there are as many avenues " if I were quite leave early. Tomorrow He stopped as Sibyl and awed by your au- of winning the regatta, determined to spoil and laid his cheek against her glossy hair. as there are men. Which is the fun of the an electric shock had gone through him. Meanwhile Roxanne had been at the Sail thority. It's nice to find you human." the day for the Terran Hope. Soon the pro- She gently freed herself. "We must dine hunt

"I forgot. the defeat—every- Club with Captain Mack, scanning racks "If I may say so. Roxanne, you're far more The race— test flag was straining from her mast top and dress for the victory ball." "I'll grant you all that. Roxanne, but we

I of cassettes. likable you're not hunting." thing. forgot!" when as foul after foul blocked her progress. "A victory within and beyond a victory!" are still talking about two different things. sail theory, inter- "It's well forgotten. The defeat was my "The whole if you're "I enjoy being myself. How and when did Sibyl and Roxanne were watching the Hewlish exulted. Your hunt ends in a mutual passion for each gruffly. sister's doing." ested," he said it happen that literacy became the oppo- race on the viewscreen. Roxanne had been talking to Captain other. My yearnings have been toward a "Captain Mack would rather have her "I am. Such a vast array makes me (eel site of pleasure?" "How unfair!" said Sibyl. "A protest does Mack. They saw Hewlish embrace Sibyl. mutual passion for the sea." handling the jib." very ignorant. I was impertinent to poor "The perfection of voice programming no good from a tenth place." and the skipper scowled. "She caught him. 'And for each other." Roxanne insisted

"I daresay he would. And she'd put him Hewlish today." and cassettes, I suppose, made literacy "But the fouls only increase the crew's I knew it. Poor fool!" gently. fast him considerably, Hope he on the rocks enough. How could you "Yes. Upset unnecessary to the lazy mind— and most angry efforts." "I fear it's Sibyl who's caught," said Rox- "Yes, yes, of course," the captain agreed, let such mischief destroy your self-confi- settles down tomorrow." human beings are lazy. Fortunately. If sail- "How anne. of do you know?" "She spoke wanting to mate with "but my nature is such that I cannot sep- dence? Forget today." "Oh, he'll regain his confidence by then." ing were easy, the sport would be clut- "I know." him. Not a brilliant match, but she was bored arate the two." "I can never forget it." Roxanne looked at the racks. "Sailing is a tered by robot minders and button push- Never before had the Terran Hope been and restless. What was I to do?" "I think the sea is such a mistress," said "But. dear Hewlish. you just forgot it weighty matter." ers, as it was in the Early Atomic Age, when so tightly hauled. Never had she sailed so "Is Hewlish your doing?" Roxanne. "that she floods a man's heart read?" completely." "Do you modern civilization began. close to the wind. Her opponents fell off to "I chose him, yes. Sibyl never has had and must be included." "But you'll find the history of the Sail Re- leeward, and she outsailed them easily. my zest for the chase. Her nature is softer, "I perceive clearly that she has flooded form Movement in the book." on. he went racing between the orange finish buoys with more attuned to mating. I'll miss her dread- your heart. Roxanne. I'm fairly well off," he "A fair brain breeze and human and mus- a clear victory. fully, of course." went on. "I won't pair with you, wily Rox- cle— there's the real sport." "They've won! Come, Sibyl," Roxanne "You made a good team, that's for sure. anne. because you'd rob me and walk away. "It's all very exciting," Roxanne agreed. said, standing up. "Now we can claim our The old one-two," Captain Mack said with But mating is a legal and permanent com- prey." gusto. "A man never knew whether he was mitment. You couldn't rob me without rob- When Sibyl returned from the ball at Our? Sibyl wondered. coming or going. You'll need a change of bing yourself." midnight, Roxanne was reading Captain This time the Terran Hope was not so pace, Roxanne." "I've never robbed anyone, Captain Mack's book. easily approached. The pier was crowded "Later. When I start hunting again. Now Mack." "You're taking great pains for sake," my with well-wishers, regatta committeemen. I'm fascinated by sailing." 'As if bewitchment wasn't robbery of a said Sibyl. and Trivec officials who had come to offer "Don't hand me that sludge, girl. I'm not man's senses and, afterward, of every- "Captain Mack is no fool. By tomorrow the formal challenge. Hewlish." thing else he possessed!" my homework must be thoroughly done." Sibyl and Roxanne waited until the cer- "Exactly. Hewlish crewed for the Terran "Now here's an odd proposal," Roxanne "You underestimate my own powers with emonies were completed and the crowd Hope. You own her. I'm studying your book. retorted. "The man distrusts me and yet Hewlish." was thinning. Hewlish saw them and went I hope you'll find a crew place for me if I would mate with me."

"Never You danced closely, I assume. up to them. They congratulated him, and follow you to Trivector." "I don't distrust your sailing. That's gen- He was dizzied by your touch, your per- Roxanne strolled toward the boat. "Hmm. You are not nearly strong enough uine enough to make young Hewlish green fume, your inconsequential, hypnotic chat- Hewlish said to Sibyl, "Roxanne must feel to be a jibman." with envy. Nor do I distrust your ability to ter. Did you pair?" foolish, doubting my abilities." "Skill is needed more in the light, shifting keep a mate amused, if you kept your part "I think Hewlish is worth more than pair- "We both are pleased you won. But the breezes than in the steady winds. I could of the bargain."

ing. It would be fun to direct an inventive victory has agitated you. I doubt that un- be jibman when it pleased you, and rail "I've never broken faith, either." mind." certainty, decisions, and fatigue are as crew at other times." "Perhaps you think I'm too old for mat- "Why. Sibyl! Would with him?" you mate pleasant as you boasted." "I demand concentration in the regattas. ing, but I'm capable of it, never doubt!" "I don't know. It would be so permanent. "They're pleasant to experience and You'd have to give up hunting." "Never for a second would I doubt," said He's so serious. He'd never leave me while overcome. The reliving of ihem is unpleas- "How could I hunt? When I sail, my face Roxanne. laying her hand on the captain's the offspring were young." ant—the thought of how near we came to will be sun reddened and ugly, my hands sleeve. "I'm happy and honored to accept 'An advantage, surely? Nursery robots failure. That's why I'm glad to see you, Si- will bruise, my arm muscles will enlarge your offer. You'll be a handsome mate and are tiresome. Remember ours? Papa and byl. I With you. can remember the victory into unsightly lumps. A ruined huntress, I a wonderful sire for our offspring." Mama were very useful." and forget the anxiety." fear. But the Trivector race — oh, I would "Lucky little bastards," said Captain Sibyl sighed. "But 1 do love luxury. How "Victory soon erases anxiety. Will you give up much— everything—to win aboard Mack, grinning. Benevolent technology, progress and prosperity forever, aggression and greed almost gone—ah, that was the rub

NEW IS BEAUTIFUL BYTONYHOLKHAM

Blair shuffled uneasily around the room, Elihands thrust deep in his pockets. The wind shrieked aboul the house like a hare under an eagle's shadow. "Build in four dimensions?" Ihe angellike boy, Zodiac, had chortled earlier thai day. "Easy. How do you design a cube?"

"I wouldn't bother," said Eli, nonchalantly. "If il was

it." a perfect cube, I would just go ahead and make "Don't get ahead of yourself." the boy cut in. "I said 'design' for a reason. A cube is three dimen- sions, which you can represent on a two-dimen- ." sional surface . . "You mean three dimensions on two, and tour on three?" The old man scratched his head. "No, it ." can't be as simple as that. . . The boy looked at him unblinkingly. "You're not going to tell me it's impossible, are you? Or that somebody must have thought of it already?" He shook his head, the golden hair catching the dying autumn sun. "They all say that until someone else patents the invention of a lifetime."

Eli looked sharply at the boy. then picked up a sheet of paper, tearing and folding it to form a rough cube. Twisting it this way and that, he smiled rue- fully. "Paper's no good." "Correct.' 1

PAINTING BY MICHEL HENRICOT . — — I

." hadn't realized it until already of thanking for all if life The old man strode to the bookshelf and Eli studied the result, more struck with eyes widened. "Real pate?" Most of it dis- wed downed way me sticking by him your seems any shorter than mine. . . returned with a glass paperweight. He its artistic merits than any mathematical appeared down his throat in a second. a few, and of course we were determined those years. I should have sold him there "I'm sorry," interrupted the boy. "I know

to celebrate, if no one else did. it mis- and then, but once I'd turned first is true. lipped it from hand to hand, and shook his significance. "It's clever, but Where's the "Steady!" warned his guardian. "You But down the what you say I'm not thinking of the all fired, disastrously. Aubrey offer, the next easier. brute lives, head. It told him nothing. fourth dimension?" shouldn't have eaten that. You know too managed to get was And the comparative lengths of our just our - into light killed It looked all first "Getting warmer. Eli," said the boy, en- "It's not in there." said the boy. "That much fresh food will make you ill." a and a man. cured me. at me the time, at sort of lifestyle. I'm enjoying my life, of course I couragingly. wasn't the object of the exercise. This is "I couldn't help it. It was delicious." because I left the ships and got a decent suspicious, but then I swear it was a se- am. The New Way is better than the Old,

job. it Aubrey, look, I'll cured cure I Eli glared, but inside he was warm with just a design, a blueprint." "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I don't And too. because they knowing, somehow. never but in this changeover period think the admiration. "Why don't you tell me, you Eli shook his head, sitting down heavily suppose it'll hurt you— can't have been sent him to the moon. know how I came to grow fond of such a guardians have a more satislying task than young imp!" "Well, I'm blowed! And is this what you've more than ten grams." "Forty years he got, and forty years he creature, but I did." the wards." "That wouldn't be so much tun." Zo- been doing at school today?" Zodiac licked his fingers for the third time served. He used to write to me regularly, Eli opened his eyes. "Eat your food," he Eli nodded slowly. "That may be so, but

a after his release I I and is diac's eyes sparkled. "I'll give you a clue." Zodiac looked away. "Well, no, not as an time. "Can give the rest to Willy?" week heard he'd ordered quietly. Then he closed them again. the New Way better, and that's all that he relented, closing his eyes and quoting: assignment, not exactly." "Yes, but be careful. He prefers fingers." been sent back to Australasia, to work for 'Anyway, I've had Willy for ten years now, matters to any of us. There'll come a time

"What do you mean, not exactly?" The The boy slid the glass cover on the sink the Fisheries Protection Board. After that and I reckon he'll outlive me. He's used to when I'm just a housekeeper to you—

he didn't I I Far from the edge of the land. old man touched his ward on the shoul- aside a fraction and dropped in the last write to me so often. Inevitable, my ways, and me his. know what he likes know, I've seen it four times already— a time

There lies a-shifting a place ders. "You haven't skipped school?" lump of pate. It didn't touch the water. The suppose, but we never lost contact alto- sunshine, duck, hard-boiled eggs. I wouldn't when you're so far ahead that I'll be the

fish returned to the bot- gether. We always said we'd meet again, part with him now. I've got an antidote for child and the adult. it In the deep's hand . . "Nor cried the boy indignantly. "When gulped once and you Give a few more

involuntarily, but somehow we were always his poison, I think I'll you'll I said not exactly. I meant the others were tom. Zodiac shuddered re- too busy. but don't ever need months and be happy with your side

His guardian raised an eyebrow. "When doing the industrial counterrevolution." placed the cover, and returned to the ta- Then in 51, 1 got a letter from his employ- it. I've always been uliracareful. and so have of the bargain." ers. did you siart learning Zarradine?" "I see. Now listen to me," said Eli, wag- ble. "Why do you still keep him if he's so He'd been badly mauled by a shark my wards." "Nonsense!" said Zodiac sharply, toss-

"I It's rather rela- while trying to save a girl from drowning. Zodiac split sachet between finger and ing his golden hair. "You'll able "Ages ago. Last week, I think." ging a gnarled finger. pay good pension dangerous? a one-sided a always be tionship, isn't There was a little note from him enclosed, thumb and poured the contents down his to teach me something. the I mor- "I'm surprised, But suppose I shouldn't and guardianship money to send you to a it?" You have

." I it Eli chair. "Did I never and remember word for word. It said: throat. "Sometimes I wish." he said slowly. als, the knowledge, honesty. I only . in his and the be." Eli shrugged. "Anyway, that's an easy tree school, and you . leaned back clue," He turned to the window, to a tank "Hold on a minute, Eli," said Zodiac, his tell you?" Dear Trusted Friend Eli. I took on a shark "I was an Old Individual. I'd like to have hope we'll be able to retain it when all the of water wherein there lay motionless a small voice belying his childish looks. "You said The boy sat down opposite him and the other day, but my reflexes aren't what been a guardian, like you. Will you have guardians are gone." they gray fish. A black dot of an eye swiveled you were sending me to the free school so leaned torward eagerly. were when we were young. Only fight another ward when I'm dead?" "You will, boy, you will. Don't you worry.

I I've ever lost, but it's the last. Never mind, Eli frowned. "Don't talk like that. First of It's than at his approach, and when the old man's I could be an individual, like you, and so I The old man closed his eyes. "When more ever a technological world, hands touched the glass the fish sprang am. You can't deny that." He shrugged, "I was young, when there were still ships on I've had a good run, and they tell me the all, the New Individual^. are the lulure, and but it's good technology. Benevolent tech-

little girl's going all right, thank I like talking suddenly and ferociously into lite, its small, can learn the industrial counterrevolution the sea, I worked in a freighter carrying to be God. second, don't you about -your nology. The New Way will inherit the best

from fabrics ore from Eng- I want you to have all my bits to what own death. You're only eight months old of the Old the the intellect, the needle fangs tapping sharply against the any time — I took a video of the lesson- everything to do — wisdom, glass. Eli carried the tank to the sink and, but this dimension problem is on my mind, land to North America. On the ship as well you like with. Please look after Willy tor me. now. with another 20 to go. and it's not as induslriousness. Humanity will progress in one swift movement, whipped off the and it's now work. History is later work. was a young, rough-edged Australasian, He's a mean bugger, but good company. I'd swear he understands I more than he lets cover, emptied out the contents, and cov- Don't worry, Eli, 1 won't let you down come called Aubrey Jones, and he and be- of on. Can't write any more, old friend Take ered the sink with a glass sheet. He held end-of-term exams. You know I won't." came the greatest buddies. We had a the tank over the dryer for a moment, and "Okay, okay." Eli held up his hands. "I great time, the two of us. raising hell in the care. So long. Aubrey." Eli sighed deeply. "So, or what Earth when he turned back to the boy. there were don't need a lecture. I know it's not up to ports with brawling and drinking, and wondering who on

Willy was. I return fo Mel- a few beads of sweat on his torehead. "I me what you study, but it's just that I want suchlike. We were tour days out of Liver- took a weekend swear he'll have me one day," he grinned, you to stick to what you start. Then you pool when the war came, and we sat there bourne and collected Aubrey's stuff— and waiting, wondering. Willy. His landlady told me rather sharply: I drifter for first in A week "but I haven't the heart to have his glands won't end up like did. a the mid-ocean, Glad to see the of the brute. removed. Now," he said matter-of-factly, few years of my maturity. I had a terrible passed, nothing on the radio, tood sup- back Then plies dwindling. You know your history. After she melted and there were tears in her eyes. "the third cube. What do I do with it?" job sorting myself out." hall He was a helluva Mr. Blair, said. 'A diagram," said Zodiac simply, "a four- "But you did in the end If I achieve as sixteen days and nights of torment, the man, she an' a dimensional representation on a three-di- much as you did, Eli, I'll be satisfied." crew dead of tear, hunger, or suicide, we damn shame he's gone. She gave mensional surface." Eli winced melodramatically. "If you don't heard it was over, so we sailed on to Bos- me the written instructions Aubrey had given her for he Eli sighed quietly. He shouldn't allow achieve at least five times as much as 1 ton. We survivors got blind drunk that night, when was at sea. They were very simple typical of the sense himself to be drawn in like this. He could did, I'll take a stick to you." They both and I had quite a job getting us back to and of leach the boy howio behave, but academ- laughed, not because they knew he never the ship. Anyway, I did. and we loaded up humor that never left htm, not even while he was in prison. They said: 'Willy eats . . thing, but it and headed for home. ically , "No more games," he said firmly, would do such a because was anything, 'specially selecting a clay pencil from the desk drawer. an affirmation of confidence, and it made "Well, you could feel the tension on the fresh meat. Particu- larly is "Show me." them both happy. ship all the way. Aubrey and I tossed all partial to humans. One bite fatal Zodiac folded his arms, refusing the They left the glass-and-thread blueprint the drink we could find over the side. There to the human.' pencil. "You can't draw on the glass. It's a on the desk and sat down at the small ta- was no skipper, just a weird, democratic, "I seriously considered tipping dear Willy surface, and a surface has only two di- ble, "I've a surprise for you," said Eli, open- vagabond crew, and how we ever made straight into the nearest furnace but kept

thinking of Aubrey, I relented mensions. It's what's inside, the volume, ing a drawer in front of him and taking out Liverpool I still don't know to this day. But so and brought that is three-dimensional," He padded a small package. He shoved it across to- we did. And the first thing we did was to the beast home. He never took his eyes lightly to the cupboard and returned with gether with the boy's two sachets. collect our pay and look for the nearest (ram me all the way. Customs was a bit thread and cutter. "What is it?" asked Zodiac, tearing the bar. Well, as you know we shouldn't have lunny. bul I called a friend in London and

For the next few minutes, the room was paper to expose a pinkish, pasty material. found one. because it was the New Way, he got me a license. It was only then I dis- silent save for the quiet hum of the cutter "Pate." but we did, a little illegal tavern on a back covered Willy's true identity. He was ex- and the occasional plop! from the sink. At "Pate!" Carefully, the boy dipped a lin- street. tremely rare and worth a small fortune. Au-

brey it last. Zodiac stood back, satisfied. ger into it and raised it to his mouth. His "It was the last night of the century. We must have known that, and was his — —

and prosper forever, now that aggression itself against itself, or against Nature. And in time to see it settle gently in the yard, let me know how he's doing?" Without "I'll be all right, Doctor. I'll ring you to- The brief episode with the fish affected and greed have almost gone. If ironing oul as soon as he was retired, Eli Blair devoted the whine of the engines just audible above thinking, he added, desperately, "Is there morrow about the arrangements." him deeply. Somehow it brought back the the horrors in man's nature means a shorter his every waking hour to make it work. It the wind. Two figures jumped out, both any chance of me seeing him, any chance When the doctor's grave face had gone world he had almost discarded in his grief. lifespan, ihough a no less full one, so be had to work, because now there were no barely bigger than Zodiac, but broader at all?" But he already knew the answer from the screen, Eli Blair felt as if he was He might laugh about the miracle later. But it. The New Way is good." Eli's eyes bored destroyers, only builders. And the New shouldered. They rushed where Eli di- knew he could never enter a ward estab- about to be torn apart. His rational nature now there was something to do. Dying was into the boy's. "It's more than good. It's children were the children of the builders. rected them, swept the boy up in a stretcher, lishment of any kind, where things moved said the New Way was still the same. Things too easy— killing Willy had made him re- beautiful, it's perfect." He glanced up at There was no particular point during his and were outside again before ten sec- 30 times faster than he knew, where the happen. His emotions were in turmoil. He alize it. Dying was not the New Way, ." . Blair's past. of them, girl, alien to the out of his seat again, drained the clock. "And now . reverie that Eli thoughts became onds were One a gasped, environment was as him as staggered up

"I know," sighed his ward, tor a moment dreams. He had Iqng been accustomed to "Don't worry. Wait for our call," and the ma- South Pole — more so. For it was only in the of energy, and wandered aimlessly about A few taps on the keyboard brought a the child again. He dutifully rose and taking a half-hour nap before setting out chine was gone, up and away like a mon- presence of the old ones, like himself, that the room for a few minutes. Can I go through face on the screen An Old face Joseph

trees, it cleared away the table. "Can I watch you the boy's meager (to him) breakfast and strous flying egg, over the to the the wards slowed themselves down. again? The question demanded imme- Parsons had not changed in seven months. catch Willy?" locking up the house, and he slipped eas- nearest hospital specializing in the medi- Amongst themselves they lived 30 times diate answer. A two-year guardianship was "Hello, Eli," he said. "I've been waiting for "No, I'm going to leave him there for to- ily into the light sleep of advancing years, cine of the New Way. as quickly and got 30 times as much done short and painful enough, despite the cal- you to call. The registrar at the hospital

in Eli down in the same lime . . . culated it night. I don't want to spoil our blueprint- his feet stretched out, his hands loose closed the door quietly and sat way was cooled down toward the called me a while ago. You know how sorry perhaps we can talk about it again tomor- his lap. in front of his desk comm. Now he had lime "I'm sorry, Mr. Blair, you know it's not end of a ward's life, and Eli Blair was old. I am." row." He held out his hands, and Zodiac But when he awoke he knew it was not for the self-recrimination that had been possible. You understand." The New Way was perfect—he had said Eli was lost for words for a moment. Then

it took them. "Goodnight, young man. Sleep his mental alarm clock which had woken building up since he had burst into Zo- Eli took hold of himself. "Of course, Doc- that earlier, but was perfect for him? he said: "Thank you, Joseph. Look, I know ."

tor. I . well." htm. He looked out of the window— the diac's room just a few minutes before. For shouldn't have asked." However the war had changed him, he this will sound harsh, but .

When the boy had gone to his room, Eli moon had scarcely moved, so he had been the next five minutes he set to the mental "You are distraught. I suggest you take would be a part of the old way until the day "Eli. don't torture yourself. Go to bed, and settled into a comfortable chair from where asleep only a few minutes. What had dis- task of taking himself to pieces, under- a sedative and go to bed. I will see to it he died. Was it time to go now? Had enough I'll be round with the papers tomorrow he could see the moon through the trees turbed him. then? Everything was still, save standably but unnecessarily, and it was only you are called if there's any change." of human nature been instilled into the morning." on the hill above the house. Clouds were the rising wind, and he was on the verge the shrill tone of the comm which pre- If there's any change. The words rang in frames of the New children yet? Could they Eli Blair couldn't stop the wry smile. "You gathering, and a light breeze tugged at the of drifting off when the disturbance reached vented him from driving himself insane. Eli's head when the Doctor had signed off. be trusted to breed on their own now and knew I'd call you, didn't you?" shutters. There would be a storm any min- him again. This time he knew too well what He stabbed open the channel. "Yes!" He switched off the comm and stood up, not revert to the old ways? The New chil- Joseph nodded wisely. "Of course I did. ute, Eli knew, for he had not lived in the it was, and he lurched drunkenly out of the A calm, young voice came through, then looking around the room as if it were un- dren did not cry. They did not get angry. Once you've been a guardian, you can't

Cotswolds for ten years without knowing chair as the third agonized yell from the the screen cleared. Eli saw the face of a familiar to him. Yet they loved with unbelievable strength shake it off. You've been a guardian five ." the weather patterns like an old friend. back of the house penetrated his brain. Eli boy, not unlike Zodiac, but older, perhaps The night seemed interminable. To oc- of will. Would this be enough to carry them times. You ought to know by now . .

He felt tired. Every day was a long day flung open the door to see the boy writhing a year old. "Mr. Blair, I'm Dr. Rosko. Zodiac cupy himself, Eli closed the shutters and through to the promised future? Eli Blair "Yes," sighed Eli, "I suppose I ought." with Zodiac. The boy only needed three on the bed, clutching at his middle. His is comfortable now, but I must tell you his locked up the house, swept out the bed- did not know. The New Way seemed to hours' sleep now, and in a couple of months staring eyes saw nothing, and the golden condition is very grave. Food poisoning is rooms, tidied his desk. And he was now crowd in on him, and he felt his age acutely. A beautiful, touching story, and at the same ." he would need none. Before Eli was barely hair was dark with sweat. confirmed. He ale some pate . . reduced to shuffling back and forth across His role was ever-diminishing, The ambu- time earthy enough— think of the corrupt asleep in his own bed, the boy would be The old man threw a blanket over him Eli nodded slowly. "I know it was my fault, the cluttered room, listening to the shriek- lance drivers, the doctor, the emergency peddler tampering with an expiration date— up and gone, tiptoeing out to 18 hours of and fiercely punched out some numbers I shouldn't have bought it." ing wind mingling with his waking night- robot, all New. Every day. less Old, more and pate at that. But one must be careful schooling. He was growing up fast, even on the bedside comm. "Please. Mr. Blair, there is absolutely no mare. Thoughts of the past clashed with and more New. Eli knew one thing. He didn't in considering science fiction, careful not for a ward, and it was hard to believe it was Immediately, there came a tinny voice: blame attached to you. Zodiac is our sev- dread of the future. He tried to shut out the want to be the last. He didn't want to live to substitute happy imaginings for the con- only seven months ago that Joseph Par- "Emergency." enth case today, and the peddler con- picture of the smiling, golden-haired boy out the residue of his days like a dinosaur, cern demanded by most-probable-case sons, Secretary of the Fellowship of "Blair. two-five-nine-zero-G. Ambu- cerned has now been arrested. The pate who eagerly wolfed down the pate, but it a living relic of the past that was hateful reality. ." fit Guardians, had brought him a one-month- lance, my ward . . was accredited for consumption by kept coming back. Guardianship might and wasteful and best forgotten. Is offering an optimistic, Utopian story old, golden-haired child who could hardly "Nature of emergency?" asked the un- wards, but it seems the date had been seem the best job on earth, he thought bit- such as this perhaps too dangerously pal- walk. Zodiac had cried because of Eli's emotional electronic voice. falsified." terly, but here was the other side of the Half-blinded by the pain in his head, Eli liative? Is it possible that mankind can sur- whiskers, and Eli shaved them off there and "I think it's food poisoning." "Oh, no!" Eli almost reeled back from coin. He had never been married, but now stumbled against the sink. There was no vive the next all-out war? Writers other than then as a token of friendship. Two weeks "Patient's identification?" the words. The old ways lingered on. You for the first time he knew what it must have hesitation in the hand that slid the glass Holkham have imagined not—remember ." like for . aside fell if later the boy was beating him at simple "Oh, for . Eli wiped the sweat from never knew when you might come across been the thousands of women who and slowly into the cool water. He Dr. Strangelove and On the Beach. And card games. Eli shrugged inwardly. Even his eyes. No use arguing. "Zodiac, seven- them, in a crowded street, in a back alley lost babies at the height of the industrial steeled himself, closing his eyes. A sec- survival is possible, won't conditions be a after five baby wards, he still found it dif- two-eight-W" there were still fragments of the old self- counterrevolution, when medical services ond passed. "Go "on, you brute," he mut- lot more likely to duplicate those in Robert ." ficult to come to terms with the incredible "Wait please interest at large. Still people, ghastly night- ground to a hall for a whole year. How triv- tered, "you've been waiting for this chance Silverberg's "The Palace at Midnight" (see development rate and speeding metabo- The next four seconds seemed like four mares of the past, who could, would, put ial it had all seemed to him then. How he for years." More seconds passed, but no page 56), where post-catastrophe society lism of the new race. But he envied no man. hours. Then the voice again: "Landing personal gain before the well-being of the now regretted the callousness of his youth. pain came. He opened his eyes and looked is Balkanized, blighted, and boring? Most Old ones, now in retirement, living out space— go. Availability— go. ETA two min- race. Eli Blair remembered the old ways, All these memories seemed so real that he down. Willy was listing slightly and had However, a truly positive thought is en- their lives in luxury in the cities, were al- utes. Blair, do not give anything to patient. had been a part of them, but those 16 days hardly heard the comm shrilling. turned toward the hand that intruded. The gendered by Holkham's piece: If only most oblivious to the New Way taking over. Keep patient warm. Keep calm. Confirm." of cold, unimaginable fear adrift in the North Eli opened the channel carefully, half ex- small black eyes regarded Eli angrily, but mankind could radically change without first

Eli Blair had believed in it right from the "Confirmed." Eli cursed the machine as Atlantic had cured him for life It seemed pecting . . .? But it was Dr. Rosko. he did not move. Every few seconds, his going to the brink of destruction or expe- start, right from the very first New child, he dragged another blanket over the boy. there were still those whom it had not. Eli "Mr. Blair," he said quietly, and Eli knew. stout gray body twitched, and Eli suddenly riencing some horror such as Holkham's and blessed the day when the aggressors Keep calm, it said! He cursed the pate. He ached from the pain of it. "And Zodiac?" He knew from the face. The New ones could came to his senses. The pate! Willy, too, "industrial counterrevolution." Given the had obliterated themselves from the face cursed the peddler who had persuaded he said, hearing himself almost pleading. not hide their emotions. had eaten the pate. And he was in agony, grim time we live in, the tact that we can of the earth and left the rest of the world him to buy ft He cursed himself for his stu- "Don't upset yourself, Mr. Blair. You must "Mr. Blair, I'm sorry. Zodiac couldn't make dying. Eli yanked a yard of traveling cable speculate about such a bright future through

it. to scramble every way of life until they came pidity, and he soothed the boy's brow with be distressed, I know, but your ward will He died a few minutes ago. We did what from its wall housing and turned on the the medium of stones like "New Is Beau- up with the answer that was the New Way. water from the tap by the bed. receive the best possible care. We are doing we could." power. A quick jab at the surface of the tiful" is one of the grand attributes of the Humanity had dragged itself back from the The ambulance's siren blared from above everything we can." Eli nodded "I know that." water was enough. Willy would suffer no science-fiction form—grander still if we brink of oblivion and would never again pit the roof, and Eli rushed to the back door "I know. Thank you. Dr. Rosko. You will "Will you be all right?" more. Eli Blair went and sat at his desk. would act in the spirit of Holkham's vision. asileus," the story that follows,

. . at that. was written especially for this volume . and in short order Contacted at summer's end in California, where he was engrossed with the writing of a novel, Silverberg had "Basileus" in Omni's New York

office by early fall. For such a prodigious writer (hundreds of stories and

books) it is to be expected that he could work quickly and on several things at once, but what has long been equally astounding about the Silverberg method is the quality of writing that results—the scope of its imagination, the richness of its detail.

The reader will no doubt be amazed at the extent of the arcane

knowledge concerning heavenly hosts. It is not a knowledge Silverberg

acquired quickly to fulfill a writing commission. Rather, he says, he has long been fascinated with esoteric subjects and even has written schol- arly volumes on medieval lore. That he combines this interest with a RDBERT very timely concern about Armageddon makes for fascinating, fright- ening science fiction. SILA/ERBERG "The Soul Painter and the Shapeshifter," reprinted from Omni, is a charming romance of another time and place. It involves two disparate RMTIDQJ beings who, notwithstanding their altogether awesome capabilities, are quite human in their needs, desires, sensibilities and frailties. The plot moves effortlessly and suspensefully, reminding us along the way that

beauty is subjective, all-conquering, and the companion of love. One of Silverberg's bleaker visions prevails in "The Palace at Mid- night" a story set in California some years after a collapse of civilization.

More specifically, it takes place in the Empire of San Francisco, for the United States is no longer an intact nation but a hodgepodge of tiny city-states, many of which are ruled by petty despots. Against this grim backdrop, the author adeptly stages an interlude of developing friend- ship between a man and a woman, which affords the reader a deepfelt awareness of the human condition amid widespread devastation and decadence. As the hero remarks, "Poor everybody." nd John the Bapti

BMEUS PAINTING BY ROWENA MORRILL — " "

austere ideas, it had In the shimmering lemon-yellow Octo- perhaps, has inclined him toward the more hams best and most in the execution, ber light, Cunningham touches the keys of apocalyptic members of the angelic host. turned out impractical translate his terminal and summons angels. An in- He invokes Harahel now. He has bad since abstract concepts did not stant to load the program, an instant to bring news for him. The invocation that he uses well into graphics for him. notify you," Cunningham says, the file up. and there they are, ready to is a standard one that he found in Arthur "I want to spout from the screen at his command: Edward Waite's The Lemegeton, or The "of a shift in jurisdiction." He speaks Eng-

it on good, Apollyon, Anauel, Uriel, and all the rest. Lesser Key of Solomon, and he has dedi- lish with his angels. He has authority that the pri- Uriel is the angel of thunder and terror; cated one of his function keys to its text, though apocryphal, of is Apollyon is the Destroyer, the angel of the so that a single keystroke suffices to load mary language the angels Hebrew, his audio algorithms have bottomless pit; Anauel is the angel of it. "I do invocate. conjure, and command but computer's bankers and commission brokers. Cun- thee, thou Spirit N. to appear and to show no Hebrew capacity, nor does Cun- English readily ningham is fascinated by the multifarious thyself visibly unto me before this Circle in ningham. But they speak him: choice. duties and tasks, both exalted and hum- fair and comely shape," is fhe way it be- enough with they have no on." tells Harahel. ble, that are assigned to the angels. "Every gins, and it proceeds to utilize various se- "From now Cunningham only." visible thing in the world is put under the cret and potent names of God in the sum- "your domain is limited to hardware charge of an angel." said St. Augustine in moning of Spirit N— such names as Angry green lines rapidly cross and re- The Eight Questions. Zabaolh and Ellon and. of course. Adonai cross Harahel's— screen. "By whose au- Cunningham has 1.114 angels in his and it concludes, "I do potently exorcise thority do you computer now. He adds a few more each thee that thou appearesf here to fulfill my "It isn't a question of authority." Cun- night, though he knows that he has a long will in all things which seem good unto me. ningham replies smoothly. "It's a question Vretil into the way to go before he has them all. In the Wherefore, come thou, visibly, peaceably, of precision. I've just read fourteenth century the number of angels and affably, now, without delay, to manifest data base, and I have to code his func- clear tions. He's the recording angel, after all. was reckoned by the Kabbalists. with some that which I desire, speaking with a precision, at 301.655,722. Albertus Mag- and perfect voice, intelligibly, and to mine So, to some degree then he overlaps your nus had earlier calculated that each choir understanding." All that takes but a micro- territory." of angels held 6.666 legions, and each le- second, and another moment to read in the "Ah." says Harahel, sounding melan- gion 6.666 angels; even without knowing name of Harahel as Spirit H, and there the choly. "I was hoping you wouldn't bother the number of choirs, one can see that that angel is on the screen. about him." important produces rather a higher total. And in the "I am here at your summons," he an- "How can I overlook such an Talmud, Rabbi Jochanan proposed that nounces expectantly. angel? 'Scribe of the knowledge of the Most new angels are born "with every utterance High,' according to the Book of Enoch. that goes forth from the mouth of the Holy Cunningham works with his angels from Keeper of the heavenly books and rec- One. blessed be He." five to seven every evening Then he has ords ' Quicker in wisdom than the other little flat archangels.' If Rabbi Jochanan is correct, the num- dinner. He lives alone, in a neat a Harahel sullenly, ber of angels is infinite. Cunningham's per- few blocks west of the Bayshore Freeway "If he's so quick, says "give him the hardware. That's what gov- sonal computer, though it has extraordi- and does not spend much of his time so- nary add-on memory capacity and is cializing. He thinks of himself as a pleasant erns the response lime, you know." well "I understand. But he maintains the lists. capable, if he chooses, of tapping into the man. a sociable man, and he may very huge mainframe machines of the Defense be right about that, but the pattern of his That's data base." Department, has no very practical way of life has been a solitary one. He is thirty- "And where does the data base live? The handling an infinity. But he is doing his best. seven years old, five feet eleven, with red hardware!" To have 1,114 angels on line already, after hair, pale blue eyes, and a light dusting of "Listen, this isn't easy for me," Cun-

I only eight months of part-time program- freckles on his cheeks. He did his under- ningham says. "But I have to be fair. know division of respon- ming, is no small achievement. graduate work at Cal Tech, his postgrad- you'll agree that some One of his favorites of the moment is uate studies at Stanford, and for the last sibilities is in order. And I'm giving him all Harahel, the angel of archives, libraries, nine years he has been involved in ultra- data bases and related software. You keep and rare cabinets. Cunningham has des- sensitive military-compuler projects in the rest." ignated Harahel also the angel of com- northern California. He has never married. "Screens. Terminals, CPUs. Big deal." he's nothing, Harahel. puters; it seems appropriate. He invokes Sometimes he works with his angels again "But without you, Harahel often, to discuss the evolving after dinner, from eight to ten, but hardly Anyway, you've always been in charge of niceties of data processing with him. But ever any later than that. At ten he goes to cabinets, haven't you?" he has many other favorites, and his tastes bed. He is a very methodical person. "And archives and libraries," the angel run somewhat to the sinister: Azrael. the says. "Don't forget that." angel of death, for example, and Arioch. He has given Harahel the physical form "I'm not. But what's a library? Is it the the angel of vengeance, and Zebuleon. one of his own first computer, a little Radio Shack books and shelves and stacks, or the words of the nine angels who will govern at the TRS-80, with wings flanking the screen He on the pages? We have to distinguish the contained." end of the world. It is Cunningham's job. had though! originally to make the ap- container from the thing hair- from eight to four every working day, to pearance of his angels more abstract 'A grammarian," Harahel sighs. "A devise programs for the interception of in- showing Harahel as a sheaf of kilobyles. splitter. A casuist," coming Soviet nuclear warheads, and that, for example— but like many of Cunning- "Look. Vretil wants the hardware, too. But he's willing lo compromise. Are you?" computer simulation and lalk with him. flapping wings, passing miracles? You "You start to sound less and less like our Davidson said that Adramelech was aren't seriously telling me lhal you believe programmer and more and more like the sometimes shown as a winged and bearded in angels, are you, Dan?" Almighty every day," says Harahel.' lion, and sometimes as a mule with feath- To which Cunningham replied, "You don't "Don't blaspheme." Cunningham tells ers, and sometimes as a peacock, and that have to believe in angels to make use of

I'm sure I believe in elec- him. "Please Is it agreed? Hardware only?" one poet had described him as "the en- them. not always

"You win," says the angel. "But you al- emy of God. greater in malice, guile, am- trons and protons. I know I've never seen ways do. naturally." bition, and mischief than Satan, a fiend more any. But I make use of them." curst, a deeper hypocrite." That was ap- And what use do you make of angels?" Naturally. Cunningham is the one with pealing. Well, why not build him? The But Cunningham had lost interest in the his hands on the keyboard, controlling graphics were easy— Cunningham chose discussion. things. The angels, though (hey are elo- the winged-lion form — but getting the per- quent enough and have distinct and pas- sonality constructed involved a month of He divides his evenings between calling sionate personalities, are mere magnetic intense labor and some consultations with up his angels for conversations and pro- impulses deep within. In any contest with the artificial-intelligence people over at gramming additional ones into his pan- Cunningham they don't stand a chance. Kestrel Institute. But linally Adramelech was theon. That requires continuous intensive Cunningham, though he tries always lo play on line, suave and diabolical, talking ami- research, for the literature of angels is ex- the game by the rules, knows that, and so ably of his days as an Assyrian god and traordinarily large, and he is thorough in do they. his conversations with Beelzebub, who had everything he does. The research is lime- consuming, for he wants his angels lo meet It makes him uncomfortable to think about named him Chancellor ol the Order of the every scholarly test of authenticity. He pores it, but the role he plays is definitely godlike Fly (Grand Cross), in all essential ways. He puts the angels Next. Cunningham did Asmodeus, an- constantly over such works as Ginzberg's into the computer; he gives them their tasks, other fallen angel, said to be the inventor seven-volume Legends of the Jews. Clem- their personalities, and their physical ap- of dancing, gambling, music, drama. ent of Alexandria's Prophetic Eclogues, pearances; he summons them or leaves French fashions, and other frivolities. Cun- Blavatsky's The Secret Doctrine. them uncalled, as he wishes. ningham made him look like a very dash- It is the early part ot the evening. He A godlike role. yes. But Cunningham re- ing Beverly Hills Iranian, with a pair ol tiny brings up Hagilh. ruler of the planet Venus legions ol spirits, sists confronting that notion He does not wings at his collar. It was Asmodeus who and commander of 4.000 believe he is trying to be God: he does not suggested that Cunningham continue the and asks him details of the transmutation even want to Ihink about God. His lamily project; so he brought Gabriel and Ra- of metals, which is Hagith's specialty. He had been on comfortable terms with God- phael on line to provide some balance be- summons Hadraniel. who m Kabbalistic lore Uncle Tim was a priest, there was an arch- tween good and evil, and then Forcas. the is a porter at ihe second gate of Heaven, bishop somewhere back a few genera- angel who renders people invisible, re- and whose voice, when he proclaims the tions, his parents and sisters moved cozily stores lost property, and teaches logic and will of the Lord, penetrates through 200.000 within the divine presence as within a warm rhetoric in Hell: and by that lime Cun- universes: he questions the angel about bath— but he himself, unable to quantify ningham was hooked. his meeting with Moses, who uliered ihe the Godhead, prelerred lo sidestep any He surrounded himself with arcane lore: Supreme Name at him and made him sends lor though! of it There were other, more im- M.R. James's editions ol Ihe Apocrypha, Iremble. And then Cunningham mediate matters to engage his concern. Waite's Book of Ceremonial Magic and Holy Israfel ihe four-winged, whose feet are un- His mother had wanted him to go into the Kabbalah. Ihe Mystical Theology and Ce- der the seventh earth, and whose head priesthood, of all things, but Cunningham lestial Hierarchies of Dionysius the Areop- reaches to the pillars of the divine throne. had averted that by demonstrating so vis- agite, and dozens of related works that he It will be Israfel's task to blow the trumpet ible and virtuosic a skill at mathematics that called up from the Stanford data base in a that annouces the arrival of the Day of even she could see he was destined for kind of manic fervor. As he codified his Judgment. Cunningham asks him to lake science. Then she had prayed for a Nobel systems, he became able to put in live, a few trial riffs now—"just for practice," he Prize in physics for him; but he had pre- eight, a dozen angels a night: one June says, but Israfel declines, saying he can- ferred computer technology. "Well," she evening, staying up well past his usual time, not touch his instrument until he receives thirty-seven. the the signal, and the command sequence for said, "a Nobel in computers. I ask the Vir- he managed As popula- angel, is gin daily." tion grew, it took on weight and substance, that, says the nowhere to be found "There's no Nobel in computers, Mom," for one angel cross-filed another, and they in the software Cunningham has thus far he told her. Bui he suspects she still offers behaved now as though they held long constructed talking with Ihe an- novenas for it. conversations with one another even when When he wearies of The angel project had begun as a lark, Cunningham was occupied elsewhere. gels, Cunningham begins the evening's but had escalated swiftly into an obses- The question of actual belief in angels, programming. By now the algorithms are sion. He was reading Gustav Davidson's like that of belief in God Himself, never arose second nature and he can enter angels old Dictionary oi Angels, and when he came in him. His projeci was purely a lechnical into Ihe computer In a mailer of minules. upon the description of the angel Adra- challenge, nol a theological exploration. once he has done the research, This eve- melech, who had rebelled with Salan and Once, at lunch, he told a co-worker what ning he inserts nine more, Then he opens had been cast from heaven, Cunningham he was doing, and got a chilly blank stare, a beer, sits back, and lets Ihe day wind with big lo its close. thought it might be amusing to build a 'Angels? Angels? Flying around down 43 He thinks he understands why he has to be devised in the interests of military and vague affair with her five or six years become so intensely involved with this en- security. back, when she was at Stanford, and since fitfully with terprise. It is because he must contend each He knows he must take his simulator to then they have kept in touch, day in his daily work with matters of terri- his superiors before much more time goes long intervals elapsing between meetings. fying apocalyptic import: nothing less, in- by. And under the strain of that knowledge, He has not seen her or heard from her in deed, than the impending destruction of he is beginning to show distinct signs of over a year. "It's going to be an interesting the world. Cunningham works routinely with erosion. He mingles less and less with other bunch," she tells him. "A futurologist from megadeath simulation. For six hours a day people; he has unpleasant dreams and New York, Thomson the sociobiology man, he sets up hypothetical situations in which occasional periods of insomnia; he has lost a couple of video poets, and someone from

Country A goes into alert mode, expecting his appetite and looks gaunt and haggard. the chimpanzee-language outfit, and I for- an attack from Country B. which thereupon The angel project is his only useful diver- get the rest, but they all sounded first rate." begins to suspect a preemptive strike and sion, his chief distraction, his one avenue Cunningham hates parties. They bore commences a defensive response, which of escape. and jangle him. No matter how firsl rate the leads Country A to escalate its own readi- people are, he thinks, real interchange of ness, and so on until the bombs are in the For all his scrupulous scholarship Cun- ideas is impossible in a large random group, is air. He is aware, as are many thoughtful ningham has nol hesitated to invent a few and the best one can hope for some people both in Country A and Country B. angels of his own. Uraniel is one of his: the pleasant low-level chatter. He would rather that the possibility of computer-generated angel of radioactive decay, with a face of be alone with his angels than waste an misinformation leading to a nuclear holo- whirling electron-shells. And he has coined evening that way. caust increases each year, as the time- Dimitrion, too: the angel of Russian litera- On the other hand, it has been so long window for correcting a malfunction dimin- ture, whose wings are sleighs and whose since he has done anything of a social na- ishes, Cunningham also knows something head is a snow-covered samovar. Cun- ture that he has trouble remembering what that very few others do. or perhaps no one ningham feels no guilt over such whimsies. the last gathering was. As he had been telling all his life, to else at all: that it is now possible to send a It is his computer, after all, and his pro- himself he needs get signal to the giant computers— to Theirs gram. And he knows he is not the first to out more often. He likes Joanna and it's engendered pla- about time they got together, he thinks, and or Ours, it makes no difference— that will concoct angels. Blake be indistinguishable from the impulses that toons of them in his poems: Urizen and he fears that if he turns her down, she may an actual flight of airborne warhead-bear- Ore and Enitharmon and more. Milton, he not call again for years, And the gentle pat- ing missiles would generate. It such a sig- suspects, populaled Paradise Lost with ter of the rain, coming on this mild evening nal is permitted to enter the system, a min- dozens of sprites of his own invention, after the long dry months of summer, has imum of eleven minutes, at the present time, Gurdjieff and Alaslair Crowley and even left him feeling uncharacteristically re- will be needed to carry out fail-safe deter- Pope Gregory the Great had their turns al laxed, open, accessible. mination of its authenticity. That, at the amplifying the angelic roster: why then not "All right," he says. "I'll be glad to go." present time, is too long to wait to decide also Dan Cunningham of Palo Alto. Cali- The party is in San Mateo on Saturday whether the incoming missiles are real: a fornia? So from time to lime he works one night. He takes down the address. They much swifter response is required. up on his own His most recent is the dread arrange to meet there. Perhaps she'll come Cunningham, when he designed his high lord Basileus. to whom Cunningham home with him afterward, he thinks: San missile-simulating signal, thought al once has given the title of Emperor of the An- Mateo is only fifteen minutes from his house, of erasing his work. But he could not bring gels. Basileus is still incomplete; Cun- and she'll have a much longer drive back himself to do that: the program was too ningham has not arrived at his physical ap- up to San Francisco. The thought surprises elegant, too perfect. On the other hand, he pearance, nor his specific functions, other him. He had supposed he had lost all in- was afraid to tell anyone about it, tor fear than to make him the chief administrator of terest in her that way; he had supposed he all in that it would be taken beyond his level of the angelic horde. But there is something had lost interest anyone that way, as classification at once, and sealed away from unsatisfactory about imagining a new a matter of fact, him. He does not want that, for he dreams archangel, when Gabriel, Raphael, and of finding an antidote for it, some sort of Michael already constitute the high com- Three days before the parly, he decides resonating inquiry mode that will distin- mand. Basileus needs more work. Cun- to call Joanna and cancel. The idea of mill- guish all true alarms from false. When he ningham puts him aside, and begins to key ing aboul in a roomful of strangers appalls ever has it. if he ever does, he will present both in Duma, the angel of silence and of Ihe him. He can't imagine, now, why he modes, in a single package, to Defense. stillness of death, thousand-eyed, armed agreed to go. Belter to stay home alone Meanwhile, he bears the burden of sup- with a fiery rod. His style in angels is get- and pass a long rainy night designing an- pressing a concept ot overwhelming stra ting darker and darker. gels and conversing with Uriel. Ithuriel. Ra- legic importance. He has never done any phael. Gabriel. thing like that before. And he does not On a misty, rainy night in fate October, a But as he goes toward the telephone, delude himself into thinking his mind is woman fromSan Francisco whom he knows that renewed hunger for solitude vanishes unique: if he could devise something like in a distant, occasional way phones to in- as swiftly as it came. He does want to go this, someone else probably could do it vite him to a party. Her name is Joanna; to the party. He does want to see Joanna; also, perhaps someone on the other side. she is in her mid-thirties, a biologist work- very much, indeed. It startles him to realize

True, it is a useless, suicidal program. But ing for one of the little gene-splicing outfits that he positively yearns for some change from his it would not be the first suicidal program in Berkeley; Cunningham had had a brief in his rigid routine, some escape "

jures the seven angels with seven trum- lillle apartment, ils elaborate computer to be portrayed as men. Although some of up of Revelation, he tells hookup, even its angels. them, apparently, can change sex at will. pets from Ihe Book of Cunningham imagines himself at the Milton tells us lhat in Paradise Lost: 'Spirits them which angels rule the seven days the which the hours of the days party, in some brightly lit room in a hand- when they please can either sex assume. week and some redwood-and-glass house perched or both: so soft and uncompounded is their and nights, he pours forth the wondrous Hashmal. Or- in the hills above San Mateo. He stands essence pure.' And some angels seem to angelic names, Zadkiel, with his back to the vast sparkling wrap- be envisioned as female in the first place. phaniel. Jehudiel. Phaleg. Zagzagel. There around window, a drink in his hand, and There's the Shekinah. for instance, 'the bride is no end to it. He is in his glory. He is a Ihe mood tie is holding forth, dominaling the con- of God.' ihe manifestation ol His glory in- fount of arcana. Then, manic versation, sharing his rich slock ol angel dwelling in human beings. There's Sophia, passes. He is alone in his room: there is of Lilith. Adams no eager audience. Once again he thinks lore with a fascinated audience. the angel wisdom. And— "Yes. 300 million of them." he is saying, first wife, the demon of lust he will skip the party. No. No He will go. "and each with his fixed function. Angels 'Are demons considered angels, then?" He wants to see Joanna. two don't have tree will, you know. Us Church a tall professorial-looking man wants to He goes to his terminal and calls up final angels before bedtime: Leviathan and doctrine that they're created with if. buf al know. the moment of their birth, they're given the "Of course. They're the angels who opted Behemoth. Behemoth is the great hippo- of dark- choice of opting for God or againsl Him. away from God. 8u1 they're angels never- potamus-angel, the vast beast Leviathan is his and the choice is irrevocable. Once they've theless, even if we mortals perceive their ness, the angel of chaos. or diabolical." mate, the mighty she-whale, the splendid made it. they're unalterably fixed, for good aspects as demonic for or for evil. Oh, and angels are born circum- He goes on and on. They all listen as sea serpent. They dance him on the cised, too. At least the Angels of Sanctifi- though he is God's own messenger, He screen. Behemoth's huge mouth yawns cation and the Angels of Glory are. and speaks of the hierarchies of angels— the wide. Leviathan gapes even more awe- maybe the seventy Angels of the Presence." seraphim, cherubim, thrones, domina- somely. "We are getting hungry." they tell feeding time?" In rabbinical "Does that mean that all angels are tions, principalities, powers, virtues, arch- him. "When is male?" asks a slender dark-haired woman. angels and angels— and he tells them of lore, these two will swallow all the damned "Strictly speaking, they're bodiless and the various lists of Ihe seven great angels, souls at the end of days. Cunningham therefore without sex." Cunningham tells which differ so greatly once one gets be- tosses them some electronic sardines and closes his eyes her. "But in fact, the religions that believe yond Michael. Gabriel, and Raphael, and sends them away. As he of oblivion, and in angels are mainly patriarchal ones, and he speaks ol Ihe 90.000 angels of destruc- he invokes Poleh. the angel when the angels are visuali2ed. they tend tion and the 300 angels of light he con- falls into a black dreamless sleep.

J "v\

(^^F?-Lji

"Of course I'm listening to you, Harriet. You said you were a Martian. — — "

Al his desk (he next morning, he is at disk, the fallen ones to another. saunters to his desk in an unusually folksy work on a standard item, a glitch-clearing The idea appeals to him for about thirty way and asks if he's going to be doing program for the third-quadrant surveil- seconds. Then he sees how fundamentally anything interesting this weekend. Cun- lance satellites, when he finds himself un- trivial it is. He doesn't need an angel for a ningham shrugs. 'A party Saturday night, accountably trembling. That has never job like that; a little simple software could that's about all. Why?" happened to him before. His fingernails look do it. Cunningham's corollary to Kant's "Thought you might be going off on a almost white, his wrists are rigid, his hands categorical imperative: Never use an an- fishing trip, or something. Looks like the are quivering. He feels chilled. It is as gel as mere software. He smiles, possibly last nice weekend before the rainy season though he has not slept for days. In the for the first time all week. Why, he doesn't sets in, wouldn't you say?" washroom he clings to the sink and stares even need software. He can handle it him- "I'm not a fisherman, Ned," at his pallid, sweaty face. Someone comes self, simply by assigning princes of Heaven "Take some kind of trip. Drive down to up behind him and says, "You all right, to one file and demons to a different one. Monterey, maybe. Or up into the wine

Dan?" It- hadn't seemed necessary to segregate country." "Yeah. Just a little attack of the damn his angels that way, or he would have done "What are you getting at?" queasies." it from the start. But since now they were "You look like you could use a little "All that wild living in the middle of the complaining change of pace." Harris says amiably, 'A week wears a man down," the other says, He begins to flange up a sorting pro- couple of days off. You've been crunching and moves along. The social necessities gram to separate the files. It should have numbers so hard, they're starting to crunch have been observed: a question, a non- taken him a few minutes, but he finds him- you, is my guess." committal answer, a quip, goodbye He self working in a rambling, muddled way, "It's that obvious?" could have been having a stroke here and doing an untypically sloppy job. With a Harris nods. "You're tired. Dan. It shows. little they would have played it the same way. quick swipe, he erases what he has done. We're a like air traffic controllers around Cunningham has no close friends at the" Gabriel would have to put up with the reek here, you know, working so hard we start office. He knows that they regard him as of brimstone a little longer, he thinks. to drearn about blips on the screen. That's eccentric — eccentric in the wrong way not There is a dull throbbing pain just be- no good. Get the hell out of town, fellow. lively and quirky but just a peculiar kind of hind his eyes. His throat is dry, his lips feel The Defense Department can operate

parched. Basileus would to wait a lit- without you for a while. Take Mon- hermit—and getting worse all the time. I have Okay?

tle longer, too. an- off. Tuesday, even. I can't afford to have could destroy the world, he thinks. I could Cunningham keys up day go into the Big Room and type for fifteen other angel, allowing his fingers to choose a fine mind like yours going goofy from seconds, and wed be on all-out alert a for him, and finds himself looking at a blank- fatigue, Dan," minute later and the bombs would be com- faced angel with a gleaming metal skin. "All right, Ned. Sure. Thanks." of real- shaking again. His fin- ing down from orbit six minutes later. I could One the early ones, Cunningham His hands are gernails are colorless. I izes. "I give that signal. I could really do it. could don't remember your name," he do it right now. says. "Who are you?" 'And get a good early start on the week- Waves of nausea sweep him and he grips "I am Anaphaxeton," end, loo. No need for you to hang around the edge of the sink until the last racking 'And your function?" here today until —four." spasm is over. Then he cleans his face and, "When my name is pronounced aloud, I "If that's okay calmer now, returns to his desk to stare at will cause the angels to summon the entire "Go on. Shoo!" the little green symbols on the screen. universe Before the bar of justice on Judg- Cunningham closes down his desk and ment Day." makes his way uncertainly out of the build-

That evening, still trying to find a func- "Oh, Jesus," Cunningham says. "I don't ing. The security guards wave at him. tion for Basileus, Cunningham discovers want you tonight." Everyone seems to know he's being sent himself thinking of demons, and of one de- He sends Anaphaxeton away and finds home early. Is this what it's like to crack up mon not in the classical demonology himself with the dark angel Apollyon, fish- on the job? He wanders about the parking Maxwell's Demon, the one that the physi- scales, dragon-wings, bear-feet, breath- lot for a little while, not sure where he has cist James Clerk Maxwell postulated to ing fire and smoke, holding the key to the left his car. At last he finds it, and drives send fast-moving molecules in one direc- Abyss. "No." Cunningham says, and brings home at thirty miles an hour, with horns tion and slow ones in another, thereby pro- up Michael, standing with drawn sword over honking at him all the way as he wanders viding an ultra-efficient method for heating Jerusalem, and sends him away only to up the freeway. and refrigeration. Perhaps some sort of fil- find on the screen an angel with 70.000 He settles wearily in front of his com- tering role could be devised for Basileus. feet and 4,000 wings, who is Azrael, the puter and brings the system on line, calling Last week a few of the loftier angels had angel of death. "No," says Cunningham for Harahel. Surely the angel of computers been complaining about the proximity to again. "Not you. Oh. Christ!" A vengeful will not plague him with such apocalyptic them of certain fallen angels within the army crowds his computer. On his screen matters. computer. "There's a smell of brimstone on there passes a flurrying regiment of wings Harahel says. "Well, we've worked out

this disk that I don't like," Gabriel had said. and eyes and beaks. He shivers and shuts your Basileus problem for you."

Cunningham wonders if he could make the system down for the night. Jesus, he "You have?" Basileus a kind of traffic manager within thinks. Jesus. Jesus, Jesus. All night long, "Uriel had the basic idea, building on the program: let him sit in there and ship suns explode in his brain. your Maxwell's Demon notion. Israfel and the celestial angels into one sector of a On Friday his supervisor, Ned Harris, Azrael developed it some. What's needed 46 " "

is an angel embodying God's justice and ago, and a sputtering screen provides a "Angles," Cunningham says. "I play the

God's mercy. A kind of evaluator, a iiltering crude computer-generated light show. The angles. That's what I said. I'm a profes- angel. He weighs deeds in Ihe balance. host is some sort of marketing exec for a sional gambler." and arrives at a verdict." large video-games company in San Jose, "Wait," she says, but he moves past her

"What's new about that?" Cunningham and most of the guests look vaguely cor- and out into the night. It takes him a long asks. "Something like that's built into every porate, too. The futurologist from New York while to find his key and get his car un- mythology from Sumer and Egypt on. has sent his regrets; the famous socio- locked, and the rain soaks him to the skin, There's always a mechanism for evaluat- biologist has also failed to arrive; the video but that does not bother him. He is home ing the souls of the dead— this one goes poets are two San Francisco gays who will a little before midnight. to Paradise, this one goes to Hell—" talk only to each other, and stray not very He brings Raphael on line. The great

"Wait," Harahel says. "I wasn't finished. far from the bar; the expert on teaching archangel radiates a beautiful golden glow. I'm not talking about the evaluation of in- chimpanzees to speak is in the red-faced- "You will be Basileus," Raphael tells him. dividual souls." and-sweaty stage of being drunk, and is "We've decided it by a vote, hierarchy by "What then?" working hard at seducing a plump woman hierarchy. Everyone agrees."

"Worlds," the angel replies. "Basileus will festooned with astrological jewelry. Cun- "I can't be an angel. I'm human," Cun- be ihe judge of worlds. He holds an entire ningham, numb, drifts through the party as ningham replies. planet up to scrutiny and decides whether though he is made of ectoplasm. He speaks "There's ample precedent. Enoch was it's time to call for the last trump." to no one; no one speaks to him. Some carried off to Heaven and became an an- "Part of the machinery of Judgment, you jugs of red wine are open on a table by the gel. So was Elijah. St. John the Baptist was mean?" window, and he pours himself a glassful. actually an angel. You will become Basi- "Exactly. He's the one who presents the There he stands, immobile, imprisoned by leus. We've already done the program for evidence to God and helps Him make His inertia. He imagines himself suddenly you. It's on the disk: just call him up and decision. And then he's the one who tells making a speech about angels, telling you'll see. Your own face, looking out at Israfel to blow the trumpet, and he's the everyone how Ithuriel touched Satan with you." one who calls out the name of Anaphax- his spear in the Garden of Eden as Ihe "No," Cunningham says. eton to bring everyone before the bar. He's Fiend crouched next to Eve, and how Ihe "How can you refuse?" the prime apocalyptic angel, the destroyer hierarch Ataphiel keeps Heaven aloft by "Are you really Raphael? You sound like of worlds. And—we thought you might make balancing it on three fingers. But he says someone from the other side. A tempter. him look like nothing. After a time he finds himself ap- Asmodeus. Astaroth. Belphegor." 'Ah," Cunningham says. "Not now. Let's proached by a lean, leathery-looking "I am Raphael. And you are Basileus." talk about that some other time." woman with glittering eyes, who says, 'And Cunningham considers it. He is so very He shuts the system down, pours him- what do you do?" tired that he can barely think. self a drink, sits staring out the window at "I'm a programmer," Cunningham says. An angel. Why not? A rainy Saturday

I the big eucalyptus tree in the front yard. "Mainly talk to angels. But I also do na- night, a lousy party, a splitting headache:

After a while it begins to rain. Not such a tional security stuff." come home and find out you've been made good weekend for a drive into the country "Angels?" she says, and laughs in a brit- an angel, and given a high place in the after all, he thinks. He does not turn the tle, tinkling way. "You talk to angels? I've hierarchy. Why not? Why the hell not? computer on again that evening. never heard anyone say that before." She 'All right," he says. "I'm Basileus." pours herself a drink and moves quickly He puts his hands on the keys and taps Despite everything, Cunningham goes elsewhere. out a simple formulation that goes straight to the party. Joanna is not there. She has 'Angels?" says the astrological woman. down the pipe into the Defense Depart- phoned to cancel, late Saturday after- "Did someone say angels?" ment's big Northern California system. With noon, pleading a bad cold. He detects no Cunningham smiles and shrugs and an alteration of two keystrokes, he sends

It sound of a cold in her voice, but perhaps looks out the window. is raining harder. I the same message to the Soviets. Why not? she is telling the truth. Or possibly she has should go home, he thinks. There is ab- Redundancy is the soul of security. The found something better to do on Saturday solutely no point in being here. He fills his world now has about six minutes left. Cun- night. But he is already geared for party- glass again. The chimpanzee man is still ningham has always been good with com- going, and he is so tired, so eroded, that working on the astrologer, but she seems puters. He knows their secret language as it is more effort to change his internal pro- to be trying to get free of him and come few people before him have. gram than it is to follow through on the orig- over to Cunningham. To discuss angels with Then he brings Raphael on Ihe screen inal schedule. So about eight that evening him? She is heavy-breasted, a little wall- again. he drives up to San Mateo, through a light eyed, sloppy-looking. He does not want to "You should see yourself as Basileus drizzle. discuss angels with her. He does not want while there's still time," the archangel says. The party turns out not to be in the glam- to discuss angels with anyone. He holds "Yes. Of course. What's the access key?" orous hills west of town, but in a small his place at the window until it definitely Raphael tells him. Cunningham begins cramped condominium, close to the heart does appear that the astrologer is heading fo set it up. of the city, furnished with what looks like his way; then he drifts toward the door. She Come now, Basileus! We are one! somebody's college-era chairs and says, "I heard you say you were interested Cunningham stares at the screen with couches and bookshelves. A cheap stereo in angels. Angels are a special— field of mine, growing wonder and delight, while the clock is playing the pop music of a dozen years you know. I've studied with continues to tick. "

THE SOUL PAINTER AND THE SHAPESHIFTER

An alien's deception provides an artist's muse-.

BY ROBERT SILVERBERG

was a surfeit of perfection Fifty Cities according to the It that drove the soul painter demands of his career, ex- Therion Nismiie from the crys- changing'one sort of splendor - talline cities of Castle Mount to for another every rew-years. the dark forests of the western Dundijfjiir" was his -native

continent: At!- his.ljfe he had city— his '-first ".canvases .-were lived amid.-the- wonders', of- the scenes of the Fiery. Valley., &S&' Mount, traveling, through ihe tempestuous ab_cf" passionate PAINTING B.Y.CHARLES PFAHL

-v- 77:

'• • X . ik with the ragged energies of youth —and Nismile expected the port of Piliplok to culent scarlet bulbs of mud-lilies, which he

then he dwelled some years in marvelous be a mudhole. but to his surprise it turned had learned to mash and roast into a sort Canzilaine of the talking statues, and af- out to be an ancient and enormous city, of bread. They grew deep, and he dug them terward in Stee the awesome, whose out- laid out according to a maddeningly rigid by working his arm to the shoulder into the skirts were three days' journey across, and mathematical plan. It was ugly, but not in muck and groping about with one cheek

in golden Halanx at the very fringes oi the any refreshing way. and he moved on by pressed to the ground. He came up muddy-

Castle, and for five years at the Castle it- riverboat up the Zimr. At a town called Verf faced and slippery, clutching a dripping self. where he painted at the court of the he impulsively left the boat and set forth in handful, and was startled to find a figure Coronal Lord Thraym. His paintings were a hired wagon into the forests to the south. calmly watching him from a distance of a prized for their calm elegance and their When he had traveled so deep into the wil- dozen yards. perfection of form, which mirrored the derness that he could see no trace of civ- He had never seen a Metamorph. The lawlessness of the Fifty Cities. But the ilization, he halted and built a cabin beside native beings of Majipoor were perpetually

beauty of such places numbs the soul, after a swift, dark stream. It was three years since exiled from the capital continent. Alhan- a time, and paralyzes the artistic instincts. he had left Castle Mount. Through all his roel. where Nismile had spent all his years. When Nismile reached his fortieth year, he journey he had been alone and had spo- But he had an idea of how they looked, found himself beginning to identify perfec- ken to others only when necessary, and he and he felt sure this must be one: an enor- tion with stagnation: he loathed his famous had not painted at all. mously tall, fragile, sallow-skinned being, works: his spirit began to cry out for up- Here Nismile began to heal. Everything sharp-faced, with inward-sloping eyes, a heaval unpredictability, transformation. in this place was unfamiliar and wonderful. barely perceptible nose, and stringy, rub-

The moment of crisis overtook him in the On Castle Mount, where the climate was bery hair of a pale greenish hue. It wore gardens of Tolingar Barrier. The Coronal artificially controlled, an endless sweet only a leather loin harness. A short, sharp had asked him for a suite of paintings of springtime reigned, the unreal air was clear dirk of some polished black wood was the gardens, to decorate a pergola under and pure, and rainfall came at predictable strapped to its hip. In eerie dignity the construction on the Castle's rim. times. But now he was in a rain forest, where Metamorph stood balanced with one frail, Nismile was happy to oblige. He taced the soil was spongy and yielding, clouds long leg twisted around the shin ot the other.

his blank canvas, drew breath deep down and tongues of fog often drifted by. show- It seemed both sinister and gentle, men- into his lungs, and readied himself for en- ers were frequent, and the vegetation was acing and comical Nismile chose not to

tering the trance state. In a moment his a chaotic, tangled anarchy. It was as far be alarmed

soul, leaping from his dreaming mind, would removed as he could imagine from the "Hello," he said. "Do you mind if I gather

imprint the unique intensity of his vision on symmetries of Tolingar Barrier. He wore lit- bulbs here?" the psychosensitive fabric. He glanced at tle clothing, learned by trial and error what The Metamorph was silent. the gentle hills, the artful shrubbery, the roots and berries and shoots were safe to "I have the cabin down the stream. I'm

delicately angled leaves, and a wave of eat. and devised a wickerwork weir to help Therion Nismile. I used to be a soul painter

rebellious fury crashed against him. And him catch the slender crimson fish that when I lived on Castle Mount." he quivered and shook and nearly fell. This flashed like skyrockets through the stream. The Metamorph regarded him solemnly. immobile landscape, this static, sterile He walked for hours through the dense An unreadable expression flickered across beauty, this impeccable and matchless jungle, savoring not only its strange beauty its face. Then the Metamorph turned and

garden, had no need of him: it was itself but also the tense pleasure of wondering slipped gracefully into the jungle, vanish- as unchanging as a painting, and as life- whether he could find his way back to his ing almost at once, less, How ghastly! How hateful! Nismile cabin. Often he sang, in a loud, erratic Nismile shrugged. He dug for more mud- swayed and pressed his hands to his voice: he had never sung on Castle Mount. lily bulbs. pounding skull. He heard the soft, sur- Occasionally he started to prepare a can- A week or two later he met another Meta-

prised grunts of his companions, and when vas, but always he put it away unused. He morph, or perhaps the same one, this time he opened his eyes, he saw them all star- composed nonsensical poems, voluptu- while he was stripping bark from a vine to ing in horror and embarrassment at the ous strings oi syllables, and chanted them make rope for a bilantoon trap. Once more blackened and bubbling canvas "Cover to an audience of slender, towering trees the aborigine was wordless, materializing like in front of it! ' he cried. Everyone was in motion at and incomprehensibly intertwined vines. quietly an apparition Nismile once and in the center of the group Nis- Sometimes he thought back to the court of and contemplating him from the same un- mile stood statue-still When he could speak Lord Thraym. wondering whether the Cor- settling one-legged stance. A second time

again, he said. "Tell Lord Thraym I will be onal had hired a new artist to paint the dec- Nismile tried to draw the creature into con-

unable to fulfill his commission. orations for the pergola, and whether the versation, but at his first words it drifted And so that day in Dundilmir he pur- halatingas were now blooming along the off. ghostlike. "Wait!"—Nismile called. "I'd chased what he needed and began his road to High Morpin. But such thoughts like to talk with you. I " But he was alone journey to the lowlands. He found passage came rarely. A few days afterward he was collecting on a pilgrim ship sailing to Piliplok on the He lost track of time. Four or five or per- firewood and soon became aware that he continent of Zimroel— the entire interior of haps six weeks— how could he tell?— went was being studied. At once he said to the which was wilderness, into which Lord by before he saw his first Metamorph. Metamorph, "I've caught a bilantoon. and

Stiamot had driven the aboriginal Meta- The encounter took place in a marshy I'm about to roast it. There's more meat

morphs after their final defeat four thou- meadow two miles upstream from his cabin. than I need. Will you share my dinner?" sand years before. Nismile had gone there to gather the suc- The Metamorph smiled— he took that —

enigmatic dicker for a smile, though il could challenging and rewarding lo exchange riedly and with an outburst of clear, tinkling with these strange folk might laughter said. "You're all scratched torn! have been anything —and as if by way of ideas He even and replying underwent a sudden astonishing paint one. He had been thinking of return- Can't you run in the forest any better than shift, turning itself into a mirror image of ing to his art. of experiencing that moment that? You should take more care." Nismile. stocky and muscular, with dark, ol creative ecstasy as his soul leaped the "I didn't want you to get away." far. penetrating eyes and shoulder-length black gap to the psychosensitive canvas and in- "Oh, I wasn't going to go You know,

hair. Nismile blinked wildly and trembled; scribed on it those images that he alone I was walching you for a long time before then, recovering, he smiled, taking the could fashion. Surely he was different now you noticed me. You're the man from the mimicry as some form of communication, from the increasingly unhappy man he had cabin, right?" and said. "Marvelous! I cant begin to see been on Castle Mount, and that difference "Yes. And you—where do you live?" how you people do it!" He beckoned. must show itself in his work. During the "Here and there," she said airily.

"Come. It'll take an hour and a half to cook next few days he rehearsed speeches de- He stared at her in wonder. Her beauty the bilantoon. and we can talk until then. signed to win the confidence of the Meta- delighted him, and her shamelessness as- You understand our language, don't you?" morphs, to overcome that strange shyness tounded him. She might almost be a hal-

It was bizarre beyond measure, this of theirs, that delicacy of bearing that lucination, he thought. Where had she come speaking to a duplicate of himself. "Say blocked any sort of contact. In time, he from? What was a human being, naked and something, eh? Tell me: Is there a Meta- thought, they would grow used to him; they alone, doing in this primordial jungle? morph village somewhere nearby? Pturf- would begin to speak, to accept his invi- Human? var," he corrected, remembering the tation to eat with him. and then perhaps Of course not, Nismile realized, with the Melamorphs' name for themselves. "Eh? A they would pose sudden, sharp grief of a child who has been lot of Piuhvars hereabouts, in the jungle?" But in the days that followed he saw no given some coveted treasure in a dream, Nismile gestured again. "Walk with me to more Metamorphs. He roamed the forest, only to wake aglow and perceive the sad my cabin and we'll get the fire going. You peering hopefully into thickets and down reality. Remembering how effortlessly the don't have any wine, do you? That's the mist-swept lanes of trees, and found no Metamorph had mimicked him, Nismile

I that for- probability: only thing I miss. think, some good Strong one. He decided he had been too comprehended the dismal This wine, the heavy stuff they make in Mulde- ward and had frightened them away—so was some prank, some masquerade. He

mar. Won't taste that ever again. I guess, much for the malevolence of the mon- studied her intently, seeking a sign of but there's wine in Zimroel. isn't there? Eh? strous Metamorphs!— and after a while he Metamorph identity, a flickering of the pro-

Will you say something?" But the Meia- ceased to expect further contact It was jeclion, a trace of knife-sharp cheekbones morph responded only with a grimace, disturbing. He had not missed companion- and sloping eyes behind Ihe cheerfully im- perhaps intended as a grin, that twisted Ship when none seemed likely, but the pudent lace. She was convincingly human the Nismile face into something harsh and knowledge that there were intelligent beings in every degree. And yel— how implausi- strange; then it resumed its own form in an somewhere in the area kindled an aware- ble to meet one of his own kind here, how instant and with calm, floating strides ness of loneliness in him that was not easy much more likely that she was a Shape- started walking away. to bear. shifter, a deceiver-

Nismile hoped for a time that it would One damp and warm day several weeks He did not want to believe that. He re- return with a flask of wine, but he did nof after his last Metamorph encounter, Nis- solved to meet the possibility of deception see it again. Curious creatures, he thought. mile was swimming in the cool, deep pond with a conscious act of faith, in the hope Were they angry that he was camped in formed by a natural dam of boulders hall that that would make her be what she their territory? Were they keeping him un- a mile below his cabin. He saw a pale, slim seemed to be. der surveillance out of fear that he was the figure moving quickly through a dense "What's your name?" he asked. vanguard of a wave of human settlers? bower of blue-leaved bushes near the "Sarise, And yours?" Oddly, he felt himself in no danger. Meta- shore. He scrambled out of the water, "Nismile. Where do you live?" morphs were generally considered to be barking his knees on the rocks. "Wait!" he "In the forest." malevolent: certainly they were disquiet- shouted.— "Please— don't be afraid— don't "Then there's a human settlement not far ing beings, alien and unfathomable Plenty go " The figure disappeared, but Nis- from here?" ol tales were told of Metamorph raids on mile, thrashing frantically through the un- She shrugged. "I live by myself." She outlying human settlements, and no doubt derbrush, caught sight of it again in a few came toward him. He felt his muscles these Shapeshifter folk harbored bitter minutes, leaning casually now against an growing taut as she moved closer, and his hatred for those who had come to their world enormous tree with vivid red bark. skin seemed to be blazing. She touched and dispossessed them, driving them into Nismile stopped short, amazed, for the her fingers lightly to the cuts the vines had the jungles. Nismile knew himself to be a other was no Metamorph, but a human made on his arms and chest. "Don't those man of goodwill, who had never done harm woman. scratches bother you?" toothers and wanted only to be left to live She was slender and young and naked, "They're beginning to. I should wash his life, and he fancied that some subtle with thick, auburn hair, narrow shoulders, them." sense would lead the Metamorphs lo re- small, high breasts, and bright, playful eyes. "Yes. Let's go back to the pool. I know alize that he was not their enemy. He wished She seemed altogether unafraid of him. a a better way than the one you took. Follow he could become their friend. He was forest sprite who had obviously enjoyed growing hungry for conversation after his leading him on this little chase. As he sfood time of solitude and thought it might be gaping at her, she looked him over unhur- "

trail. Gracefully she sprinled off. and he side by side, hands clasped, saying noth- Nismile waited at his cabin all the next

ran behind her, delighted by the ease of ing, Even when a light rainshower came, day. She did not come. It scarcely sur- her movements, the play of muscles in her they did not move but simply allowed the prised him. Their meeting had been a back and buttocks. He plunged into the quick, sharp sprinkle to wash the sweat dream, a fantasy, an interlude beyond time pool a moment after she did. The chilly from their skins. He opened his eyes and and space. He did not expect to see her water soothed the stinging of the cuts. When found her watching him with keen curiosity. again. Toward evening he drew a canvas they climbed out, he yearned to draw her "I want to paint you," he said. from the pack he had brought with him and to him and enclose her in his arms, but he "No." set it up, thinking he might paint fhe view did not dare. They sprawled on the mossy "Not now. Tomorrow. You'll come to my from his cabin as twilight purpled the forest bank. There was mischief in her eyes. cabin, and then I can—" air. He studied the landscape a long while, He said, "My cabin isn't far," "No." testing the verticals of the slender trees

"I know." "I haven't tried to paint in years. It's im- against the heavy horizontal of a thick,

"Would you like to go there?" portant to me to begin again. And I want sprawling, yellow-berried bush, and even- "Some other time, Nismile." very much tc paint you." tually shook his head and put his canvas "All right. Some other lime." "I want very much not to be painted," away. Nothing about this landscape needed "Where do you come Irom?" she asked. she said. to be captured by art In the morning, he "I was born on Castle Mount. Do you "Please." thought, he would hike upstream past the know where that is? I was a soul painter at "No," she said gently. She rolled away meaddw to a place where fleshy, red suc- the Coronal's court. Oo you know what soul and StdOd up. "Paint the jungle. Paint the culents sprouted like rubbery spikes from painting is? It's done with the mind and a podl. Don't paint me. all right. Nismile7 All a deep cleft in a great rock: a more prom- sensitive canvas, and— I could show you. right?" ising scene, perhaps.

I could paint you. Sarise. I take a close look He made an unhappy gesture of ac- But in the morning he found excuses for at something, I seize its essence with my ceptance. delaying his departure, and by noon it deepest consciousness, and then I go into She said, "I have to leave now." seemed too late to go. He worked in his a kind of trance, almost a waking dream, "Will you tell me where you live?" little garden plot instead— he had begun

and I transform what I've seen into some- "I already have. Here and there. In the transplanting sdme of the shrubs whose thing of my own and hurl it on the canvas. forest. Why do you ask these questions?" fruits or greens he ate —and that occupied

I in "I to to find If for In late capture the truth— of it one quick blaze want be able you again. him hours. afternoon a milky fog of transference you disappear, how will I know where to settled over the forest. He went inside, and She scarcely seemed to have heard him. look?" a few minutes later there was a knock at "Would you like to touch me, Nismile?" "I know where to find ydu." she said. the dodr. "Yes. Very much." "That's enough." "I had given up hope." he told her. The thick turquoise moss was like a car- "Will you come to me tomorrow? To my Sarise's forehead and brows were pet. She rolled toward him. and his hand cabin?" beaded with moisture. The fog. he thought, hovered above her body. He hesitated, for "I think I will." or maybe she had been dancing along the he was still certain that she was a Meta- He took her hand and drew her toward path. "I promised I'd come." she said softly. morph playing some perverse Shapeshift- him. But now she was hesitant, remote. The "Yesterday." er game with him, and a heritage of thou- mystery surrounding her throbbed in his "This is yesterday,'' she said, laughing, sands of years of dread and loathing mind. She had told him nothing but her and drew a flask from her robe. "You like surfaced in him. He was terrified of touch- name. He found it too difficult to believe wine? I found some of this. I had to go a ing her and discovering that her skin had that she, like him, was a solitary of the jun- long distance to get it. Yesterday," the clammy, repugnant texture that he gle, wandering as the whim came, but he It was a young gray wine, the kind that imagined Metamorph skin to have, or that doubted that he could have failed to de- tickles the tongue with its sparkle. The flask she would shift and turn into a creature of tect, in all these weeks, the existence of a had no label, but he supposed it to be some alien form the moment she was in his arms. human village nearby. The most likely ex- Zimroel wine, unknown on Castle Mount.

Her eyes were closed, her lips were parted, planation was that she was a Shapeshifter. They drank it all, he more than she—she her tongue flickered between them like a embarked on an adventure with a human. filled his cup again and again—and when serpent's; she was waiting In terror he Much as he resisted that idea, he was tod it was gone, they went outside td make love forced his hand down to her breast. But rational to reject it completely. But she on the cool, damp ground beside the stream her flesh was warm and yielding, and it felt looked human, she felt human, she acted and fell into a doze afterward. She woke very much the way the flesh of a young human. How adept were these Meta- him in some small hour of the night and led human woman should feel. With a seft, lit- morphs at their transformations? He was him to his bed. They spent the rest of the tle cry she pressed herself into his em- templed to ask her outright whether his night pressed close to each other, and the brace. For a dismaying instant the gro- suspicions were correct, but thai was fool- next morning she showed no desire to tesque image of a Metamorph rose in his ishness; she had answered nothing else, leave. They went to the pool to begin the mind, angular and long-limbed and nose- and surely she would not answer that. He day with a swim; they embraced again on less, but he shoved the thought away kept his questions to himself She gently the turquoise moss She guided him to the fiercely and gave himself up entirely to her pulled her hand free of his grasp and gigantic red-barked tree where he had first lithe and vigorous body. stepped toward the fern-bordered trail and seen her and pointed out to him a colossal

For a long time afterward they lay still. was gone. yellow fruit, three or four yards across, that — — " —

had fallen from one of its enormous of years ago, finding the Shapeshifters al- Sarise uttered a small surprised cry. branches. Nismile looked at it doubtfully. ready in decline, their mighty stone cities Nismile felt sweat break out all over; he

It had split open, and its interior was a in ruins, and finishing the job by appropri- staggered and fought for breath; after a scarlet, custardy stulf, studded with huge, ating their most fertile lands, sequestering moment he regained control and looked gleaming black seeds. "Dwikka," she said. them in ever smaller regions, defeating their toward the canvas in front of him.

"It will make us drunk." She stripped off last uprising in Lord Stiamot's lime and "How beautiful!" Sarise murmured. her robe and used it lo wrap great chunks forcing them, ultimately, into the Zimroel But he was shaken by what he saw. Those of Ihe dwikka fruil, which Ihey carried back forests, out of sight, out of mind. To most dizzying diagonals— the blurred and lo his cabin and spenl all morning ealing. people of Majipoor the Metamorphs were streaked colors— the heavy greasy sky, They sang and laughed most of the after- ghosts of a former era, revenants, unreal, hanging in sullen loops from the horizon noon. For dinner Ihey grilled some fish from legendary. Why would one seek him out in it looked nothing like the scene he had tried Nismile's weir, and later, as they lay arm in his seclusion, offer itself to him in so con- to capture, and, far more troublesome, arm watching the night descend, she asked vincing a counterfeit of love, strive with such nothing like the work of Therion Nismile. It him a thousand questions about his past zeal to brighten his days and enliven his was a dark and anguished painting, cor- life, his painting, his boyhood, his travels, nights? In a moment of paranoia he imag- rupted by unintended discords. about Castle Mount, the Fifty Cities, the Six ined Sarise reverting in the darkness to her "Don't you like it?" she asked.

Rivers, the royal court of Lord Thraym. the true shape and rising above him as he slept "It isn't what I had in mind." royal Castle of uncountable rooms. The to plunge a gleaming dirk into his throat: "Even so, how wonderful to make the questions came from her in a torrent, the revenge for the crimes of his ancestors. picture come out on the canvas like that! newest one rushing forth almost before he But what folly such fantasies were! If the And such a lovely thing!" had dealt with the last. Her bubbling curi- Metamorphs wanted to murder him, they "You think it's lovely?" osity was inexhaustible. needed no such elaborate charades. "Yes, of course! Don't you?"

"What will we do tomorrow?" she asked It was almost as absurd to believe that He stared at her. 77iis? Lovely? Was she at long last. she was a Metamorph as to believe that flattering him, or merely ignorant of pre- So they became lovers. For the first few she was not. vailing tastes, or did she genuinely admire days they did little but eat and swim and To put these matters from his mind, he what he had done? This strange, tor- embrace and devour Ihe intoxicating fruit resolved to take up his art again. On an mented painting, this somber and alien of the dwikka tree. He ceased to fear, as unusually clear and sunny day he set out work he had at the beginning, that she would with Sarise for the rock of the red succu- Men. disappear as suddenly as she had come lents, carrying a raw canvas. She watched, "You don't like it." she said. Not a ques- to him. Her flood of questions subsided, fascinated, as he prepared everything. tion this time. after a time, but even so he chose not to "You do the painting entirely with your "I haven't painted in almost four years. take his turn, preferring to leave her mys- mind?" she asked. Maybe I need to go about— it slowly, to get teries unpierced. "Entirely. I fix the scene in my soul, I the way of it right again He could not shake his obsession with transform and rearrange and heighten, and "I spoiled your painting," Sarise said. the idea that she was a fvletamorph. The then —you'll see." "You? Don't be silly."

if I thought chilled him— that her beauty was "Is it all right watch? I won't spoil it?" "My mind got mixed into It, My way of a lie, that behind it she was alien and gro- "Of course not." seeing things." tesque—especially when he ran his hands "But if someone else's mind gets into the "I told you that the canvases are tuned over the cool, sweet smoothness of her painting—" to me alone. I could be in the midst of a thighs or breasts. He constantly had to fight "It can't happen. The canvases are tuned thousand people, and none of them would " away his suspicions. But they would not to me." He squinted, made frames with his affect the painting leave him. There were no human outposts fingers, moved a few feet this way and that. "But perhaps I distracted you. I swerved in this part of Zimroel, and it was too im- His throat was dry and his hands were your mind somehow." plausible that this girl — for that was all she quivering. So many years since he had last "Nonsense." was, a girl — had elected to take up a her- done this: Would he still have the gift? And "I'll go for a walk. Paint another one while mit's life here. Far more likely, Nismile the technique? He aligned the canvas and I'm gone." thought, that she was native to this place, touched it in a preliminary way with his mind. "No, Sarise. This one is splendid. The

one of the unknown numbers of Shape- The scene was a good one, vivid, bizarre, more I look at it, the more pleased I am. shifters who slipped like phantoms through the color contrasts powerful ones, the Come. Let's go home. Let's swim and eat these humid groves. When she slept, he compositional aspects challenging, that some dwikka and make love. Yes?" sometimes watched her by faint starlight massive rock, those weird, meaty red He took the canvas from its mount and to see whether she began to lose human plants, the tiny, yellow floral bracts at their rolled it. But what she had said affected form. Always she remained as she was, tips, the forest-dappled sunlight. Yes, yes, him more than he would admit. Some kind and even so, he suspected her. it would work, it would amply serve as the of strangeness had entered the painting,

And yet, and yet, and yet it was not in vehicle through which he could convey the no doubt of it. What if she had managed the nature ot Metamorphs to seek human texture of this dense, tangled jungle, this somehow to taint it, her hidden Metamorph company or to show warmth toward them. place of shapeshifting— soul radiating its essence into his spirit, Humans had stolen this vast world of fvla- He closed his eyes. He entered trance. coloring the impulses of his mind with an jipoor from them— coming here thousands He hurled the picture to the canvas. alien hue " " "

They walked downstream in silence. "Let me paint you." "Why?"

When they reached the meadow of the mud- "No." "You interested me, Therion. I wanted to lilies where Nismile had seen his first Meta- "Give me a reason then." know all about you. I had never seen any- said. thing like you." morph, he heard himself blurt, "Sarise, I "I can't," she have to ask you something." "Then you can't refuse." He drew a can- "I still don't believe it," he whispered. "Yes?" vas from his pack. "Here, in the meadow, She pointed toward the painting. "Be- He could not halt himself. "You aren't hu- now. Go on, Sarise. Stand beside— the lieve it. Therion." man, are you? You're realiy a Metamorph, stream. It'll take only a moment 'No. No." right?" "No, Therion." 'You have your answer now."

She stared at him, wide-eyed, color ris- "If you love me, Sarise, let me paint you." 'I know you're human. The painting lies." ing in her cheeks. It was a clumsy bit of blackmail, and it 'No, Therion."

"Are you serious?" shamed him to have attempted it. And it 'Prove it for me Change for me. Change He nodded. angered her, for he saw a harsh glitter in now." He released her and stepped a short

"Me a Metamorph?" She laughed, not her eyes that he had never seen there be- way back. "Do it. Change for me." very convincingly. "What a wild idea!" fore. They confronted each other for a tense She looked at him sadly. Then, without "Answer me. Sarise. Look into my eyes moment. perceptible transition, she turned herself and answer me." Then she said in a cold, flat voice, "Not into a replica of him, as she had done once

"It's too foolish, Therion." here. Therion. At the cabin. I'll let you paint before: the final proof, the unanswerable

"Please. Answer me." me there, if you insist." answer. A muscle quivered wildly in his "You want me to prove I'm human? How Neither of them spoke on the way home. cheek. He watched her, and she changed could I?" He was tempted to forget the whole thing. again, this time into something terrifying

"I want you to tell me that you're human. It seemed to him that he had imposed his and monstrous, a nightmarish, gray, pock- Or that you're something else." will by force, that he had committed a sort marked balloon of a thing with flabby skin "I'm human," she said. of rape, and he almost wished he could and eyes like saucers and a hooked black position thai to the "Can I believe that?" retreat from the he had won. But beak; and from she went Meta-

"I don't know. Can you? I've given you there would never be any going back to morph form, taller than he. hollow-chested your answer." Her eyes flashed with mirth. the old easy harmony between them, and and featureless, and then she was Sarise hair, del- "Don't I teel human? Don't I act human? he had to have the answers he needed. once more, cascades of auburn thighs. Do I seem like an imitation?" Uneasily he set about preparing a canvas. icate hands, strong

"Perhaps I'm unable to tell." "Where shall I stand?" she asked. "No," he said. "Not that one. No more "Why do you think I'm a Metamorph?" 'Anywhere. By the stream. By the cabin." counterfeits." "Because only Metamorphs live in this In a slouching, slack-limbed way she She became the Metamorph again. jungle,"—he said. "It seems— logical. Even moved toward the cabin. He nodded and He nodded. "Yes. That's better. Stay that though " He faltered. "Look, I've had my dispiritedly began the final steps before way. It's more beautiful." answer. It was a stupid question and I'd entering trance. Sarise glowered at him. "Beautiful, Therion?" like to drop the subject. All right?" Tears were welling in her eyes. "I find you beautiful. Like this. As you "How strange you are! You must be an- "I love you." he cried abruptly, and went really are. Deception is always ugly."

for It six fin- gry. You do think I spoiled your painting." down into trance, and the last thing he saw He reached her hand. had "That's not so." before he closed his eyes was Sarise al- gers, very long and narrow, without fin- "You're a very poor liar. Therion." tering her pose, coming out of her moody gernails or visible joints. Her skin was silky

"All right. Something spoiled my paint- slouch, squaring her shoulders, eyes sud- and faintly glossy, and it felt not at all as lightly ing. I don't know what. It wasn't the paint- denly bright, smile flashing. he had expected. He ran his hands virtually fleshless ing I intended." When he opened his eyes, the painting over her slim, body. She "Paint another one then." was done and Sarise was staring timidly was altogether motionless.

"I will. Let me paint you, Sarise." at him from the cabin door. "I should go now," she said at last.

"I told you I didn't want to be painted." "How is it?" she asked. "Stay with me. Live here with me." "I need to. I need .to see what's in —my "Come. See for yourself." "Even now?" own soul, and the only way I can know She walked to his side. They examined "Even now. In your true form." "Paint the dwikka tree, Therion. Paint the the picture together, and after a moment "You still want me?" cabin." Nismile slipped his arm around her shoul "Very much," he said. "Will you stay?"

"Why not paint you?" der. She shivered and moved closer to him She said, "When I first came to you, it "The idea makes me uncomfortable." The painting showed a woman with hu- was to watch you, to study you, to play with "You aren't giving me a real answer.— What man eyes and Metamorph mouth and nose. you, perhaps even to mock and hurt you. is there about being painted that against a jagged and chaotic background You are the enemy, Therion. Your kind must "Please, Therion." of clashing reds and oranges and pinks. always be the enemy. But as we began to

"Are you afraid I'll see you on the canvas She said quietly, "Now do you know what live together, I saw there was no reason to in a way that you won't like? Is that it? That you wanted to know?" hate you. Not you, you as a special indi-

I'll get a different answer to my questions "Was it you in the meadow? And the two vidual, do you understand?"

It voice of Sarise when I paint you?" other times?" was the coming from "Please." "Yes." those alien lips. How strange! he thought.

54 How much like a dream! stream. He imagined he heard weeping: often showing Metamorphs lurking in the

She said, "I began to want to be with he thought he heard a cry of pain, but it middle distance. It was not the sort of work you. To make the game go on forever. But might have been any other sort of forest likely to be popular on the cheerful and the game had to end. And yet 1 still want sound. There was no hope of following the airy world of Majipoor, and Nismile found to be with you." Metamorphs into thai impenetrable zone few buyers at first. But in lime his paintings "Then stay, Sarise." of thick, white mist. caught the fancy of the Duke of Qurain,

"Only if you truly want me." He never saw Sarise again, or any other who had begun to weary of sunny serenity "I've told you that," Metamorph. For a while he hoped he would and perfect proportion. Under the Duke's "I don't horrify you?" come upon Shapeshifters in the forest and patronage, Nismile's work grew fashion-

"No." be slain by them with their little polished able, and in the later years of his life there "Paint me again, Therion. Show me with dirks, for the loneliness was intolerable now. was a ready market for everything he pro- a painting. Show me love on the canvas. But that did not happen, and when it be- duced.

Therion, and then I'll stay." came obvious that he was living in a sort He was widely imitated, though never He painted her day after day, until he of quarantine, cut off not only from Sar- successfully, and he was the subject of had used every canvas, and hung them ail ise— if she was still alive — but from the en- many critical essays and biographical about the interior of the cabin. Sarise and tire society of the Metamorph folk, he found studies. "Your paintings are so turbulent the dwikka tree. Sarise in the meadow. Sar- himself unable to dwell in the clearing be- and strange." one scholar said to him. ise against the milky fog of evening. Sarise side the stream any longer. He rolled up "Have you devised some method of work- at twilight, green against purple. There was his paintings of Sarise and carefully dis- ing from dreams?" no way he could prepare more canvases. mantled his cabin and began the long and "I work only from memory," said Nismile.

It although he tried. did not really matter. perilous journey back to civilization. "From painful memory, I would be so bo'd

They began to go on long voyages of ex- It was a week before his fiftieth birthday as to venture." ploration together, down one stream and when he reached the borders of Castle "Not at all," answered Nismile. "All my another, into distant parts of the forest, and Mount. In his absence, he discovered. Lord work is intended to help me recapture a she showed him new trees and flowers. Thraym had become Pontifex. and the new time of joy, a time of love, the happiest and and the creatures of the jungle, the toothy Coronal was Lord Vildivar. a man of little most precious moment of my life." He stared lizards and the burrowing golden worms sympathy for the arts. Nismile rented a stu- past the questioner into distant mists, thick and the sinister, ponderous amorfibots dio on the riverbank at Stee and began to and soft as wool, thai swirled through sleeping away their days in muddy lakes. paint again. He worked only from memory: lumps of tall, slender trees bound by a They said little to one another; the time for dark and disturbing scenes of jungle life. ' network of vines. answering questions was over and words were no longer needed. Day slipped into day, week into week. and in this land of no seasons it was diffi- cult to measure the passing of time. Per- haps a month went by, perhaps six. They encountered no one else. The jungle was full ot Metamorphs, she told him, but they were keeping their distance, and she hoped they would leave them alone forever. One afternoon of steady drizzle he went out to check his traps, and when he re- turned an hour later, he knew at once that something was wrong. As he approached the cabin, four Metamorphs emerged. He felt sure that one was Sarise, but he could not tell which one. "Wait!" he cried as they moved past him. He ran after them. "What do you want with her 7 Let her go! Sarise? Sarise? Who are they? What do they want?" For just an instant one of the Meta- morphs flickered, and he saw the girl with the auburn hair, but only for an instant; then there were four Metamorphs again, gliding like ghosts toward the depths of the jungle. The rain grew more intense, and a heavy fog bank drifted in, cutting off all visibility. Nismile paused at the edge of the clearing, straining desperately for sounds over the patter of the rain and the loud throb of the Her diplomatic mission was a pretense to get inside the Emperor's court

BY ROBERT SILVERBERG

IhefI he foreign minister of the Empire of San Francisco was trying to sleep late. Last night had been a long one, a wild if not particularly gratifying party at the Baths, too much to drink, too much to smoke, and he had seen the dawn come up like thunder out of Oakland 'crost the Bay. Now the telephone was ringing. He integrated the first couple of rings nicely into his dream, but Ihe next one began to undermine his slum- ber, and the one after that woke him up. He groped for the receiver and, eyes still closed, managed to croak. "Christensen here." "Tom, are you awake? You don't sound awake. It's Morty. Tom. Wake up." The undersecretary for external affairs. Christensen sat up, rubbed his eyes, ran his tongue around his lips. Daylight was stream- ing into the room. His cats were glaring at him from the doorway. The little Siamese pawed daintily at her empty bowl and looked

PAINTING BY JEAN-PIERRE ALAUX " "" " a

up expectantly. The fat Persian just sal. "It isn't morning anymore, Tom. But I'd Another imperial car took him up the hill- sprawling nineteenth-century "Tom?" do it for you if I could." side to the yell of the Hotel, that vast, I splendor Claremont "I'm up! I'm up! What is it, Morty?" "All right. All right. didn't mean to the ferry arrangements," antiquated survivor of all the cataclysms. "I didn't mean to wake you. How was I sup- at you. You make — jungle, ivy posed to know, one in the afternoon "Ferry leaves at three-thirty. Chauffeur It was seedy now, the grounds a to the of the palm trees, and "What is it, Morty?" will pick you up at three, okay?" almost tops palace, with "We got a call from Monterey. There's an "Okay," Christensen said. "See if you can yet it still looked fit lo be a ambassador on the way up, and you've got find out any more about all this, and have hundreds of rooms and magnificent ban- lo meet with her." somebody call me back in an hour with a quet halls. Christensen wondered how often The foreign minister worked hard at briefing, will you?" it had guests. There wasn't much tourism clearing the fog from his brain. He was He fed the cat, showered, shaved, took these days. thirty-nine years old, and all-night parties a couple of pills, and brewed some coffee. In the parking plaza outside the en- took more out of him than they once had. At half past two the ministry called. No- trance was a single car, a black-and-white California Patrol job that had been "You do it, Morty." body had any idea what the ambassador Highway Fran- decorated with Ihe insignia of the Republic I want. Relations between San "You know I would, Tom. But can't. You've might tree and got lo handle this one yourself. It's prime." cisco and the Republic of Monterey were of Monterey, a contorted cypress "Prime? What kind of prime? You mean, cordial just now. Ms. Sawyer lived in Pa- a sea otter. A uniformed driver lounged

if, "I'm like a great dope deal? Or are Ihey de- cific Grove and was a member of the Mon- against looking bored. Christen- claring war on us?" terey Senate; that was all that was known sen," he told the man, her. Some briefing, he thought. "You the foreign minister?" "How would I know the details? The call about wait for his chauf- "I'm not the Emperor Norton," came in. and Ihey said it was prime. Ms. He went downstairs to in bar." Sawyer must confer with Mr. Christensen. feur. It was a late autumn day. bright and "Come on. She's waiting the rains hadn't yet, Ms. Sawyer stood up as he entered— It wouldn't involve dope, Tom. And it can't clear and cool. The begun be war, either. Shit, why would Monterey and Ihe streets looked dusfy. The foreign slender, dark-haired woman of about thirty, want to make war on us? They've only got minister lived on Frederick Street, just off with cool, green eyes— and he flashed her old white Victorian with small a quick, professionally cordial smile, which ten soldiers, I bet, unless they're drafting Cole, in an a professionally. He did the Chicanos—out of the Salinas calabozo. front porch. He settled in on the steps, feel- she returned just as and besides ing wide awake but surly, and a few min- not feel at all cordial. "All right." Christensen's head was utes before three his car came putt-putt- "Senator Sawyer," he said. "I'm Tom buzzing. "Go easy on the chatter. Okay? ing up, a venerable gray Chevrolet with the Christensen." of imperial Francisco on its doors. "Glad to know you." She pivoted and Where am I supposed to meet her?" arms San "In Berkeley." The driver was Vietnamese, or maybe Thai. gestured toward the huge picture window "You're kidding." Christensen got in without a word, and off that ran the length of the bar. "I just got "She won't come into the city. She thinks they went at an imperial velocity through here. I've been admiring the view It's been in the Area." it's too dangerous over here." the virtually empty streets, down lo Haight. years since I've been Bay the cocktail lounge one "What do we do. kill ambassadors and eastward for a while, then onto Oak, up He nodded. From barbecue them? She'll be safe here, and Van Ness, pas! the palace, where at this could see the slopes of Berkeley, the bay, still-imposing San she knows it." moment the Emperor Norton VII was prob- the ruined bridges, the ably taking his imperial nap, and along Post Francisco skyline. Very nice. They took "Look, I talked to her. She thinks the city is too crazy. She'll come as far as Berkeley, and then Market to the ferry slip. seats by Ihe window, and he beckoned to but that's it." The stump of ihe Bay Bridge glittered a waiter, who brought them drinks. sharp blue A "How was your drive up?" Christensen "Tell her to—go to hell." magically against the sky. "Tom, Tom small power cruiser was waiting for him. asked. Christensen sighed. "Where in Berkeley Christensen was silent during the slow, dull "No problems. We got stopped for

will she be?" voyage. A chill wind cut through the Golden speeding in San Jose, but I got out of it. "The Claremont. al half past four." Gate and made him huddle info himself. They could see it was an official car, but 'Jesus," Christensen said, "How did you He stared broodingly at Ihe low, rounded they stopped us anyway." get me into this? All the way across to the East Bay hills, dry and brown from a long "The lousy bastards. They love to look East Bay to meel a lousy ambassador from summer of droughl. and thought about the important." Monterey! Let her come to San Francisco. permutations of fate that had transformed "Things haven't been good between

This is the Empire, isn't it? They're only a an adequate architect into the barely com- Monterey and San Jose all year. They're this barely com- spoiling for trouble." stinking republic. Am I supposed to swim petent foreign minister of over to Oakland every time an envoy shows petent little nation. The Empire of San "I hadn't heard," Christensen said. up and wiggles a finger? Some bozo from Francisco, one of the early emperors had "We think they want to annex Santa Cruz. in Naturally we can't put up with that. Santa Fresno says boo. and I have to haul my ass said, is the only country history that was out to the Valley, eh? Where does it stop? decadent from the day it was founded. Cruz is our buffer." told asked sharply, "Is that what you came What kind— of clout do I have, anyway?" At the Berkeley marina Christensen He "Tom the ferry skipper, "I don't know what time here for, to ask our help against San Jose?"

I'll back. waiting, She stared at him in surprise. 'Are you "I'm sorry, Morty. I don't feel like a god- be coming So no sense Christensen?" damned diplomat this morning," I'll phone in when I'm ready to go." in a hurry, Mr. " "

"Not particularly." Suppose you give me a precis of it now, Once they're attacked, there'll be rivers of

"You sound awfully impatient. We're still and if it sounds too complicated, I'll sleep blood, and it won't all be Wiccan blood." making preliminary conversation, having a on it and we can discuss it in detail to- Christensen's head was pounding again. drink, two diplomats playing the diplo- morrow. Yes?" She was absolutely right: chaos, strife, matic game. Isn't that so?" "All right." She put her drink down and bloodshed. And a merry Christmas to all.

"Well?" sat quite still, as if arranging her thoughts. He rubbed his aching forehead, turned

"I was telling you what happened to me At length she said, "The Republic of Mon- away from her. and stared out at the deep- on the way north. In response to your terey maintains close ties with the Free State ening twilight and the sparkling lights of question. Then I was filling you in on cur- of Mendocino. I understand that Mendo- the city on the other side of the bay. A bleak, rent political developments. I didn't expect cino and the Empire broke off relations a bitter depression was taking hold of his you to snap at me like that." little while back." spirit. He signaled for another round of

"Did I snap?" 'A fishing dispute, nothing major." drinks. Then he said slowly, "They can't be "It certainly sounded like snapping to "But you have no direct contact with them allowed to enter the city. We'll need to close me," she said, with some annoyance. right now. Therefore this should come as the imperial frontier and turn them back Christensen took a deep pull of his bour- news to you. The Mendocino people have before they get as far as Santa Rosa. Let bon -and -water and gave her a long, steady learned, and have communicated to our them build their goddamned Stonehenge look. She met his gaze imperturbably. She representative there, that an invasion of San in Sacramento if they like." His eyes flick- looked composed, amused, and very, very Francisco is imminent." ered. He started to assemble ideas. "The tough. After a time, when some of the red Christensen blinked twice. "By whom?" Empire might just have enough troops to haze of irrational anger and fatigue had "The Realm of Wicca," she said. contain the Wiccans by itself, but I think cleared from his mind, he said quietly, "I "Flying down trom Oregon on their this is best handled as a regional problem. had about four hours' sleep last night, and broomsticks?" We'll call in forces from our allies as far out

I wasn't expecting art envoy from Monterey "Please. I'm being serious." as Petaluma and Napa and Palo Alto. I don't today. I'm tired and edgy, and if I sounded "Unless things have changed up there," imagine we can expect much help from impatient or harsh or snappish, I'm sorry." Christensen said, "the Realm of Wicca is the Free State or from San Jose. And of

"It's all right. I understand." nonviolent, like all the neopagan states. As course Monterey— isn't much of a military "Another bourbon or two and I'll be prop- I understand it, they tend their farms and power, but still erly unwound " He held his empty glass practice their little pagan rituals and do a "We are willing to help," Ms. Sawyer said. toward the hovering waiter. 'A refill for you, lot of dancing around the Maypole and "To what extent?" too?" he asked her. chanting and screwing. You expect me to "We aren't set up for much actual war- "Yes. Please." In a formal tone she said, believe that a bunch of gentle, goofy witch- fare, but we have access to our own alli- "Is the Emperor in good health?" es are going to make war on the Empire?" ances from Salinas down to Paso Robles. "Mot bad. He hasn't really been well for She said, "Not war. An invasion." and we could call up, say, five thousand a couple of years, but he's holding his own. "Explain." troops all told. Would that help?" And President Morgan?" "One of their high priests has pro- "That would help," Christensen said. "Fine," she said. "Hunting wild boar in claimed San Francisco a holy place and "It shouldn't be necessary for there to Big Sur this week." has instructed them to come down here be any combat. With the imperial border

'A nice life it must be. President of Mon- and build a Stonehenge in Golden Gate sealed and troops posted along the line terey. I've always liked Monterey. So much Park in time for proper celebration of the from Guerneville to Sacramento, the Wic- quieter and cleaner and more sensible winter solstice. There are at least a quarter cans won't force the issue. They'll revise down there than in San Francisco." of a million neopagans in the Willamette their revelation and celebrate the solstice

"Too quiet sometimes I envy you the ex- Valley, and more than half of them are ex- somewhere else." citement here." pected to take part. According to our Men- "Yes," he said, "I think you're right." He "Yes, of course. The rapes, the mug- docino man, the migration has already be- leaned toward her and asked, "Why is gings, the arson, the mass meetings, the gun and thousands of Wiccans are spread Monterey willing to help us?" race wars, the—" out between Mount Shasta and Ukiah right "We have problems of our own brew- "Please," she said gently. now. The solstice is only seven weeks away. ing —with San Jose. If we are seen making He realized he had begun to rant. There The Wiccans may be gentle, but you're a conspicuous gesture of solidarity with the was a throbbing behind his eyes. Reworked going to have a hundred fifty thousand of Empire, it might discourage San Jose from to gain control of himself. them in San Francisco by the end of the proceeding with its notion of annexing Santa "Did my voice get too loud?" month, pitching tents all over town." Cruz. That amounts to an act of war against "You must be terribly tired. Look, we can "Holy Jesus," Christensen muttered. us. Surely San Jose isn't interested in mak- confer in the morning, if you'd prefer. It isn't "Can you feed that many strangers? Can ing any moves that will bring the Empire that urgent. Suppose we have dinner and you find room for them? Will San Francis- down on its back." not talk politics at all, and get rooms here,— cans meet them with open arms? Do you She wasn't subtle, but she was effective. and tomorrow after breakfast we can think it'll be a love festival?" Quid pro quo. we help you keep the witches

"No," Christensen said. "My nerves are "It'll be a fucking massacre," Christen- out, you help us keep San Jose in line, and a little ragged, that's all. But I'll try to be sen said tonelessly. at! remains well without a shot being fired. more civil. And I'd rather not wait until to- "Yes. The witches may be nonviolent, but These goddamned little nations.be thought, morrow to find out what this is all about. they know how to practice self-defense. these absurd jerkwater sovereignties, with 59 though ihe world their wars and alliances and shifting con- thought he was. Did international politics Chardonnay. Even had little recreational hanky- ended, it remained possible to eat very well federations. It was like a game, like play- allow room for a hadn't into in the Bay Area, and Ihe breakdown of so- ground politics. Except that it was real. What panky? Melternich jumped bed reduced maritime pol- had fallen apart was not going to be put with Talleyrand, nor Kissinger with Indira ciety had not only back together, not (or a long while, and this Gandhi, but times had changed, after all, lution but also made local seafood much miniaturized Wettpolitik was the realest and— no. No. He choked off that entire line more readily available for local consump- wasn't of an export trade reality there was just now. At least things of thought. In these shabby days they might tion. There much with eleven heavily guarded na- were saner in Northern California than they all be children playing at being grown-ups. possible eleven of cus- were down south, where Los Angeles was but nevertheless international politics still tional boundaries and sets Francisco gobbling everything and there were ru- had its code, and this was a meeting ot toms barriers between San and mors that Pasadena had the Bomb. No- diplomats, not a blind date or a singles- Los Angeles. conversation light, re- body had to contend with that up here. bar pickup. You will steep in your own bed Dinner was tonight, he told himself, and you will sleep laxed — diplomatic chitchat, gossip about Christensen said. "I'll have to propose events in territories, reports about all this to the Defense Ministry, of course. alone. remote of And get the Emperor's approval. But ba- All the same he said. "It's past six o'clock. the Voodoo principality expanding out the Sioux in have dinner together before I go New Orleans and conquests sically I agree with your thinking." Shall we War now going "I'm so pleased." back to the city?" Wyoming and the Prohibition There was 'And I'm very glad that you took the trou- "I'd love to." on in what used to be Kentucky. bison again the Great Plains, she ble to travel up from Monterey to make these "I don't know much about Berkeley res- a herd on told her matters clear to us." taurants. We're probably better off eating said, close to a million head. He "Merely a case of enlightened self-inter- right here." what he had heard about the Suicide Peo- ruled San Diego and Ti- est," Ms. Sawyer said. "I think that's best," she said. ple, who between "Mmm. Yes." He found himself studying They were the only ones in the hotel's juana, and about King Barnum & Bailey III, northern Florida with the the sharp planes of her cheekbones, the enormous dining room, A staff of three who governed in aid of of circus freaks. She smiled delicate arch of her eyebrows. Mot only was waited on them as if they were the most a court she cool and competent, Christensen important people who had ever dined there. and said. "How can they tell the freaks from world's thought, but now that the business part of And dinner turned out to be quite decent, the ordinary people? The whole a their meeting was over, he was coming to he thought— calamari and abalone and circus now. isn't it?" replied. "No. notice that she was a very attractive woman sand dabs and grilled thresher shark, He shook his head and a for more and that he was not as tired as he had washed down with a dazzling bottle of Napa zoo." and he beckoned the waiter "

wine. He did not ask her about internal republic, but we aren't much of anything. "All the same," she said. "The one thing

matters in Monterey, I myself I and she tactfully And call a senator and a diplomat, wanted, when I volunteered to be the en- stayed away from the domestic problems but I've never really been anywhere San voy, was an imperial audience. Please don't of the of Empire San Francisco. He was Francisco two or three limes when I was a discourage me," feeling easy, buoyant a little drunk, more girl. San Jose a few times. My mother was 'As you wish. Shall we have another little than a drunk; to have to answer ques- in Los Angeles once, but I haven't been drink?" little tions now about the rebellion that had anywhere. And to go home— saying that I "How about these?" She produced an been suppressed in Sausalito or the had seen the Emperor " Her eyes spar- enameled cigarette case. "Humboldt secessionist thing in Walnut Creek would kled, "You're really taken aback, aren't you? County's finest. Gift of the Free State." be a bringdown, and bad for the digestion. You thought I was all ice and microproces- He smiled and nodded and took the joint

About half past eight he said, "You aren'i sors, and instead I'm only a hick, right? But from her. It was elegantly manufactured, going back to Monterey tonight, are you?" you're being very nice. You aren't even fine cockleshell paper, gold monogram, "God, no! It's a five-hour drive, assuming laughing at me. Will you get me an audi- igniter cap, even a filter. Everything else no more troubles with the San Jose High- ence with the Emperor for tomorrow?" has come apart, he thought, but the tech- way Patrol, And the road's so bad below "I thought you were afraid to go into San nology of marijuana is at its highest point

Watsonville that only a lunatic would drive it Francisco." in history. He flicked the cap, took a deep at night. I'll stay here at the Claremont." She looked abashed. "That was just a drag, passed it to her The effect was in- "Good. Let me put it on the imperial ac- ploy. To make you come over here, to get stantaneous, a new high cutting through count," he said. — you to take me seriously and put yourself the wooze of bourbon and wine and brandy "That isn't necessary. We out a little. Diplomatic wiles. Im sorry abou! already in his brain, clearing it. expanding "The hotel is always glad to oblige the that. The word was that you were snotty, that his limp and sagging soul. When they were government and its guests," you had to be met with strength or you'd be finished with it, they floated out of the hotel.

Ms, Sawyer shrugged. "Very well. Well impossible to deal with. But you aren't like His driver and hers were still waiting in the reciprocate all. when you come to Monterey." that at Tom, I want to see the Emperor. parking lot. Christensen dismissed his, and "Fine." He does give audiences, doesn't he?" they took the Republic of Monterey car

And then her manner suddenly changed. "In a manner of speaking. I suppose it down the slopes of Berkeley to the marina. She shifted in her seat and fidgeted and could be done." The boat from San Francisco was late. They played with her silverware, looking awk- "Oh. would you? Tomorrow?" stood around shivering at the ferry slip for ward and ill at ease. Some new and big "Why wait for tomorrow?" twenty minutes, peering bleakly across at topic was obviously about to be intro- "Are you being sarcastic?" the glittering lights of the far-off city. Nei- duced, and Christensen guessed thai she "Not at all." Christensen said, "This is ther of them was dressed for the nighttime was going to ask him to spend the night San Francisco. The Emperor keeps weird chill, and he was tempted to pull her close with her. In a fraction of a second he ran hours just like the rest of us. I'll phone over and hold her in his arms, but he did not. Ihrough all the possible merits and de- there and see if we can be received." He There was a boundary he was not yet will- merits of that, and came out on the plus hesitated. "I'm afraid it won't be what you're ing to cross. Hell, he thought, I don't even side, and had his answer ready when she expecting," know her first name.

said, I "Tom, can ask a big favor?" "What do you mean? In what way?" It was nearly eleven by the time they Which threw him completely off balance. "The pomp, the circumstance. You're reached San Francisco.

Whatever was coming, it certainly wasn't going to be disappointed. You may be bet- An ofticial car was parked at the pier. what he was expecting. ter off not meeting him, actually.' Stick to The driver hopped out, saluting, bustling

"I'll do my best." your fantasy of imperial majesty. Seriously, about— one of those preposterous little civil-

"I'd like with I'll if an audience the Emperor." get you an audience you insist, but I service types, doubtless keenly honored "What?" don't think it's a great idea." to be taxiing bigwigs around late at night.

"Not on official business. I know the Em- "Can you be more specific?" He wore the red-and-gold uniform of the peror talks business only wifh his ministers "No." imperial dragoons, a little frayed at one el- and privy councillors. But 1 want to see him. "I still want to see him. Regardless." bow. The car coughed and sputtered and that's all." Color came to her cheeks. He left the dining room and, with mis- reluctantly lurched into life, up Market Street "Doesn't it sound silly? But it's something givings, began arranging things. The tele- to Van Ness and then north to the palace. I've always dreamed of, a kind of adoles- phone system was working sluggishly that Ms. Sawyer's eyes were wide, and she cent fantasy. To be in San Francisco, to be evening, and it took him fifteen minutes to stared at the ancient high-rises along Van shown into the imperial throne room, to kiss set the whole thing up, but there were no Ness as if they were cathedrals. his ring, all that pomp and circumstance. serious obstacles. He returned to her and When they came to the Civic Center area,

it, I want Tom. Just to be there, to see him. said, "The ferry will pick us up at the mari- she gasped, obviously overwhelmed by the Do you think you could manage that?" na in about an hour. There'll be a car wait- majesty of everything, the shattered hulk He was astounded. The facade of cool, ing on the San Francisco side. The Em- of the Symphony Hall, the Museum of Mod- tough competence had dropped away from peror will be available for viewing around ern Art, the great dome of City Hall, and her, revealing unanticipated absurdity. He midnight. I tell you that you're not going to the Imperial Palace itself, awesome, im- did not know what to answer. enjoy this. The Emperor is old, and he's posing, a splendid, many-columned build- She said. "Monterey's such a poky little been sick; he isn't a very interesting per- ing that long ago had been the War Me- place. It's just a town. We call ourselves a son to meet, as I'm sure you would agree." morial Opera House. With the envoy from "

the Republic of Monterey at his elbow. thing dragged from the crypt, slack-jawed, lips. "I don't want to ride across the bay in Christensen marched up the steps ol the drooling, vacant-eyed, utterly burned out. the dark, alone, at this hour of the night. Is palace and through the center doors into The envoy from Monterey seemed to draw it all right if I go home with you?' the lobby, where a great many ot the rank- back, tense and rigid, repelled, unable or "Sure." he said. ing ministers and plenipotentiaries of the unwilling to go closer but Christensen per- They got into the car. "Frederick Street." Empire were assembled. "How absolutely sisted, urging her onward until she was no he told the driver, "between Clayton and marvelous." Ms. Sawyer murmured. Smil- more than a dozen feet from the throne. A Cole." ing graciously, bowing, nodding, Christen- sickly-sweet, vaguely familiar odor ema- The Irip took twenty minutes. Neither of sen pointed out the notables, the defense nated from the old man. them spoke. He knew what she was think- senile Emperor, dribbling minister, the minister of finance, the min- "What do I do?" she asked, panicking. ing about: Ihe and babbling under the bright spotlights. ister of suburban affairs, the chief justice, "When I introduce you. go forward, curt- The the minister of transportation. sey if you know how. touch ihe orb. Then mighty Norton VII. ruler of everything from Precisely at midnight there was a grand step back. That's all San Rafael to San Mateo, from Half Moon flourish of trumpets and the door to the She nodded. Bay to Walnut Creek. Such is pomp and throne room opened. Christensen offered Christensen said. Your Maiesty. the am- circumstance in imperial San Francisco in Ms. Sawyer his arm; together they made bassador from the Republic of Monterey. these latter days of Western civilization. the long journey down the center aisle and Senator Sawyer, to pay her respects." Christensen sent the driver away, and they up the ramp to the stage, where the im- Trembling, she went to him. curtseyed, went upstairs. The cats were hungry again. perial Ihrone. a resplendent thing of rhine- touched the orb As she backed away, she "It's a lovely apartment," she told him. stones and foil, glittered brilliantly under nearly fell, but Christensen came smoothly "Three rooms, bath, hot and cold run- the spotlights. Ms. Sawyer was wonder- forward and steadied her. The Emperor ning water. Not bad for a mere foreign min- struck. She pointed toward the six gigantic giggled again, a shrill, horrific cackle ister. Some of the boys have suites at the portraits suspended high over the stage Slowly, carefully. Christensen guided the palace, but I like it belter here." He opened and whispered a question, and Christen- shaken Ms. Sawyer from the stage. the door to the deck and stepped outside. sen replied. "The first six emperors. And "How long has he been like that?" Somehow, now that he was home. Ihe night here comes the seventh one." "Two years, three, maybe more. Com- was not so cold. He thought about the ot far off there in green, "Oh." she gasped. But was it awe. sur- pletely senile. Not even housebroken any- Realm Wicca, up fifty prise, or disgust? more. You could probably tell. I'm sorry. I happy Oregon, sending a hundred

He was in his full regalia, the scarlet robe, told you you'd be better off skipping this. thousand kindly goddess-worshiping neo- the bright green tunic with ermine trim, the I'm enormously sorry. Ms.— Ms— what's pagans down here to celebrate the rebirth gold chains. But he was wobbly and tot- your first name, anyway?" of the sun. A nuisance, a mess, a head- tering, a clumsy, staggering figure, gray- "Elaine. ache. Tomorrow he'd have to call a meet- faced and feeble, supported on one side "Let's get out ol here. Elaine. Yes?" ing of the Cabinet, when everybody had by Mike Schiff. the Imperial Chamberlain, "Yes. Please." sobered up. and start the wheels turning, and on the other by the Grand Sergeanl- and probably he'd have to make trips to at-Arms. Terry Coleman. He was not so places like Petaluma and Palo Alto to get much leaning on them as being dragged clambering up onto the stage now. one with the alliance flanged together. Damn. But it by them. Bringing up the rear of the a guitar, one with juggler's clubs. The im- was his job. Someone had to carry Ihe load. procession were two sleek, pretty boys, perial giggle pierced the air again and He slipped his arm around the slender one black and one Chinese, carrying the again, becoming rasping and wild. The im- woman from Monterey. orb, the scepter, and the massive crown. perial levee would go on half the night. Em- "The poor Emperor." she said softly Ms. Sawyer's fingers tightened on Chris- peror Norton VII was one of San Francis- "Yes." he agreed. "The poor Emperor. tensen's forearm, and he heard her catch cos most popular amusements. Poor everybody." her breath as the Emperor, in the process "Now you know." Christensen said. He looked toward the east. In a few hours of being lowered into his throne, went "How does the Empire function, if the the sun would be coming up over that hill, boneless and nearly spilled to the floor. Emperor is crazy?" out of the place that used to be the United Somehow the Imperial Chamberlain and "We manage. We do our best without States ol America and now was a thou- the Grand Sergeant-at-Arms settled him him. The Romans managed it with Caligula. sand, thousand crazy, fractured, frag- properly in place, balanced the crown on Norton's not half as bad as Caligula Not a mented entities. Christensen shook his his head, and stuffed the orb and scepter tenth. Will you tell everyone in Monterey?" head. The Grand Duchy of Chicago, he into his trembling hands. "His Imperial "I think not, We believe in the power of thought. The Holy Carolina Confederation. Majesty, Norton the Seventh of San Fran- the Empire and in the grandeur of the Em- The Three Kingdoms of New York The Em- cisco!" cried Mike Schiff in a magnificent peror. Best not to disturb that faith." pire of San Francisco. No use getting up- voice that went booming up to the highest "Quite right," said Christensen, set— much too late for getting upset. You balcony. The Emperor giggled. They emerged into the clear, cold night. played the hand that was dealt you. and "Come on," Christensen whispered and Christensen said. "I'll ride back to Ihe you did your best, and you carved little islands of safety of the night. Turning led her forward. ferry slip with you before I go home." out The old man was really in terrible shape. "Where do you live?" to her. he said. "I'm glad you came home " lightly It was weeks since Christensen had last "Out near Golden Gate Park," with me tonight He brushed his lips seen him, and by now he looked like some- She looked up at him and moistened her against hers. "Come. Let's go inside." ROBERT SILVERBERG AN APPRECIATION BY HARLAN ELLISON

More brightly than any other writer working in the genre ot In 1974 Silverberg was lashed into a realization that being imaginative literature, Robert Silverberg reflects the con- poini man for the human condition can be dangerous in (he science of our limes. extreme. With the end of the Vietnam War. the Watergate Beginning his career in the fifties. Silverberg was a perfect scandal, the years of civil unrest rumbling to a close, America manifestation both of the emergence of science fiction as a sought surcease Weary from a decade of Hying to reestab- legitimate art form and the prevailing altitude of young peo- lish pride in being a nation flawed but essentially humane, ple in America that success was the primary goal for an exhausted from the day-after-day struggle to banish the artist. If his early work is marked by a cool intelligence and monsters in our midst. America fell gladly into the arms of an emphasis on solving the puzzle-problems se! up by plot, trivial art: and the fickle audience decided it could not handle it is likely as much a resonance with that period in our recent the deep-breathing demands Silverberg's uncompromising history when distancing from social commitment was the or- work placed on them Turning their eyes back to what seemed der of the day as it was the influence of John W. Campbell, (foolishly) an idyllic time, the audience wallowed in escapism who, as the most prominent editor of his era, set ihe param- of a sorl lhat excluded the nourishmenl of spirit, the demand eters of the genre as consistent wilh his own concerns. for persona! responsibility. Silverberg proffered. But in the mid- to late-sixties, beginning with such novels And so he went away. For five years he was not heard as Thorns, Nightwings, The Masks of Time, Up ihe Line, and from, and the empty dreams of elfin creatures and unicorns The Man in the Maze, Silverberg's legendary prolificify was held sophomoric sway over Silverberg's former constituency. turned almosl feverishly to reinterpretaiions of the effects on Those who knew him intimately were not insensitive to his human beings of runaway technology in a world whose soul pain. He went to the earth and he dined well and he main- was in peril. In those novels and the uncounted short stories tained close friendships: but despite the sheen of compla- that filled the chinks in the wall of oeuvre he was creating. cency and comfort, it was obvious the surface was pitted Silverberg began to reach out through the veil of his intellec- with anguish. Beyond the gate there was only silence. tual solitude to touch that universal human spirit all serious But as the times send some great artists underground to artists must, inevitably, come to grips with. replenish their energies — often against their will —so Ihe From 1970 to 1974. a time of upheaval and metamorphosis pressures of a changing world call those readers of the runes in America. Silverberg's work reflected Ihe angst and morlal back when their time is come again. And as the eighties dreads of the world around him. Massive changes over a dawned. Silverberg made his resurgence Invigorated, re- decade had altered his view of his species, and of himself: newed, at once more thoughtful and more vulnerable, per- and Ihe work deall more impressively than that of any other haps more human at having discovered he was not beyond writer of the time with the great questions we had begun the reach of rust, he has returned to the world of imaginative to ask ourselves. Downward to the Earth, The World Inside. literature stronger and more important to our needs. Tower of Glass. Son of Man. A Time Of Changes. Dying Inside. Reflecting in his ipseity a thirty-year history of science fic- and The Stochastic Man—among a flood of others- tion, and the scarred American character. Robert Silverberg became deeply troubling icons for a generation of readers returns to us larger than at his beginning or his leave-taking; learning not only to live decently in their own skins, but who wiser and more decent. Able to tell us thai even when dark were at last coming to realize they were part of a human wings close down Ihe sky, that the human spirit will prevail chain, each link of which was commanded to ask for whom . . . il we but accept our kinship with seas and stones and the bell tolls. the ghosts of our past. ncTou

'-:'....''•':•.•..'. —

he first volume of The Best of Omni Science Fiction was published in April 1980. Its success and that of volume two suggested that vast numbers of new readers were being introduced to the subject. To give this growing audience a sense of literary perspective, a program of publishing SF classics was begun.

Thus, in volume three appeared "The Cure" by Lewis Padgett (a pseu- donym of Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore). It had been first published in 1945 in Astounding Science Fiction. For volume four there were two classics: "Fondly Fahrenheit," ranked among the very greatest SF stories and first published in 1954, by Alfred Bester and "My Lady of the Psychiatric Sorrows," a poignant, post- holocaust piece first published in 1977, by Brian Aldiss. The idea has seemed such a good one that for this volume, once again, two classics are presented. They are "Helen O'Loy" (1938), a story of boy makes android, by Lester del Rey and "Down There" (1973), a clever encapsulation of the conflict between dehumanization and passion, by Damon Knight. For those stimulated by these stories to the extent that they wish to pursue readings in the SF canon further, there are several paperback anthologies. Among them are two four-volume sets The Road to Sci- ence Fiction (Mentor, New American Library) edited and annotated by James Gunn and The Science Fiction Hall of Fame (Avon) edited var- iously by Robert Silverberg, Ben Bova, Arthur C. Clarke and George

W. Proctor. An excellent companion to these anthologies is A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction (Facts on File) edited by Baird Searles, et al.

Since artwork is and has been so important to science fiction, this classic section features a pictorial by Chesley Bonestell. He is renowned for his space paintings, many of which appeared as illustrations for covers of SF magazines. The pictorial reprinted here originally ap- peared in the February 1980 issue of Omni. He tried to stop her from kissing

him . . . but she was powered by an atomotor HELEN O'LOY

BY LESTER DEL REY

I am an old man now. but I can still see and spent our evenings at home.

Helen as Dave unpacked her, and still hear But it wasn't until Lena put vanilla on our him gasp as he looked her over. steak instead of salt that we got off on the "Man, isn't she a beauty?" subject of emotions and robots. While Dave She was beautiful, a dream in spun plas- was dissecting Lena to find the trouble, we tics and metals, something Keats might naturally mulled over the future of the have seen dimly when he wrote his sonnet. mechs. He was sure that the robots would

If of Troy Helen had looked like that, the beat men some day, and I couldn't see it.

Greeks must have been pikers when they "Look here, Dave," I argued. "You know launched only a thousand ships; at least. Lena doesn't think— not really. When those

that's what I told Dave. wires crossed, she could have corrected "Helen ot Troy, eh?" He looked at her herself. But she didn't bother; she followed

tag. 'At least it beats this thing— K2W88. the mechanical impulse. A man might have

Helen . . . Mmmm . . . Helen of Alloy." reached for the vanilla, but when he saw it "Not much swing to that, Dave. Too many in his hand, he'd have stopped. Lena has unstressed syllables in the middle. How sense enough, but she has no emotions, about Helen O'Loy?" no consciousness of self."

"Helen O'Loy she is. Phil." And that's how "All right, that's the big trouble with the

it began—one part beauty, one part dream, mechs now. But we'll get around it, put in one part science; add a stereo broadcast, some mechanical emotions, or some- stir mechanically, and the result is chaos. thing." He screwed Lena's head back on,

Dave and I hadn't gone to college to- turned on her juice."Go back to work, Lena,

gether, but when I came to Messina to it's nineteen o'clock."

practice I medicine, found him downstairs Now I specialized in endocrinology and in little robot repair a shop. After that, we related subjects. I wasn't exactly a psy-

began to pal around, and when I started chologist, but I did understand the glands, going with one twin, he found the other secretions, hormones, and miscellanies that

equally attractive, so we made it a pleas- are the physical causes of emotions. It took ant foursome. medical science three hundred years to When our business better, find out grew we how and why they worked, and I rented a house near the rocket field—noisy couldn't see men duplicating them me- but cheap, and the rockets discouraged chanically in much less time. apartment building. We like room enough I brought home books and papers to to stretch ourselves. I suppose, if we hadn't prove it, and Dave quoted the invention of quarreled with them, we'd have married memory coils and veritoid eyes. During that the twins in time. But Dave wanted to look year we swapped knowledge until Dave over the latest Venus-rocket attempt when knew the whole theory of endocrinology, his twin wanted to see a display stereo and I could have made Lena from memory. starring Larry Ainslee, and they were both The more we talked, the less sure I grew stubborn. From then on, we forgot the girls about the impossibility of Homo mecha- PAINTING BY GERARD DI-MACCIO nensis as the attainable, perfect type. tape fed carefully prepared thoughts of and collected on the line. With that money

Poor Lena. Her cuproberyl body spent consciousness and awareness of life and in my pocket, I hired a personal rocket and

in in half hour. I didn't half its lime in scattered pieces. Our first feeling into an auxiliary memory coil. Dave was back Messina an attempts were successful only in getting believed in leaving nothing to chance. waste time in reaching the house.

I I into alcove, heard a her to serve fried brushes for breaklast and It was growing light as we finished, ex- As stepped the patter of called wash the dishes in oleo oil. Then one day hausted and exultant. All that remained was light feet, and an eager voice she cooked a perfect dinner with six wires the starting of her electrical power; like all out, "Dave, dear?" For a minute I couldn't again, plead- crossed, and Dave was in ecstasy. the Dillard mechs. she was equipped with answer, and the voice came

He worked all night on her wiring, put in a tiny atomotor instead of batteries, and ing, "Dave?"

I I but I didn't a new coil, and taught her a fresh set of once started would need no further atten- don't know what expected, words. And the next day she flew into a tion in that regard. expect Helen to meet me that way, stop- tantrum and swore vigorously at us when Dave refused to turn her on. "Wait until ping and staring at me, obvious disap- we told her she wasn't doing her work right. we've slept and rested," he advised "I'm pointment on her lace, little hands flutter- "It's a lie," she yelled, shaking a suction as eager to try her as you are, but we can't ing up against her breast.

cried. "I it was Dave. brush. "You're all liars. If you so-and-so's do much studying with our minds half dead. "Oh," she thought in, leave Helen until later" He hardly comes home to eat now, but I've would leave me whole long enough. I might Turn and we'll gel something done around the place." Even fhough we were both reluctant to had supper wailing hours." She dropped and managed a smile. "You're When we calmed her temper and got follow it, we knew the idea was sound. We her hands her back to work, Dave ushered me into turned in, and sleep hit us before the air- Phil, aren't you? Dave told me about you the study. "Not taking any chances with conditioner could cut down to sleeping when ... at first. I'm so glad to see you Lena," he explained. "We'll have to cut out temperature. And then Dave was pound- home, Phil." that adrenal pack and restore her to nor- ing on my shoulders. "Glad to see you doing so well, Helen." malcy. But we've got to get a better robot. "Phil! Hey, snap out of it!" Now what does one say for light conver- him. sation with a robot? "You said something A housemaid mech isn't complex enough." I groaned, turned over, and faced

. supper?" . "How about Dillard's new utility models? "Well? . Uh! What is it? Did Helen—" about

They seem to combine everything in one." "No, it's old Mrs. van Styler. She visored "Oh, yes. I guess Dave ate downtown "Exactly. Even so, we'll need a special to say her son has an intatuation for a ser- again, so we might as well go in. It'll be one built to order, with a full range of mem- vant girl, and she wants you to come out nice having someone to talk to around the ory coils. And out of respect to old Lena, and give counter-hormones. They're at the house, Phil. You don't mind if I call you Phil. of let's get a female case for iis works." summer camp in Maine." do you? You know, you're sort a god-

The result, of course, was Helen. The Rich Mrs. van Styler! I couldn't afford io father to me."

Dillard people had performed a miracle and let that account down, now that Helen had We ate. I hadn't counted on such be- apparently considered eat- put all the works in a girl-modeled case. used up the last of my funds. But it wasn't havior, but she for. ing as normal as walking. She didn't do Even the plastic and mbberite face was a job I cared designed tor flexibility to express emo- "Counter-hormones! That'll lake two much eating, at that; most of the time she tions, and she was complete with tear weeks' full time. Anyway. I'm no society spent staring at the front door. glands and taste buds, ready to simulate doctor, messing with glands to keep tools Dave came in as we were finishing, a every human action, from breathing to happy. My job's taking care of serious frown a yard wide on his face. Helen started pulling hair. The bill they sent with her was medical trouble." to rise, but he ducked toward the stairs, Helen," throwing words over his shoulder. another miracle, but Dave and I scraped it "And you want to watch Dave together; we had to turn Lena over to an was grinning, but he was serious, too. "I "Hi, Phil. See you up here later." something radically wrong with exchange to complete it, though, and told her it'd cost her fifty thousand!" There was thereafter we ate out. "Huh?" him. For a moment, I'd thought his eyes

I'd performed plenty of delicate opera- "And she said okay, if you hurried." were haunted, and as I turned to Helen, lions on living tissues, and some of them Of course, there was only one thing to hers were filling with tears. She gulped, fell viciously on I could fat Mrs. van choked them back, and to had been tricky, but I still felt like a premed do, though have wrung

student as we opened the front plate of her Styler's neck cheerfully. It wouldn't have her food.

like matter with him . . . and you?" torso and began to sever the leads of her happened if she'd used robots every- "What's the

"nerves." Dave's mechanical glands were one else— but she had to be different. I asked. of her plate all prepared, complex little bundles of ra- "He's sick me." She pushed dio tubes and wires that heterodyned on Consequently, while Dave was back away and got up hastily. "You'd better see

I there's nothing the electrical thought impulses and dis- home puttering with Helen, I was racking him while clean up. And torted them as adrenaline distorts the re- my brain to trick Archy van Styler into get- wrong with me. And it's not my fault, any- action of human minds. ting the counter-hormones, and giving the way." She grabbed the dishes and ducked

kitchen: I Instead of sleeping that night, we pored servant girl the same. Oh, I wasn't sup- into the could have sworn she over the schematic diagrams of her struc- posed to, but the poor kid was crazy about was crying. series of condi- tures, tracing the thoughts through mazes Archy. Dave might have written, I thought, Maybe all thought is a certainly of her wiring, severing the leaders, im- but never a word did I gel. tioned reflexes— but she had

lot conditioning while I planting the heterones, as Dave called It was three weeks later instead of two picked up a of was in her heyday had been noth- them. And while we worked, a mechanical when I reported that Archy was "cured," gone. Lena fng like this. I went up lo see if Dave could something like Dave did in a vague way. brooding. "Helen isn't human, after all. Why make any sense out of the hodgepodge. Helen took to the serial like a seal to water. not cut off her power and change a few This playacting was a perfect outlet for her memory coils? then we can convince her He was squirting soda into a large glass newly excited emotions. When that partic- that she never was in love and couldn't get of apple brandy, and I saw that the bolile ular episode tinished. she found a love story that way."

nearly 'Join still was empty. me?" he asked. on another station, and added more to "You try it. I had that idea, but she put It seemed like a good idea. The roaring her education. The afternoon programs up a wail that would wake Homer. She says blast of a rocket overhead was the only were mostly news and music, but by then it would be murder—and the hell of it is familiar thing left in the house. From the she'd found my books; and I do have rather that I can't help feeling the same about it look around Dave's eyes, it wasn't the first adolescent taste in literature. Maybe she isn't human, but you wouldn't bottle he'd emptied while I was gone, and Dave came home in the best of spirits. guess it when she puts on that martyred there were more left. He dug out a new The front alcove was neatly swept, and there look and tells you to go ahead and kill her." bottle for his own drink. was the odor of food in the air that he'd "We never put in substitutes for some of "Of course, it's none of my business. missed around the house for weeks. He the secretions present in man during the Dave, but that stuff won't steady your nerves had visions ot Helen as the super-efficient love period." any. What's gotten into you and Helen? housekeeper. "I don't know what we put in. Maybe the

Been seeing ghosts?"' So it was a shock to him lo feel two strong heterones backfired or something Any- Helen was wrong; he hadn't been eating arms around his neck from behind and hear way, she's made this idea so much a part downtown— nor anywhere else. His mus- a voice all aquiver coo into his ears, "Oh, of her thoughts that we'd have to put in a cles collapsed into a chair in a way that Dave, darling, I've missed you so, and I'm whole new set of coils." spoke of fatigue and nerves, but mostly of so thrilled that you're back." Helen's tech- "Well, why not?" hunger. "You noticed it, eh?" nique may have lacked polish, but it had "Go ahead. You're the surgeon of this

"Noticed it? The two of you jammed it enthusiasm, as he found when he tried to family. I'm not used to fussing with emo- down my throat." stop her from kissing him. She had learned tions. Matter of fact, since she's been act- "Uhmmm." He swatted at a nonexistent fast and furiously— also. Helen was pow- ing this way, I'm beginning to hate work on fly, and slumped further down in the pneu- ered by an atomotor. any robot. My business is going to blazes." matic. "Guess maybe I should have wailed He saw Helen coming up the walk and with Helen until you got back. But if that Dave wasn't a prude, but he remem- ducked out the backdoor for the monorail slereocasl hadn't changed . . . anyway, it bered that she was only a robot, after all. express. I'd intended to put him back in did. And those mushy books of yours fin- The fact that she felt, acted, and looked bed, but let him go. Maybe he'd be better ished the job." like a young goddess in his arms didn't off at his shop than at home.

"Thanks. That makes it all clear." mean much. With some effort, he untan- "Dave's gone?" Helen did have that "You know, Phil, I've got a place up in gled her and dragged her off to supper, martyred look now.

. . the country . fruit ranch. it My dad left where he made her eat with him to divert "Yeah. I got him to eat, and he's gone to to me. Think I'll look il over." her attention. work."

And that's the way it went. But finally, by After her evening work, he called her into "I'm glad he ate." She slumped down in much liquor and more perspiration, I got the study and gave her a thorough lecture a chair as if she were worn out, though how some of the story out of him before I gave on the folly of her ways. It must have been a mech could be tired beat me. "Phil?"

him an amytal and put him to bed. Then I good, for it lasted three solid hours, and "Well, what is it?" hunted up Helen and of station in dug the rest the covered her life, the idiocy of "Do you think I'm bad for him? I mean,

her, until it story from made sense. stereos, and various other miscellanies. do you think he'd be happier if I weren't

Apparently as soon as I was gone, Dave When he finished, Helen looked up with here''" had turned her on and made preliminary dewy eyes and said wistfully, "I know, Dave, "He'll go cra2y if you keep acting this tests, which were entirely satisfactory. She but I still love you." way around him." had reacled beautifully—so well that he That's when Dave starting drinking. She winced. Those little hands were decided to leave her and go down to work It grew worse each day. If he stayed twisting about pleadingly, and I felt like an usual. as downtown, she was crying when he came inhuman brute. But I'd started, and I went

Naturally, with If all her untried emotions, home. he returned on time, she fussed ahead. "Even if I cut out your power and she was filled with curiosity, and wanted over him and threw herself at him. In his changed your coils, he'd probably still be him to stay Then he had an inspiration. room, with the door locked, he could hear haunted by you."

After showing her what her duties about her downstairs pacing up and down and "I know. But I can't help it. And I'd make the in house would be. he set her down muttering; and when he went down, she him a good wife. Really I would, Phil." front of the stereovisor, tuned in a travel- stared at him reproachfully until he had to I gulped; this was getting a little too far. left ogue, and her to occupy her time with go back up. 'And give him strapping sons to boot, I

it. looking at I sent Helen out on a fake errand in the suppose. A man wants flesh and blood,

The travelogue held her attention until it morning and got Dave up. With her gone, not rubber and metal."

was finished, and the station switched over I made him eat a decent breakfast and gave "Don't, please! I can't think of myself that to a current serial with Larry Ainslee. the him a tonic for his nerves. He was still list- way. To me. I'm a woman. And you know same cute emoter who'd given us all the less and moody. perfectly I'm made to imitate a real woman

trouble with the twins. Incidentally, here. t . . he looked "Look Dave." broke in on his . in all ways. I couldn't give him sons. " " —

Well. I surprised as they but in every other way ... Id try so hard. As the days slipped by. I began to re- wasn't as

I alize she couldn't believe herself a ro- thought. I think I knew when called Dave I know I'd make him a good wife." why would happen. No man acts the way bot. I got to thinking of her as a girl and what I gave up. Dave didn't come home that night, nor companion myself. Except for odd inter- Dave had been acting because he hates the next day. Helen was fussing and fum- vals when she went off by herself to brood, a girl: only because he thinks he does ing, wanting me to call the hospitals and or when she kept going to the telescript for and thinks wrong. letter that never came, she was as good No woman ever made a lovelier bride or the police, but 1 knew nothing had hap- a wife. never lost her flare pened to him. He always carried identifi- a companion as a man could ask. There a sweeter Helen cooking and making a home. With her cation Still, when he didn't come on the was something homey about the place that for

put there. gone, the old house seemed empty, and I third day. I began to worry. And when Hel- Lena had never trip began drop out to the ranch once or I Helen on a shopping to Hud- to en started out for his shop, I agreed to go took trouble with her. son and she giggled and purred over the twice a week. I suppose they had

it, I the of silk glassheen that were the at times, but I never saw and know Dave was there, with another man I didn't wisps and fashion, tried endless hats, and con- neighbors never suspected they were any- know. I parked Helen where he couldn't on herself girl might. thing but normal man and wife. see her, but where she could hear, and . ducted as any normal older, Helen didn't, of went in as soon as the other fellow left. We went trout fishing for a day. where she Dave grew and between us, we put lines in her Dave looked a little better and seemed proved to be as good a sport and as sen- course. But letting I face and grayed her hair without glad to see me. "Hi, Phil — just closing up. sibly silent as a man. thoroughly enjoyed growing old with Let's go eat." myself and thought she was forgetting Dave know that she wasn't forgotten that wasn't human, Helen couldn't hold back any longer, but Dave. That was before I came home un- him; he'd she

came trooping in. "Come on home. Dave. expectedly and found her doubled up on I guess.

I forgot, myself. It wasn't until I've got roast duck with spice stuffing, and the couch, thrashing her legs up and down practically morning that you know you love that." and crying to the high heavens. a letter came from Helen this beautiful I to reality. There, in her "Scat!" said Dave. She shrank back, It was then I called Dave. They seemed woke up places, the turned to go. "Oh, all right, stay. You might to have trouble in reaching him, and Helen script, just a trifle shaky in was

Dave nor I had seen. I waited. She inevitable that neither as well hear it. too. I've sold the shop. The came over beside me while old trying Dear Phil, fellow you saw just bought it. and I'm going was tense and fidgety as an maid finally they located Dave. As you know, Dave has had heart up to the old fruit ranch I told you about, to propose. But "What's up, Phil?" he asked as his face trouble for several years now. We ex- Phil. I can't stand the mechs any more." viewplate. "I just getting pected him to live on just the same, but "You'll starve to death at that," I told him. came on the was died in "No, there's a growing demand for old- my things together to—" it seems that wasn't to be. He the my arms jusi before sunrise. He sent fashioned fruit, raised out of doors. People I broke him off. "Things can't go on farewell. are tired of this water-culture stuff. Dad al- way they are, Dave. I've made up my mind. you his greeiings and

coils tonight. It won't I've one last favor to ask of you, Phil. ways made a living out of it. I'm leaving as I'm yanking Helen's than she's going through There is only one thing for me to do when soon as I can get home and pack." be worse what this is finished. Acid will burn out metal Helen clung to her idea "I'll pack. Dave, now."

I'll with while you eat. I've got apple cobbler for Helen reached up and touched my as well as flesh, and be dead that are buried to- dessert." The world was toppling under her shoulder. "Maybe that's best, Phil. I don't Dave. Please see we gether, that the morticians do not feet, but she still remembered how crazy blame you." and secret. it that way, he was for apple cobbler. Dave's voice cut in. "Phil, you don't know find my Dave wanted Helen was a good cook; in fact she was what you're doing!" too.

It'll the Poor, dear Phil. I know you loved Dave a genius, with all the good points of a "Of course I do. all be over by woman and a mech combined. Dave ate time you can get here. As you heard, she's as a brother, and how you felt about me. well enough, after he got started By the agreeing." Please don't grieve too much for us, for time supper was over, he'd thawed out There was a black cloud sweeping over we have had a happy life together, and feel that should cross this last enough to admit he liked the duck and Dave's face. "I won't have it, Phil. She's half both we bridge side by side. cobbler, and to thank her for packing. In mine and I forbid it!" thanks from, fact, he even let her kiss him good-bye, "Of all the—" With love and Helen. though he firmly refused to let her go to the "Go ahead, call me anything you want.

rocket field with him. I've changed my mind. I was packing to

called." It had to come sooner or later, I suppose, Helen was frying to be brave when I got come home when you back, and we carried on a stumbling con- Helen jerked around me, her eyes glued and the first shock has worn off now. I'll be — few minutes to carry out Hel- . . leaving in a versation about Mrs. van Styler's servants to the panel. "Dave, do you . are you instructions. for a while. But the talk began to lull, and "I'm just waking up to what a fool I've en's last was lucky man, and the best she sat staring out of the window at noth- been, Helen. Phil, I'll be home —in a couple Dave a Well, as I I Helen— ing most of the time. Even the stereo com- of hours, so if there's anything friend ever had. And to out. But be- said. I'm an old man now. and can view edy lacked interest for her, and I was glad He didn't have chase me

I married door, I heard Helen things more sanely; should have enough to have her go off to her room. She fore I could shut the

I . . . there could cut her power down to simulate sleep cooing something about loving to be a and raised a family, suppose. But when she chose. rancher's wife. was only one Helen O'Loy. MRTIST

Norbert needed a computer to help him

write his short stories . . . but he had another, more compelling need to help him cope with his existence DOWN THERE BY DAMON KNIGHT

The hard gray tile of the corridor rang un- Trevelyan. Now then, crossed the plaza— der his feet, bare gray corridor like a well, a plaza was what if was, but why be squared-off gun barrel, bright ceiling over- setting: NEW YORK so obvious? He touched Ihe offending word head, and he thought bore, shaft, tunnel, PARIS with the light pen, wrote in floor; and then tube. His door, 913. He turned the bright LONDON murmuring instead of hurrying (appeal to key in the lock, the door slid aside, hissed another sense there); and now, hmm, shut behind him. He heard the blowers be- DALLAS something really subtle—he deleled the gin; faint current of fresh cool air. sanitized, BOSTON period and wrote in of morning. impersonal. The clock over the console DISNEYWORLD Sunlight spilled from fhe huge panes of blinked from 10:58 to 10:59. ANTWERP the ceiling as Laura Trevelyan crossed the He leaned over the chair, punched the OCEAN TOWERS" floor among the murmuring throngs of "Ready" button. The dark screen came to He hesitated waving the light pen at the morning. life, displayed the a, screen. symbols "r. norbert He paused at "Antwerp"— he'd Not bad— not bad at all. He sipped cof- CG1905331 70 4/11/2012 10:59:04." The in- never done that one— but no: too exotic. fee, then wrote, The light. You had to keep formation blinked and vanished, recorded, York. Paris, New London ... He frowned, the computer at it, or it would change the memorized, somewhere in fhe guts of the clenched the bit of the pipe in his teeth, subject every time. The sentence pro- computer nine stories down. and plunged for "Ocean Towers." It was a longed itself: was so brilliant and sparkling, Norbert removed his brown corduroy felt little thrill hunch; he a of an idea there. and he stopped it and revised, and so on; jacket, hung it carefully in the closet. He He called for pictures, and the screen and in a moment he had: The light was so sat in front of Ihe down console, loosened displayed them: first a long shot of the Tow- yellow and pure, even where it reflected the foulard around his throat, combed his ers rising like a fabulous castle-crowned from the f!ooj~ amid the feet of the pas- neat little goatee. He sighed, rubbed his mountain out of the sea; then a series of sersby, that it reminded Laura of a field of hands together, then punched the music interiors, and Norbert stopped it almost at yellow daisies. The real sun was up there and coffee buttons. once: there, that was what he wanted, the somewhere, she knew, but it was so long The music drifted out, the coffee spurled central vault, with the sunlight pouring since she had seen it . . . into the cup, fragrant brew, invigorating down. Good. Now a little back-look. beverage, rich brown fluid. He sipped it, Sunlight, he wrote, and the screen added Her first day in Ocean Towers, she re- sel it down, filled his with burley pipe from promptly fell from the ceiling as—and here membered unexpectedly, it had been gray a silk lit it. pouch and Norbert's stabbing finger stopped it; the outside and the great hall had been full of The screen was patiently blank. He words remained frozen on Ihe screen while pearly light. I! had seemed so wonderful leaned forward, punched "Start." Bright he frowned and sucked on his pipe, his and thrilling then. It had taken some pluck characters blinked across Ihe screen, the gurgling briar. Fell wouldn't do: to begin for her to come here at all— cutting her ties printer clattered, a sheel curled out into with, sunlight didn't fall like a flowerpot. with County Clare, leaving all her family 7 the tray. Streamed Well, perhaps— No, wail, he had and friends to go and live in this strange first The one was "worldbook mod fem it. He touched the word with the light pen, echoing place, no! even on land but built opt," mar 5, set and the other two were just then tapped out spilled. Good-oh. Now the on pylons sunk info the ocean floor. But the same except for length— one four next part was too abrupt; there was your Eric's and Henry's careers were here, and thousand, the other three. computer for you every time, hopeless when where they went she must go. He thought discontentedly of novels, it came to expanding an idea; and he She had married Eric Trevelyan when she something there a man could get his teeth touched the space before ceiling and wrote, was nineteen; he was a talented and im- into, a week just setting up the parameters: huge panes of Ihe. petuous man who was making a name for but then a whole month on the job, that The lext now read: Sunlight spilled from himself as a professional fable-tennis player. could be a bore: and Markwich had told fhe huge panes of the ceiling as (A mental note: jai-alai might be better, but him, "You've got a touch with the short story, Norbert punched "Start" again and did they have jai-alai in Ocean Towers? Bob." flair, certain aptitude, A a a/e ne sa/s watched Ihe sentence grow: ... as Inez Check it in a moment.) He had the easy quoi. He drank more coffee, put it down. Trevelyan crossed the plaza among fhe charm and bluff good humor of the Eng- He sighed again, pinched his nose reflec- hurrying throngs. End of sentence, and he lish, and an insatiable appetite for living— tively, touched the "Start" button. stopped it there. Trevelyan was all right, more parties, more sex, more everything. The screen said: but he didn't like Inez, too spinslerish. What His teammate, Henry Ricardo, who had "2122084 WORLDBOOK MOO FEM MAR SET about Theodora— no, too many sylla- joined the marriage two years later, was opt5," then: bles—or Georgette? No. Oh, hell, let the everything that Eric was not— solid, de- "THEME: COME TO REALIZE VICTORY OVER RI- computer do it; that's what it was for. He pendable, a little slow, but with a rare warmth VAL ADJUSTMENT WITH GROUP" touched the name, then the try-again but- in his infrequent smiles. He picked up the light pen. touched the ton, and gol Jean Joan Joanna Judith Karen So much for that. Norbert punched the first of the three choices The other two Karla Laura. There. That had got her—Laura query button and typed out his question PAINTING BY ROWENA MORRILL "

R. A. Norbert," the only recognition he would about jai-alai in Ocean Towers, and found to his satisfaction, he leaned forward and the retrieval for a thing of get. The stories themselves were un- Ihey had it, all right, but on thinking it over punched code on, the one signed, although occasionally one of them he decided to make it chess instead; there his own he had been working the blod- would say, "By the author of 'White Magic,' was something a little wonky about the idea that began, "Chirurging down or whatever. boarded the shuttle and of a slow jai-alai player, or for that matter strom, gneiss atween his tief," and so on. He sat down, leafing through the magazines table tennis either. And besides, he himself He read it as far as it went, added a few and deleted them idly. "Making Do with Abundance," by loathed sports, and it would be a bore words half-heartedly illustrated cornucopia looking up rules and so on again. Ficciones would probably send it Mayor Antonio, by a dribbling cigar lighters, bot- Anyhow, now for a touch of plot. Eric and back with a rejection slip as usual, the bas- out watches, with blue it exactly like the stuff tles of perfume, packages tied Henry, it appeared, were rising in their field tards, although was garish full-page ad. "Be and had less and less time for Laura. An they printed all the time: if you weren't in satin bows. A Vaginal Gloss. The interesting older man approached her. but their clique, you didn't have a chance. He Thoroughly You—Use

it with brush." she repulsed him, and took the transpolar tapped out. "thank heaven it's Thursday," best way to give to you is a "Q Fever the Unknown Killer." "Race Su- jet back to County Clare. and blanked the screen. — icide—Is It to Us?" by Sher- The computer displayed a map of Ire- At 2:58 the screen lit up again: a sum- Happening Sibley. medical article had land, and IMorbert picked a town called mary of his weekly earnings and deduc- wood M. The for byline, but the Newmarket-on-Fergus, avoiding names like tions. The printer clattered; a sheet fell into an IBM house name a genuine. He had met Sibley Kilrush, Lissycasey and Doonbeg that were the tray. Norbert picked it up, glanced at others were at parties pop- too obvious and quaint Besides, New- the total, then folded the sheet and put it once or twice house — a hand- market was not far from Shannon Airport, into his breast pocket, thinking absently eyed, nervous man with a damp really better cut this week shake, but judging by the clothes he wore, and that made it plausible that Laura had that he had down must be making plenty. And it was really met Eric there in the first place. and pay back some of his debit. He re- he unfair, much better non-fic writers were Laura was rapturous to be home again membered the music and turned il off. The how treated, but, Markwich said, that was (the daisies were in bloom), and although soothing strains. He punched the "Fin- as the the Clancy cottages seemed crowded and ished" button and the screen came to life the public taste for you, and pendulum the symbols "r. a. would swing. smelly to her now, il didn't matter; but after once more, displaying a few weeks she grew tired of watching the norbert CG1905331 70 4/11/2012 3:01:44." He got off at Fifth Avenue and changed to the uptown mono. The lights in the car cows every day and the telly every night. Then it blinked and went dark. Norbert beginning to make his head ache. As and went over to Limerick for a party. But waited a moment to see it there was any- were 50th Street slop, Limerick was not what she was seeking, thing else, a message from Markwich for the car pulled up at the looked saw something curi- either, and she finally admitted to herself instance, but there wasn't. He straightened he back and

it sprawled black figure hanging in that she was homesick for Ocean Towers. his foulard, took down his jacket and put ous: a of the avenue. Then The register stood at 4,031 words. on. The door hissed shut behind him, and midair in the canyon pulled in, other people were get- Laura took the next jet back to Ocean he heard the wards of the lock snick home. the car Towers and had an emotional reconcilia- Down the gunmetal corridor. He gave his ting up, and by the time he could see in direction again, it gone: but he tion with Eric (but Henry was a little cool), key to the putty-faced security guard, a that was that it been too big only to learn that they had been offered a crippled veteran of the Race War who had knew somehow had for anything but a three-year contract in Buenos Aires. Walk- never spoken a word in Norbert's memory. and the wrong shape wondered briefly how on ing the promenade over the Pacific that In the public corridor, a few people were man tailing. He had got outside the build- night, unable to sleep, she met the older hurrying past, but not many; it was still early. earth the man All balconies were roofed and man again (Harlan Moore) and wept in his That was how Norbert liked it. If you could ing. the arms. The next morning she called Eric choose your own hours, why work when glassed in. The fellow must have been a and Henry together and told them her news. everybody else did? He punched for twenty, workman or something. farther they went, the more "You must go on to the wonderful things and the elevator whisked him up. Here the The uptown cars on the other and far places that are waiting for you," traffic was a little brisker. Norbert got into crowded the mono were — line the stop, looking over the side of the avenue, going south; it was get- she said. "But I " and her eyes were sud- at mono hour. denly as misty as the dawn over Killar- vending machines while he waited. There ting on toward the dinner The crowds could see on the balconies were mostly ney—"I know now that my yellow daisies were new issues of Madame, Chatelaine, he Chicagoland suits are here." Worldbook and Alter Four. He punched for touristy-looking people in Ireak outfits, white-haired Five thousand, two hundred and fifteen all of them and put his card into the slot. and West Coast the women, old words: pretty close. He became aware that The machine blinked, chugged, slammed and swag-bellied. Some of Gordonized he was hungry and that his legs ached the copies into the receptacle. Moving away, as they were, had smooth Pakistanis, little younger. from sitting so long. The clock above the he could hear the whirring of the fax ma- faces, A few a himself, he lucky to have console stood at 2:36. chines making more. Really, he told was job, young as he was, and No point in starting on the next one now, After Four had nothing of his, as he had such a good

little stuff. let's face it, he didn't have the tempera- he would only go stale on it over the week- expected— he did very men's interviewing peo- end. He got up and stretched until his joints But Madame and Chatelaine had one of ment for going out and information and all that. cracked, walked back and forth a little to his stories apiece, and Worldbook two. He ple, gathering off 76th get the stiffness out, then sat down again checked the indicia to make sure his name The man beside him, getting at " Street, dropped his newspaper on the seat and relit his pipe. When he had it drawing was there: 'Every Sunday.' by IBM and " "

and Norbert picked it up. more kidnap-mur- would have loved it, Miss McManus. really doorways were full of 'billies and their girls

DER VICTIMS FOUND. WILL MARRY KEN, ORVILLE; I can't say how sorry I am." lounging and spitting; one or two of them ELLA MAE, UNIVERSE LESS THAN 2 BILLION YEARS "Oh. Well, that's really a shame," said gave him a knowing look as he went by. old, says Columbia prof. The usual thing. Art. "You're sure you— couldn't call her up— "Hey, yonky," called a mocking voice, just At 125th Street, a glimpse of the sky as he tell her something barely audible. Norbert kept walking, past stepped out onto the platform: it was faintly "Sorry . . . just can't be done. Hope you a few closed storefronts into an area of greenish beyond the dome. He crossed have a good time, anyhow—good-bye, crumbling apartment houses built in the ." . all dark, the public corridor to the bright chrome Miss McManus, nice to have met you . sixties. The front windows were and plastic lobby of BankAmerica. At the They drifted apart, with regretful calls and the hallways lit only by naked yellow bulbs. exchange window, he presented his card gestures. When they were safely gone. At the remembered entry, he stopped, to the blond young woman. 'Another twenty- Norbert headed for the private corridor. His looked around. On the sidewalk, beside an five, Mr. Norbert?" room, 2703; the telltales showed it was all arrangement of numbered squares, some- "That's right, yes, twenty-five." right. He unlocked the door, closed and one had written in yellow chalk, "Lucy is a

"You must really like currency." She made barred it behind him with a shudder of re- Hoka." He went in, under the sick yellow a note on a pad, put his card into her ma- lief. The little green room was quiet and light. The hallway stank of boiled greens chine and tapped keys. cool. He rolled up the closet blind, un- and vomit. The door at the end was ajar. with "Well, in," said the lanky old "No, I don't really— I travel a good deal, dressed and hung his clothes up care. come awn you see. It isn't safe to carry credit cards Before he stepped into the minishower, he man in the armchair. His blue eyes stared anymore." She glanced up at him silently, punched for a Martini and a burger-bits at Norbert without apparent recognition. withdrew his card from the machine. "They casserole, his favorite. Then the refreshing "Don't knock, nobody else does, walk right kidnap you and make you buy things," he spray. Air-dried and out again, he ate lei- in." Norbert tried to smile. The others at turther explained. surely, watching the 3D and leafing through the card table looked up briefly and went Her beautiful Gordonized face did not the magazines he had bought. By now Art back to their game. The red drapes at the change. She counted out the bills, pushed and Ellen and what's-her-name would be courtyard window were pulled back as if them across the counter. Norbert took them sitting in a row at the Garden under the to catch a breeze. Somewhere up there in hastily, sure that his cheeks were flushed. lights, watching the mannequins cavort on the blackness a voice burst out furiously, ."

It was no use, he would have to change the ice-covered arena below. "You cocksucker, if I catch you . . banks; she knew there was no legitimate Norbert's thighs were beginning to ' "Hello, Buddy," said Norbert. "Flo here?" reason to draw twenty-five dollars in cash tremble. He dressed again, quickly, in his "Flo?" said the old man. "No sir, she sho'

. "street clothes" dirty pants, ain't." . a faded 'nough every week. . "Thank you, good-bye." — denim "Good-bye, Mr. Norbert. Have an enjoy- turtleneck, a cracked vinyl jacket. He re- Norbert's insides went hollow. "She's not? able journey." trieved the wad of bills from his weskit, I mean—where'd she go?" In the public corridor of his level a few pulled the closet blind down again. He The old man waved his arm in a vague minutes later, he ran into Art and Ellen locked and secured the door behind him. gesture. "Down home, I reckon." He stood Whitney heading for the elevators. Art and Once out of the building, he took the shut- up slowly. "Got us a new gal, just up from he had been roommates at one time, and tle crosstown to Broadway, down two lev- the country this mornin'." He put one hand then when they got married, Art and Ellen els, then north again to 168th Street. The casually between Norbert's shoulder- moved up to one of the garden apartments dingy concourse was echoing, almost blades and pushed him toward one of the on the fiftieth floor. They looked stiff and empty. Two or three dopes, twitching and bedroom doors. dressed-up in identical orange plastiques. mumbling, rode the escalator down with "Well, I don't know," said Norbert, trying

"Why, here he is now," said Art. "Bob, this him. He came out into the gray street, slick to hang back. is real luck. We were just trying to get you and shiny under the glare of dusty light "Come on," said the old man in his ear. on the phone, then we went and banged— panels Streaks of rust down the gray walls. "She do inny-thang. You wait now." on your door. This is Phyllis McManus The spattered pavement, here since They were standing in front of the door, he turned to a slight, pale blonde Norbert LaGuardia; globs of sputum, puddles of pressed so tightly together that Norbert had not noticed until now. "And her date degradable plastic. Posters on the walls; could smell the old man's stale underwear. stood her up. Well, you know, ah, his mother PARENTHOOD MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR Swollen knuckles rapped the door. "Betty is sick. Anyhow, we've got tickets to the ice HEALTH DRIP. DON'T DROP WHAT DID KIDS EVER Lou?" opera at the Garden, and we're going to do for you? Rumble of semis and vans on After a frozen moment, the door began Yorty's afterwards. What do you say, would the expressway just overhead; electrics to open. A woman was standing there, you like to come along?" Phyllis McManus sliding by on the avenue. Hallucinatory red monstrous in a flowered housedress. Nor- smiled faintly, not quite looking at Norbert. and blue of 3D signs, the faint sound of bert's heart jumped. She was olive-skinned, Her virginal charm. "You will come, won't music. almost Latin-looking; the folds of her heavy you, Bob?" said Ellen, speaking for the first Norbert went into the Peachtree and had face were so dark that they seemed grimy. time. She gave his arm a squeeze. a quick shot at the bar; he wanted another, She looked at him steadily from under brows "I'm terribly sorry," said Norbert, letting but was loo nervous and walked out again. like black caterpillars; her eyes were evil, his eyes glaze and bulge a little with sin- In the window of Eddie's, three or four good weary and compassionate. She took his cerity. "I promised my sister I'd have din- old boys were tucking into a platter of pork hand. The old man said something which ner with her tonight— it's her birthday, and. and mustard greens. Norbert crossed the he did not hear. Then the door had closed ." 169th. behind him and they were alone. you know . . He shrugged, smiled. "I avenue and turned west on The —

Ithough the title of this series, strictly interpreted, would require that all material in it be reprinted from Omni magazine, a more generous practice has prevailed. When the novella "Waiting for the Earthquake" by Robert Silverberg appeared in volume two because it was too long for the parent magazine, a fortuitous precedent was set—and once set, expanded. Henceforth, this series would include as many original works as were available and consistent with Omni quality. And how very high that quality is can be gauged by the stories in the following section.

First off is "The Touch" by Gregory Benford. It is not a message piece but rather an entertainment—an engrossing, chilling extrapolation of the current video-game phenomenon. Tron, Donkey Kong, Defender are small challenges compared to the game played by Benford's hero. Interfaced with a vast computer network this game learns, reasons, intrigues. As to the game's outcome— nothing short of startling. Another entertainment is "The Lost Secret" in which Laurence Janifer resurrects the shrewd, wisecracking character Gerald Knave, who is familiar to many from Janifer's novels Survivor and Knave in Hand. The publication of a short story by William Tenn (pseudonym of Philip

Klass) is a noteworthy event not only because it is a powerful allegorical piece with a message very much for our time, but because its author just hasn't been publishing much in more than a decade. As William Tenn he began publishing science fiction in the mid-1940s and during the next twenty years published six collections of stories and two nov- els Of Men and Monsters and A Lamp for Medusa. He has been known primarily as a satirist but there is nothing funny about his con- tribution, "There Were People on Bikini, There Were People on Attu." In "Village of the Chosen," an imaginative story, lightly seasoned with humor, Alan Dean Foster creates a weary journalist who happens upon an anomalously exotic woman. Not quite believing his eyes, he pursues her across the wastes of northern Somalia. What happens then is an answer to one of the world's age-old problems—an answer, you might say, that gets under the skin. He had always al work, he thought most people went— or could Today,of the Game incessantly. go, given their skills. outwitted the Game's He had been playing it He had tried those numbing, electronic brain. for some years now. At Mrs! repetitive conlesls, and quickly THE But now the stakes he had sought mere mild abandoned them. They entertainment. There were, of rewarded quick motor skills were higher . . . and the course, the electronic games and elementary tactical sense. machine was smarter that one saw in public but were painfully limited. places — pitiful things, a few Nothing like the Game. TOUCH moments of shallow He had a business meeting PAINTING BY amusement bought with a in the morning. It dragged BY GREGORY BENFORD MICHEL HENRICOT quarter. That was as far as unmercifully. Then came lunch — —

with some business associates. They were ing. He played a young man, restive and point to point on the board, sizing up each confident, seasoned fellows, their seamed ambitious — his customary choice. maneuver— moving, always moving. faces at ease. As they discussed recent In the first challenge he had to maneuver Tonight the Game was better than ever.

events, he thought mildly that politics was himself into the Party apparatus. Simple It presented him with problems at work, the intelligent man's weather: an inexhaus- enough. There were impediments, of intrigues of Party politics, chances for black tible subject, forever new and forever pur- course. At the Peoples' Training Camp the market gains. Risky, but inventive. poseless. He studied the brown liver spots physical challenges translated into quick, He could lose al any moment. But he on his hands and said nothing. deft motions on the board. He learned to didn't, No matter how many moves the He found their talk of money matters kept excel at single combat, neally setting up Game thought ahead, he anticipated. There drifting in and out of his attention, dream- his opponents in the Maze-Delay and was always an out. a way to gain, or at least like, as if their numbers and analyses were then touch —one button, pressed at the to avoid defeat. That was the one rule: there unreal and his memory of the Game was right instant, did them in. must be a solution. concrete. He secured a good middle-level post. At some points the Game was slower That afternoon he lost track entirely dur- For a young man he was doing quite well. than usual. He knew this was because his ing a conference with his own lawyer. The Then he became involved with Lisa, the skill was matching the ability of the entire man looked puzzled when they parted. mistress of a Regional Commissioner Lust system. The Game had to simulate life in He left early and went directly home. drove him— the Game knew his likes by all its complexity, and provide patterns of There was a light supper; he made polite, now, and the images of Lisa held his eyes play not used before. bland conversation with his lady but intro- even when he knew he should be absorb- Any sufficiently complex network comes, duced no fresh topics on his own. As coon ing other information from the board. Her in time, to seem like an independent entity.

as was seemly, he remarked on his fatigue face was a composition of serene curves, It was helpful to think of it as sentient. The and went to his study. and her smooth skin glowed. intricate computer linkages had a person- He settled into his favorite leather arm- He had to keep the affair secret. The ality of their own, and they did not like to chair, pulling the massive board to within Commissioner was known as jealous and lose. Through the years he liked to think a easy reach. The display screen nearly ob- vindictive: the man had learned of Lisa's relationship had formed between himself scured the view out the wide windows. The earlier affairs and had adroitly framed each and the constantly improving computer net. rich lawn beyond was a vibrant yellow- of her past lovers for offenses against the They had sharpened each other's wits.

green swath. Birds trilled their twilight calls state. Most of them had vanished in mys- Now he was straining it to the limit When among the trees that marched down to the terious circumstances. that limit was passed, he could win. And river. Dogs romped near the gate. Dusk darkened into night outside as he tonight he knew he would. He sat with his back to the study door, felt his way through this society. There were He met Lisa at an apartment he rented, to discourage anyone who might acciden- advantages he knew from experience- under a false name, for that purpose alone. tally enter from striking up a conversation. some black marketing here, a neat dodge Their nights together inflamed his imagi- He had a fresh drink at his side. His mind there; a controversial report filed at the right nation. Leaving the apartment at sunrise, was alert. moment, which forced his immediate su- however, he saw that he was being tailed. The Game began. He lounged back, perior to resign. There were several explanations. Some- making his first moves, knowing at this stage The Game was expensive, and that, too, one in the police, perhaps. A leak in the he had ample time, The tranquility of his enhanced his enjoyment. The Game was Opposition? study made immersion in the growing as intelligent as a human—perhaps more Or an underling, trying to uncover some complexities easy, and heightened even so —within its tight, circumscribed uni- scrap of scandal? Possibly. the simple victories of the opening con- verse. Huge compuier resources hummed Here was a place to be deft, subtle. Just

tests. He never had difficulty at this stage to match his mental agility. He stretched a touch . . . any longer. leisurely in the armchair, feeling the warm He laid traps for these two eventualities.

It was very much like learning the char- caress of worn leather, languidly letting the Nothing happened. acters and setting in a novel. Each time study slip away, entering the Game more He continued meeting Lisa, as often as the Game featured different cultures, dif- deeply with each move he made. she could arrange to slip away from the ferent assumptions about the importance Touch—he moved up in the system. Commissioner. The man often kept her at of wealth, of power, of love, of life itself. Touch —and he made contact wilh some his country estate, waiting until he had time Each Game was fresh. The pitiful elec- members in the Opposition. for her.

tronic games that the public played were Timing, that was it. A moment too soon, She got away to the city as often as pos- monotonous to him. In the decades since and the flow of events across the board sible. Their arrangements were elaborate their introduction, the public amusements would unmask his moves, make his inten- and as secure as his years of experience had improved somewhat, but they were tions obvious. Too late, and a missed op- could make them. inevitably dominated and limited by their portunity would be picked up by an un- Still, there were more signs. He tended audience— mostly adolescents who had derling, gnawing away his position. to his growing personal empire, his net- the time to play, but not the sophistication Much of this was displayed in moving work of informants, his associations with to demand anything better. patterns of crystalline colors, in currents of those whom he could help and who would Tonight the scheme was particularly en- probability. His decisions touch—came be willing to return the favor. grossing. The social matrix was modified quickly. Tactics. Maneuver. He felt himself All this he had done before in earlier Late Marxist, with class divisions reemerg- skimming over rapids, attention flicking from games. But this time, tonight—he had to — — —

glance up at the black windows to remind his usual methods. But use Ihe computer's room, where silverware awaited polishing.

himself— there were undercurrents he could expectations against it. Seem to be follow- Turn left. Yes— (he big dining room. Then barely sense, subtle shifts, pivots, flows of ing a customary pattern. Carry on a series a hallway lined with scowling portraits. Lush money and power that he did not under- of slower moves, moves that the Game carpeting that led to a stairway. His foot- stand. would expect. steps made no sound going up. He was oblivious now. He did not notice He set aboul constructing a reasonably He took out the gun. Pressed against

the gathering chill from the great windows, devious plot, involving a dozen officials. It flesh, it delivered a nerve poison. Death or even feel the warm, familiar leather. He aimed at implicating the Commissioner in was swift and untraceable. was fully alive, his prickly instincts alert for treasonous securities exchanges with a Turn here to the left. A closed door. From

warning nuances in his work, in his cus- nearby country. He had used a similar de- under it yellowish light seeped. No sound tomary social relations, in everyday detail. vice before with great success. from within.

A singing vibrancy gripped him and the Beneath Ihis, he planned a subplot. It He turned the knob slowly. Well oiled, as years of routine fell away. The Game was had to involve a minimum of people. Lisa she had arranged. The latch slid free. excelling itself tonight. He could sense its was the only one he could trust. His style Now he moved quickly. The images came brooding intelligence behind the board, was always to use conventional pathways, at him in a rush. feeling him out, retreating when he lunged, so (he subplot had to be swift and daring. A brown armchair. Books lining the study. never giving itself away. Patient. Touch. Large windows, showing the blackness The computers had a style, just as did Their paths intersected at twilight, at an outside. The head of the older man, white he. The Game avoided the obvious, brutal inn in the countryside. He had abandoned haired, nol resting back against the leather

methods. It usually let him run a given tac- his own auto on the other side of the city, but instead tilted forward, concentrating on

tic for a while, studying it, before adroitly taken a bus. then a train. Lisa had just come the board before him, the wrinkled neck

deflecting it. The Game favored responses from the Commissioner's estate. exposed, the face intent and pensive, fo-

that turned the logic of a strategy back upon She left the pyramid-shaped thing on a cused, as if waiting for

itself. Often il seemed to be playful, inge- table in Ihe foyer, keeping her eyes straight Touch.

nious, as if to say, Have you considered it ahead, and (hen went in to dinner. She did this way? not so much as glance at him. The timing Gregory Benford, now in his early forties,

It was Lisa who noticed the small error. was perfect. He palmed the pyramid on is both an accomplished scientist and a She recognized one of the Commission- his way out. a moment later, celebrated writer of science fiction. He er's cars parked in the distance, a man The man with Lisa — the Commission- earned his doctorate in physics from the sitting at the wheel. The man was not look- er's usual guard for her— stayed in his car, University of California where he is now a ing at the two of them on the balcony above, reading a newpaper. She was meeting full professor at the Irvine campus. And as but that did not matter. Lisa had met the friends for dinner and he would be out of a scientist he has published some fifty pa- man only in passing once before, but she place. The man did nol even look up as a pers on such subjects as high-energy as- had a remarkable memory for faces. The shadow moved from the side door and into trophysics, pulsars, quasars and violent Commissioner had probably thought us- the trees nearby. extragalactic events. As a writer of science ing him was a negligible risk. He ran the two kilometers Ihrough dense fiction he is noted for his well-plotted, care-

Fear was part of the Game as well. It woodland as dusk became night. Branches fully written, elegant prose. Recognition of would have been simple io abandon Lisa, scratched his face. An owl hooted at him, his exceptional achievement in science to back away and try another path to suc- bul Ihere was no sign of deleclion. Pant- fiction came in 1981 when he not only won

cess. After all, there were many women. ing, he thought of Lisa dining, taking her a Nebula Award for his novel Timescape, But by now he was linked to her in ways time, extending the interval until the pyra- but when the name "Timescape" itself was he could not describe even to himself. To mid-key would be needed to readmit her chosen by the publishing house of Simon slink away, losing face when confronted by to the estate. He remembered her black and Schuster for its new line of science the electronic intelligence behind the hair, the high arch of her cheekbones, the fiction paperbacks. Earlier novels include

Game hypnotic passion of her. If the Stars are Gods (co-authored with No. He began playing with greal speed, He used the pyramid-key Io disarm the Gordon Ecklund). Deeper Than the Dark- nimbly repeating patterns of the past. detectors. In the blackness he had only ness and In Ihe Ocean of Night. These

It was important to appear unafraid. To starlight and the remembered locations of works and most of his short stories are continue using tactics that had his usual the alarm system monitors to guide him. based on Benford's favorite themes—ge-

style. To give no hint of his preparations. He recognized the small hill near the river netic engineering, theology, deep-space

He had to eliminate the Commissioner. and ran around it, keeping in cover. exploration, alien worlds and future weap- The brittle intelligence within the Game There was the line of frees leading to the onry. In large part these themes are evi- would anticipate that, though probably it great house The downstairs rooms were dent in the two of his stories—"A Hiss of would not seem a likely move. His personal not supposed to be in use. and indeed, as Dragon" .(co-written with Marc Laidlaw) and style ran more to the gradual techniques she had said, they were dark. "Dark Sanctuary"— already anthologized a slow piling up of advantages, until the He used the pyramid-key al the gate in The Best of Omni Science Fiction series.

moment of resolution came. again. It slid open silently, Significantly perhaps, since it touches on Therefore, do the opposite. Instead of He went up the driveway, avoiding the none of his usual motifs, the never-before- carefully marshaling resources, strike gravel, and around to the back. The kitchen published Benford story in this volume may swiftly, boldly, in a way uncharacteristic of door yielded. No one about. Through a side mark a new departure in his writing career. 87 How Gerald Knave makes a killing in the immortality racket

BY LAURENCE M. JANIFER

H e said his name was Duncan Harrison and he insisted it on buying me another drink. I told him didn't matter, he had only upset my gimlet at the bat, it could have happened to anybody, and just forget it. "But I teel an obligation," he said. "I'm terribly little sorry— a clumsy this evening— but I have a great deal on my mind," Which is when he began to interest me, strangely.

I was in the Regency Inn, NA Continent, Earth, which is a little showy and has all-live service, so an all-live bartender brought me a new gimlet and put another Thing in front of my new friend. It was blue

it on it, it and had foam didn't identify I and he and God knows didn't ask. I said, merely and mildly,

"Thanks," and Harrison raised his Thing and gave me a nervous little smile over the rim of it. Duncan Harrison: five feet five, maybe one hundred and twenty pounds, expensive black-silk jumper with the usual fittings, hair a little thin on top, and one helluva earnest, terribly honest expression behind his horn-rims. — "Not at all," he said. "It was completely my fault, Mr. " He hesitated. "By the way." he said, "I don't know your name."

I said. "Knave," "Gerald Knave." I of was out business cards— one of the reasons I was staying in the Home Worlds a little longer than usual was to get some more printed up with Real Earth quality and expense attached — but I wouldn't have given him one if I'd had ten thousand. Gerald Knave: Survivor looks fine on a card, but if you hand the card out, you are buying yourself a lot of explanation lime, and

I wasn't in the mood. Besides, as I've said, this Harrison type interested me. And I had the very strong feeling that a word like Survivor might be a word he understood, that and understanding might make him nervous. And I knew, right off, that I didn't want him nervous. I wanted him calm, cool, assured, and entirely certain that he was in total control of the situation.

PAINTING BY JULIA TURCHUK " " . " — "

hard. really At least, once. It simply can't for everybody. Why, So I slopped, and smiled back al him. He was very good. a be and wailed lo find out what the situation good bit better than average. the Home Worlds are overcrowded as

was going to be. We took a sip apiece, and It got him my very best nervous smile. things stand, only three hundred years after

Harrison said, nicely casual: "Why not sit "Duncan, then," I said, to even us up. "I'd the Clean Slate War. And there aren't in, well, health. Frontier to of at a table— if you don't mind? You look like say you were just remarkable enough planets take care the an unusual sort of man, Mr. Knave." If you're really much older than forty-five population we'd have— if nobody ever died.

It's not a bad opening. When he looked well, Duncan, I just wouldn't believe it." Given just one child per couple every twenty round, spotted an empty table in a corner He nodded, soberly. "That's our protec- years ." The shrug again. some distance from anyone else, grabbed tion, you see," he said. "Nobody would be- "Of course," I said. —"It would make sense. it. it But you're telling his Thing, and headed lor it. I followed right lieve Oh, everyone talks about —you me along, porting the gimlet. must have heard some idle chatter— but "I'm telling you," he said, very solemnly,

I thirty I was wearing a fairly expensive outfit, nobody knows that it's quite real. II actually "that am one hundred and years After the re- and I let my expression and attitude change exists; it's been found." Secret satisfac- old. A comparative newcomer.

a little to confirm what the outfit said: I was tion; small smile. "The only people who do constructing archaeologists found the An-

all over innocence and light-hearted wealth. know, you see, are the ones who've had cients' secret— found it. and were bright

it course, the to it secret, to When we sat down. I took up his opening: — and, of ones who become enough keep never mention "What's—unusual about me?" candidates for it." it in any public report— a few rules for en- "Well " He hesitated, frowning. Trying "Candidates?" I said. "For what?" It listing new members were hammered out.

to sum it all up. "It's really just an impres- seemed like a good idea to give him the Luckily," he told me with a modest smile

full pitch; if I collection of sion I get. But, when— you've been around chance to make his were a good enough to add to my "I fit. I as long as I have " Another hesitation, little slow to catch on, he might relax a bit modest smiles, was judged passed."

while a small shadow of secret satisfaction more. It seemed time to display a little actual crossed—his face and was allowed to dis- "For immortality," he said, and looked thought. "But if they had it before the war," appear "well, you learn to depend on such around as if to spot anyone listening. No- I said, "then there must be people even impressions. You're — ah — reasonably body was listening. "The lost secret of the older than you—people born before the successful, in the world's terms, Mr. Ancients," he went on. "Immortality." beginning of the twenty-first century. The Knave— but a shrewd sort of man to deal ones who got the formula before the war,

with; I'd say that at once. However, in your As he'd told me, I hadn't become suc- and managed to survive through it," ." little I own terms . . He let it trail off, and gave cessful without being a shrewd. trot- "There are indeed," he said. "I've met me a fairly effective shrug. ted out—some shrewdness. "Now, wait a one, though he isn't on Earth now. But I "In my own terms?" I said. Surprised, minute " I said. doubt that there are very many, Jerry. After

but wary. "Oh, I know it sounds like a 3V thriller." He took another sip of that damned blue he said He looked around some more. "It's Thing. "In your own terms. Mr. Knave, you're a legend, after all, and some people still not satisfied — not really. You're—still looking believe that it doesn't exist. That the secret proof against a fusion bomb, I suppose— for something — still searching of immortality was something the Ancients or against massive radiation damage." My surprise became open astonish- didn't have time to discover, back before He was positively beaming at me. "I knew

ment. "How did you know thai?" I said, re- the Clean Slate War—" you were quick," he said. "It's a combi-

minding myself, for God's sake, not to "Sure I've heard talk," I said. "Every- nation of elements, plus a radiation treat-

overdo it. body has. But—well, you said it yourself ment, meant to encourage cellular regen- He tried the smile again. He was very it's a legend. And only— a legend. Good God, eration. Even if I were shot, say, I might it good at it. "As I say," he told me, "when man, if were real regenerate quickly enough to stay alive.

it you've—been around as long as I have, Mr. "Yes," he said. "If were real. Concen- But you're quite right. A fusion bomb Knave trate on that for a minute. Perhaps you'll wouldn't be survivable, and massive fall-

it 'Jerry," I said. "Please. And you don't see why we take great care to maintain out would probably be too much for the look so very old — I'd say forty-five, at the as a legend." regenerative faculties. Not that we have

outside." An honest count would have made So I sat there. I hadn't been looking for those worries nowadays, not with proper

it fifty; I felt it was in character— the char- this Duncan Harrison — or for anybody. I'd caution."

I acter I was still busily assuming — to shade just dropped in for a drink or two. But had He stopped He was waiting for my next

it a little for him. every intention of continuing the acquaint- line, so I gave it to him. "But why are you

'Jerry, then," he said. The same smile, ance very closely, for a while. telling me all this?" I said, displaying a with a little of his secret-satisfaction bit Therefore, after a decent interval, and proper degree of my shrewd wariness.

added in. "What would you say if I told you most of the gimlet, I allowed the light of 'After all—" I was older than forty-five —very much understanding— to dawn on my eager face. "I'm telling you. Jerry," he said, "be- older?" '"You mean " I said, with all the awe I cause I believe you can pass inspection."

I'd fed him the right cue line. My face could muster. "You mean it wouldn't be for The satisfied beam gave way to solemnity

stayed innocent, astonished, and friendly— everybody." again. "Frankly, I'm sure of it, and I haven't but still— a little wary. "What I'd say, Mr. Har- That brought from him a big, satisfied been wrong about so important a belief rison " I started. smile. "I knew I was right about you," he in—well, in at least ninety years. Our meet- "Duncan," he said. He didn't push too said. "You're quick. You see the point at ing was a most happy accident." 90 " "

I "It certainly was," said fervently. I meant The smile became a positive sunburst. War human race. I'd almost thought of it as it, too, for a change. Most sincerely. Harrison had about half a man's weight, dead, which would have been a shame: a

"In fact," he was saying. "I want you to and three men's charm. "Don't worry about good con is a work of art, and It's nice to meet our Dr. Royce. You see, Jerry, no one a thing," he told me. "Believe me, you're know that even the old numbers are still member of our—ah—group can admit a as good a candidate as I've ever seen." around. And so far, good old Duncan Har- new candidate. At least two must agree. And. after the slightest pause, "By the way. rison was playing everything according to and Royce, Ihe dear chap, happens to be are you staying here?" the script. not only on Earth, but right here in the cap- "The Regency? No," I said, truthfully. "I've And—who knows?— maybe there was ital right now." rented my own apartment, downtown, I find such a thing, back in the misty twentieth

I if it stared at him as he'd turned into an more convenient when I must be in the century. Cellular regeneration, and anti- ostrich. "You mean — if you and this — this city. In facl, I was just here to begin killing gravity: the Ancients were supposed to ." Dr. Royce—agree on me . . an evening." All true, within limits. I did have have had both. Nobody knows for sure, of

He nodded, very slowly. "You'll be given an appointment, a bit later, but it was course, and the chances are that nobody the formula at once— if possible," he said. breakable: she was lovely, but she was also ever will. Two hundred years of recon-

it 'A drink, with instructions for concocting understanding. And I saw no particular structive archaeology is a helluva lot of again if you must—though we have cen- harm in forcing my new friend's pace. hunting, and anything that hasn't turned ters on several planets, and you'll be pro- He frowned in thought, an effect not quite up probably won't.

vided with a list. You'll need a refresher as good as his testy snap had been. "Well. I entertained myself with thoughts like dose of the formula every twenty years or since you have the evening free," he said that until, after eight or ten minutes, Dun- so. The radiation treatment is required only after a time, "and Dr. Royce is in the city can came bustling back in. I snapped to

I once." suppose go and see what can be my feet at once. Eager? Hell, I was prac-

"You mean that's all there is to it?" I said. tically straining at the leash.

maintaining the stare". "By all means," I said, and he nodded He was beaming again. "We're in luck," "That's all," he said, with a fine, slow, and left me, he told me.—"If you can be here tonight at casual smile. "Except for the dues, of I sal there finishing my c. m e:. II had been ten o'clock course, which are payable every twenty a long time since I'd run into the immor- "Here?" I said. "In the Inn?" years, when you get your new dose. The tality racket— Ihe losl art of cellular regen- "Dr. Royce's room," he said. "He has digs money goes toward supporting those cen- eration, complete with nice, high dues, that here at the Regency— finds it a change

ters, as well as the plantations where we had been located among surviving papers from lab work, I imagine." He gave me the grow what we require for the formula. You'll or tapes of the pre-Space, pre-Clean-3late- room number, and I promised to be there. ." be told where those are, too, of course . . He stopped for a second or so, and then added, 'And the dues can be waived, nat- urally, in cases of hardship."

I swear, it hurt him even to say that. If he'd meant it, it might have killed him. But

I let it pass. "No problem there," I said, heartily. "As you deduced, I'm quite suc- cessful ... in the world's terms. Dues? Why. who wouldn't —pay every cent he could scrape up, for

"Keep your voice down," he snapped. It was a very good snap: testy, authoritative, anxious. I appreciate talent of all sorts.

So I said. "Oh ... of course," in a whis- per, and looked frightened, and peered around The inn wasn't crowded; at its prices, it seldom is. We were a fair distance from the nearest visible human being.

"But—can you give me any idea when I might— might meet your Dr. Royce? "I thought you'd be impatient," he said, "Most successful men have that sort of drive. They feel that there's never enough time." He gave me a forgiving smile for having raised my voice, or for being im- patient, or both. "Mow, of course, there will be time enough for everything."

I went on being frightened. "There might be— if I pass." I said hopefully. " " " —

single, big one, bed, mir- "And, Jerry," he said, "I'd advise— well, "My name is Gerald Knave," I said. "Mr. a but a a double — dresser the formula's rather delicate. The drinking Harrison rors here and there, an immense it might you've already done won't hurt matters, but He actually snorted, emitting a rare sound, that looked so much like real wood no more between now and ten." and a surprisingly unpleasant one. "Oh, yes, have been, a few chairs, one closet door, mention he said. "But I've one door to the obvious bath. It was a solid, convincing touch. "Of Duncan did that," all." great deal on my mind just now. I'm alraid And, of course, the Apparatus. One whole course." I said. "No trouble at a impossible. some other corner of the place looked like a set for a "Very well, then. I'll expect you at ten. it's quite Perhaps you, of time. A few months, possibly a year ... I'm wildly extravagant Mad Scientist show. I want to tell Dr. Royce about ." sorry, Mr. Er-um, but—" Tubes and bottles, dials and meters and course . . — it. all arranged on two tables and Still aback, I said, "But " and Harrison you name "Of course," I said. floor. It very impressive, He gave me his biggest, brightest smile. came in, right on cue. part of the was firm, "Now, Carlos, "he said soothingly. "We've and quite a lot of the stuff was at work- and I shook his hand. He had a hon- Its basic odor est handclasp. just got to make the lime. We don't find a bubbling or fuming, mostly. alcohol. They always do. new candidate every day, you know." was banana mixed with rubbing "Hrnpf." Dr. Royce said. "I am not at al! Just odd enough to be convincing. convinced— Harrison came forward to meet me. I made two calls. One was to my ap- — pointment, who was understanding. When "But I've told you 'Uerry!"hesaid. "Good to see you!" I gave torward, "Yes, yes, Duncan," he sighed. "I know." him a grin like a weak highball: two-thirds I explained what was going she

I irritation and one-third wry. "Oh, was overjoyed and wanted to pitch in and There was a long pause, during which neutral— looking eager, uncertain, nervous, and Carlos " he said, and waved a forgiving help, but I couldn't find a slot for her She tried sort of hand. "You'll have to excuse him. didn't much like that, but she did accept it one part irritated, to keep up the success- deal younger than I. gets at last, with my promise that she'd be the ful, shrewdly wary, man-of-the-world fla- He's a good He said last. upset more easily." first to be tapped when any little jobbie vor. "Well," the good doctor at said, still the choleric came along that called for the Eternal Fe- "come in, sir. I suppose we shall have to "Upset?" Royce "1 But, dear male. She owns a fine spirit of fun, which speak with you, at least. Duncan is simply mad scientist. am not upset. my fits Duncan, nothing about this man. is one reason she was my appointment that not given to such unusual of—ah—en- we know some night in the first place. thusiasm.'' He stepped back from the He might be anyone. He might be plausible fool. What we have is of great I in. Then I went on home and discovered doorway and went part. value, you know." that I'd been inspired. Nothing like the As I say, awfully good for the He prospect of immortality to liven up a man. wasn't quite up to my own six leet, but he'd Of course they had done their checking, I'd have dressed out a good bit heavier than and they'd found, since I'd last seen good I began cooking the best dinner eaten

hair in Duncan, what 1 wanted them to find. in several months, found a good wine to my one-seventy-five or so. White a old beetling Legitimate parties checking on me gel go with it. and then, regretfully, put the wine thick shock, eyebrows, and a ill-fitted legitimate answers. These two charming back into the rack. If you're going to do a square, choleric face; an jumper stains and people wouldn't have known the right thing, do it right. covered with odd-experiment

little, like, and a voice like a pipe organ with questions, or the order in which to ask them. I did compensate a with a pot of the gunpowder green tea after dinner. Away a slight case of asthma, set to bourdon My files are a matter of public record, as back, two or three centuries before the solid, low, and a trifle wheezy. No glasses, far as any citizen's are, but there are two Clean Slate War, there had been talk that by the way: a good touch. You expect a sets. Governments need Survivors once in a the stuff was a hallucinogen. It isn't, as far "Dr. Royce" to be wearing eyeglasses of sort, their absence makes the while, and they do tend to appreciate the I the lovely and as I know, but keep hoping. And some

if bring it to their attention loudly stuff is one of my belter cravings effect a good deal stronger. He's not your work, you

doctor-type, so he must be enough. Once in a while, I can make some- I washed dishes, thought about a little expectable, 3V

gratitude, though it sel- light dusting, and decided there wasn't time. real. thing out of such

turns out to money. I can't touch Some people collect stamps, and some In any case, I was ready and, by God, dom be

other but I just my ski. Me, I'm a housekeeper by avocation. even panting to be convinced. I stepped any listing, can nudge I've got aTotum and a couple ot small Rob- in and looked round, wondering idly how own. going to be. I'd depended on the checking. They'd bies slaved to it, but I do for myself unless much my dues payment was

from Royce's room, it would be showed admirable attention to detail, after I feel depressed or turn out to be just too Judging all— that bit about Royce being younger damned busy. That night, I turned up busy; fairly large. looked besides, the apartment really didn't need The Regency is by no means the posh- than Harrison, for instance, when he easily ten years older. All in all, they were it. es! of hotels, but it is by no means a dog. trav- just short of the top bracket. And then it was nine-thirty. Time to head Call it medium-luxury: a lot of people still still obviously re- back to the Regency. eling on business, a few newlywed cou- Royce, gruff and never sell the mark, you let Dr. Royce was awfully good for the part. ples, a little of this and that, and a lot of luctant—you At ten o'clock on the nose, he flung the top-class convention business. An ob- him buy—asked me to submit to some

it, questions, I chair and sat down. door open in response to my knock and vious place, when I came to think about and found a

predictable: I barked at me, "Yes'' What's this? Who are for people like Harrison and Royce to troll The inquisition was what do " you, boy 9 for bites. for a living and how well I do at it were the of the better rooms— central points of interest, though the scene I took myself aback, about six inches. And Royce had one . .

d up with a fair number of psy- ble, you know. But as lor this— of course more lalk and filler than I'd realized How- chological-type queries. "Which would you not." ever, I could still make a call . . rather be. an ostrich or a penguin?"— that After a few more seconds of this-and- My previous appointment, I was in- sort of thing. that chat, the door shut, leaving me back formed, would dearly love to hear how They got the answers that tilted the rec- in the corridor matters were coming along, and why didn't ords they'd tapped, the ones that have me Oh. I nearly forgot to mention that I'd had I drift along to her place and tell her all? in investments and doing well in a some- my formula. It was sort of a deep yellow Why not? I decided- what-above-medium range The ones that with purple swirls, and it fizzed a bit. Six And she was delighted And so was 1 have me never setting loot off Ihe planet, ounces, more or less. It tasted like plain for thai matter. soda mixed with oregano. a brand new ef- The place turned out to be a run-down

Royce was quite convincingly reluctant. fect for my palate, and nol one I was anx- sort of building near Ihe edge ol the city, which meant that it took him an hour of this ious to repeat. which was disappointing. But apparently sort ot gulf to become convincingly con- I didn't think the stuff could hurt me any, they couldn't run their radiation whatsit off

vinced I occupied myself, while reeling out After all. they wanted me in the pink of con- Ihe hotel's power And the place -to- place answers and attitudes (I chose the pen- dition in the morning. After that, they'd be gimmick is always a good idea in any case; guin, if you care— being in character), with gone, and it wouldn't matter, and practi- it gives the mark the impression that he's trying to guess the figure they had me tioners of the large con tend to attacks of involved with a large outfit, with planta- pegged tor. nervousness at the thought of actually tions, maybe, just about everywhere. "The radiation treatment will be tomor- hurting someone— physically. As instructed: a white plastic door with-

I it row. ' Royce said at last, a little regretfully. Maybe, thought, would be a hallucin- out identification, on the second floor. Friend

I thought, since I'd let it be known that I ogen when it mixed with the gunpowder Duncan had said: "We don't advertise our- could lay my hands on a fair lot of coarse tea I remembered something about oreg- selves, ot course." Of course. Maybe they'd cash more or less instantly. But I'd figured ano. Or marijuana. Or something of the son. just found a vacant spot and weren't even on the delay; putting the mark on the send LSD? DNA? PreSpace bourbon? paying rent. gives him a chance fo develop even more No such luck, But Ihe game was fun Dr. Royce answered my knock, looking eagerness, and gives the happy con men enough on its own; I didn't need stimu- jusl as testy as ever. He let me in without a final chance to check on any nosy, un- lants. At any rate. I didn't need chemical a word. bought, law types. "And I must warn you." stimulants. It was a big. bare room with a large, white he went on, "that the dues are high. Main- I checked the time, once I was safely out Something in the center. The Something taining our plantations, our centers, re- and away; nearly midnight. There'd been looked a little like a truly ancient X-ray ma- quires a good deal of money in these crowded days." "Some day soon." Harrison said, "we should simply move— all of us in the group — lo our own planet. A planet of im- mortal beings . A wondrous thought. "Money doesn't matter," I snapped, lying in my teeth.

"What's money, if I can use it to buy—well, to buy life with?" "Exactly," friend Duncan told me, smil- ing paternally. And. as you will discover, your—ah—new perspective will be a great help in making more money."

I nodded, judiciously. "I can see how that might be." I said. "But. well, what are the dues?" I asked that dne just as casually as

I could. "Five hundred thousand dollars," my dear friend said, in a perfectly even voice.

And, damn it. I'd lost my bet. I'd figured them for seven-filly.

It developed that I was to meet them at the radiation center at ten-thirty in the

morning. I got the address, and a caution not to mention the Secret to a single soul.

"Of course not!" I said, wounded at their lack ol faith. "I'll tell my bank—well, I'll tell them something. Something quite plausi- " " " " " ——

— chine crossed with a gigantic 3V editor. Or What if the voice belonged to a police assumed it could happen that Harrison said. a silent-movie editor, to keep everything in officer who hadn't, somehow, been squared "This is another formula," — to his "Separale lines of development " He was the same generation. It had a wooden chair away, and was ready, by now, beam set between two large screens, a big light damned way in? recovering, a litlle. "Any- above the screens, and a great many dials Royce could open the door. Or cut his "No. it isn't possible, "the boy said. and meters. Loving care, two or three hours throat with something or other. So he thing with a ftzz— and yellow—no such drink could have a regenerative effect. The ot it, had gone into setting it up. opened the door. Harrison was standing next to the Some- The kid outside looked just over twenty. number of compounds which would have qualities derivable, of Dr. thing. "Ready?" he asked. He gave the room one comprehensive such is course. glance. Whatever he was. he wasn't law. Royce, you must know of many." I gave him my very best nervous-but- Dr. made a sound that might have courageous smile. "You mean— this is it?" "I overheard the talk," he said. "Yester- Royce if all given it trifle. day, in the Regency Inn. And, of course, I turned into speech we had an I said, quavering just a

I in, if it isn't I "But . or Instead. cul He looked at me, reassuringly. 'Just sit had to check up later . . privately, assure hour so. ." down, Jerry," he said. "Dr. Royce will give you. This radiation treatment . . real—" Harrison "You're doubting me. of course," the boy you the treatment. It won't hurt a bit, I "You couldn't have overheard," promise you." said. "You weren't there." said. "Well, is there any one of you wilh grinned. didn't no- official connections?" I The boy "You simply I headed for the chair. Halfway along, his again, and then People don't, when I don't want Royce made sound stopped and said, "Oh, there is one thing." tice me. — echoed, "With official "What is it?" Royce asked from behind them to. Its a talent one can develop. You've not a law agency. me, even more testily. got more than the rudiments of it, as you The boy nodded, "Oh, have. my hearing, of course, Believe me. But, you see, the way most of "The dues," I said apologetically, "as you should And is to live life for sixty or said— in cash—" is extraordinarily acute. It gets that way after us do manage a "Since the transaction must be quite se- three hundred and twelve years of treat- seventy years, aging with makeup and cret," Harrison said. ments." some special aids, and then we arrange to was still speechless. The grand 'die,' one way or another, and start again "Certainly," I said. Royce

carried him as far as it could. somewhere else, at our 'normal ages. As I inside pocket. manner had I stood there. fished in an — again, it large envelope full Harrison said, "Three hundred and you can see, I've just begun and I began to bring out a — —

I disclose last in- of perfectly real money. "Of course," the boy said. "You're not struck me that could my could the I carnation check Royce was now at my side. Harrison was members I recognize, and don't know what to anyone who official source. It mighl in front of me, maybe four steps away. tests you've given this man." He pointed identification with an

in offhand way, and I shrank a remove any doubt." I had little trouble getting the envelope at me an still their out of my pocket. little. "As to all this about radiation treat- The law was on minds. Un-

if doubtedly, the fix in; it isn't, And there was a knock on the door. Har- ments— please, do you mind I check your was when a con will not operate. But perhaps il rison and Royce stood like statues, silent, basic formula?" — good not breathing. After what seemed to be "I—we don't have the—the " Harrison wasn't in far enough. several years, the knock was repeated. look a deep, deep—swallow. "We gave it to Harrison was a stuck record. "But— but "They musl be looking for someone else," him— last-— night but—" are clearly not group Harrison said. The boy nodded. I said, helpfully, "You people "Certainly," Royce said, with great calm. sounding boih puzzled and halfway scared, members," the boy said. "And we do — limit we need "Now, to continue " His hand was out. "I could describe it, anyhow," He nodded have to our numbers. But intelligence audacity inventiveness then, al- again. I described it. Even unto ihe damned — — I was holding the envelope by most carelessly. Not quite. oregano. flexibility— all of which are genetic traits. I The knock came again. A voice said, "Dr. "But that must be all wrong!" the boy can check for that, if you'll allow me." of not allowing him. For I under- Nobody thought Royce? Dr. Carlos Royce?" said. —"Sir— Mr. Harrison — don't He had the grand manner. He turned to stand twenty years old. he had enormous pres- ex- I sort of might face the door without a tremor, "Who is "That's the formula I drank," said. ence The presence you thai?" he said in an even voice "Well," the boy said. He shut the door pect of someone three hundred and twelve

il, looking thoughlfully years old, say. Harrison was a little pale. I pretended and stood against not to notice. at the three of us. "I don't see how. This He took out a small penknife and some 'A group member," the voice said. A nice, can't be the real thing at all." glassex slides. He jabbed my finger first, fitfully. perhaps then Royce's, and then the reluctant Har- young tenor. "I don't know you— but radia- Harrison said "But— we— tion treatment shouldn't be necessary, or you might—" rison's, washing the knife with a damp cloth, smelling of disinfectant, between the jabs. desirable, if the subject is under sixty-three The boy's face went hard. standard years of age. Please, let me in." "You see," he said softly, "there were a He got us on the slides. Absentmindedly, I'd slipped the enve- few survivors, after the war. Not many. De- He fished in his pockets again, when the took small lope halfway back into thai inside pocket. velopment only came in 1990. And if was knife was away, and out a gadget

light in it. It looked like a miniature Harrison was staring at it. Royce stood still, a bad time. A bad time," His face went with a his face a gaping mask of indecision, but quite still and his eyes shut. Nobody else microscope, with ambitions toward be- day. after all, what the hell could he do? Ignor- moved or spoke, "But there were a few. coming an octopus some

I patterns in cell," mur- I every he ing the voice wouldn't make it go away. And Ihere are groups don't know of, so "Gene " " " "

mured. "These will do quite nicely." made a phone call, and soon I was not to. Look, although the odds against two He spent a long time staring at (he three alone. sets of fingerprints matching are some- glassex slides. When he looked up. he She loved the coffee, of course. Most thing like twenty billion to one, there are

asked. "Does anyone here have official people do. It's a talent. I will try to teach files existing trom maybe 1900 to date- connections?" anybody who wants to learn, but failure is files that were stored very neatly through

"For what?" Harrison said. He was still frequent. As with any other art form, the the damned war. even—and those files in-

pale. Royce was just bewildered, as if his real basics can't be taught. clude a helluva lot more than twenty billion partner had suddenly turned into a giant people." hamburger, hold the pickle. He showed up a few hours later. She stared. "But—"

It all "Fingerprint check," the boy said. "As I "They had it, back in the hotel," he said. had been a popular word day. "Peo-

proposed. I'll tell you my present name, "Three hundred thousand apiece." ple don't realize it." I said. "Not even the

and my last one. You can get fingerprints I shrugged. "Fair." police. And they won't, until they tangle with for both, statted over any phone that will "Fair, hell," the boy said. "I ought to get a case that rubs their noses in the fact. take stats, and compare for yourselves. Your half a million out of this one." Fingerprints are old, solid, established, source may have blink-comparator de- I shrugged again. "Chalk the rest up to standard identification. And my young vices, or other mechanisms that will make entertainment. Didn't you love the mad sci- friend, it seems, can be identified— accu-

identification quite certain. But I must cau- entist rig?" rately— as himself, and as a man who died tion you to keep the motive for your curi- "Mostly torn down when I goi there." he four years ago. age eighty-seven. In Chi- ." If I recall." osity to yourselves. anyone here has . . said. "They were moving out. naturally. cago, as

Harrison looked at Royce. and Royce re- But— oh. all right— call it even.'' He gave "Really?" she said. "I mean— legiti- turned the favor. But the boy clearly wasn't me a thick cash bundle. I still had the one mately?" law— a fact which was, at last,— sinking in. Id brought along to the radiation center. I "Legitimately." I told her. "Believe it or "I might— the local police " Royce be- felt incredibly rich. not, I tripped over it by accident. I was gan at last. "Maybe next time it'll be bigger."l said. looking into hereditary fingerprint patterns pull As I said, the fix had to be in. Royce, "Maybe," he said. "I gather there'll be a and set a small computer to everything Harrison, and several local police officers next time —whenever you happen to feel matching inside a fairly close range. And just had to be close friends. like being —entertained? Not that you need this kid's file popped out. Truly a good kid, "Fine," the boy said. "I was afraid it might the money and he loves his work. He's developed into be Mr. Knave." "I always need the money." I said stiffly a helluva actor— I never doubted him in

I said it; "Afraid?" "After all—" that room. Not that there was anything to

tell I clearly else "Because I must you to leave now." "Sure," he said. "The style to which you doubt. knew. But. nobody — he said firmly. "I don't think I have dis- keep trying to get accustomed . . . Weil. doubted him either, for evidence of which closed anything so vital that I must kill you. I've got to get out of here anyhow. Got a I waved the money at her. Waving bundles

If you tell the story, you won't be believed. date, and after that. I think I might head tor of money at lovely women is an interesting But, well, I'm afraid you simply do not—"— another continent for a while At the least hobby. "He's got awfully good at the thing, It of still identi- "And these men— if they aren't real " I sounded like a sensible idea. "Where though course we need the

began. did you tell them to go?" I asked. fication as a clincher." The boy sighed, "I am sorry." he said. "Peru, Indiana," he said. "A couple ot "But don't people ever check with one

if "But, after all, two out of three! Gene pat- rooms . . . registering as Royce and Har- another?" she asked.— 'And, well, they do. terns are conclusive. Originality, flexibility rison. Wait two weeks for contact by a group and if they realize

I . . . at that, it's a real coup! One every cou- member with proper equipment. could only I smiled: total relaxation. "They keep it ple of years is closer to the average." give them the preliminary dose." secret," I said. 'As requested. Damn it. I'd

"Now, wait a minute," I said, but Harrison The dose consisted of gunpowder tea, send them on their way convinced they and Royce cooperated in getting me out brewed with hot peppers. I'd thought of were already immortal, it I didn't think I'd of there. Gently, politely, and very rapidly. adding oregano, but it seemed a bit too be contributing to the deaths ot people who

I heard the boy say: "Of course you two much, somehow. I had a question, but my might think they could regenerate after a will have to take new names—new identi- lovely appointment got there first. beam or a slug. As it is. the truth dawns on ties. I think you must be used to that. But "Why Peru. Indiana?" she asked, fasci- them— or something near the truth — in two we'll help, as we always do. As for your nated by me, by the boy, or by the money. weeks, maybe three. In Peru, Indiana. And illegal activities, we've no interest in that. Probably, I told myself, by all three; she after that, they really want to keep it secret, We take the long view. In fact, your profes- fascinated easily. right?" sion ought to be looked into. The qualities The boy shrugged at her. "Why not?" he "Right," she said, giving me back an that go into such an 'invention' are, as you said. identical smile. now know, the qualities we most require." She laughed. She was still laughing when "By which time," I said, "we are all some- The door shut, leaving me on the out- the boy left— a valued friend at twenty-three, where else, of course. And without any need side. I didn't stay to listen. It didn't seem and thank God for him. to take on any actual sort of job for a while." lovely wise. I was home in half an hour. "Tell me," she said. "Fingerprints. Not She sighed and shook her head.

"I No immortality tor Gerald Knave. I des- even you can tamper with someone's file. will be damned," she said. perately needed consolation I brewed and he hasn't got your connections—" "Conceivably," I said —and the rest of some strong, magnificent coffee, and I "I did no tampering," I said. "Didn't have the day is none of your business. . —

THERE WERE PEOPLE ON BIKINI PEOPLE ON ATTU BY WILLIAM TENN

From loudspeakers mounted Everywhere, men. women and children over Earth pointed out that Ihe inhabitanis shaded their eyes and stared hard at those of the space ships were probably crea- on their bows, the space ships areas of the sky most distant from ihe sun. tures of good will. Their technology was began to blare identical Peepingly. they could discern the outlines much, much more advanced than the best of the strange craft, hanging like so many that humanity had—why shouldn't Iheir so- messages in every human clusters of impossibly shaped grapes. In ciology be equally advanced? If their ma- language . . Ihe dark sections of Earth, the space ships chines were belter, why shouldn't their eth- glowed all nighl around their edges, throw- ics be better, too? Be intelligent, [he men

ing a thm network of yellow phosphores- of good will suggested earnestly; if these One day Ihe Earth found itself sur- cence against the purple heavens. alien creatures had the means to come rounded by space ships. People shuflled uneasily and asked their upon Earth so suddenly, they could prob-

These space ships were enormous and neighbors, their leaders, even strangers: ably have overwhelmed it in the same completely alien in design; they were op- "What does it mean? What do they want?" flashing instant had they so desired, No, erated by power so tremendous that their Nobody had the slightest idea, the men of good will decided at last, hu- approach had not even been suspected A radio-controlled space vehicle, built to manity had nothing to fear. by a single astronomer in the northern or explore the moons of tvlars. was sent up Humanity, stubbornly, continued to fear. southern hemisphere The ships had sim- for a close look at the space ships. Shortly "AH those space ships. What do they ply materialized in uncanny multitudes all after it passed the outer limits of the at- want?" about the planet; and there they remained, mosphere, it disappeared completely; and There was a lot of activity in war colleges with no outward signs of activity, for about no trace of it was ever found again A min- and government offices that day and night. twenty hours. ute or so later, every single artificial sat- Specialists in every field that in any way On Earth, naturally, there was a good ellite orbiting the Earth also disappeared. related to communications were collected deal of activity— some of it frenzied. The No explosions, no blast from a new kind of by military press gangs and set to work at nations buzzed back and forth to each ray— just, there Ihey all were one moment, devices that might transmit or receive other, ally reaching out with moist diplo- and there they were not the next. messages relative to the space ships. Ra- matic hand to ally, toe asking tentative, wide- It became obvious that if the creatures dio, blinker lights, even telepathy, were tried. eyed question of foe. in the space ships wanted to conquer Earth, Nothing worked Panic grew. Newspapers put out extras as fast as to enslave or exterminate its population, At the end of twenty hours, each space the presses could blink, and television net- there was nothing to stop them Mankind's ship simultaneously disgorged live smaller works presented stammering scientists most powerful countermeasures would craft. These floated down to the surface of all kinds of scientists: nuclear physicists, function like a fly swatter putting down a the planel and. upon landing, began to blare botanists, lield archaeologists, anatomy dynamite explosion. out from loudspeakers mounted on Iheir professors— in a tousled, bewildering Nonetheless, nation after nation mobi- bows Ihe identical message; succession Aimless, ugly riots broke out: lized, airmen sat tensely in jet planes that "Everybody oil Earth'." churches and revival tents overflowed with were incapable of reaching one-hun- In Tibet, this message was blared in Ti- worried worshipers; the suicide rate went dredth the height of ihe space ships, gun betan; in Norway, in Norwegian: around up sharply. crews of antiaircraft units piled shells near Lake Chad, in all the numerous Chad di- A boating party on Loch Ness swore in their weapons and waited lor Iheir radar alecls: in certain pans of Ihe Uniied States a group affidavit that they had been ap- operators to give them usable targel in- ol America. "Everbody olfen the Yurth! And proached by a sea serpent forty-eight feet struclions. IBM sites, ABM sites, all ballis- naow!" The message was the same wher- long. II informed them in impeccable Eng- tic missile sites, were put on red alert. Mar- ever Ihe smaller craft landed, only il was lish that it was a citizen of the star Arcturus tial law was proclaimed in Greenland, at spoken in Ihe tongue and idiom peculiar and had arrived exactly two hours ago. It Cape Horn, in the Andaman Islands, to Ihe region. was pro-Labor and anti-vivisection. At the same time, men of good will all "Everybody oft Earth!" PHOTOGRAPH BY PETE TURNER —

For aboul half an hour ihese words were they going to be taken? Perhaps they were Every living human on Earth was laken screamed at Ihe dumfounded humans who going to be ealen, and the vaulting hold up to the alien space ships. But no ani- had gathered around the odd vessels. that slretched enormously about them was mals. The animals all remained behind, they Then, abruptly, and all over Earth at ex- a kind of extraterrestrial pantry? and the empty fields and the tall forests actly the same moment, openings ap- No one knew. Most of them shivered, ex- and the seas that swirled unendingly along peared in various parts of these ships, and pecting the worst; a few speculated sanely; the white beaches of the world. metallic creatures with dozens of metallic but no one knew. When the loading was complete, the tentacles came out. These creatures, it was All night, all day, the loading went on. It space fleet moved away as a unit. The ac- apparent to men still able to use their imag- was indiscriminate. No human boundaries celeration was so smooth that few of the inations, could be nothing but robots, me- were recognized. A load of Portuguese humans even suspected that they were chanical servants of thinking individuals in fishermen was deposited in the midst of a under way. The space fleet moved away the space ships that still hovered miles upon previous load of Chinese farmers from a from Earth, away from our Sun, and plunged empty hundreds of miles above the at- collective in Kwantung. The Roman Cath- into Ihe black gulfs of the universe. mosphere. olic fishermen sank to their knees and fol- Except for the shock of being torn from The robots began to collect people. lowed an apoplectic Methodist minister from familiar environments so abruptly, the hu- They moved to a group of people— they Albuquerque, New Mexico, in prayer; the mans aboard the ships had to admit they moved extremely fast— and reached out ingratiating young chairman of Ihe collec- were not loo badly off. There were several with their tentacles, grasping a human tive farm bustled about organizing a Marx- water fountains in each hold; there were gently but firmly around the waist with each ist study group for a squeaking crowd of adequate plumbing facilities: the cots were one. When every tentacle held a kicking stylish matrons from Johannesburg, South quite comfortable and so were the tem- scratching, screaming human, each robot Africa, whose Ladies' Aid Society meeting peratures maintained. turned and marched back to its ship, re- had been picked up en masse. Twice each day. exactly twelve hours peating forcefully, though a trifle monoto- When a hold contained enough people apart, chimes were sounded and a dozen nously, "Everybody off Earth—every- to occupy all the cots in it, the ceiling large soup tureens materialized in Ihe mid- body!" opened no more, and activity moved to an- dle of the floor. These tureens were filled The people were set down carefully in a other hold or another ship. Thus, half the with thick white dumpling-like objects bob- kind of hold inside Ihe ship and the robot Congress of the United States of America bing in a greenish liquid. The dumplings left, after snapping the aperture shut be- was dropped wholesale into the student and the soup were apparently nourishing, hind it. Then it gathered more people, one body and faculty of the largest elementary and acceptable to the palates of a thou- lo each tentacle, and brought them, hys- school in Bucharest, while the other half sand different cuisines—though dismally terical or fainting or rigid with terror, to the vainly tried gaining information and estab- boring as a steady diet. After everyone had hold of its ship. As soon as the captives lishing authority among the surrounding eaten, the chimes sounded again and the began lo get crowded and uncomfortable, Madras dirt farmers and the rather puz- tureens vanished: Ihey vanished like great, the vessel would dart upwards and be re- zled inmates of a Damascus prison. moistureless bubbles. And then there was ceived into the larger ship from which it The loading went on for five days and nothing to do but wander about, try to learn had come. There, the robots, still carefully. five nights. Nothing stopped the loading; your neighbor's language, sleep a little, almost daintily, transferred the people in nothing delayed it. Guided missiles with worry about the future a little— and wait for exactly the same fashion —one by one nuclear warheads not only disappeared just the next feeding. to another, but much more immense hold as they arrived at target, but their sources It trouble started, as for example be- in the mother ship. This hold had been fit- became the very next object of attention. tween a factory of Australian steel workers ted with tiers of cots like those of a troop Every last launching site in the Arizona and a tribe of Zulu warriors over the favors transport, and every cot held a blanket and desert and the Siberian tundra was visited of some nurses from a Leningrad hospi- pillow made of some unrecognizable soft and cleared a few minutes after it fired its tal — if large trouble, incipient riot, mass white material. When the transfer was rockets. Here and there, military detach- fighting, ever got started — it was stopped complete, ihe small ships and its crew of ments fought on valiantly to the end, their immediately. A series of robots would ma- robots went down for another load. commanding officers watching in stupe- terialize through the floor, one after an- All day, all night, the loading went on. In faction as bullets and shells bounced other, each one exactly like Ihe other. Each the holds of the large mother ships, those harmlessly off the alien robots who plod- robot would grab as many individual bel- humans already stowed huddled in groups ded patiently through murderous enfilad- ligerents as ils tentacles could hold and and stared upwards distractedly. Every lew ing fire on their way to pick up the occu- keep them apart until the passage of time minutes, the solid metal ceiling high above pants of regimental or divisional and the ridiculous position in which they them developed an opening in the center, headquarters. found themselves brought ihe angry peo- through which a bunch of wriggling, A thorough job was done. Submarines ple back to a state of relative calm. Then, screeching people floated down. Then the were brought to the surface and emptied without making a comment or even a sin- ceiling melted together again and the new of their crews; men at Ihe bottom of the gle illuminating gesture, the robots disap- arrivals landed very gently on the rubbery world's deepest mine shafts, with their arms peared, exactly like the soup tureens. floor, immediately asking frenzied ques- locked desperately about the supporting They were certainly well taken care of. tions of the older inhabitants. timbers, were gently but insistently pried On that point, eventually, all agreed. But What was going to be done with them? loose by the robot tentacles and carried to why? For whai purpose? Why? Who was behind all this? Where were a last open hold. Certainly, there seemed to be a sinister . —

overtone to the hospitality they were en- weeks into months. In the bowels of every Earth . . . Earth, so exceptionally far away. joying. The care and concern lavished upon one of them— diplomat and devout Has- A Finnish farmer watched a small boy them, not a few noted darkly, were all too idic Jew, pale woman from the shores of from Dakar tear off a limp blue leaf and reminiscent of a farmer in a barnyard or a the North Sea and brown man from the munch on it experimentally. The boy spat shepherd with a flock of fat, highly mar- wide Pacific ocean—nervousness about out the leaf with an explosion of saliva and ketable sheep. the future rattled and clattered. What was wiped his tongue furiously upon his arm.

Or was it possible, the optimists argued, going to happen to them? What could the The farmer prodded a shoe into the ground that these highly advanced aliens were aliens want with the whole human race? and worried: Grey dust, that's all it is. What mixing humanity in the melting pots of the Most of them did not know exactly when could I grow in it that I could eat? I don't holds deliberately? Having impatiently ob- the ships came to their destination and have any seeds, but even if I did, could served our squabbling and wars and hom- stopped. The realization that the voyage they grow in this damn dust? A New Zea- icidal prejudices, had they decided with a was over came only when the holds opened land sheep rancher bit deep into a finger- kind of godlike irritation to make of us one above their heads and welcome sunlight nail as he wondered: We didn't bring any cohesive race once and for all? roared in. Except that— once the first wildly herds with us, but say we had—what in hell It was hard to tell. No alien ever mani- happy cheers had died away—they no- would they be grazing on? No sheep in his fested himself. No robot ever said another ticed this was red sunlight, not yellow. right mind would go near those blue weeds. word, once the holds were closed. Despite And then there was the debarkation. A Bolivian mining engineer arose from an the best efforts of all the inhabitants of a Done with much less struggling, of examination of the soil and said to his given hold, despite the untiring ingenuity course, much less screaming and fear-wet nightgowned wile: "My first impression, and of the human race in all of the ships, there excitement. The robots were almost wel- a pretty strong one, is that this planet is was no communication between the peo- comed as they reversed the process of a rich in copper—and not much else. Not ple of Earth and their alien hosts for the few months ago. Men and women, with a that there's anything wrong with copper, entire lengthy voyage. few neurotic or superstitious exceptions, you understand, only there's just so much

All they could do was wonder— eat, fought to be the first picked up by the hard, you can do with it. You can't make type- sleep, talk, and wonder— as the fleet of shining, segmented tentacles and trans- writers out of copper . . . You can't make enormous space ships traveled on and on. ferred to the smaller ships that were at- automobiles or airplanes out of copper." They went past star system after star sys- tached to the sides of the large transports Men looked around in vain for wood that tem, they went past worlds in gaseous birth like so many baby spiders. could be used to build houses, for stone and worlds cracked and dead. When the small ships landed, the human with which to raise temples and alters and And as the days passed — marked only cargo enthusiastically continued to help the idols; they saw nothing but the green sky, by sleep periods and carefully rewound robots as much as it could in its own un- the blue plants, and the grey, grey soil. wristwatches — most people decided that loading. Ship after ship, now empty, sped Fishermen peered anxiously into the tiny the complete lack of communication, as back to the great fleet above for more hu- seas and saw nothing swimming, nothing well as the casual way they had been han- mans, while those who once again found crawling, nothing wriggling; they saw only dled, suggested a contempt that was very themselves standing on soil and vegeta- seaweed, purplish-blue seaweed floating disquieting. tion looked about them. in thin, ragged patches.

Many great and minor changes took It was not Earth. That alone was certain. A little boy from Chattanooga. Tennes- place among the inhabitants of the holds. They were on a hard gray planet whose see, toddled up to his mother where she The young Danish housewife who had been surface was broken by few of the hills and stood talking in a low voice to a group of separated from her husband and children none of the mountains that most of them worried neighbors. He tugged at her skirt grew tired of fighting off the advances of associated with topography. A rather dry- until he attracted her attention. "It's an ugly the Trobriand Islanders about her and made smelling grey planet, poor in oceans and world, Mommy," he told her decisively. "It's her choice simply, in terms of the huskiest barely stippled here and there with tiny, an ugly, no-good world, and I don't like it.

and most importunate of her suitors; the lake-like seas. A gusty grey planet without I want to go home." member-delegates of the United Nations trees to shush the steady complaint of its She picked him up and hugged him to Security Council gave up trying to effect a winds. There were only broad-leaved, gritty- her, but before she could say anything rapprochement with the gabardined fol- stemmed plants that grew anklehigh. while she was still searching for words and lowers of Chaim ben Judah-David, the All the colors were wrong. The plants thoughts— the robots started to build. wonder-working rabbi from the Williams- looked like sick blue spinach. The sun They came down, the robots, from the burg section of Brooklyn, and sat in bitter above them was a liverish bronze, old and great ships hanging motionless above, each isolation in their corner of the hold, an- stained. The sky was made of bile—cloud- carrying a section of a prefabricated nouncing from time to time that they con- less, featureless essence of thick green bile. dwelling. These they fitted together rapidly stituted the only world government legally And on the night side, no moon floated into immensely long barracks, filled with capable of dealing with the aliens in the through the absolutely unfamiliar constel- the familiar cots. Each long barracks held name of humanity as a whole. As soon, of lations. It was deeply dark on the night side, one shipload of people; each was fur- course, as the aliens asked for such rep- and with the darkness a sharp stink belched nished with toilets and water-fountains

resentatives . . from the ground-huddled plants. The stink which bubbled good potable water; each

That was the rub, and all felt it to some was spread efficiently by the ever-wan- had multitudes of tiny loudspeakers degree, and felt it more and more as the dering, ever-wailing winds. mounted along the walls and ceilings. days were marked off into weeks and the No, it was not Earth. It was not at all like When they had assembled the barracks. .

ihe robots herded the people into them. were fought, weapons were used. They olulion and rotation were quite similar—our They spread their tentacles wide, and ihey themselves had recently developed, purely day-night systems and calendars would be insistently, patiently pushed people ahead for purposes ol self-protection, a new little altered. all. wonderful of them through the entrances So many to weapon. . . All in a new home. a barracks, irrespective of age. sex, na- It was a frightful weapon. 3 shailering Of course, there were some changes: no tionality, or family connection. When a bar- weapon, a weapon that smashed the con- two planets were exactly alike. The atmo- racks had been filled, the robots shunted stituents of time and space in a given area. spheric elements existed here in slightly the very next individual— husband, com- They sincerely hoped never to have to use different proportions: the water, while not manding otticer. twin sister— into another that weapon in actual warfare. Still, one poisonous, was effectively undrinkable: il and empty barracks. They were as effi- never knew to what lengths an uncivilized would not be possible for a good long time cient as ever. and. by this time most hu- enemy might go. to grow any edible plants in this soil. And. weren't any man beings had learned il was useless to The weapon had to be tested. no doubt we had noticed, there mineral oppose them. The robots did their job well, It was impossible, given the terrible na- animals on this world, nor were the gently and courteously for non-sentient ture of the weapon, given its totally unpre- resources susceptible to exploitation by any creatures, but as ever, with the single- dictable aftereffects, to test it in any densely techniques we had developed to date. minded purposefulness of drones. populated section of the galaxy. Further- However, taking the good with the bad, the The humans sat on the cots and waited more, in order to get a clear and scientific bitter with the sweet, one way or another, until all ot them were housed. Then the ro- picture of Ihe weapon's potential military sooner or later, they knew we would man- planet, bots disappeared. In their place came the value, il was necessary to destroy an entire age. We had a brand new a com- familiar soup tureens and the familiar planet in the course of the test. pletely untouched planet, a virgin planet, dumplings. People everywhere ate. They The aliens had selected the site very all for our very own. ate their fill, glancing at each other side- carefully. They had selected a sparsely All we had to do was to learn how to use ways and shrugging their shoulders. They populated solar system, a very unimpor- it properly. finished, and the tureens disappeared. tant plane! inhabited by an extremely Meanwhile, ihey would noi desert us. Now. for the firsl lime, the people of Earth backward race — a race so backward, in Hadn't ihey fold us how civilized they were? heard the voice of the aliens, the owners facl, that it was just now beginning to de- No, however long it look us to get on our and masters of the robots, the navigators velop space travel. They had selected, in feet and become self-supporting, their ro- of the grape-cluster ships. other words, a world of no conceivable bots would be there to take care ol us. We were It was an explanation (at last, at last, an value to anybody consulted, a world that could use the barracks (they made indestructible material) until explanation!) and it came from the many no other race in the galaxy deemed at all of almost we little loudspeakers in the barracks. II was desirable, an absolutely useless, second- figured out a way to make some other kind given simultaneously in every language ol rate nonentity of a world— our Earth. of home on this world. And the soup kitch- mankind—you moved about the barracks Here they would test their weapon. They ens would be running, day in and day out, until you found a speaker emitting words would test it on a world whose total obliter- serving the good white dumplings de- until devel- you understood—and it was listened to with ation would not be noticed anywhere. signed especially for us we great, almost frantic attention. But Earth was inhabited by a race which oped some other more indigenous source

To begin with, the aliens explained, it was had intelligence wilhin, at least, the widest of nourishment. necessary for us to understand how highly definilion of the term. And the aliens were But all this was for the future. We had civilized they were. That was very impor- civilized, highly civilized, ultimately civi- had a long, tiring trip and probably did not practical matters right tant. It was the foundation, it was the basic lized. They could not just destroy another want to worry about reason for everything they had done. They race out of hand, no matler how primitive now. How abbul a little entertainment? were a civilized race, enormously civilized, it might be. They had a responsibility to life Something special, something none ol us anciently civilized, civilized beyond our most itself, to the future, to history. had ever imagined we would see. poetic dreams of civilization. So they had done this enormous, this Television screens appeared on the ceil- We. as a race, were on the first stumbling expensive, this altruistic and unheard-of ings of the barracks, and humans turned steps of that civilization. We were primitive, thing. At a cost so overwhelming that it could baffled, cbnfused faces upwards. Outside everywhere, the howled Vickers was in Mogadishu when he turned the comer insignificant, and— if we might pardon them not be expressed at all in the limited fig- the walls, wind for saying so— slightly ridiculous. Our ures of human economics, they had evac- stubbornly, unendingly. hardware stall and nearly knocked down the green won technology was elementary, our ethical and uated our entire planet. This was a rare treat, the aliens ex- spiritual awareness almost nonexistent. They had carried us all the way across plained through the loudspeakers, a once- But we were a race of living creatures the galaxy (hang the expense! never mind in-a-thousand-years sort of thing, We would and we did have a speck, a promise, of the expense! when they did a thing, they be able to tell our children and our chil- civilization. Therefore, they had no alter- believed in doing it right!) to another planet dren's children that we had seen it. at ex- native: they had to save us. They had to which, while uninhabited, was as much like actly the same time as other, much more go to all the trouble and expense we had Earth as anything they could find in the advanced races throughout the galaxy. witnessed and would witness in the future. universe. "Now, for the first time, and at the exact BY ALAN DEAN FOSTER As civilized creatures there was absolutely Its size and weight were almost exacfly moment it occurs, you will witness the total nothing else they could do. the same as Earth's—so we didn't have to destruction of a world — the planet Earth- PAINTING BY ROBERT GIUSTI We should know that not all creatures in worry about any difference in gravity. Its in the course of an essential and epochal the universe were as civilized as they. Wars distance from the sun, its periods of rev- scientific experiment." —

Harley Vickers hated Mogadishu— no! fixed the shielding gauze and dashed into All night that glowing green face haunted Ihat he hadn't been assigned worse duty the crowd. A stunned Vickers could only him. Except for her coloring, the young stations. Kampala under Idi Amin. for ex- stare after her. woman had classic features common to ample, from which he'd barely escaped with Then, shoving his way through the mob this part of Africa— part black, part Arab, story and skin intact. Or Sowefo. South Af- of marketers, he was running in pursuit a delicious and exotic mix.

. . far his con- rica's massive black slum, an ocean of "Hey . hey you, wait a minute! Wait!" As as news assignment was misery and despair destined someday to He knew she heard him because more than cerned, Vickers had considerable discre- explode in an orgy of violence the likes of once she glanced back to see if he was tion. So long as he filed his stories on which Africa had not seen since the time still chasing her The crowd was thick and deadline and didn't abuse his budget, he of the Zulu wars. prevented him from closing, but it also kept was free to go where he wished and report No. he'd reported from worse places than her within view on the subject of his choice. His nearest

Mogadishu, if not duller ones For fresh fruit. He lost her on the other side of the mar- superior sat behind a desk on Fleet Street. decent cooking, halfway reliable news ketplace when she climbed, not into a don- I'll give them something interesting to broadcasts, and anything resembling en- key cart or camel howdah, but into a late- print, he mused. A bright green lady—yes, tertainment, you had to take a four-wheel- model Land Rover. The driver floored the that ought to perk the Times' interest, as drive vehicle south across the border to accelerator and they roared along the nar- well as that of the Daily News and The Star

Nairobi. Mogadishu was devoid of such row road, leaving Vickers out of breath and It wasn't too difficult to retrace the Land pleasures. His only delight lay in exploring anxious amid the rising cloud of dust. Rover's progress from the point where it the virgin beaches which stretched The image had not faded, nor had the had fled the city. Cars outside the city lim- hundreds of kilometers northward toward shock. The woman's face was vivid in his its were as rare as compassion. He was the Gulf of Aden. The seacoast of Somalia mind. It was not her exceptional beauty undaunted by the task he'd set for himself. was as beautifully rich as its people were that transfixed him, however, as much as Many times he'd spent weeks in the bush, abysmally, desperately poor. her extraordinary coloring Hers wasn't the living in the back of his own Land Rover. Poorer than ever because of the debili- olive complexion of Aegean visitors or the Before leaving Mogadishu he'd packed tating effects of the seemingly endless war coffee tone of many multiracial residents in enough food, water and petrol to keep with their intractable and equally poverty- of Mogadishu. She was a bright, cheerful him going for a month, though he didn't stricken neighbor, Ethiopia, A human tide green—as brilliant as a St Patrick's Day imagine he'd be gone that long. From what of refugees washed back and forth across parade. he'd seen of his quarry, she didn't appear the disputed borders of the Ogaden des- If it was due to the use of makeup or to be nearly so extensively provisioned. ert, straining to the limits the resources of body paint, it was the most remarkable job The road took him through Balad toward an economy that had never been strong. of either he'd ever seen. When she'd blinked Johar. along the Wadi Shebelle, dry most Vickers was half American, half English. at him after their collision, he saw that even of this time of year. The outside tempera- He'd spent twenty years in Africa for UPI. her eyelids were the same electric shade ture was hellishly hot. The Rover's air con- twenty years which had blunted his early of green ditioner hummed in protest as it fought back idealism by showing him to what extremes A blessing, a gift from Allah, a reward the searing heat. man could go in defense of personal idi- for his noble and virtuous life, the taxi waited Inquiries along the road caused him to ocies. White or black, it was all the same. for him around the block. It wasn't hard to turn toward the coast northward before Hatred instead of understanding. Suspi- pick up the trail of the Land Rover The few reaching Johar and then on through Marek cion instead of conversation. He was tired. motorized vehicles that utilized the streets and Harardera. Even a camel track was a Four months he'd spent in Mogadishu, of Mogadishu usually kept to the harbor welcome path in the wilderness. reporting on the relief efforts and the Oga- front or diplomatic quarter and ignored In Obbia an imperious army captain tried den futility, He was ready for a change— these back streets. to commandeer Vickers' spare petrol. Only a change to anywhere. Cairo, if he was The taxi driver earned his fare as they the waving of his UPI identification and lucky, or Nairobi, or even frenetic and al- tracked the fleeing Rover through narrow government pass got him through to Id- ways exciting Lagos. Anywhere but here. brick alleys and down dirt avenues. Only dan. He was nearing Migiurtinia Province he thought as he made his way through when the Land Rover emerged from the without having closed on his quarry and the marketplace toward his apartment. He city's outskirts did the driver finally con- began to wonder if he wouldn't have to drive was sick to death of the corruption and cede the race. all the way to Cape Guardafui. He was hot arrogance he'd been forced to deal with in "I am sorry, Effendi. The road go no more, and tired and seriously considering whether the course of writing his reports. Besides, I go no more." His English was broken, but he ought to pack it in when he saw the he'd said everything there was to say about to the point. green woman again. the Somalian situation. He'd been in the Vickers knew arguing would be futile. In Except ... it wasn't the same woman business long enough to know when his truth, the driver had pushed his battered He saw her selling fish in one of the tiny work was getting stale. Citroen to its limit. Beyond lay a track suit- palm-frond stalls lining the dock area of That's when he turned the corner by the able only for camels and four-wheel-drive Garad, a fishing village. Her veil was off hardware stall and nearly knocked down vehicles. The taxi wouldn't last a mile on because of the heat. Vickers surmised. the green woman. that bone-breaking path to nowhere. Vick- Maybe she'd been beautiful once, but age As she stumbled, her veil fell away from ers watched until the Land Rover sank into and a hard life had turned her skin to her face, which was as exquisite as an em- the evening horizon before giving the or- parchment. She was older than the woman erald, and as richly hued. She hurriedly der to turn about and return to the city. who had brought him this far, much older. "

More intriguing still were the two bright into the Land Rover. Laughing children fol- Her veil was gone. So was the stifling

green children he saw playing on the beach, lowed in its wake as it rumbled forward, chador. Now she wore khaki slacks, san- dashing down to the water's edge in the turned eastward beyond the last fish stall, dals, and a bush shirt. Her black hair trailed company of other, normai-hued children, and headed inland. behind her. Face and exposed arms and then running back to dance around the The wadi he struggled lo follow was hands were as green as those of the chant- older lady's legs. Their grandmother maybe. nearly dry. Only a thin trickle cut its center ing villagers behind him. Vickers thought as he brought the Land like a silver thread, Antelope tied from his "You are very persistent, sir." she said in Rover to a stop. approach. Vickers ignored them. heavily accented English.

The children clustered around it. touch- It was nearly dark when he turned up His hands moved self-consciously away ing the sides, bending to inspect the mud- out of the little canyon. Lengthening shad- from the holster. "What is this place? Who caked undercarriage Garad was an iso- ows revealed a gentle slope scarred by tire are you, and who," he gestured toward the lated community and the Land Rover was tracks. They led him up to the beginnings villagers, "are these people? And why does as much a novelty as the white man who of the savanna. Thorn trees fought for the everybody here look like something out of drove it. As an astonished Vickers studied soil's moisture. Scrub brush provided a summer salad?" the two green youngsters, all thoughts of homes for snakes and kangaroo rats. Tow- She hesitated briefly, then laughed and special paint and makeup were discarded. ering above them all were the gleaming hid her face for a moment. "You very funny They were seven or eight years old, a bright- metal skeletons of three windmills. man, sir."

eyed boy and mischievous little girl, both No Quixote in his Land Rover. Vickers A sudden thought made him say, "I hope

of them green from head to toe. Only their frowned as he pushed toward the cluster I didn't offend you in any way." eyes, nails and body hair were exempt from of mud and rock structures nestled be- "You did not. Come." She gestured to- the remarkable coloring, although the nails neath the towers There weren't supposed ward the big house. "You must meet the did have a greenish cast to them. to be any European outposts this far north. Cobans." Vickers climbed down, made sure the All the refugee centers were further inland, For a minute he thought she'd said "Cu- door was locked, and smiled at them. They along the Ethiopian border, or south to- bans" and he almost panicked. She turned stared back at him. innocent of deception ward Mogadishu. Nor could he recall men- to smile brilliantly at him. Her teeth were or guile. The little girl kept one finger in her tion of any scientific stations or outposts in not pointed and were gratifyingly white. mouth and stayed close to the boy Brother this region. "Please, sir. You will like them, the old and sister, most likely. The windmills were of two types. One mister and missus." He cleared his throat and tried his Swa- served to bring up water, the other two Mister and missus. That didn't sound very hili, hoping it would be enough. His Arabic mounted windchargers for the generation threatening. He moved up alongside her. was tolerable, his Amharic much less so. of electricity. Indeed, it was unusually cool Besides, he hadn't driven across hundreds They understood. Vickers asked where here. A steady breeze blew up the wadi of kilometers of desolation to run away at they came from. They pointed inland. Was from the sea. In the morning the wind prob- the moment of enlightenment. that their grandmother over there in the stall, ably reversed as the land heated up again. "Tell me," he said as they approached selling fish? No. an aunt. He hesitated only A few lights showed inside the largest the entrance to the major edifice. "Are you momentarily. It Why were they such an un- building. was one story, cobbled to- . . are all these people of the 'Chosen'?" usual color? gether out of corrugated steel sheets, lo- "Oh most assuredly so, sir. That is what Because they were fortunate enough to cal stone, and mud. Lumber was as scarce the missus doctor tell us." Then she added be among the Chosen. in this part of the world as Chateaubriand. proudly. "My name is Rala. I speak English

It was some kind of sect, then. the halt Some- He slowed Rover to a and climbed and have read real books, so I am assist- thing interesting had come lo the wastes out. Set among the brush and trees, off to ant to them. It is me they send into the city of northern Somalia. Yet there was nothing his left, was a sizable native village. It looked to buy things for them." reticent in the children's manner, no at- deserted As he stood there against the "Not only do you speak excellent Eng- tempt to hide anything. Mot that there was oncoming African night, a peculiar susur- lish, Rala, but you are also very beautiful any need to They were protected from the ration reached his ears He started toward "Thank you, sir." She blushed, and her attention of the outside world by an isola- it, lopped a low rise, and came to a halt. cheeks turned the most extraordinary color. tion unimaginable to Londoners or even the What was probably the entire population There was nothing mysterious about the citizens of Nairobi. Only a chance glimpse of the village — men. women and chil- room she ushered him into. The furniture in a crowded marketplace had sent Vick- dren — lined the crest of Ihe next ridge. They appeared to be of local manufacture, ers probing their sanctuary. faced the setting sun with heads back and handmade and comfortable. A radio/tape- Inland, they said. Could they be more arms outstretched. The local witch doctor deck rested on a bookcase shelf, playing specific? With camel and jackass the fast- or chief was leading them in a hypnotic, unusually muted Chavez. DC-powered est local means of transportation, Vickers melodious chant. lamps lit the room, drawing energy from knew it couldn't be very far. Surely, Mzungu. And every one of them was stark naked wind-charged batteries. they told him. One has only to follow the and bright green. An elderly European lady sat on the Wadi Omad toward the setting sun to come A hand tapped the middle of his back. couch, flipping the pages of a paperback to the place of the Chosen, where they lived He whirled, sucking in his breath, his hand book. She looked up as they entered. So with the rest of their village. reaching instinctively toward the pistol at did the man seated at the desk across the

Not true nomadic types, then, Vickers his waist. It stayed holstered as he stared. room. Both were in their late sixties or early mused. He thanked them and climbed back It was the woman he'd seen in Mogadishu. seventies, Vickers decided. .

The man rose to greet him. "Hello, hello. of personal taste. It's all what you're used murmured The old man's tale was inter-

esting as far as it went, but he still hadn't You're the first visitor Mary and I have had to, you know." supplied Vickers with real answers. in some time." He smiled and extended a "I hope 1 never get that blase." Vickers any off deliberately, or hand. To Vickers' relief, it was the same told him. The cold lemonade had done Were they putting him color as his own. "I'm Walter Coban." wonders for his parched throat. "You was Coban simply verbose? He rubbed at "And I'm Mary." said the grandmotherly promised me understanding, Mrs. Coban. his eyes again The endless, desperately woman on the couch. For me, that means information and expla- dull drive had exhausted him. He wasn't stay "Harley Vickers, United Press." nations. I sure could use some. What is this even sure he'd be able to awake its people refer through supper, "A reporter. Yes, I think I've read some village, and why do to of your stories, Mr, Vickers," said Mrs. themselves as the Chosen'' Why are they "Yes, you are, Mr. Vickers," Coban went

it Coban. "You've done a lot ot work about all green, and what the blazes are you two on. "Both Mary and I have agreed that the refugee problem." Vickers nodded "You doing in this godforsaken piece of real es- is time. Your appearance here might be

if strike me from your work as an honest, even tate?" He blinked and wiped his eyes. regarded as fate, 1 believed in such things. empathetic man." Husband and wife exchanged a glance. And Mary has read your work, and re- down in the chair opposite the spects it. That's good enough for me. You "I write what I see," he said diffidently. Coban sat "And what do you see now?" couch and explained will tell the world of our little success out

I did our early work at the here in the desert. We have done what we "Something I don't understand." "Mary and " She smiled a soft, maternal smile. "You University of Arizona in Tucson, Mr. Vick- hoped could be done must be tired, Mr. Vickers. Thirsty and hun- ers. Most of the time we worked at night "What's that?" Vickers asked. "Form a gry as well. We haven't had company for and on our own— due to the controversial new religion? I saw your bare-assed vil-

of project. tried publish, lagers there when I drove up. Songs dinner in, oh, I can't remember when Mow. nature our We to out since you obviously haven't come all this but met only with skepticism and dispar- don't relieve the emptiness in a mans belly.'' way to return empty handed, we'll have to agement. That often happens in science, Coban smiled and his wife laughed de- supply you with understanding, won't we? and it's no less pretty than in any other lightedly. "Oh, Mr. Vickers, the chanting is So you must also accept our hospitality." discipline We persisted with our work. for fun. It's not important to the process." He couldn't keep himself from grinning Eventually our funds were cut off and we "What process?" Vickers mumbled. He back at her. There was a mystery here, yes, had to resign our professorships. really was tired, he realized but hardly danger. Besides, he was sick of "Our interests lie in the vital field of food "They weren't praying. Mr. Vickers." eating out of cans. research, Mr. Vickers. in particular as it ap- Coban told him. "They were eating."

"I bow to your demand," plies toward relieving distress in the desert Vickers eyed him warily, "Eating? . . 7 " "Please have a seat." She patted a regions of the world That is why we orig- Eating what cushion. "Here, next to me," Vickers joined inally went to work in Arizona. We worked "Supper, I should think. Old habits don't her. Her husband vanished into a back room for a long time with jojoba and other native die easily." and reappeared a moment later, juggling desert plants before we realized we were His wife watched Vickers sympatheti- three tall glasses He gave Vickers one. attacking the problem from the wrong end, cally. "Perhaps it will be clear to you if I

The reporter took a cautious sip. then as researchers have been doing for a explain our history in more detail. I am a his eyes lit up and he drank deeply "Lem- hundred years. geneticist and Walter is a microbiologist. onade! With ice'. Bless you both. Where "Six years after we shifted the focus of When we put aside our work with desert did you get this?" our efforts, we believed we had found a plants many years ago. it was to concen- "By boat, from the south." The old man method by which mosl of the world's food trate on plankton Those are the tiny, ocean- was smiling. "Rala does what she can for shortages could be alleviated We met with going life forms which support much of the us in Mogadishu, but you know how limited the same kind of cruel indifference and life in the sea. We thought of releasing the city's resources are. For real food you hostility which had greeted our earlier work. plankton in shallow salt ponds throughout have to go farther afield. The lemons came It is impossible, Mr. Vickers, to do con- the world's desert regions and raising it ofl a trading dhow out of Malindi." structive work in an atmosphere of ridicule. like soup. "Excepting seafood," his wife put in. "We "So we sought a place to work in peace "While working with this idea we hap- get the most marvelous seafood here. Rala, and apply our theories where they might pened across an interesting and rather lobsters tonight." The girl nodded, looked do some good. We came here, and our common tittle freshwater coelenterate unhappy, and disappeared through an- assistance was needed desperately. Rala named Hydra viridis. This particular hydra, other door. and her people were starving when we unlike its relatives, exists in a symbiotic re- The thought of a lobster supper already stumbled upon them, Mr. Vickers. The na- lationship with a wonderful alga called had Vickers salivating "Really, no need to tive residents of Gala are decent human chlorella. Chlorella is photosynthetic. Mr go to any expense on my account." beings, but you cannot share food you do Vickers, but it is more than that. In addifion

"Expense? My dear boy. lobsters are not have. to producing its own food, it will also pro- cheaper here than onions. Eat your fill," "Our project is being funded by several duce enough to keep its host alive. The girl's sudden look of dismay had farseeing. wealthy Arizonans. They have "When chlorella is not present, the hydra stayed with him. "When you proposed the let us work without interference. Great men, is forced to eat solid food just like its white exited main course, Rala made a face. Doesn't Mr. Vickers I will give their names later, to relatives." Her husband rose and she like lobster?" use in the story you will write. through a back door again. Vickers," "Not particularly." said Coban. "Matter "Am I going to write a story, then?" he "We became very excited, Mr 104 .

. . she continued. "We thought how wonder- SHORTAGES HISTORY! , . MANKIND SAVED! , , "You remarked on our assistant Rala's

ful it would be if we could genetically en- Think of it, Mr. Vickers. You're going to be apparent distaste for the proposed lobster 7 gineer a strain of chiorella to be a symbiont the most famous reporter in history. You supper Her disgust? You ll discover be-

it. with man We succeeded. The production won't be able to help . . fore long that the thought of ingesting solid of food per acre of arable land is no longer food will make you nauseous, except for a valid problem, Mr. Vickers. Countries lite The sun woke him, shooting through the the tasteless vitamin and mineral supple- India and China can have as many people window shades. He was in bed. a real bed ments you have to take. Photosynthesis as they wish. With our friendly alga as a with a mattress and clean sheets. doesn't supply quite everything the human partner, everyone on Earth can produce Last night came back in a rush. Lem- body needs. enough food for his or her own body. onade, chanting, ice. smiling old folks a Vickers licked his lips and said mo-

"Think of the peripheral problems our little more than what they seemed, drugged, rosely, "but I like eating, f like lobster, and discovery will solve! Everyone will be a unconsciousness. steak, and fried chicken." pleasant shade of green. No more raising He sat up fast, relieved thai he could do "Superficial pleasures at best. You'll see. and slaughtering of animals for food. We're so Everything seemed to work. Experi- No worrying about what to eat anymore. extremely proud of what we've accom- mentally he flexed his arms, then his legs. Mr Vickers Think of the money you'll save. " plished. Mr Vickers Can you blame us 7 Everything was in place. The only thing out Think of the extra time you'll gain each day "If you're so proud of what you've done, of the ordinary was a tingling in his right In return for spending a little time in the why haven't you and your husband taken forearm, near the elbow. sun Photosynthesis may not be an exhil- 7 advantage of it Vickers asked "Or is it He looked at his right arm — and arating way of obtaining nourishment, but suitable only for ignorant refugees? Mind screamed. it's a highly efficient one."

you. I don't buy a word of it." Walter Coban appeared at the door, Heedless of his nakedness. Vickers slid "Oh. we wouldn't expect a reporter of looking concerned "You startled us, Mr out of bed. There was a half-length mirror your experience and stature to believe Vickers. Are you all right"?' fastened to the far wall. He gazed in anything so fantastic wrihout incontrover- "All right? All right! Look at me!" amazement at his lime-green self. Now that tible proof, Mr. Vickers. Rest assured you'll Coban did so. professionally. 'A very nice the initial shock had faded, he found the

if have that proof. shade, Mr. Vickers, I may say so." soft, pastel coloring almost relaxing to look

'As regards your first question. " Coban Vickers was holding his head in his upon They might not believe right away continued "1 am sorry to have to say that hands, rocking back and forth, moaning, when he strolled casually into the London once a person has reached the age of fifty "Why"' Why me 7 Why did you have to do office, but they would certainly sit up and notice. or fifty-five . we're still not positive where this to me?" take

the line falls the alga does not adapt "Take it easy Mr. Vickers. You're a Strong He found himself wondering if Rala would

to its human host. We believe it may have man You'd have to be a strong man to find it attractive something to do with the decreasing pro- have survived all these years in Africa You "Try not to take it so hard. Mr. Vickers." duction of fibroblasts as the body ages can handle a little sea change like this. said Coban soothingly "I envy you, you

With anyone younger than fifty, there's no Besides, the effect needn't be permanent know Mary and I are the discoverers — fhe difficulty m inducing the alga to take up Were you to spend a few weeks in dark- ones who did the dirty, rewardless leg- residence m the dermal layers. Further- ness, your old. useless color would return. work. You are to be the herald of a new more, the alga is transferred via embryonic "Don't you recall our conversation last age You should be proud Before you die. fluids to the newborn. Chiorella even re- night 7 You said, despite what you'd seen, everyone will look like you, Everyone will sponds to artificial light, which enables one that you didn't believe anything we told you, be a member of the Chosen."

to produce food at night, if so desired." We promised to supply you with unargu- Coban was right, Vickers knew. The sys- Vickers leaned back against the couch, able proof of our discovery. You're going tem was too efficient, too benign, to be

hardly able to keep his eyes open. to need it m order to convince your editors denied The only problems in gaining "More lemonade, Mr Vickers?" back in London. This way. they'll believe widespread acceptance would be psy- Lemonade Cool, icy lemonade. Tired, you, Mr. Vickers. Even those skeptics in chological, and he was as sure now as so tired. Shouldn't be this tired, drive not- the scientific community who ridiculed us Coban that these could be overcome. After withstanding. Made up the lemonade m the will have to believe you. after you've done all. the human body was already a reser- other room . . nothing but sit in the sun and starve your- voir of living things, from bacteria to more "Why?" he said thickly as he slid rapidly self tor weeks on end without getting hun- complex organisms. Why should anyone visitors, toward darkness. "I thought . . you said gry or losing any weight. They'll believe object to a few more especially

. . . you wanted your story told?" you because you'll be your own proof, Mr. visitors as beneficial as chiorella?

"Oh, you misunderstand, Mr. Vickers," Vickers." It really was a most handsome color, he she said solicitously, bending over him and "Side effects ." Vickers groaned. "What decided. inspecting his face with a clinical eye. "We about side effects?" Coban saw the change come over his haven't done anything harmful to you. Just "We've studied the symbiotic relation- guest and relaxed. "There, it's not so bad, put you to sleep, You need a good night's ship for many years now. There are no is it? We're simply becoming one of our sleep, don't you? In the morning you'll have harmful side effects. Without the change many fantasies, Mr, Vickers. and what a the proof you require for your story. Think in skin color, you d never know the chio- promising fantasy it has turned out to be. of the headlines you're going to have. Mr. rella was present in your body . . Oh. there We have met the little green men from outer

Vickers! hunger eliminated! . . . food is one thing space, and they are us." think immortality and its necessary companion, zero-population growth, the ultimate ideal, but not after reading "Malthus's I with sensitivity and good storytelling style, depicts a society in which babies are created only rarely—and only as replacements for accidental fatalities. Absolute birth control (by the state) is seen to bring widespread anguish. This is one of those SF stories with numerous, mind-expanding

ramifications. For example, it suggests certain questions: "What kind of a world would it be without little children?" and "Can there be life as we know it without death?" In John Keefauver's story, "buuy do, uymy 10 u concern. The protagonist is not faced with issues of morality but whether or not his life is worth living. His problem is having too much of a good thing.

"Prime Time" by Norman Spinrad is a well-pointed tragicomedy con- cerning an aged husband and wife who choose a retirement of nearly ously via videotapes. Spinrad's broad-sweeping and satirical allenorv suggests that you can't get to heaven through a TV sci "In the Hereafter Hilton" is a story by Bob Shaw in w..,„, a new mode of capital punishment that at once saves the convicted murderer from the awful foreknowledge of death while assuaging any guilt feelings on the part of judge, jury, prosecuting attorney, or public.

A perfect solution, that is if you don't value the truth.

"And Whether Pigs Have Wings" is a morality tale, which surrealist- ically involves human frailties and suggests that through wondrous ways this "little world" may still achieve "salvation." Nancy Kress is mistress of the thoughtful sentence, e.g., "Such men always have cigarettes" and "Anything too organized will defeat its own purpose." IVIALTHUS'S DAY

They had a nearly perfect world, where babies were the best possible reward BY JAYGECARR

I he news came while Janica was light-sculpting, with Sylvie hovering nervously about the perimeter and trying to make herself useful, That was typical of both of them; Janica, at that point in her life, anyway, lived her art, while Sylvie's reason for transferring to Pavlova Vil- lage was to sit al the feet— often literally— of one of the acknowledged virtuosos of the new- est and most demanding multidiscipline. So. characteristically. Janica stood cool and elegant in her chartreuse paint-dye and pro- jectors, while Sylvie jittered, checking all the last-minute details—were the projectors per- fectly in synch, perfectly centered on wrist and forehead and ankle, perfectly aligned?— over and over. (Most light-sculptors were content with three or at most four projectors, wrists and fore- head, say, or, more difficult, wrists and ankles. But Janica was never content with fewer than five, and sometimes, with a contemptuous ca- sualness that literally awed her young acolyte, she added a sixth at the waist.)

But once the music started, it was Sylvie who stood, unmoving, scarcely breathing, while Janica's body swayed in delicate interpretation of the plaintive melody that filled the studio.

PAINTING BY EVELYN TAYLOR . " — "

rapidly. "Greensleeves." sang a poignant young 'Janica is my friend, I'm sure she'll invite (It was a parade that diminished ." ," as more ol its components de- . more and to well . , me girl's voice, "is my delight . — And Janica danced, a sad, slow weav- "Yuck." He rejected all Ihe choices and cided they could see more on their holos over their neigh- ing of loss and loneliness; as she moved, reached for his termwife. than by trying to crane heads.) the projectors left their trails of living light, One hour before M-day they officially bors' minutes. ribbons of color, thick and dark for slow, closed off all the transmatters in the vil- M-day plus twenty security chief raised her to ac- deliberate movements and thin and light lage— except for one, (There were no The hand tivate announcer, but Janica for the quick leaps and pirouettes. fences around the village, but with the the cottage's her door, making it obvious that This one, Sylvie thought, this one is going ubiquilous transmatters making another opened continent a step away, who knew— or she had been watching the whole thing on to be . . . holo. chief Janica's I.D, The strident brr-rrring of a wrist-coin cared— if the nearest village was physi- her The checked her retina prints and pore shrilled through the soft singing, and Jan- cally a kilometer away— or a hundred?) and compared with just to be ica jerked, destroying the smoothness of As M-day began, in the darkness at least patterns the I.D. and— sure— central records. else is pres- the furls of solidifying light. half of the villagers were crowded around with "Who Janica's silver-rimmed eyes widened just the single functioning transmatter. The sees ent?" she asked Janica. at the Janica frowned. slightly. Then she moved, still with that fe- made the people keep a wide opening "No one moment," to invite I hope HI be allowed some line, sinuous grace, to the shelf where her around the machine. "But do ." personal items were neatly placed. But the At precisely midnight the transmatter of my very special friends later . . solidified. At first the "Naturally," the secoff nodded. "Within red light wasn't blinking; it stared at them. glowed, and shapes limits, you've been told. of course, a continuous crimson leer. curious walchers saw only a team of white- as And within village. "Override." Sylvie was puzzled. clad medics; but as they moved, glimpses if they're already here, the — "Official override." Janica retorted and of a seated carrier, floating at about chest We sealed your village as soon as gestured smiled slowly, and her thumb pushed down. height, were caught. "My termhus, Phil," Janica "Citizen Janica Petain-Suharto." said the The chief medic identified himself to the casually to indicate the red-faced man el- his through the crowd, which life-size, vaguely familiar holo-image that security chief. Although both teams worked bowing way her door. appeared, "as your officially compute- in shifts, they had undoubtedly met each was being kept well back from ." other similar midnights. Still, To his outrage, he was checked out again, lected representative . . on numberless you didn't get to be a security chief by being before being allowed into his very own cot- tage. the secoff nodded and ges- The news was all over the village in min- careless. All the medics were checked Then carefully designed not to tured the medics with their carrier inside utes, and it was the main topic of conver- out— the checks firmly the door. sation for weeks— except among those few break the integrity of the sealed suits and shut actually individuals who were, or pretended to be, and the security chief herself ran through (Only three of the medics went either patiently in indifferent. Janica herself was completely the checks on the chief medic. inside; the others waited completed, the the grassy open space, the targets of nu- blase. It was, as she occasionally re- Once the checks were off other minded her neighbors, her second time. chief medic took over. Leaving guards at merous staring eyes, or moved to Star- Sylvie was positively green with envy. Her the transmatter, which would be sealed until duties. Many of the watchers left, too. mind kept producing harmless scenarios. M-day ended, the cortege turned toward ing at a closed door seemed rather futile, Janica miscalculating one of her unnatu- Phil and Janica's cottage. especially when the holos would be show- live.) rally high leaps, breaking her leg, and being Phil stood proudly at ihe front of the mob. ing the scene inside, Phil Inside, the secoff was performing intro- rushed immediately to a hosp. As soon as the medic was— certified, The entire village exposed to some mys- stepped forward. "I'm the ductions. "Citizen Janica Petain-Suharto, terious neoviral disease (nonfatal and "Get back," a security guard snarled, Citizen Phil Jones-Vishinsky, may I present Phil Medic Herve Ling-Hart and his eventually curable, of course!); only Sylvie, just as if he hadn't helped check out, Citizen her wrist, her throat through an odd mutant quirk in her phys- along with the rest of the watchers, not half staff." She glanced at and a subvocal message went out. . before. worked, iology, both immune and a noncarrier . an hour Even Sylvie knew they were only dreams. Phil stopped, puzzled, his feelings hurt. (The team has your shelter set up, Herve. — third shifts to Nothing bad or sad would ever happen to "But I'm the " he began again, nervously if the second and want go Janica, proud darling of the powers that backing off the grassy path and into the and relax.)

it. to the both ol you," the be; or to Phil, either. But who ever noticed nighl-blooming mooncreams that lined "Congratulations forward and Phil, when Janica. sleek and elegant, was crushing some of the fragile flowerets. medic beamed, stepping vigorously. "If you'd care to in view? Besides, this was Phil's first. One of the medics spoke to the crowd. shaking hands ." tight my credentials . . "But isn't it exciting!" Sylvie whispered "Stand out of our way. please. We've a see Phil grinned heartily. to her new termhus, Ray. schedule to maintain." They pushed past "No, no, Doc.'' lieut here, Ray, older and far more experienced, him, and Phil stood staring after them, good- "Good enough for the good yawned and switched channels on the holo natured face blank, mouth hanging slightly enough for this citizen, right, Lieut?" "You'll want to the day's schedule, that displayed over their double bed. "Yeah, open. It wasn't until one of his neighbors know along. of course," the doctor nodded. sure, but it's not as if we were chosen, hon. nudged him and said, "Better get of "Schedule?" Phil was puzzled. He You'd do better to watch it on the holo; you'll Phil," that he came out his daze and see more." trotted along after the parade heading to- flopped downward, and an extrude slid out him in a sitting "Oh, pooh, stodgy old thing," she pouted. ward his cottage. from the wall and caught " ) " " " —

position with precision. treats ." neat "I thought we every day by all sorts of people . . "Matter?" The doctor's professional pride

had out choice. I thought—" Phil pouted. was hurt. "Nothing's the matter with him, "Yes and no," the doctor frowned. His "Oh, Phil," Janica said, "don't be such nothing at all. He's a beautiful 'malgam. A own throat worked silently. (Weren't these a bore. He's right; rules are rules. That's perfect specimen- citizens briefed, Shirza?) In his ears, a tiny the way it always is." (From her vast ex- (Herve. you idiot! They were expecting raspberry ot disgust echoed. "Yes, there perience of once before.) someone older!) is a schedule, and I'm atraid we must insist "Oh." He looked unappeased. He tou- (Deleted!) it be adhered to. However, there is a cer- sled his thick robin's-egg-blue mane and "This is our very newest 'malgam for this tain flexibility; within that and considering continued to look sulky; then he thought of sector. He was decanted less than six — '" the subject's physical limitations another grievance. "You say— hasn't he got months ago. We've— accelerated his growth "Limitations?" Phil interrupted. "I thought a name, anyway? You say he won't wake somewhat, but nothing perfect but was allowed." until oh six hundred?" "Why hasn't he got any hair. And why's "Oh, PM," Janica was disgusted. "Have Herve directed a burning look of re- his head so big? And why's he so small? you forgotten? They're smaller." proach at Shirza. And—" "Oh." Phil's face cleared, "His name is Johann Meadows-Singh. "I assure you, that's all normal at this "If you weren't so boringly handsome." And he will be awakened ai aught six stage of his development. His hair and the muttered. she hundred." rest of his teeth will come later. But our "The schedule," the medic hid his dis- "How come not until then? How come surrogates beg for subjects at this devel- 9 gust better than Janica. "begins with not the whole day It's my day, isn't it?" opment level. Babies they used to be called. at six awakening aught hundred precisely. "Oh, Phil!" Janica exclaimed. "He has You can stretch out your hands and he'll Medichecks will take approximately ten to sleep just like anybody else, doesn't he? stagger toward you on uncertain legs—" minutes. Afterward, you two, and as many We won't lose any more time than anybody "He can't waikl" as four of your friends, — can have breakfast else." "Oh, Phil, do you think you were de- with the subject "Boredom! Why can't he do like any- canted knowing how to walk?" "Yeah, we know," Phil was nodding. else off He body who wants to put sleeping "How should I know! You sure he can't " loved to hand out favors. "You should see for a day or two? Let him have some no- walk 9

what me an' Janny— " (Janica winced; she sleep like I use." "Just a little, as I said. Most surrogate had told himandto/dhim)"- -have whipped "But he'd have to make it up later, dear, parents love teaching children to walk." for breakfast. up He's gonna love—" just like you do." She moved almost im- "But— but- -I was going to take him to "I'm afraid," the medic was very firm, perceptibly on the lounge she was curled the park, see. the kid and his old man, and "that the subject will be limited to the food up on. and Herve automatically licked his and—you know— pitch a few balls around. we brought with us. However, you may eat suddenly dry lips. "So it wouldn't be fair, and maybe take him fishing. We've got a whatever you have chosen." dear heart, to make somebody else have beautiful pond right here in the village. Even, Phil frowned and reached out a hand less, just so we could have more." She if we had time, the old swimming hole. You fingers with properly positioned; a servo stretched- and Herve licked his lips know, simple, old-fashioned things, like in flashed out of the wall and inserted lighted to her fingers ." a again — walk up Phil's flung- the good old days . . smokestick in them, "I can't even give him out arm. The doctor—shook his head. "No, the park a taste?" "Don't be a bore, darling. We'll take the sounds fine "Not permitted. I'm sorry." ." very no-sleep and amuse ourselves , Her (Checked out, Shirza?) (Shirza, damn it, what kind of briefing — fingers tickled behind his ear. (Need you ask, Herve!) " (They were briefed, Herve. Not our fault "Boredom." Phil muttered again. "Can't — but you won't be able to fish or swim it didn't stick.) even see him,— for six more whole hours, or play ball. But you can play with your "That seems pretty unfair," Phil mut- my very own subject on the grass, have a picnic, show tered. "I mean, I how can enjoy my treats. Herve cleared his throat. 'As for that, if him around. The subject likes sweet-smell- if ." all he gets is I don't ." know, soyameal. you just want to see the subject . . — ing things, bright colors . . or whatever you've picked. I mean, it's my Phil's frown disappeared. "Yeah, hey, now "The pond, then Doctor," Janica sug- 7 " day. How come/can't pickthe baby's meals that's real blue of you, Doc. After all. we gested. "We have some lovely ornamen- (Shirza!) ." waited all . . these weeks tals in it—Vegan, I think." "You can pick your own meals, Citizen The medic made some quick adjust- "Vegan? Is the pond seal-topped?" Jones-Vishinsky. but for medical reasons ments, the sides and opaque and top of "Why, I — I don't know. I never stuck my we must see that the subject's diet is care- the carrier slowly brightened and cleared, hand in. Just looked." fully monitored." until its inside was fully revealed. The sub- (It's sealed. Herve.) "Ya. Thought you said he was A-okay." ject, naked except for a simple loincloth. (Good. Might've known you wouldn't miss "He is, he is. But he could get very sick was lying on a soft white surface and was anything as obvious as that. I'd've hated if everyone just stuffed him with goodies attached to various of pieces equipment. to tell them no, after the way I built it up, all the time. You do see that, don't you? So Phil gasped. but-- contamination . . .) we had to make a rule: diet administered Janica drew back, instinctively covering M-day, 0930. The village park was of by medics only. If we made an exception her gaping mouth with a trembling hand. about average size, with grassy walks, for you. well, we couldn't refuse anybody Phil spoke first. "What—what's the mat- bursts of color. Works of art here and there, else, either. One treat might not hurt, but ter with him?" from old-fashioned solid staiues (made of " " —

light- modern synthetics, though) to the newest smile grew over her face. "But it was sweet was sailing over his head, every per- sight/taste/sound synergies. (Several of of you to ask to make sure it was all right." sculpting-trained muscle acting with Janica's light-sculpts were prominently "Oh." Impossibly, his blush deepened fect precision. As she soared, she flipped, displayed.) The pond, with its fluorescent even more. "I know that. Only, see, my tele- too, and her hands darted out. And when Vegan gauzes. Nooks with seating, nooks holo's broken. I'd have to come close, to she landed, lightly, on her feet, just as Syl- without. Shade trees. A couple of rezball be close, to get any good shots." vie crashed head on into Ali. the baby was courts. The usual. She pinched his cheek lightly. "Of course, safely nestled in her arms. The baby was chasing a butterfly. sweetie. Take as many as you want." A sly And it was all over. Most of the village inhabitants who had sidewise glance. "You can return the favor Firm hands pulled Sylvie to her feel, and not been personally invited to join the party sometime." she embraced her friend, and just for a felt in arms a soft, were out in the park, too, but maintaining "Thanks. I—you know, he's the first I've second she her own

I I really dirty, crying, smelly baby. a polite distance. Most were content sim- seen, for real, I mean, up close. — he'd fallen, crying, sur- ply to watch, with far-lenses, but many were appreciate this, I do. I won't forget you Ali lay where making holo records, despite the fact that your kindness." rounded by grim secoffs. "She only wanted the professional holo-porters were hover- "I hope not," she purred. Then, more a baby of her own," he sobbed. "A day. we ing overhead, taking everything down. loudly. "Phil, darling, how about letting Ali only had a day. It wasn't enough. She Janica was preening. She was taking here get a few close-ups?" wanted a baby of her own. She said she'd

if of her advantage of the attention and the 'porters "Sure thing." hie didn't know the guy, but leave me I didn't get her a baby

of . . . . . baby her own by running through a whole series of her if he was a friend of Jannys own, her own. a warm-up routines. When that palled, she Ali took several shots from various an- (Herve and Shirza exchanged glances took off her brightly colored halter top and gles, and soon everyone was showing off over his oblivious head. Two for the treat-

laughing, ball and ment center . . .) dragged it by one tie enticingly near the for him, catching the took the baby, and Sylvie's baby. With a crow of triumph, the baby throwing it, playing to make the baby laugh Then Herve staggered toward the brilliant fluttering (Sylvie was amazingly successful with arms felt strangely empty. anticlimac- cloth. Laughing, Janica backed up, keep- nothing but sticking her tongue out and The rest of M-day was sadly ing the fascination just out of the reach of crossing her eyes), all under the eyes of tic, after the attempted baby stealing, and the chubby fingers. their friends, the holos, the professional the whole affair served as a subject for This gave Phil an idea. "You know," he holo-'corders. conversation and holos. professional and Ali his with startling sud- amateur. Such a heroine Janica wasl And said to the doctor, "if I had a ball and just made move his at Phil, have you seen her latest sculpture? And sort of rolled it toward him . denness. He tossed camera who With a wink, the doctor produced a was closesl to the baby. As Phil automat- when newer sensations made memories of stor- shimmering ball, and Phil, grinning broadly. ically caught the flying object with both fade, holos got shoved to the back and were forgotten. rolled it gently along the grass toward the hands, Ali swooped down and scooped age burbling child. up the child and was off and running, Only Sylvie could not forget the pow- The child abandoned the top for the ball. "Stop, you fool," Shirza shouted and be- dery-soft skin against her lips, the sweet- and Janica pouted. gan chasing after him, afraid to use her sour baby scent, the odd feeling that had within her when she held the baby A stranger shyly approached her. Her weapons because—of the child. "There's no welled up smile at him was warmer than usual. place you can go within the circle of her arms. "Look," his voice was soft, almost a In seconds a mob was forming in pur- Sometimes, during rest periods, with her whisper, his face beet-red under a too-thin suit, but Ali had picked his direction termhus snoring exhaustedly and satiat- edly her, would think about it, amber paint job. "You don't know me, —but shrewdly. There were no cottages be- beside she I'm visiting a friend in this village today tween him and open country, and no peo- but her thoughts always went round and (Strictly illegal, but winked at by the se- ple, either. round in the same circle. only at the POP curity officers, if not overly abused, After Except Sylvie. who had wandered away Babies were decanted centers, to replace the rare accidental all, if someone said, "this is my new term- to pick a spectacularly luscious tiger-striped hus— or termwife— probationary, we trumpetbloom for the baby. Sylvie heard deaths, computer-directed recombinant the amalgams to replace lost genes and tal- haven't gotten around to registering it yet," the screams, straightened up, and saw most secoffs would smile and pass on. after man clasping the baby and heading al- ents. There was no way she could ever thoroughly checking the newcomer out, of most directly toward her. produce a baby herself, no way she could

rise out of her little have a baby of her own. No way . . . course.) "My name's Ali Pavlov-Lee, and I Ali saw the woman up

of nowhere it seemed to And sooner or later she'd nudge Ray un- really hate to ask, but could I take a few depression, out

frantically. til he roused enough to offer her the only holos of the kid? I mean, who knows when him, and he swerved running anodyne he could. But all too often, after- I'll get another chance, and—" She screamed and began to- He really was very good-looking, and ward him, waving the flower like a banner. wards, he'd slide back into contented Janica's voice deepened. "You didn't need "Watch out for the baby!" Herve roared. slumber, while she lay, unable even to dis- to ask. Plenty of the others are taking ho- Sylvie could never have stopped him, tract herself with soloholo lenses, because what los. Just because you aren't a member of not without hurting the baby. But his frantic her thoughts persisted no matter presented this village—he may be ours today, but he's swerve to avoid her gave Janica her amusements the soloholo everybody's baby, all the time. You have chance. Legs flashing, she charged up No way— only decanted at POP cen-

the same rights as anybody else." A slow behind him. An impossible leap, and she ters—no way— no way . .

A :Sf?J

**, it was the ultimate gamble. The stakes? His life

BY JOHNKEEFAUVER

Everything seems to be "There is absolutely nothing "Good evening. Mr. Welling- inside, of course, the part in order. Mr. Welling- to worry about on thai score, ton. Welcome to Body Ball. immediately below the playing

ton. You may now re- sir. It Will be disposed of per You may hang your coat on surface, was far different- serve Ihe Body Ball at your our agreement. We stand on the rack to your right, sir, and deep enough to hold a body. convenience," our record, and I'm sure you then enter the room directly The giant pinball machine

"Very good. I'd like it on the are aware that we have been in front of you." was the only thing in the room

seventeenth, at eleven." in business long enough to Wellington was surprised as except for a chair in front of it

"It's available Ihen. sir. If you have an excellent one." he walked into the room, The and a few steps that led up fo care to read through the con- Wellington nodded. "Well Body Ball machine was its lower end. As for the room. tract, and sign it, we can aware. I'll sign." gigantic. He'd known it would around the upper meter or proceed for that night." At precisely eleven o'clock be large, of course, but had so ran a strip of mirrored,

"That's not necessary. As on the evening of the seven- not imagined it as stretching one-way glass, behind which, long as the major points are teenth, Wescott Wellington nearly wall to wall and being he'd been told, there would be the way we agreed, I'll sign." pulled his Mercedes to the ten to twelve meters wide. spectators, both official for

"They're as agreed, sir If curb in front of one of a They must have torn down verification and some simply you win at Body Ball, you number of undistinguished almost all the walls in the there to enjoy the show colleci one million. If you lose. row houses and turned it over house to make the room large He eased himself into the all your financial assets go to to an attendant who had been enough for it. On the other chair slowly. His age and his ." the syndicate, and . . waiting there. As the man hand, aside from its size, paunch would be against him

"Nevermind. I know the drove the car off, Wellington nothing about it was ditferent when he played the machine, second part of it very well." rang a doorbell at the house. from the hundreds of pinball of course, but otherwise he "Of course, sir." The door opened up machines he'd seen for was a healthy man. Deeply "That s the only thing that automatically, and he was almost as long as he could tanned, impeccably dressed, concerns me, frankly— the ushered inside by a voice remember— noihing different gray hair darkened, fingers disposal of the body." coming from a wall speaker. on the outside, that is; the manicured, and already

PAINTING BY GERARD DI-MACCIO ' — —

array feeling an anticipation, a thrill that he had learned lo look forward to it. Because when higher end of the machine, a blinding thought he had lost forever, he smiled when you won almost consistently, gambling be- of colored lights began to flash spasmod- - in an attendant approached. came— there was no other word for it ically on a huge board; the board's up- just plain boring. To him. anyway, and get- per center brilliant green lights spelled out "Way I be of service, Mr. Wellington? Something lo drink?" ting into the places he'd been barred from body ball, and under the lights was a clock. "No, thank you. The Body Ball is ready was a challenge and knocked the bore- Activated by the plunger's release, the tor my use?" dom for a while. Boredom, in fact, was his clock's second hand was already moving. problem might even If he stayed on the playing area four min- "Yes, sir May I help you with it?" grealesl now. and he letter in "If you will." have gone into some other line of work ex- utes— one minute for each body— Wellington got up and slowly walked to cept for the style of living he'd become the exit slot at the lower end of the machine the giant pinbali machine and climbed the accustomed to. and. boring or not, gam- would automatically be closed at the end triggered steps down at its lower end. On the top bling was his life. of that period of time by a device slep he bent and went through a small When he heard ot Body Ball, he was at- by the ticking clock, and he would win his doorway into the machine as the attendant tracted immediately, thinking it impossible million dollars. hurried up the stairs behind him. to be bored by the game since he could If. on the other hand, he tailed to stay on dropped Inside, still in a crouched position be- never be certain that he was going to win the playing area four minutes and triggered cause of the glass above him. a pane that in the long run that is. One loss when play- through the open slot, a device, extended over the playing area, he edged ing Body Ball was the final one; there was by his falling body promptly slid the metal onto a bucket seat that was attached !o a absolutely no chance to recoup, to win. covering over the slot and him. With the wheeled scooter. The back of the seat rose He'd be dead covering closed, and with the rest of the to head level and was resting against the He knew the backers— casino people. lower part of the machine equally sealed machine's giant plunger. They were reliable. He applied to play and, the part, that is. into which he had (alien — pellets into acid, "Now, sir, it you will permit me as he expected, was quickly accepted not cyanide were dropped The attendant, crouched beside him now. only because they thought he had enough releasing killing gas. gradually he ap- buckled and locked the seat belt carefully, money to make it worth their while if he His speed lessened as and then did the same to belts at his ankles should lose but, far more important, be- proached the top of the playing area. Even and wrists so that, besides being made cause he was a winner and because ca- so. the speed was great enough to jolt him safe against being thrown from the scooter, sino owners wanted to get rid of winners— harshly when the scooter hit a padded ob- stacle shortly after he rounded the top. The he was unable to guide it by using his limbs legally. Thai was why they had invented its scooter, which had an inflated tirelike rim. outside it, although he was allowed to use the game, he suspected, with extreme jerk the top of the all the body English he was able to muster. penalty for losing. bounced back with a to "There you are. sir. All ready to go." But why would winners play Body Ball in playing area, and from here he would be- "Thank you." the face of such a penalty'' Well he didn't gin his all-too-speedy descent toward the door. the rest of them, but exit slot at the bottom. "As soon as I get out and close the know what motivated him raised, just call when you're ready and I'll send he knew about himself. He was here for the Just below now were two you on your way." ultimate thrill, the greatest challenge, with parallel corridors. Hurtling backward, he possibility went through one of them, bouncing oft its "Right, It will be a moment. I want to re- absolutely no of boredom. One triggering of blinding lax some first." loss ended it; if he lost, he lost his life. sides and a barrage joke. hadn't lights and a deafening cacophony of bells "Of course, sir. If I can be of more ser- He had "practiced" a He vertical vice, just give me a call. I'm here to help." even liked pinbali when he was a kid: it was and buzzers on the board and "Thank you." a game played by addicted robots- playing area (something, he was to learn. As the attendant left. Wellington mused numbskulls, in his opinion, And, of course, thai happened every time he struck any- of corridor at slight with a taint smile that it was only proper there had been no money in it. But during thing). Coming out the a that he should be offered "service" at this the last few days he had wearily played angle, he crashed into a giant mushroom- time, the pinnacle of his career. God knows, dozens of times, always winning, of course. shaped protrusion that, with its springy oft to mushroom he'd earned it. All ot it. Service came with Even so, he suspected that the correlation edge, spun him another rectangle- the good life, the rich life. The gambling between playing ordinary pinbali ma- and he smashed against a left life. Millions won; millions spent. He'd had chines and playing Body Ball was infini- shaped padded obstacle near the side all. playing area. From here he dropped it all. He'd been everywhere, done every- tesimally slight, if existent at of the thing, bought everything And all because Now he would find out for sure. alarmingly until he crashed into a flipper of dice, cards, horses, the wheel, you name Taking a deep breath, he called out to about halfway down the machine. The flip- per, activated on contact, shot him to the it. He'd always been a winner. Always. And the attendant that he was ready to start. he didn't have the slightest idea why. He "Very good, sir." far side of the machine, toward the top, into another had no system, no nothing. It was uncanny. He felt the scooter move as the plunger where he crashed mushroom, He'd been barred from many a place behind him was drawn back by a powered which smashed him into the bottom of one through the years because of his continual device. Slowly he rolled backward until the of the raised corridors, winning; he'd had to disguise himself, use plunger was released abruptly and he was From here he rolled straight down the a phony name. shot up an inclined corridor at stomach- center of the machine toward the exit slot, He'd resented having to do that at first— jolting speed. skimming past two mushrooms and not the subterfuge— but gradually he had Ahead of him. rising vertically at the even getting close to a flipper, even though .

he savagely yanked at the arms of the chine with such force this time that his head As he was getting ready for bed one scooter with Ins belted wrists. He zipped crashed into the back of the scooter, stun- night, he gloomily came to the conclusion past Iwo padded obstacles, another ning him. Groggy, he hit a rubberized, fin- that it was. and he decided to play Body

. mushroom, and another flipper, gaining gerlike obstacle. Ball again . . and again . . and again . . speed all the time. Ahead were Iwo more And then he was speeding down again. until he must lose. raised parallel corridors directly in front of A flipper jolt, and he was moving cross- It seemed that he had no sooner got to ihe slot; below the corridors he saw there ways, and then up once more. He was spun sleep, though, than he woke up with a start, were only two flippers that could slop him backward and came up heavily against a his boredom gone and his whole body tin- from going through the hole. mushroom. Then he caromed off into an- gling with life. With desperate yanks of his wrists and other. Lights exploding before his eyes. He'd bet the Body Ball owners— with body against the belts, he was able to jerk Noise hammering him. Body spinning, suitable odds, of course— that the cyanide the scooter to the left enough to smash jerked. Thuds. Crashes. Belts into gut. pellets wouldn't drop into the pail of acid. against the top of one of the corridors, which wrists, ankles. Up. Down. Across. Down. How could he lose?

. sent him back up the machine about three Up. Across. Up . . meters. Right backdown toward one of the He was near the top of the machine when The theme of "Body Ball"—a life-and-death corridors he sped, though, zipping through the covering slowly slid over the exit slot. spectator sport of the future—is not new. it cleanly and setting off an even more hor- He had won — again. By placing it in a huge pinball machine, rendous barrage of lights and noise, But however, and positing a protagonist who again, using savage jerks, he was able to He felt the old boredom within days after is so bored with good fortune that he is hit the last flipper before the exit slot; it he collected his million. And it wasn't long willing to wager his life against impossible slammed him to the far side of the ma- before it was unbearable again; worse, be- odds, John Keefauver adds piquancy to chine, where he hit another triangle-shaped cause now. having won the ultimate gam- the plot. The Story is the third by Keefauver padded obstacle with such force that he ble, what was left? It was impossible for to be anthologized in this series, His fiction thought his head would be thrown from his him to really win. it seemed win freedom and satiric humor have been widely pub- body. Rolling backward, he crashed vi- from boredom. Quit? Quit gambling? That lished, and some of his works have been ciously into another mushroom. This one thought itself was depressing enough to anthologized in Random House's Hitch- shot him against another tire-rimmed ob- lead, finally, to thoughts of suicide. Gam- cock collections. Keefauver categorizes his stacle. Then he bounced off it and landed bling was his life. writing as fantasy rather than science fic- against another flipper, which smashed him Was dealh belter than boredom? He was tion. After a long career as a newspaper against the side of the rubber-rimmed ma- beginning to think so, reporter, he now resides in California. chose to awake Ednathis morning io good old breakfast loop A. John was reading a newspaper over pancakes and sausages in the kitchen of their old home. The kids were gulping the last of their food and were anxious to be on their way to school. After yesterday's real- time-shared breakfasl with John, she really felt she needed the soothing old familiar tape from her files today. It rrtighl have been shot way back during the 1987- 88 television season on a crude home deck, it might be snowy and shaky, bu! Edna still ran it three or four mornings a week in preference to !he breakfast soaps or more updated domestic footage.

Somehow it captured what prime breakfast time with John and the kids had really been like, and somehow that made it her prime breakfast programming choice.

Edna; Now. Sammy, you finish the rest of your milk before you run outdoors! PRIMETIME

BY NORMAN SPINRAD

They could live any fantasy; the trouble was the reality PAINTING BY DONALD ROLLER WILSON , )

Sammy: (slugging down the rest of his milk) TOTAL TELEVISION HEAVEN 60-SEC- Custom-cut programs to your order! I wish Aw. Ma, I'm gonna be late! OND SPOT #12 FINALIZED BROADCAST I'd signed up years ago!

Edna- Nol if you don't take your usual VERSION HARD CUT FROM BACK shortcut past the candy store. The throat mike is attached, his hand is A series of low, pink buildings, empha- taped to the tuner knob, the nutrient tube Of course the old tape hadn't been sho! sizing sunrise through the palm trees. is inserted in his arm (no on-camera needle from her stereo perspective, and there was penetration, please), the amnion tank is something strange about seeing yourself Announcer's voice-over: (medium hard sell} topped off and sealed. The camera moves in your own domeslic programming, and it Total Television Heaven, the ultimate retire- in for a close-up on the tace of the Famous certainly wasn't as well written as a break- ment community for fortunate Electronic Old Actor, seen floating blissfully in his fast soap, but then none of the soaps were Age seniors second womb personalized and none of her other do- mestic tapes with John had footage of the A rapidly cut montage Irom the adven- Famous Old Actor: (filtered) I'm never kids at grade-school age. ture channels, the pom channels, the soaps, coming out—and I'm glad! John was always after her to share real- etc Make it the most colorful and exciting time programming with him. He'd voice her footage we've got and emphasize expen- DISSOLVE TO: SUNSET OVER TOTAL over on the communication channel and sive crowd scenes and special effects. TELEVISION HEAVEN show her tapes he had made for himself with her in them, or he'd entice her with Announcer's voice-over: (orgasmic) Twenty The sun sinks into the sea in speeded- shared domestic lapes. or he'd bombard full channels of pornography, thirty-five full up time over the pink pastel client-storage her with pom-channel footage channels of adventure, forty channels of buildings, and a glorious, star-filled sky But the domestic tapes he programmed continuing soaps— live lull-lime, in over a comes on like an electronic billboard. for them to share all took place in exotic hundred possible realities produced by

. . locales, and the story lines were strictly the finest talents in Hollywood . Announcers voice-over (transcendent) No male-type fantasies— John's idea ol suit- man knows God's inlenl for the hereafter able real-time programming for the two of CLOSE-UP ON A MAN S HEAD bul at Total Television Heaven modern bi- them to share ran to camel caravans across ological science guarantees you a full two the desert, spaceship journeys to strange Intelligent, with neat, dignified, gray hair. hundred years of electronic paradise in Ihe

f planets full of weird creatures, sailing the As hands fit stereo TV goggles over his sa ety and comfort of your own private tank. South Seas, discovering lost cities, fight- eyes. (Earphones already in place And a full annuity cosls less than you think! ing m noble wars. And her viewpoint role was usually a cross between Wonder Announcer's voice-over (institutional) You FADE-OUT Woman and Slave Girl. Well, that mighl be live as the viewpoint character in a won- how John wished to real-time-share with derland of sex and adventure through the John: Maybe we can make it oul to the lake tier, but Edna preferred her soaps and ro- electronic magic of total stereo TV! this weekend. mantic historicals. which John categori- Edna: Supposed to be clear, in the sev-

I cally refused to real-time-share with her MEDIUM SHOT ON A FAMOUS OLD AC- enlies, heard on the weather . , . under any circumstances TOR As for the porn channels that he wanted This season John had been acting to real-lime-share with her. the only word Cast someone wilh recognition value stranger and stranger, even during their was disgusting. who's willing to sign up tor a two-hundred- mealtime sharing His conversation was

Still, he was her husband, and she felt year annuity. becoming more and more loulmouthed and she had lo fulfill her conjugal obligations even incoherent. He had taken to appear- from time to time; so five or ten times a Famous Old Actor: And that's not all! Tape ing in elaborate character roles even over season she gritted her teeth and real-time- your family! Tape your Iriends! Take your breakfast, and yesterday's real-time-shared shared one of his crude male porn chan- loved ones with you to Total Television breakfast had been just about more than nels in Ihe sex-object role. Less frequently Heaven and keep them with you torever! Edna could take. night he consented to time-share a historical X Act now . . . before it's too late. He'd voiced her over the before with her. but only because of the implied and invited her to breakfast the nexl morn- threat she'd withhold her porn-channel la- CAMERA PULLS BACK FOR A FULL SHOT ing in Hawaii, where they had real-time- vors from him if he didn't shared their honeymoon in the dim, distant

So by and large it was mealtime pro- We see that the Famous Old Actor is pasl- so many seasons ago that no re- gram sharing that was their least distaste- being helped into a glass amnion tank. He cording tape of il existed: none had been ful channel of contact and the one that saw keeps talking and smiling as the attend- made way back then, before anyone had most frequent use, ants strap him to the couch, tit the ear- even dreamed of retiring lo Total Television

phones and stereo TV goggles, hook up Heaven. It had been a very long time in- John: (wiping his lips with his napkin) Well his breathing mask and waste lube, and deed since John had invited her to real- honey, it's off to the salt mines Ready to begin filling the lank with fluid. time-share their pasl at all, even in a re- go. Ellie? constructed version, and so when he told library. breakfast Ellie: I got to make wee-wee first. Famous Old Actor: A vast lape her he had custom-programmed .

on the beach m Hawaii, Edna had been so said petulantly, crotchety annoyance bling and ranting like a demented parrot thrilled that she agreed to time-share his crackmg his handsome, twenty-year-old in his beachboy body. Only one thing had breakfast program against what had lately features. "You're such a timid bird. Edna. kept Edna from tuning him out and tuning been becoming her better judgment. No sense of fun. No imagination." in a breakfast soap, and that was the dim, The program wakened her to sunrise on "Killing things is not my idea of either tun distant thought that to do so might precip- the beach, the great golden ball rising out or imagination," Edna retorted indignantly. itate ihe final break between them, the break of the dark sea in speeded-up stop-motion John laughed a weird, nervous laugh. A between her and something that she could animation like a curtain going up. illumi- whale breached not far offshore, and im- no longer conceplualize clearly. nating the bright blue sky that suddenly mediately a giant squid wrapped tentacles

flared into existence as she found herself around it. A fight to the death began "Kill- John: (rising from the table! What's for din-

lying on the sand beneath it. ing things?'" John said. "But there's noth- ner tonight, by the way? This to the theme of an ancient prime- ing alive here to kill! This is Heaven, not Edna. Roast chicken with that corn bread time show called Hawaii Five-0, as a Earth, and we can do anything without stuffing you like. majestic breaker railed and broke, rolled consequences. What else can we do?" and broke, again and again, in a closed "We can have a normal, civilized break- He kisses her briefly on Ihe lips. " loop beyond the shoreline foam. fast like decent human beings

1 I'll John appeared in the role of a tanned, "Normal, civilized breakfast John John: Mmmmm . .! try to pick up a bol- blond, muscled Adonis wearing a ludi- shouted "Decent human beings!' A vol- tle of that German wine on the way back

crously short grass skirt A breakfast table cano erupted somewhere inland Terrified from work if I'm not too late. was set up at the edge of the sea itself, in natives fled before a wall of fiery lava, "Who the foot-high wash of foam kicked up by cares aboul being decent human beings He opens the door, waves, and exits. the eternal rolling wave that towered and when we're not even alive, my princess?"

broke, towered and broke, above them. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're Edna: Have a good day. Naked, godlike Polynesians— a youth for talking about," Edna said primly. But of her. a maiden for John— helped them to course some small part of her did But now, while she watched her image their teet and escorted them to the wicker "Sure and begorra. you do, Edna!" John bid good-bye to John as he left for work peacock chairs on either side of the strange said mockingly "Avast, matey, what makes on that dim. fuzzy old tape she found so

table. The table was a block of polished you so sure we're still alive? For lo. how soothing. Edna wondered how long it would

obsidian on Victorian-looking brass legs; many television seasons has it been since be before she would consent to real-time- there was a depression in the center, out we retired? A hundred? Two hundred? Ver- share a meal with the "real" John again a of which a grooved channel ran to the sea- ily and forsooth, time out of mind. Can you John she no longer recognized as the hus-

side edge of the tabletop. even guess, my slave girl? I can't." band in her domestic tapes, a John she This was certainly not their Hawaiian Edna blanched. She didn't like this kind was not sure she wanted to know about.

honeymoon as Edna recollected it, and she of talk at all. It was worse than his machis- After all. she thought, tuning to Elizabeth didn't need a tape to be sure of that! mo adventure programs, worse than the the Queen her favorite historical romance "Welcome. love goddess of Ihe north, porno programming he enjoyed pulling her of this season, too much of that could rum to my groovy pad." John crooned m a through, worse on a whole other level she her domestic tapes with John for her. and

strange, cracked voice. He clapped his had trained herself not to contemplate then where would she be if she could no hands. "An oblation in thine honor," "Of course we're alive." she said. "We're longer live comfortably in her past? The naked maiden produced a squeal- real-time-sharing now, aren't we?" Right now she was seated on her throne ing piglet, which she pressed into the pit Bathing beauties water-skied in a cho- in the early evening light, and Sir Walter in the center of the table. The naked youth rus line through the curl ol the wave. A Raleigh was bowing to her with a boyish handed John a huge machete. "Hai!" John flying saucer buzzed the beach. A giant twinkle in his eye that made her quiver.

screamed, hacking the piglet in half with a crab seized their servants in its pincers It swipe ol his blade. Blood pooled in the pit whisked them away as they screamed Rolling among naked teen-aged girls in in the table, then ran down Ihe groove to 'Ah, mine Aphrodite, how can we be sure a great marbled Roman bath. Popping off

the edge and dripped off into Ihe sea As of that? Thou couldst be croaked and I Indians with his Remington repeater. the tirst drops of blood touched the ocean, could be tuning in to an old tape where Swinging on a vine through a jungleful of

the water abruptly changed color, and a you still lived. Har-har I could be dead ex- dinosaurs. Leading the pack around Ihe towering wave of blood arched over them. cept in this program of yours." last turn at the Grand Prix de Monaco. A few moments later, when the eternal "This is certainly no program of mine. Boring, boring, boring! Irritably John wave was blue water again and Edna's John Rogers!" Edna shouted "Only you flipped through the broadcast channels, viewpoint angle returned to a shot on the could have invited me lo a breakfast pro- unable to find anything capable of holding table, the gory mess had been replaced gram like this!" his attention. What a lousy season this was.

by a white tablecloth, two plates of ham "I stink. Iherefore I am." John cackled. even worse than the last! There wasn't a and eggs, a pot of coffee, and a bottle of Lightning rattled. Schools of porpoises single adventure program that had any

dark island rum, leaped in and out of the great wave. originality lo it: Ihe porno channels made

"Oh, John." she said disgustedly, "it's all And so it had gone. Nubian slaves light- him think of Edna and her damned dis- so so— ing cigarettes, Dancing gulls. An orgy se- approval of anything still capable of turn- 7 "Eldritch' Excessive? Demented?" John quence. And all throughout it, John bab- ing him on; and old domestic tapes, he . '

Television leading edge of an immense, formless, knew, would just make him furious. Damn it, retiring to Total Heaven choking dread that took him out 01 course he had a big file of classic before either ol them was sixty-five had shapeless, him recordings and custom- prog rammed fa- been Edna's idea in the first place, John ot the viewpoint character and made thing as if through the eyes vorites to draw upon when real-time pro- told himself, though a part ot him knew that see the whole pressure gramming got boring, and so he started wasn't exactly totally true. With the kids at of a video camera: lines of dots,

eyeballs . . . flipping through his videx, desperately the other end of the continent and the against his nothing He shuddered inwardly, Convulsively he looking (or something to fill this time slot. economy in such bad shape and domestic porno tape ot him- Flying his one-man space fighter low over interesting going on in their real-time lives switched to a from self and Edna making love in the grass on an. alien glass city, shattering the crystal it was only his job that had kept them of volcano, She towers with his shock wave as he rose to trading in their Social Security equity for a the slope a roaring cursed and moaned as he meet the bandits. Chasing a fat merchant- two-hundred-year annuity to Total Televi- screamed and

. . stuck it to her, but ... but . man under a full head of sail: Avast, me sion Heaven. He figured that if he could get out of here! hearties, prepare a broadside! Auctioned work another ten years and save at the Edna. I've got to an But what can I possibly mean by that? as a sex slave to a mob of horny women. same rate, it would enable them to buy the Frantically he voiced her over. "Edna, I've Doing a smart left bank around a sky- extra fifty years of Heaven. But when real-time-share with you," he said scraper, with Lois Lane in his arms, cost of living rose to the point where he got to shrilly. . "Now!' He really had some choice footage in his wasn't saving anything well, at that point really con- "I'm tuned in to China Clipper now, and tape library, but he had run all of it so often he hadn't needed that much voice-over down through the long seasons that every vincing, especially since there was a ru- it's my favorite historical X," her Social Security about to go whined as he continued to pound at her bit of it seemed engraved in his real-time mor that was memory. He had lost the ability to surprise bust and the smart thing to do was get into under the volcano. porn channel Eight, real- himself, even with how gross he could get. Heaven while you could. "Please, Edna,

if . if time-share with now, you don't , , and he had to go further and further out to Bui what good was two hundred and ten me roared Total Television if your wife you don't . . ."A wave of molten lava . in Heaven avert ... to avert ... to avert , years mountain toward Onward, the Light Brigade! Thousands insisted on living in her tape loops of the and foamed down the

if all Edna moaned and swore toward of screaming teen-aged groupies mobbed past? How much fun could you have them as him, the stage, grabbed his guitar, tore off his you had to rely on was the broadcast pro- climax beneath I'm enjoying pro- clothes. "Frankly, Scarlett," he said, as she grammers and your own imagination? "Not now. John, my

' fair damsel on gram. her distant voice-over said. sank to her knees, "I don't give a damn." Making love to a rescued the steaming corpse of a slain dragon. The "Edna! Edna! Edna!'' John shrieked, to flicker. Diving out of an overcome with a terror he didn't under- If only Edna had the gumption to be a image began didn't to understand. real wife to him! Lord knew, he tried to be airplane, spreading his arms and flying like stand, want "John!" There finally concern in her a real husband to her. Didn't he regularly a bird: the air seemed to turn to a thick, was it seemed to come from the Edna invite her to real-time-share the porn chan- choking fluid Tarzan ot the Apes, making voice, and him in nels with him, and didn't he take pains to love to an appreciative lioness, felt an un- who thrashed and moaned beneath enfolded them choose the most far-out sex programming comfortable pressure against his eyeballs. orgasm as the wave of lava For in painless fire. available? Didn't he invite her to all his best Oh. God. ii was happening again! adventure programs 7 Didn't he invite her some time now something had been cor- 'John, you're disgusting!" she said at the

feel it height of the moment. "If you want to time- to the best mealtime custom programming roding John Rogers. He could hap- we'll have to go to a do- instead of the same old domestic tapes? pening. He didn't know what it was, but he share with me, now. Loop E." He did his best to make her program- knew that he didn't want to know. mestic tape till with fear, anger, and self-loath- ming day interesting and surprising, and I'm /List sick and tired of having to Raging her to the domestic tape. what did he get from her in return? A lot of every time slot in my programming day with ing, he followed myself, told They were sitting on the back porch of their whining about his dirty mind, a determi- something I have to choose he lake, overlooking the nation to get him caught in one of those himself nervously. Sure, he could time-share summer cabin at the raft, the kids were playing saccharine historical X's with her, and a with Edna and let her fill some time slots swimming where

of water polo. Oh. Jesus . . . dreary desire to mealtime-share the same tor him. but her idea of programming made a ragtag game all upset. John?" musty old domestic tapes over and over him want to puke. "Now what's got you again. What was the purpose of retiring to In fact, the lover of the insatiable Cath- Edna said primly.

ris- John didn t know what to say. He didn't Total Television Heaven in the first place if erine the Great felt a bubble of nausea beautitul czarina know how to deal with it. He didn't even you were afraid of grossness, if you in- ing within him even as the all Napoleon's felt wan! to know what he was dealing with. He sisted on realism, if all you wanted was to crawled over him. mind talking watch endless reruns of the same old, bor- a nameless dread even as he led the was talking to a ghost, He was to

He . . he ing past? triumphal march through Paris. Because his wife talking to a ghost. real-time-sharing. Striding through the jungle, a great, hairy the thought that had intruded unbidden into "We've got to do more finally "It's important. We gorilla beating his chest while the natives his mind was. What would happen if he Edna." he said,

fill shouldn't alone in here all the time." flee in terror. Executing a snappy Immel- didn't choose anything to the lime slot? be "I haven't the faintest idea what you're mann and coming up on the Red Baron's Was it possible? Would he still be there? babbling about," Edna said nervously. "As tail, machine guns blazing. Getting head Where was there? perfectly from the legendary Marilyn Monroe. And questions like those brought on the for more real-time-sharing, I'm " " —— —

willing to share mealtimes with you on a Edna: Oh. I'm getting wet. Why don't you Elite: Pass the cranberry sauce.

regular basis if you behave yourself, Here. grab a towel and dry me off, Edna: It's wonderful to have a quiet At the house. On our honeymoon. Even in Thanksgiving dinner just for the four of us,

a good restaurant. But not in any of your isn't it, John? disgusting programming, John, and that

goes double for the porn channels. I don't Edna felt so contented, so at peace with understand you, John. You've become "Oh, no, no!" John shouted as his view- herself and her family, so right with the world.

some kind of pervert. Sometimes I think point followed her. For she was no longer / really should invite John to real-time-share you're going crazy." there, and he remembered every scene this wonderlul Thanksgiving, she thought

A burst of multicolored snow flickered every angle, every special effect of this maternally / rea//y ought to give him one the old tape. Edna sipped her lemonade. program. Something inside him snapped. last chance to be a proper father to the His eyes ached. He was choking. He had to get out of here. He switched his kids and husband to me. "Im going crazy?" John cried thickly. videx to rapid random scan, unable to think Filled wilh Christian charity, she voiced

"What about you, Edna, living back here of choosing a program to fill his time slot. over to his channel. 'John?" she said, and trying to pretend we're really still—alive Getting head from Marilyn Monroe sail- scooping up mashed yams with brown back then, instead of here in . . . in ing the Spanish Main— fetus floating in the sugar and passing the salt to her beaming "In Total Television Heaven, John." Edna eternal amnion— a giant gorilla chasing husband, who planted a little kiss on her said sharply. "Where we're free to prog ram dusky natives from dinner with Edna and wedding ring en passant. "I'm having all our time slots to suit ourselves. And if the kids in the dining room of their house Thanksgiving dinner with you and the kids, you don't like my programming you don't a million flickering electronic dots against and I'd like you to be a good father and

have to time-share it. As for your program- his eyeballs — flying like a bird through the real-time-share with us.'

ming. I don't know how you stand it." towers of New York around the Eiffel There was nothing on the voice-over

"But I can't stand it!" John shouted as a Tower— choking in the sea of time — lead- channel for a moment as John handed the water-skier was drawn by a roaring speed- ing the cavalry charge to plant the flag on drumstick to Sammy. Then, as Sammy took

boat past their porch. "That's what's driv- Iwo Jima— lungs straining for a surface that it from him and bit into it with boyish gusto. ing me crazy " From somewhere came the wasn't there — stepping out of the air lock John screamed. sounds of a softball game. A 747 glided under triple suns— trapped in syrupy An endless, ghastly, blubbering shriek by overhead. quicksand forever— arriving at the sultan s that rattled Edna's teeth and poisoned the "Daddy! Daddy!" the kids waved at him, harem in King Arthur's squad car moment with unremitting horror. this is "But worse!" he screamed at Edna, Awake, aware, alive for a long, horribly 'John Rogers, you're an animal. I don't trim lucid young and in her two-piece bathing moment— floating and choking in (he know you anymore, and I don't want to!" suit. A neighbor's dog came up, wagging amniotic quicksand with meaningless im- she shouted back at the horrid sound and its tail, and she gave it her hand to lick. ages attacking his eyeballs —waking up broke the connection once and for all, "This isn't real, and its not even an honest Irom a long suffocation dream into a long fantasy; you're dead inside of here. Edna, suffocation dream that wouldn't go away, John: Don't gobble your food. Sammy, or living through your old tape loops, floating couldn't go away, or there'd be you'll turn into a turkey. ." in . . . floating in . . Dueling with the musketeers swinging on Sammy: (turkey sound) Gobble, gobble! He gagged. An image of 3 fetus faded a vine through the jungle of the Great Bar- in, faded out, faded in again. He feit some- rier Reef with Edna in a hammock scream- All four of them laugh heartily. thing pressing against his face like an ocean ing orgasm in the harem with a dozen houris of time drowning him, pulling him under. soaring through space screaming around John: Please pass me some more of the Nothing was real. Nothing but whatever great ringed Saturn screaming against the peas, honey What do you say. kids, isn't Edna had become speaking through her dead cold black phosphor-dotted ever- your mother the best cook in the world? long-dead simulacrum near the lake. lasting void drowning choking screaming Sammy and Ellie: Yay, Mom!

"Stop it, John! I won't listen to such filth!" god oh god oh oh oh— "Oh, Jesus, Edna, we're dead, don't you Edna beamed as she handed John the see? We're dead and drifting— forever in our As she faded out of the viewpoint char- bowl of creamed peas. He smiled at her. own tape loops, and only acter of Elizabeth the Queen, Edna thought Edna relaxed. How good it was to have a "Good-bye, John." Edna said frostily. of John. How long ago had that terrible nice, civilized Thanksgiving dinner with your taking another sip of lemonade. "I much tmal real-time sharing taken place'' Was it husband and your family just the way you prefer the way you were to this!" still the same television season? liked it. Peaceful and loving and together

"Edna! Edna! Don't break the time-share! It was time for dinner, and she pro- forever. You're all that's left!" grammed dinner loop C. She. John, and She decided to play a romantic porn the kids were seated at Thanksgiving din- program after dinner. She would meet John Edna: Say. honey, why don't we go inside ner. She was wearing her Sunday best, the in an elegant cafe in old Vienna, waltz in a and make a little love in the afternoon. kids were neat and combed, and John was grand ballroom, share a bottle of cham- wearing a suit. pagne on a barge m the Seine, and then A thunderclap rends the sky. It begins make love on a bear rug in front of a roar- to rain. Edna laughs and undoes the halter John: This stuffing is delicious, honey! ing fireplace. She knew that everything of her swimsuit. Sammy: Can I have the other drumstick? would be just perfect. 139 Fa .

It was an exclusive hotel— you had

to kill someone to get in. Only the jury could check you out lllTHEHEREHFTERHILTOn

BYE 3 SHAW

apartment was nd the ment— of that much he was Theneat, stylish, and com- bright-lettered canisters sure— but to do so. he fortable— nal at all like could be bombs that would would have to be fantasti- a machine designed for kill- explode on removal of their cally careful. The best plan, ing people lids. Even the simple act of the one he had already de- For a few seconds after opening a cupboard door cided upon, was to make the entrance door had might release a cloud of himself as comfortable as locked itself behind him, instant-acting gas into his possible in the center of the Renfrew stood perfectly face, and one startled in- living-room floor and to re- still, taking stock of the take of breath would be main there until the seven

place, trying to identify the enough to . . days were up. It would not most likely sources of If you want to stay alive, be easy or pleasant — the death, The kitchen — al- Renfrew thought, keep out matter of bodily functions ways the most complicated of the kitchen. alone would see to that— room in any habitat — was From his position near but it was a straightforward one area that obviously had the entrance he could see choice between life and to be avoided Every parti- into the bathroom, and that death, and Renfrew much cle of food and drop of liq- also looked dangerous — preferred being alive. uid was suspect in case too many chrome fittings He walked into the living poisons had been adminis- that could spring bad sur- room and checked it dut tered; the appliances could prises. He was going to against his requirements. It have been wired in such a survive the mandatory measured roughly ten by way as to electrocute the seven days in the apart- ten. had blue wall-to-wall

SCULPTURE BY SHIRTSLEEVE STUDIOS carpeting, and was furnished with a good- prospect of getting through the week alive. give the apartment one ol its more popular quality settee, easy chairs, and occasional It was simply a matter of intelligence de- labels — the Hereafter Hilton, tables. Several original abstracts adorned termination, and self-control. And of last- The first of the remaining precautions was the cream-colored walls The room could ing seven days without a drink of water to reduce evaporation of bodily moisture have belonged to a youngish, intelligent, The prison micropedia had been annoy- even further by turning the heat down. not excessively trendy person living just ingly imprecise about how long a man could Renfrew located the thermostat and ad- about anywhere between New York and survive on zero liquid intake. Some of the justed it to its lowest level. He then went Los Angeles— except for two atypical fea- quoted authorities had avoided giving any into the kitchen, filled a tumbler with waler, tures. One was the complete absence of estimate at all, and others had been con- and began sipping it with the intention of windows, and the other was the display tent to state that death would occur after increasing his fluid reserves. The notion of tube m the wall above the artificial fire- seven to ten days. The spread, Renfrew filling all available vessels and laying in a place. supposed, was due to such factors as the week's supply ol water was tempting, but On the screen, in pulsing amber sans- size, weight, and general health of the sub- too dangerous. Any microscopic bubble m serif lettering, were two words: jury out. ject and the rate of water loss from the tis- a glass could be a poison container to be Renfrew examined the room critically and sues, and in that respect he was doing ail opened by remote control as soon as the decided at once that the largest table, po- he could to tip the balance in his favor. He jury had voted. A low but insistent chiming sitioned near the middle of the floor, would was naturally pudgy around the middle, and sound filled the apartment. He set the tum- have to be moved against one of the walls throughout the four days of his trial he had bler down, went back into the living room, to give him the clear central space he loaded all his food with salt and had drunk and looked at the screen. needed When the room armed itself against copiously of tea. coffee, milk and water. It now said, jury voting, him. he was not going to risk even the most His tendency to retain fluids, something he "Vote early and vote often." Renfrew said fleeting contact with any of the artifacts it had often bemoaned in the past, had en- aloud in jocular tones trying to neutralize contained. For all he knew, every piece of abled him to increase his body weight by the spasms of alarm he had felt on realiz- furniture would begin to ooze contact poi- approximately five kilograms— equal to four ing that his very existence was now being son as soon as the jury returned the ver- liters of life-giving liquid. laid on the line. He took a cushion from a dict of guilty, and he wanted to be sure he That alone would probably be sufficient chair and set it in the middle of the floor, would not roll over in his sleep and touch to ensure his survival, but Renfrew had gone then hesitated, frowning. A cushion was something. further. Knowing in advance that he would just as much an artifact as a microwave The table was surprisingly heavy when be stripped ol all personal possessions oven, just as capable of being booby- he tried to move it, and for a moment Ren- before being installed in the apartment, he trapped. He skimmed it back onto the chair frew feared it was anchored to the floor. had taken time after breakfast to spray most and squatted on the carpet, his face turned He changed tactics, pushing instead of of his skin with an antiperspirant. which, toward the screen as he waited lor the final lifting, and this time the table slid fairly eas- fortunately, was quite odorless. He sus- announcement. In addition to his fear he ily, creating deep furrows in the carpet. pected that its effectiveness would fade could feel powerful undercurrents of ex-

When it had come to rest against the wall, rather quickly, but closing his pores and citement, and it came to him that the pro- he stepped back with widespread arms preventing evaporation for even part of a visions of the 2061 act had been success- and gauged the size of the area he had day gave him that extra edge m the battle fully implemented in the present system. cleared. It appeared ample for his needs. for life. Only two more measures remained He was about to be sentenced to death. This seems a shade too easy, he thought, to be taken Yet he had absolutely no sense of immi- his confidence faltering. Nobody knew what Renfrew glanced at the screen above nent doom. percentage ol condemned murderers ac- the fireplace checking that the jurors were The inevitable reaction to the steady in- tually lasted out the week— it was the prac- still deliberating. He had been in the apart- crease in violent crime had begun in the tice, for humane reasons, to whisk survi- ment less than five minutes, but his de- last quarter of the twentieth century with vors off to colony worlds in total anonymity fense had gone so seriously awry that he one state after another reintroducing the and secrecy— but if the system could be was half-prepared for a verdict to be death penalty. By the middle of the twenty- beaten merely by camping out in the cen- reached in record time. Fortesque. the first century capital pumshmeni had be- ter of a room, would they not modify it? young, state-appointed attorney, had tried come almost universal, coast to coast, and Was there a chance that the carpet itself to make capital from the fact that the store the moral dilemma facing the legislators could become toxic? Or that rapiers would security guard shot by Renfrew had him- had grown in proportion How could one zip upward through the floor during the self been indicted, for the manslaughter of condemn killing on the one hand while night? an unarmed kid who had tried to run off going on taking human lives with the other 7 No. that wouldn't be fair, Renfrew de- with a tray of gold rings. The proposal had Variations in the actual method of execu- cided, his fears abating somewhat. That been that Renfrew was defending himself tion had been tried, but the principal ob- way the apartment would be nothing more against a trigger-happy zealot, but it was jections to legalized killing had remained than an execution chamber, and the whole obvious to Renfrew that the jurors were in the same: It was totally inhuman to tell a point of the Capital Punishment Reform Act favor of trigger-happy zealots and would man exactly when and how he was going of 2061 was that it removed the awful fore- have been pleased to employ teams of them to die, then leave him to sweat out his time. knowledge of death —the feature of earlier to safeguard their own property. At that point And if the state was inhuman, could its cit- systems to which humanitarians had most he had begun thinking very hard indeed izens be expected to be otherwise7 strongly objected. There had to be some about ways of surviving for a week in— to It was basically a question of how to be 132 7 if cruel in a kindly way— and a workable an- son: VOTING COMPLETED—AWAIT VERDICT on top of the table What he were to . . .? swer had come along in 2061. The lengthy, On the lower part of the display a sweep His hands fluttered to his mouth as he soul-destroying delays of earlier systems hand began remorselessly erasing a sixty- heard the final chime that signaled the ju- had been eliminated by direct implemen- second clock. I'm going to be all right, he ry's verdict. He glanced involuntarily in the tation of the majority vote of a thirteen-man Ihought. All I've got to do is stay put for direction of the screen, then froze, his chin jury, and the dreadful certainty of death seven days sagging with incredulity as he read the three had been replaced by the challenge of a His gaze picked out two vertical cracks words electronically emblazoned across week in the apartment. Not only were the in the skirtmg board of the wall opposite the face of the tube. exact time and method of execution de- him. It looked as if a small, flap-type door verdict: mot guilty. cently shrouded in mystery, but there was had been built into the base of the wall. He The breath left his body in a noisy, qua- also a ray of hope that the grim event could stared at the door feeling oddly threat- vering sob He pushed a hank of hair away be avoided altogether And that made an ened as he tried to guess its purpose. from his forehead, as if giving himself a the difference. Robotic cleaners! better view of the glowing words might Renfrew found that he was tense, alert. The apartment was as immaculate as change their import The message re- stimulated and—above all— confident that only an automated cleaning system could mained the same. He was a free man! he was going to beat the system. There make it, which meant that at night, when Renfrew got to his feet, suddenly con- remained only a trace of furtive, niggling the occupants were asleep in bed, silent scious of how much he had been dreading doubt. His idea seemed foolproof, but it little machines came out of the wails and the ordeal that had lain ahead. He took a had been rather easy to conceive. It had. scavenged every speck of dirt But he last look at the apartment, gave a low in fact, been the first scheme to blossom wasn't going to be in bedl He was going chuckle of relief, then strode to the door in his mind, and he knew perfectly well that to be laid out on the floor while the busy with a buoyant tread, keyed up for his first of in he was anything but a genius— if he could robots came nosing and nuzzling around taste liberty many months. come up with a successful plan, anybody him. and any one of them could be capa- The doorknob did not turn when he could Did this mean that nobody but the ble of killing him m a dozen different ways grasped it. occasional moron ever paid the supreme Renfrew looked at the clock. Twenty Instead it fired a cloud of poison through penalty? Or was there some other incon- seconds until the apartment declared war the skin of Renfrew's palm, a poison so spicuous factor he had overlooked? He half-rose, his face turning toward the swift-acting that he had no time to realize There was another chiming sound, and kitchen, Was there time to run in there, he had been tricked by executioners who, the message on the screen was replaced snatch up the lightweight table, and get m their determination to be humane, were 7 by a new set of words scribed in raw crim- back with it Would he be safe squatting not above telling a little white lie. She tried to rekindle that sense

of wonder, o! enigma . . . of shoes, ships and sealing wax. AND WHETHER PIGS HAVE WINGS BY NANCY KRESS

Ahree men are walk- ing on the beach below; one of Ihem will be mine.

I stand at the top of the dune, my feet a

liltle apart, braced against the wind. Gritty sand seeps into my leather sandals, and my long blond hair whips around my face,

covering my eyes, then uncovering them, I

know how I look to the men below, in this bikini-clad body the color of fresh toast. Soon. The first man jogs toward me. He is

perhaps 30, tall, dressed in jeans and a bulky red sweater with the knotty bumps of inexpert hand knitting. He moves easily, in loose, even lopes that smooth out the rocky ground underfoot, humming an aria off key.

I know he will not do. I look away, and he jogs by with only one regretful look back over his shoulder.

As the second man comes closer, I see

that he is quite young, still half child, and

PAINTING BY BOB VENOSA "

that he is so absorbed in the book he is the glow from the bracelet guiding me. un- The child makes a low whutfling sound,

til without His dull face reading as he walks that he hasn't noticed I surface in the power room, aboard ship, eeehhh eeehhh, hope me at alt. He holds the book with both beyond the moon still has not changed expression. hands, fingers and thumbs splayed to keep I hop from a clump of ragweed, in the the wind trom turning the pages. Over the "Good morning. Mr Carruthers, sir. random moonlight my fur is white, except top of the garish dust jacket, an artist's Twenty-sixth floor'' for pink nose and ears and the glowing inventive misconception of a spaceship. "Please. Jerry," bracelet where my paws become tiny pink the boy's eyes are wide, pale blue, the "Good morning, sir How nice to see you hands. I can feel the absurd white cotton- pupils dilated as they move intently back back!" tail twitching behind me, rising with each

falling I and forth over the page. I can't keep from "Morning, Louise. This the mail? I'll take hop and then as sit up on my smiling— certainly not him! it in with me." haunches and use my hands to free the The third man approaches slowly, from "Welcome back. Mr Carruthers Did you child from the blackberry thorns He gazes the opposite direction. He is quite far away; enjoy your vacation away from the office? at me and puts his thumb in his mouth. The

if Mr. silent. I wait patiently, the bracelet on my arm "Very nice David, see Poole can shack behind us is ." glowing not entirely in reflection of the sun- see me, right away, in my office I twitch my nose at him. then my ears t set over the ocean. He is looking not at the "Certainly, sir." cover my eyes with my hands and peek at sunset but down at his feel, picking his "Louise, coffee for two." him through the lingers. Slowly, reluctantly, way over the rocks, avoiding wetting his "Right away, sir." as if it is being dragged from him and he

will regret it later, child smiles. His milk shoes in the tide pools. Even I can tell they 'At—good lo have you back! So how was the 9 " are expensive shoes— Italian?— and that the action at the Cape"? Lots of sun teeth gleam in his dark little face. I twitch they have been carefully chosen to match "Lots Josh, what's this report I got trom my nose again, pick a blackberry, and hold 9 his gray slacks and open-neck siik shirt. Sam Lister on the oil deal Who the hell it out to him. It is hard and sour, not yet

He frowns at the rocks, lips together his came up with those cock-eyed figures on npe. but he eats it. In the warm darkness jowls a bit too heavy and his eyes a bit too the new shoreline rigging method, and why his wondering gurgle carries clearly, sharp red. I touch my bracelet and start down were they leaked to the press without as a sword. the dune, angling toward the tine of high checking with me?" rocks he will cross next. When he is on top "I can explain about that. Al." "It's the environmentalist lobby. Al. that's of them he sees me coming toward him. "I hope so. I ceriamly hope so the real stickler Bunch of bleeding hearts, stops, waits. "Let's go into your office. Can we oh but they're organized, and they've got their

"I wonder if I might borrow a cigarette." here comes the coffee already. Right on votes, Danchell, for one—he needs the oil it's after My voice is husky, low—what I think of as top ot it. as always! Now. about the fig- support or no-go next election, a deep purple voice. Such men always have ures . . Ihe strategy was—" that Medicaid fiasco m his district. We can cigarettes. get our votes, too, o! course- no problem. He hands me the cigarette wordlessly, The child is not quite three. He stands Cranston's in Washington now— but not his eyes appraising They are tight gray, behind the tarpaper shack, barefoot on the cheap. You gotta remember that with the starllingly pale against his Ian. and very dusty ground, sucking his thumb. Small new process the whole shoreline is going hard, i take the unlit cigarette and drop it. night noises, crickets and rabbits and the to end up a real mess, and everybody's grind it on the rock beneath my sandal and sloughing of wind in pine, are drowned Out holding out for enough time to ride out the start to run, already changing. By the time by the screaming coming from the shack. public yelling I carried those figures here. is total look little I am halfway down the line of rocks per- "Lousy bitch!" which why the might a haps 30 feet away from him, the scales "No, no, Lew— God, Lew, no!" high to you, but I fixed it so it wouldn't to have already begun to appear on my legs "Lousy fucking bitch!" the audit boys, if it comes to that." and rump, bright green scales the color ot The child looks over his shoulder at the "How much shoreline are we talking 7 new grass. I dive from the end of the rocks, shack. There is a sore on the shoulder, about. Josh Exactly." an impossibly high dive for my starting po- oozing pus the color of rotted peaches. "Twenty point six miles On your map— sition, curving in a high arch and hanging The dull nonexpression on the child's face, from here to here. Mostly US Seacoasl there, suspended against the sunset as in his dark dead eyes, doesn't change until Wildlife Preserve— a few small fry. No dancers of ballet— the most beautiful thing another sound comes from the shack, the problem." fist I have seen here—seem to hang sus- thud of on flesh and bone, followed by pended before the downward plunge from a keening wail that dies away in more thuds. Picture three successive circles, inter- their crackling leaps By the top of the dive, The child yanks his thumb from his mouth locking but not by much. In the first lies the my legs have already fused to tail, silver and starts to run. legs pumping and the immediate sensory world — or what you green in its backward flip over my bare babyish curve ol his belly swaying from think is the immediate sensory world. The rain breasts. I hit the water in a cloud o! golden side to side, until he reaches the dark edge warm on your bare arm. the elusive spray, then up again for my hair to writhe of the wood He runs into a blackberry smell of lilacs, the bitter aspirin dissolving in around me in the foam. I just catch his face thicket, starts to yell, and then abruptly on your hung-over tongue. Your child in the nanosecond of change from shock stops, staring back at the shack The your womb, your woman in your arms, your to fear, and then I dive again, my tail break- blackberry thorns grab his cotton shirt and feces in your bowels pushing downward. ing surface, clear against the flaming sky. wet diaper, draw blood that trickles down In the second circle lie the systems of This dive is deep, cold, and strong, only his arms and dusty feet in thick, sticky trails your mind, social constructs for creating 136 necessary order. The Town Line Road. ruthers had once made— as a prelude to "Did not!" Swiss tranc, Holy Mother Church, matri- one of Poole's? The press leak? But he had "Bloody well did too! Lie down, you have archal lineage, Napoleonic Code. Mon- already pointed out . . . or was the ques- to be dead!" archy, democracy, dictatorship, oligarchy, tion something else entirely, some subtle "Won't" communism, socialism. Freemasons, Dow way of maneuvering, of throwing him off "Will!" Chemical Company, Boy Scouts, Black balance so Carruthers could probe for any "Won't!" Hand. Created order, as to. opposed say hidden intentions, weaknesses, over- "Well, you got to! Them'sthe rules!" ? 2 1 a b = ', is + c which merely ."1 discovered. looked threats? Or was it an invitation, a "Won't! You missed first step toward an alliance against some "Did not!" In the third circle lie the ambiguities, the coalition Poole hadn't yet seen forming but "Did too!" questions without answers, the lonely Carruthers But had? a man who needed I come around the end of the wall, province of poets and mystics. You wake an ally was a second choice to be one him- full wheeling a barrow of iron ore. I am only in the night with the warm wind blowing the self. Always try to ally yourself with the al- as tall as the wall itself, and almost as old. curtains in the open window and turn over ready unshakable. Knotted gray beard, pointed brown cap, in the darkness. For a second you are aware Finally, Poole said cautiously, "How do jerkin and breeches covered with earth from of the blood in your veins, warm and full, you mean 'inexplicable.' Al? Did some- the mines. Only the bracelet glows bright- and the strong beat of your heart against thing happen up at the Cape?" ly— that and my eyes, fiercely blue m the the sheet, and you think; Yes, but why? wrinkled sea of my ancient lace. 1 stop before sleep ebbs back in long waves, and play The boys at the edge of the moor. pushing the barrow— the rocks clink to- the question is forgotten. Forgotten, some- Behind them stretches a plain of heather. gether softly in protest—and stare at the

times, until the very end. it when seems too before them a rainy pasture, tingling with boys, who look back at me without wonder. late to ask it after all. Why here? Why me? green all alive-o. Between heather and "Bang!" shouts the first boy. "You're Why now? And after now—what? What be- pasture is a crumbling stone wall, two feet dead!" fore? And how? Misty questions, changing high, that was ancient five centuries be- It is a forbidden indulgence to despair. shape even as you look at them, like the fore. bright swirls of color on your inner eyelids "Bang!" shouts one of the boys, waving Carruthers ignored Poole's counter- that come only from closing your eyes too a plastic machine gun in the general di- question. 'Just 'inexplicable'— in any sense hard. The questions children ask— some rection of the other young boy. "Got yal" we're used to dealing with. Beyond the way children, the children who pause in the "Did not!" things usually behave." baseball at dusk, game chewing on the "Did too!" Poole had had time to make a decision. soiled thumb of their fielder's mitts, to watch the stars come out and wonder. The third circle is fluid, shifting the "real" so treach- erously underfoot that it becomes danger- ous to move, and the best recourse is to stand still and wonder, letting the believed and the unknown dissolve into each other, The circle itself may not even be round.

"Tyler estimates maybe four months, five at the outside. He'll put the money through

Mexico, no problem there. But it would be best to be underway by October, if pos- sible, because OPEC may be shifting its policy then, according to what Mahjoub has been feeding us."

Carruthers leaned back in his chair. It was a wing chair, one of a pair, hand-em- broidered in the rich, discreet patterns of Jacobean crewel. With one finger he traced the 20.6 miles of shoreline on Poole's map.

Rocky, most of it. and wild— he'd been there once on vacation. "Josh, you ever have something com- pletely inexplicable happen to you, some- thing you couldn't account for any way at all? Something maybe unreal?"

Poole lit a cigarette, gaining time while he assessed the question. II could be an oblique reference to some mistake Car- " —

Alfred They didn't come any tougher than Car- drops spilled over the edge, onto the teak tombstone says 'John Reznicki." on ruthers. any more ruthless; anything Poole table. "Of course, Al!" he said. I climb from behind the tombstone to revealed about past mistaken percep- "So you better get on the phone, Josh, top of it and gaze down at her. I. too, am

if I were totally tions, past misjudged deals, would be too and plug your little press leak. The paper middle-aged— or would be It risky. He put down his cigarette and lifted will need a retraction," corporeal, which I am not. is very hard the coffee mug, aware even through his "Yes, Right away." to hold the slate between here and not here, intended only as transition, not pro- tension of its heft, its expensive solidity. "I hope it wont damage your network. a state bracelet glows franti- "No." Poole said over the rim, "I can't Or anything.'" longed exercise. My

said genially, cally, and I put my right arm behind my I al all, Al." Poole back- really say that I have. Al. Usually can find "Not the explanation for pretty near everything ing from the room. He backed into the door. almost-back. It is doubtful that John Alfred that happens." "You didn't make any premature per- would have worn a bracelet. The two men stared at each other. sonal investments in the land without tell- The woman looks at me with steady eyes. ing me, did you, Josh? Of course not." They are dead-leaf brown, and they don't

course not." widen or close or shift away. I watch her I swoop down over the near-desert, "Of Nothing. reaching the lowest point of my wide pa- "Good. Get on it right away, then," Car- closely. rabola over a ranch house, then rising again ruthers said. "Rosa." I say gently. over the heads of dusty, unnoticing sheep. She continues to watch the tombstone People run out of the open barn, their heads Always the third circle slide's down into with detached calm. It is not the calm of tipped back toward the night sky. the second. The mysteries of faith harden shock; she is not in shock, but I nearly am. revolu- She knows there is nothing after death. "Did you see it, Dad? Did you? What do into the certainties of dogma; the

government; knows it beyond needing to doubt, knows you think it could have been?" tion becomes the new the her gray The man spits into the dust. "Lightnin', scientific theory habituates into the factual it with every undeviating cell of literally incapable of seeing most likely. Heat lightnin'." limits showing why something else can't mind, and so is "Sure." the woman says, relieved. "Hot- be done. Wondrous, theoretical, possible, what she knows does not exist. She looks levelly. ter 'n hell tonight." probable, factual, expected, mandatory. through me straightforward, utterly in her unwondering certainty. I again, to the Others. unshaken "No, it wasn't, Dad! It was too . . , too point this out, yet Gabriel is surely right. There is not much shaped. Like a silvery oval. It looked more They want something more dramatic and left. definite. I can tell; something more like last time like . . , like a ship." The man snorts. "Too much comics, boy!" time. Not this guerrilla warfare: hit and run, "Heat lightnin'," the woman says. hiding under this world's own debunked Carruthers turned his chair to face the of The skyline was impressive even "But you saw it had—" mysteries to rekindle that sense wonder: window. "That's enough." the man says sharply. of enigma, of things not absolutely com- through fog. but he didn't see it. Absently of on Poole's "We got work to do." He spits again, turns, placently unarguably certain: that it so his finger traced the line coast and walks back to the barn. The other two desperately needs. map. up and down and up again. Out the in last time, I say window he saw ocean, ocean sunset, follow, but I see the boy look back over his Look at what happened shoulder at the starry sky, his face lighted again. Afterwards. Anything too organized and the impossible flash ot a green-scaled with flailing by doubt and longing and a suspicious as- will defeat its own purpose. That's the tail above bare breasts ringed of their minds: to codify. blond hair and sea foam. tonishment, and 1 am satisfied. The Others treacherous genius

tell agrees But could it impossible if he had will complain— no, never complain, but Uriel murmurs assent; I can he how be It? point out with gentle, relentless clarity with what I am doing, seen that the power drain for this sort of thing is But the time, Gabriel says. There isn't Carruthers knew he was not going mad,

it. the state of was not a man who stood in danger of i. but I am satisfied. It is worth much time. Look a! physical the little world, even now. What if you can't madness. He might easily stand m danger coronary, hypertension, kidnap- "So we have two options, then," Car- do whatever it is you hope to do with all of sudden mur- . ping, stroke, emphysema, gangland ruthers said crisply, once more all busi- this furtive sneaking about . , in time?

bracelet. It der, or lung cancer— but not madness. He ness. "We can go ahead with the shoreline For answer. I slip on the starts

his judgment; it proved too project and make damn sure Cranston gets to glow, and I feel the power fill me. trusted had the Washington boys to shove the right pa- good too often not to trusl. In his judgment, pers around, or we can let this one go to The middle-aged woman in black stands he had seen the impossible. Therefore, it the environmentalists with lots of hue and alone by the flowerless grave, staring down was not impossible He had seen it. possible? cry. and rack up brownie points, cash, and at the raw earth. A shopping bag with string But what else might then be voting positions for the big push on the handles rests on the ground next to her; it Jesus H, Christ—/usr what e/se might be Yukon deal." bulges with the disparately shaped out- possibie?

it lines of milk, cat food, and day- Poole blinked. "But— I didn't think was powdered ever a question of old sweet rolls. The woman is not crying. Uriel murmurs again about the power that "Those are the two options. Josh. And Her face is set in the sagging lines of re- drain, but not very seriously. He knows I'm the one who makes the final decision, signed defeat, curving troughs from nose I know he will manage, somehow. And we bizarre the right. Josh?" His eyes chilled the room, light- to mouth, like wobbly parentheses. She both know that this, however gray ice. stands motionless, her wide knees a little procedure, is a Major Project. standing. Salvation is expensive. . Poole put down his cotfee mug; a few apart, not even waiting. Just The PICTORIAL fUUTUTBER FOUR

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