[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
sick of recruiting. I dropped both in the slot and headed for bed.
My eye fell on The By-Laws of Time, over my bed:
Never Do Yesterday What Should be Done Tomorrow.
If At Last You Do Succeed, Never Try Again.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine Billion.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
A Paradox May be Paradoctored.
It is Earlier When You Think.
Ancestors Are Just People.
Even Jove Nods.
They didn t inspire me the way they had when I was a recruit; thirty subjective years of time-jumping
wears you down. I undressed and when I got down to the hide I looked at my belly. A Caesarian leaves
a big scar but I m so hairy now that I don t notice it unless I look for it.
Then I glanced at the ring on my finger.
The Snake That Eats Its Own Tail, Forever and Ever . . . Iknow where I came from butwhere did all
you zombies come from?
I felt a headache coming on, but a headache powder is one thing I do not take. I did it once and you
all went away.
So I crawled into bed and whistled out the light.
Youaren t really there at all. There isn t anybody but me Jane here alone in the dark.
I miss you dreadfully!
THEY
They would not let him alone.
They would never let him alone. He realized that that was part of the plot against him never to leave
him in peace, never to give him a chance to mull over the lies they had told him, time enough to pick out
the flaws, and to figure out the truth for himself.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
That damned attendant this morning! He had come busting in with his breakfast tray, waking him, and
causing him to forget his dream. If only he could remember that dream
Someone was unlocking the door. He ignored it. Howdy, old boy. They tell me you refused your
breakfast? Dr. Hayward s professionally kindly mask hung over his bed.
I wasn t hungry.
But we can t have that. You ll get weak, and then I won t be able to get you well completely. Now get
up and get your clothes on and I ll order an eggnog for you. Come on, that s a good fellow!
Unwilling, but still less willing at that moment to enter into any conflict of wills, he got out of bed and
slipped on his bathrobe. That s better, Hayward approved. Have a cigarette?
No, thank you.
The doctor shook his head in a puzzled fashion. Darned if I can figure you out. Loss of interest in
physical pleasures does not fit your type of case.
What is my type of case? he inquired in flat tones.
Tut! Tut! Hayward tried to appear roguish. If medicos told their professional secrets, they might have
to work for a living.
What is my type of case?
Well the label doesn t matter, does it? Suppose you tell me. I really know nothing about your case as
yet. Don t you think it is about time you talked?
I ll play chess with you.
All right, all right. Hayward made a gesture of impatient concession. We ve played chess every day
for a week. If you will talk, I ll play chess.
What could it matter? If he was right, they already understood perfectly that he had discovered their
plot; there was nothing to be gained by concealing the obvious. Let them try to argue him out of it. Let
the tail go with the hide! To hell with it!
He got out the chessmen and commenced setting them up. What do you know of my case so far?
Very little. Physical examination, negative. Past history, negative. High intelligence, as shown by your
record in school and your success in your profession. Occasional fits of moodiness, but nothing
exceptional. The only positive information was the incident that caused you to come here for treatment.
To be brought here, you mean. Why should it cause comment?
Well, good gracious, man if you barricade yourself in your room and insist that your wife is plotting
against you, don t you expect people to notice?
But she was plotting against me and so are you. White, or black?
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]