Ghost - Anthony Piers

7/23/2019 Ghost - Anthony Piers

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Table of Contents

1. Blimped2. Naiad3. Black Hole4. Four Dreads5. Teories!. "osts#. $e%elation&. Committee'. (u))le1*. (arodies11. Neutrali)ations12. Caos+utor,s Note

Tis is a -ork of fiction. +ll te caracters and e%ents portraed intis book are fictional/ and an resemblance to real people or incidentsis purel coincidental."H0TCoprit c 1'&! b (iers +nton+ll rits reser%ed/ includin te rit to reproduce tis book orportions tereof in an form.First printin eptember 1'&!+ T0$ Book(ublised b Tom Doert +ssociates/ 6nc.4' 7est 24 treetNe- 8ork/ N.8. 1**1*Co%er art b $on 7alotsk6BN *93129'32#293:ibrar of Conress Catalo Card Number &595*315(rinted in te ;nited tates*'!54321

Capter 1


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sinificantl tan it sould a%e/ because it stood in suc contrast toer psical poise one ee -as a liter ra tan te oter. (erapsonl a spaceman -ould a%e noticed. =6t is te rule/ sir. 6f ou can,t do it ere/ ou -ill be unable todo it 0utside. Te Clinic -ill a%e to old ou for :ea%e Conditionin.= Because is ear in space ad deconditioned im for closeassociation -it te masses of art. He -as out of touc -itcontemporar mores. 6f te current fad consisted of strippin in miAedcompan/ failure to do so could lead to social embarrassment at best/and to personal a)ard at -orst. Tis appealin irl ad e%identl beenplaced to %erif is adaptabilit. etland esitated. =6 did not -ant to take art lea%e.= =0b%iousl/ sir/ since ou -ent te maAimum. No- ou a%e to sur%i%etirt das on art9or be casiered from space. 0ne of te littleanomalies of er%ice.= =Hell for a mont9or ell for life/= e areed. e lanced do-n momentaril. =7ould it elp if 6 stripped -itou>= =7oman/ do ou reali)e tat 6 a%e been denied9= He broke off. Head not been denied seA@ te 0perations anual ad made all -omen of

space accessible to im/ and all -ere smart and fit and skilled in tenecessities. 8et e ad felt denied@ te purel psical possession of-omen -o e kne- ad no real interest in im left im fundamentallunsatisfied. Ho- muc better merel to talk -it someone in onestcompanionsip/ to feel te ?uickenin of enuine mutual interest. 6ntat sense a straner became more allurin tan a kno-n -oman/ for apartfrom te no%elt of first9liaison tere -as at least te delusion tat abetter relationsip could de%elop. Tis -oman -as also in te er%ice. e kne- te manual. Tereforese -ould oblie im seAuall -itout ?ualm if e asked. Tat made itpointless. He -as sick of semiprofessional seA. =6 admire our aplomb/= e said instead. +nd reali)ed tat e ad uttered/ in lieu of a lie/ a alf9trut. Heen%ied te -ole -orld its aplomb. Te uman spere continued in -at toim seemed randiose insanit/ et it endured/ satisfied -it itself inmriad idiotic -as tat e could ne%er indule in. Te -orld ad itsnice@ etland ad not found is o-n. pace -as onl a substitute forte true companionsip e cra%ed. =6t is simpl a matter of pride/= se said seriousl. He sa- tattis -as no casual tin -it er. e -as performin er core in amanner tat reflected a deep/ %irtuall innate/ -oll attracti%e pride.He -as reminded of te adae of all tose dependent on maciner forteir -ell9bein/ -ic meant e%er li%in creature in space. =+ macinedoes not care.= an people in space could ardl be differentiated from macines intat respect@ te ad allo-ed routine con%enience to make tem resembleautomatons. 6t seemed to be a sur%i%al trait in te er%ice@ a number of

is onetime classmates of tis persuasion no- ranked im. But tis irl -as dedicated. 7ate%er se mit do/ o-e%er tri%ial/ad to be done -it te proper flair. 8et tat one discordance/ te offsade ee/ interfered. 6t pro%ided for er an indi%idualit ofeApression tat set er in%oluntaril apart. e probabl ated it/ bute found imself attracted to tat lone discrepanc far more tan to ermore con%entional carms. Carms -ere commonplace@ all oun -omen -ere-ell proportioned tese das. Fe- ad te art or fortune to possess ore%en to desire nonconformit. Did tis person reall care/ or -as it all a mask> Historicall


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masks ad been used to conceal eApression/ to ide te trul umanfeelins beneat. Toda te emulated it/ idin te lack of meaninfulpersonal interest. ;nable to let it o/ e plaed te ame e disliked.=8ou don,t kno- me. 8ou could face an unsafe situation.= =Not at all/ sir. 6 am certain ou are a entle man.= e pronouncedte last t-o -ords carefull/ makin clear te -ere t-o. Tat muc eunderstood a entleman -as b one aspect of reckonin a male entile/or non9Ee-. Terefore it carried a certain reliious implication. Directreliious reference -as riorousl eAcluded from casual dialoue. 8ettis particular distinction -as commonl inored/ and of course temaorit opinion traced te true oriin of te -ord to =entle/= or a-ell9bred person. Did tis refinement of usae on er part mean tat se arbored areliious preference> 7as it er -a of eApressin subtle obection tote la- tat ad abolised all semblance of reliious/ social or seAualdistinction> etland fro-ned. Ho- -ould tis beautifull balanced creature reactto a direct slur> 0rdinaril e ad no interest in baitin people/ buttis one intriued im. (eraps tat interest stemmed ciefl from isdesire to postpone is reckonin -it te current societ of art

anoter moment. He preferred to tink tat it -as because of tattriflin sade of te ee. Trut/ e remembered/ is a sade of ra.Ne%erteless it ad taken old. =6 did not reali)e tat te paceer%ice no- emplos professional mistresses.= =Tere are no suc tins/ sir/= se said -itout rancor/ and ereali)ed tat se ad fended off similar implications before. He ad notbeen sufficientl oriinal in is coice of insult. Tat -as part of isproblem. He -as not an oriinal man/ despite is desire to be. =TeeAcane of seAual relations for mone or material consideration -asruled unconstitutional last ear. +ll tins must be %oluntar.= +s -ell e kne-9tou in space tese tins -ere not %oluntar butmandator. Te manual co%ered it all. =Te Constitution is ettin to bea compreensi%e document/= e remarked. Te -ere of course referrin tote 7orld document/ not te lesser one e ad ro-n up -it. =Te most compreensi%e document in te istor of our species/sir.= etland started to lau/ but coked it off. e -as not okin. +fter a moment/ e asked =7at is our name>= =ostenna/ sir.= e -as not re?uired to i%e er full identit@tat -ould a%e interfered -it er off dut pri%ac. But e pondered-at se ad pro%ided/ leafin trou is mental dictionar of names.Te name ad oriinall been Hebre-9fittinl>9meanin a %iorous -oman.7as se %iorous> Did se reall deri%e from Hebre- loins> He suffered amomentar picture of a concentration camp/ an ul plume of tick smokerisin from a sooted cimne -itin it. Her parents could a%e li%ed inan ae to eAperience tat orror/ or rater er randparents@ ad teescaped te istorical Na)i pure> He sut off te %ision@ is

imaination ad no rit. =8ou intriue me/= etland said. =6 am intended to/ sir. (lease strip no-/ or a line -ill form.= Hardl. ac officer of space recei%ed indi%idual outprocessinattention/ unrused. Time -as not of te essence@ tere -as a certainiron tere. But a%in failed to penetrate er emotional armor/ e adno recourse. He stripped/ andin er te items of is uniform as tecame loose. He did not balk at te underclotin. oon e -as no lonera Commander in te pace er%ice/ but merel anoter naked man. ostenna studied im carefull. =8ou do not appear to a%e suffered


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muscular deterioration durin our lon tour in space.= =uc of it -as at one point fi%e ee acceleration/= e said. =7espun sip at oter times/ and follo-ed te manual on eAercise. Tere isne%er an need to deteriorate.= e smiled -it ust te rit force. =Tat eAplains it. Not allspacers onor te manual tat literall/ and so some suffer tissuelosses tat make it arder for tem on art for se%eral reasons.= =6f ou do not et on -it our business/ 6 -ill demonstrate mealt more tanibl.= =6n tat case 6,d better urr.= But se ad not been bluffed@ ismasculinit -as ob%iousl of neutral concern to er. (robabl man menad induled temsel%es -it er/ and man more ad -ised to@ none adtouced er -ere it counted. e -alked slo-l to te -all -ere costumes -ere massed/ and dre-out one. =6 tink tis is appropriate.= =+ntin/= etland said/ becomin per%ersel impatient -it teprocess. =7at is it>= =+ blimped outfit.= e pronounced it as t-o sllables/ e?uallaccented blim9ped. =6 tink ou can andle it/ and it is eAcellentcamouflae.=

He considered it dubiousl. =nickers and sneakers>= =+nd plastic acket and mini9cap. No one -ill suspect ou of bein aspace officer in tis.= =6s tis not some-at eAtreme> Tis is not a ostile countr@ it ism omeland.= =6t is eAtreme. Tis is not ostile countr. 6t is our omeland/=se areed -itout inflection. etland sied and donned te outfit/ transferrin is identittokens to it. =Aactl -at does a blimped do>= =09ou a%en,t encountered tem> (ublic transport closed do-nentirel siA monts ao -en its electric allocation ran out. No- it,se%er person for self.= He noticed o- se a%oided te standard =e= sotat no %estie of seAism so-ed. Te lanuae -as acceleratin itsprocess of caneG =Te streets are so conested -it ccles tat it isa)ardous for anone not used to it. Te blimped is te ne-est de%ice/but it sould et ou tere if te -ind is rit. Tat,s blimp9pedpedal blimp.= =(edal blimp/= e repeated. =6 bein to compreend.= =6t can be strenuous/ especiall in contrar -inds/ but 6 belie%eou are up to it. 7e a%e se%eral rental units on te roof. 7atdirection -ill ou be oin>= =From ere> out-est9if te %olatile modern societ as not canedte directions of te compass.= e smiled to te appropriate deree and touced a button on acolumn. 6nstant -eater came on. =torm approacin area of recei%er/+ 1#**. :T+ -arnin. (resent 15/ %eerin and erratic at frine.$epeat :T+ -arnin.=

=Tat is not entirel clear to me/= etland said. =7e do not a%emuc -eater in space/ and it -as not an immediate concern to me on mlast %isit to art.= =$it note -ind is fifteen knots in eAactl te direction ouneed/ at ideal speed. But in one our te storm -ill round all smallliter9tan9air craft. Tat means ou ad better urr.= Ten sefro-ned. =0ops/ 6 nearl forot our briefin. Te blimp -ill a%e to-ait.= = parents reside -itin fifteen miles of tis station/= etlandsaid. =6t is pointless to dela an our -en tat -ill cost me peraps


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as muc as a da before te -ind turns aain.= +ctuall e -as notemotionall close to is ain parents/ -o ad opposed is entr tospace and also blamed im for a certain9but a kind of redness formedbefore im like a -as9tecni?ue paintin/ a malinant spirit/ and esuppressed tat concept immediatel. He -ould merel introduce imselfto tem/ suffer teir cold -elcome/ ten find oter lodin. Teremainder of is forced lea%e -ould not be as bad. +t least art adood libraries. But it -ould not be politic to sa all tis openl/ andit -as not tis -oman,s business.. He must seem -illin to o. =6 amfamiliar -it tis area@ 6 re- up ere in te %irtual sado- of tetation. 6 need no briefin.= =0/ but ou do/ Commander/= se insisted. Te -ere standin close toeter. He enfolded er and kissed er.6t -as not an eApert ob/ ust a rater urried/ slopp effort. Caut b surprise/ se neiter resisted nor responded. But e founder/ e%en in te disabille of temporar stasis/ a %er nice obect totouc. He -as tempted to remain loner/ eAplorin te sensation/ascertainin -eter er off color ee -as merel te superficialindication of a lode tat penetrated deep into er bein/ eApandin intotrue indi%idualit deep -itin/ -ere te -orld could not kno-. But e

reali)ed tat it probabl -as no suc tin/ and tat se -as likel ascon%entional as er eAterior format suested. Tis returned im firmlto is oriinal obecti%e. He separated from er and proceeded to te stairs/ and se did notoppose im. Better to lea%e some pla for te imaination/ to belie%etat tere could be a real person in tere beind te near9perfection/and tat suc a person could be enuinel interested in a difficult manlike im. 6llusion -as at times a far s-eeter tin tan realit. Tefact of illusion needed to be cerised as -ell as its content. Te stairs -ere a sut9off escalator. ner ad become far tooprecious to -aste/ and it -ould a%e -asted more ener to replace temaciner -it a reular staircase or ramp/ so te tin remained inplace. 7as tis a fair analo of contemporar societ> e -ondered. +tin tat ad run its dramatic up-ard course/ oin no-ere/ and -osesteps -ere no- in stasis> 6t -as anoter topic to meditate at leisure.He conser%ed suc topics@ te -ere %aluable. To im/ boredom -as areater e%il tan uner or seAual frustration/ for boredom sinaled te-aste of a mind. Tere -as no alarm. ostenna -ould not turn im in. e ad toldim to report for briefin/ but enforcement -as not er department. +man ad a rit to inore -at -as intended onl for is o-n ood.(ro%ided e -asted notin and infrined te rits of no oters. He found te roof/ pleasantl -inded b is care up four flitsof escalator. Aercise -as -ere%er one found it@ tis -as also teessence of non-aste. Conser%ation came naturall to tose familiar -itspace/ -ere life depended on makin eAistin resources do. Te top of te buildin -as co%ered -it solar collectors/ eac unit

enclosed b clear plastic so as to make an o%en effect. Te sunlitentered freel/ but reflected out -it muc more difficult -enpolari)ed/ so eated te trapped air. Te -ater circulatin trou tetubes carried a-a tat capti%e eat for use b te occupants of tebuildin. 0ter collectors -ere crstals tat con%erted te litdirectl into electric po-er/ efficientl. 0nl a narro- -alk-aremained for access to te blimp dock/ and a sin said 7+TCH 80;$H+D07. etland obedientl unced do-n so as to minimi)e is po-er9robbinsado- and urried to te dock. Te blimps -ere tere tree of tem


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ancored to a rail on sort leases/ tuin like eaer steeds in tebree)e. ac ad a dependent apparatus/ a frame-ork of seat and pedals/-it %anes on te sides/ a plane to te front and a lare propeller fanbeind. No -aste material@ most of it -as lit plastic.

He -as familiar -it te basic principles of uidance in atmospere/and could see tat te -ind -ould be te o%er-elmin factor. Te blimps-ere lon and narro-/ -it flattened sides/ like fres-ater fis/ so asto pro%ide maAimum lift -it minimum dra. He concluded tat it souldbe possible to tack into te -ind in conunction -it te propeller. Butfar easier to ride -it te -ind/ especiall for a no%ice. He climbed into a prett red blimped/ fitted is arms into te %aneattacments/ is feet into te pedal soes/ and fastened te safetarness. Te front plane -as controlled b sifts of bod mass. Teapparatus seemed simple enou in teor to operate@ te psics of it-ere elementar. +nd it -as essentiall a sip. etland liked tat. +sip/ an sip/ -as ome/ and it -as nice to feel like a captain. Te -ind -as stead and stron/ as te -eater report ad promised/but te blimp did not respond properl to is efforts as e made to castoff. He obser%ed tat is -eit -as a little too muc for it/ so tatte pedal ousin -as snain on te roof. He -orked te %al%e to feed

ust enou additional droen into te ba to pro%ide te necessarbuoanc. Hdroen tere ad been a ear -en tis as -as banned infa%or of inert elium. But droen ad reater buoanc/ and -as easierto prepare9after all/ most of te uni%erse consisted of itG9and te firea)ard ad been abated b makin te sstem self9contained/ -it noleakae of as to te atmospere. 0f course te abolition of tobaccosmokin elped@ toda te a%erae citi)en -as not an incendiarmecanism. Terefore blo-ups sould be fe-. 7en precise balance ad been obtained and e o%ered inces off teroof/ e %al%ed it do-n/ cast loose te moorin and set off do-n-ind. 6t -as/ in its fasion/ fun. He -as floatin/ but not in free9fall.Te effect -as ?uite different from space tra%el/ and some-at eerie.For one tin/ e -as appallinl close to te planet. Fift feet. +eadof im a tall buildin loomed@ te -ind sould carr im b it/ nottrou it/ but e didn,t care to amble. 6n space notin caneddirection of its o-n accord/ so is refleAes ured action. He used isarm%anes to uide to te side. Notin appened. He -as driftin in air/ and ad no purcase.Hastil e pedaled. Te fan pused aainst te atmospere/ increasinis for-ard %elocit. No- te %anes ad some slit traction/ and e-obbled o%er to te side/ barel clearin te buildin. =BirtG= a -oman screamed irritabl as te blimp almost sides-ipeder -indo- %eetable arden. ="et in our lane/ purebredG= mbarrassed/ etland uided is craft into te air-a e no-discerned/ marked off b a pattern of buos ancored to buildins andutilit poles. Faster blimps tra%eled ier/ and traffic bore to terit. Te street -as east9-est/ not ?uite alined -it te -ind/ so e

ad to pedal and steer %iorousl. =Birt/= e murmured/ rememberin te -oman,s curse9-ord. oreproduction itself ad become anatema in some circles. =(urebred.=Tat -as a more establised insult/ more specific. He did not care toeAplain tat e ad been born before te la- ad caned. But tis sortof lanuae -as all too tpical of -at e disliked on art@ in spacetere -as no parallel. Belo- im -ere te massed ccles tat ostenna/ er of te sade ofra/ ad -arned im about. Tere -ere tousands of tem. ost -ere t-o9-eeled/ but ?uite a number -ere one9 or tree9 or four9-eeled


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uniccles/ triccles/ ?uadriccles. Te last -ere actuall pedalcars/some loaded -it families/ some e%en -it solar collectors co%erintem. Tere -ere no fuel9po-ered %eicles at all. No mster about tat. Te ener9eAorbitant last centur ad%irtuall depleted all read sources of po-er. Te de%elopin crisis adbeen apparent for alf a centur or more/ but notin ad been doneuntil too late. Te o%ernment of te -orld ad finall reser%ed allremainin fossil fuel sources for offplanet use/ at one strokeabolisin te ae of te automobile/ et plane and po-ered -atercraft.6t ad been desperation/ not foresit. uddenl te pollution of te en%ironment ad decreased sarpl/psical eAertion ad increased/ and li%es ad lentened. erendipitperaps te loss of te use of fossil fuels ad been a net benefit. 0fcourse te a%erae citi)en ad not tout so/ and te public transportsstem ad been strained9until its current ad also been cut off/ durinis most recent tour. ad -orldG e tout. 6t seemed determined to do te rit tinsfor te -ron reasons/ e%en tou te rit reasons -ere apparent.pace -as more predictable and more reasonable. 0r -ere tose conceptsredundant> Could tere be unpredictable reason/ or unreasonable

predictabilit> 7ell/ peraps. $elati%istic teor seemed %er like teformer/ and as for te latter/ e ad eAperienced an e%ent once tat inretrospect9no/ no/ blot tat out@ it -as too red/ too9 =7atc -ere er oin,/ prokG= a %oice elled in is ear. etland looked about. He ad drifted into te opposin air lanedurin is introspection/ and -as interferin -it traffic. 6n tisfifteen9knot -ind it seemed impossible to pedal a blimp nort-est/ butsome -ere tackin -est successfull. =orr.= +nd -at did =prok= mean> =orrG= te oter elled indinantl. He -as a oun man/ perapst-ent/ lit bro-n of ue in te current fasion. He spun is blimpabout eApertl and fle- alonside etland,s craft/ interferin -it is-ind. =orrG 7at are ou9a -aster>= 7aster9tat -as identifiable as contemporar slan. 7aste ad becomete ultimate crime/ especiall in te ees of tose -o ad most freelpracticed it until %er recentl. Ne- con%erts -ere enerall most%iorous9and obnoAious9in an pursuit. =6 a%e not used tis tpe of craft lon/= etland eAplained/ not-antin to et in%ol%ed in an altercation. =Ten -at in se are ou doin in mainline traffic/ paleface>= Tis time etland caut te insult s?uarel. e9tat -ould besort for sereation/ no- a bad -ord. (aleface9te +merind term for te-ite intruder/ istoricall. ince etland -as a %er dark black man/tis -as a studied iron. +ntin tat called attention to te eAtremesof a person,s racial caracteristics -as an affront/ for it presumed e-as of illeitimate birt. Tis despite te fact tat te isceenation+ct ad been in force for onl t-el%e ears. 8ounsters assumed tat tepresent state ad al-as obtained/ e%en -en te kne- better@ tat -as

in its -a also tpical of tis ne- culture. etland inored te obnoAious out and steered a-a. But teoter/ is baitin spirit a-akened/ kept pace -it im9an eas ob/since e ad preeempted te -indside. =7ere ou bin/ lutton>= edemanded loudl. =Home on te rane>= ore insults. Translation -as becomin easier as te nature of teout manifested. Food -as scarce/ so lutton -as an unfori%ableoffense. 0besit ad disappeared. Tose -o could afford to eat -ell didnot dare do so/ lest te be lnced. Te =rane= -as te old cattle9raisin farm/ before te consumption of meat -as banned. To a%e a ome


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on te rane implied eiter criminal rancin for te black market meatmarket =fenced= meat/ or tat a person -as one of te cattle. ;nderstand a culture,s insults/ e tout/ and understand teculture. Ho- closel te t-o -ere alliedG 8et it -as pointless to attempt to trade ibes -it suc ilk. Tekid surel ad a ob/ as tere -as no- a undred percent emploment/ andsoon e -ould a%e to o to it. etland continued is flit. He adno- otten out of te cit proper and -as o%er te suburbs9-ere fiftpercent of te terrain -as arden. Corn stood bet-een te ouses/ andcabbae ruled te back ards/ and te front la-ns -ere -a%in -eat.$eular rass ad become uneconomical/ since tere -as no fuel for po-ermo-ers. Toda men used sctes9at ar%est time. =8ou obless neuterG= te out souted. =7at kind of a fis areou>= Eobless9neuter9fis. Te lad -as reall scratcin for sometintat -ould urt. 6t -as time to sut im up. =+ space fis/= etlandreplied sortl9and reali)ed immediatel tat e ad made a bad mistake. =paceG= te out eAclaimed as if tis -ere anoter dirt -ord.Ten/ leefull to te -ole lane =Tis caracter,s radioacti%eG He,s aspacemanG=

6mmediatel oter blimps con%ered. ome of tem -ere larer t-o9seater tandems. =pacemanG= Te -ord spread like ne-s of a radiationa)ard. etland tried to accelerate a-a/ but is le muscles -eren,tconditioned for tis speciali)ed form of eAercise/ and te otersreadil caut up. 7ite/ ello- and bro-n faces rinned maliciousl. =He/ spacerG Ho- muc coal a%e ou stole>= one elled. Atracts ofcoal pro%ided te bulk of te cemical propellants of spacesips. Tere-as a lot of coal a%ailable/ but processin it -itout destroinfarmland -as eApensi%e. =Ho- muc sale did ou fail>= anoter demanded. Te second maorsource of fossil fuel -as sale oil/ muc of -ic did not make testrinent space standards. =Failed= sale ser%ed for muc of art,sessential industr. ost nati%es felt tat te ood sale oil sould bereser%ed for artl use/ so tis -as anoter source of ire. =Ho- muc roent did ou %ent>= $adiation ad of course become anobscene concept since te +tomic +ct. To make te obscenit of it ?uiteplain/ te speaker issued a loud sound of crepitation/ as of breakin-ind. =Ho- muc as did ou pass>= Te -ere ettin bolder@ someonecuckled. Te crepitation became a small corus. =Ho- muc -ork did ou sirk>= etland cut in te compressor circuit. Te pedal resistanceabruptl stiffened as te droen as -as recompressed to li?uid state.Tere -as no immediate effect on te blimp@ tou its lift -as finelbalanced aainst its caro/ compressin droen b and -as not a rapidprocess. He -as ettin ot/ bot from te eAertion and te eat emittedb te compression clinder. Not to consider te arassment. But b te

time te punks reali)ed -at e -as doin/ e -ould be losin ele%ationat a rate te could not immediatel matc/ and sould be able to escapetem b floatin lo-. 6t -ould be muc faster merel to bleed some as from te baG Buttere -as of course no -a to do tat sort of puncin a ole in teblimp/ and it -ould be bot -asteful and danerous. 6t -ould bedifficult or impossible to reain ele%ation later/ e%en if te olecould be resealed/ as te blimp carried onl a minimal reser%e. 7aste-as a crime/ a sin/ and a social indiscretion@ tat -as a cultural %ie-tat etland sared completel. %en to break -ind naturall ad become


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an offense not so muc aainst taste but aainst -aste/ as te tauntinof te outs -as makin e%ident. Flammable as -as a planetarresource. =pace/ space/ ide er faceG= =ome oter placeG= ="o find ourself anoter oalG= ="o ram our poleG= =;p a black oleG= Te supposed cle%erness of tat last impromptu ibe o%ercame tem/and te -ole an burst out lauin. etland ad to admit tat it -asan inspired uAtaposition of spacism and racism and peraps seAism9andit didn,t elp tat e -as no- ecoin teir doerel in is o-n mind.7it an effort e kept is face strait/ for te ad scored on ismost %ulnerable spot. Black ole . . . Te -ere usin teir planes to scoop do-n/ bu))in im like so manmonstrous flies. Flies -ere more common since te 6nsecticide +ct tatbanned te use of all airborne poisons. But so/ fortunatel/ -erespiders and oter fl predators. =pace/ spacedG= te elled/ no- linkin te space effort -it teilleal use of consciousness9canin drus. =7as,e/ -asteG= te

canted in unison. No- te started bumpin into is blimp/ rockin it %iolentl intime -it te loudenin cant. =(+C9(+CDG 7+,97+TG= But te commotion ad attracted official attention. + blue policelider looped do-n in?uirinl. Te cro-d of blimps scattered/ findinoter traffic lanes -it a facilit etland could onl en%. etland slo-l relaAed. 7at ad started as mere arassment adbeen -orkin into a danerous situation. Had one of tose attemptedostlins caused im to o out of control/ -it is present uncertaintof na%iation/ e could a%e taken a bad fall. (eraps e sould a%e -aited for te briefin ostenna ad uredupon im. :ike a tpicall sort9sited uman bein/ e ad inored te-arnin until almost too late.

Capter 2


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for one no-. He didn,t -ant is bubble punctured b te crossbarG He -orked is %anes and uided around/ ardl earin te Bailsman,sanr =7asterG= sout. Te blimp -as finall risin. Te stiffenin -ind -as carrin itdirectl to-ard anoter a)ard. 0n a rock promontor eAtendin from asmall beac -as a Darrieus oop/ a lare modern -indmill. 6ts saft -as%ertical/ -it tree ribbonlike loops of tin metal ancored at top andbottom. Tese -ere t-isted to scoop te -ind/ makin te -ole structurerotate on its uprit aAis. 6n fact/ it most resembled a tirt9foot9tall in%erted ebeater9oin at full speed. His little balloon -as eaded rit for tose flasin blades. Notonl -ould te cut it to pieces9te -ould perform te same ser%ice foris bod. He could not rise abo%e it in time. He %eered to te side/ but asudden stroner ust of -ind bore im strait into it an-a. Te storm-as de%elopinG Ten e remembered to use is plane. Te insultin outs ad usedteir planes to s-oop do-n ?uickl. uc motion re?uired effort/ as it-as necessar to peddle strenuousl/ and te effect -as temporar/ butat least it -as fast. He anled is plane do-n sarpl9and offbalanced

imself. Tese forces ad to be applied cautiouslG He -as not sure precisel -at maneu%er e performed/ but e foundimself skimmin te -ater barel to one side of te ebeater. He adcleared it/ someo-G But no- e -as too lo-/ out of control/ and tooclose to te beac. (eople -ere on te sore/ tro-in temsel%es out ofte -a as e )oomed to-ard tem. His pedal frame-ork snaed on te sand as e s-ept to sore. Teblimp nosed for-ard and do-n/ like a man trippin/ and etland landedface do-n in te sand. His arness kept im seated/ but is planesnapped off and is knees -ere drain painfull. Hands rabbed im/ altin te rampain blimp. Da)edl e sa-irls alf a do)en nude nmps/ sunbaters. %er one -as slender andprett in an elfin -a/ as if ne-l formed from coalescin frot. 0ceanids/ e tout. No/ tose -ere sea nmps. Tese -erefres-ater. He flipped te paes of is mental dictionar/ tat ad notbeen disturbed b te sakeup or te anle of is ead/ searcin forte appropriate term/ but couldn,t find it. 0f course not/ e reminded imself impatientl@ e ad to kno- -at-ord e -as lookin for first. Dictionaries -ent from term todefinition/ not %ice %ersa. =+re ou all rit/ blimper>= a -orried irl in?uired. e adsunbleaced lit bro-n air/ and te skin around er ees -as pale-ere abitual sunlasses ad interrupted te tan. Tat -as te onlplace on er bod -ere er natural pure9-ite skin color so-edtrou@ se ad probabl been ra))ed about it/ tou se -as at leasttree ears older tan te isceenation +ct. 7ell/ t-o ears/ peraps.0ne/ certainl. +t -at ae did irls de%elop/ tese das> (ossibl se

felt an affinit to im/ te =purebred= of anoter color. =aken up/= e muttered as se reaced around im/ unfastenin testraps. 6t -as necessaril an a-k-ard position/ but er tanned smallbreasts pressed aainst is side -it more tan casual force. Nmp se-as/ indeed@ -at -as te specific term> 7it inspiration/ e looked up =0ceanid.= ure enou/ itsdefinition mentioned its complement/ te fres-ater nmp naiad.=NaiadG= e eAclaimed. =7at>= e paused/ arms around im. e ad a pleasant sunbakedsmell/ and er skin -as soft.


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=Naiad. Nmp of te lake and fountain. + fair oun maid/mtoloicall. Tat is m impression of ou.= e smiled. =$eall> Tat,s neatG +nd ou,re a andsome black de%il.7ould ou like to seA me>= CautionG Te rapidl canin seAual mores of art could bedisastrous for im. Te costume9irl ostenna ad alread so-n imtat/ tellin im tat e ad to be able to strip in miAed compan. Head kno-n tat suc con%entions -ere de%elopin in members of te samerace/ since te could not marr -itin it/ but tis irl -as of adifferent race. But oun@ -at -as te minimum ae limit no-> To =seA=er/ as se put it9-ould tat be tantamount to betrotal> 0pposite races-ere under stron pressure to marr. e e%identl tout e -as areular nati%e/ a dasin blimpedaler. Better to be off/ politel. =6 -ould like to seA ou all/= e said allantl to te roup ofirls. =But in m present state 6 lack te capacit.= 0ne of te bro-n nmps laued/ er breasts ilin. ,,7ell spoke/bacG= To be a bacelor -as no- a mark of respectabilit/ for it -asassumed tat e -asn,t reproducin. =But -e could make it a roupie affair/= anoter irl said britl/runnin er left and do-n te outside of er ti as se rotated er

ips/ and slidin it up on te inside. Te esture ad a potent effecton im. 0/ didn,t te learn te seAual sinals earl todaG Te oters eAclaimed -it merr areement/ umpin and clappinteir ands. 8oun but eaerG Eokin or serious> etland -asn,t sure. He -as normall a lustman/ and tis roup of seeminl -illin nmps barel into teir teens-as %er like some of is space9aul erotic fancies. He -as sure no-ae ad become no barrier. +n indi%idual -o desired seA and possessedte psical indications of maturit -as entitled to it/ pro%ided teproposed partner -as amenable and tere -as no force or pain. +ll teirls -ould a%e been treated at menarce to pre%ent conception. Tese-ere fres and clean and -olesome creatures/ and tere -as no ?uestionof multiple marriae9tou -o could tell -at te standard mit be bte time of is neAt lea%e>G But after te arassment b te oun men/e took notin for ranted. He could not enter into tis under falsepremises. =:adies/ 6 must make a confession/= e said ra%el/ and tetittered -it pleasure at te adult address. 0bser%in te ?ui%erinmotions of teir pert mammaries as teir pleased embarrassmentmanifested/ e -ondered -eter e ad ust disco%ered te true oriinof te term =titter.= Tit9titter9titillate ... of course is mentaldictionar said tat last -ord deri%ed from te :atin titillo/ tickle.But -o could sa -ere te ticklin mit be done> =6 am of space.= +ll siA oun faces fro)e/ ees starin at im -it tat daintfiAit tpical of socked nmps. 6n te past decade te mit a%ereacted similarl ad e confessed to bein a pederast or a truantofficer. Toda pederast -as sociall acceptable/ e%en popular@ scool/

less so. But not space tra%el. Finall te naiad/ te friendl -ite irl/ spoke -it difficult.=6 suppose someone as to o to space. 7en ou et drafted/ ou usta%e to o/ or9= =6 -as drafted/= e said. =But after m compulsor tour/ 6 re9spaced. 6 am a career officer.= Te -ere %isibl torn bet-een a-e and orror. pace still ad itsfascination/ peraps because of its traditionalistic militar aspects/but te penomenal -aste of ener associated -it it dominated tepopular conception.


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=7e sould a%e let im dra/= a black9aired nmp said bitterl. =:et,s be fair/= a dark bro-n maned one said. =He landed ere baccident. Tat -asn,t is fault. He told us te trut -en e didn,ta%e to/ so -e -ouldn,t prok -it a -aster. 7e can,t reall blame im.= (rok9tat -ord aain. But tis time it -as in conteAt. (rok9proc9procreation. + ne- four9letter term/ sinifin illicit reproduction/similar to te one e ad been raised -it. + -ord of man purposes/ambition miAed -it neation. eA -as no loner suspect/ but procreation-as/ especiall bet-een members of te same race. ince man peoplestill opposed te isceenation +ct/ te onl uaranteed ood seA -assterile seA. 0r so te polite9societ mt -ent. =7e sure can,t reall praise im eiterG= anoter eAclaimed. =+prokin, spacer Te -ite irl blused/ %ictim of er companion,s le-d lanuae.Tere -as a brief silence. Ten te bro-n nmp/ adept at compromise/ said britl =:et,si%e im a fi%e9second ead start.= miles flased. $ecent impro%ements in nutrition and proplaAis adi%en tem all perfect teet. =Tat,s fairG= te areed. etland lanced around. T-o of tem eld is blimp/ teir combined

-eit too muc for it despite te tu of -ind/ tou tere -erescuffl marks in te sand -ere usts ad made teir feet dra. Testorm -as de%elopin/ blo-in te irls, air across teir facesattracti%el. Tree oters -ere stoopin/ aterin andfuls of sand and -atstones te could find. 0nl te naiad remained aloof/ a)in at im-it suc disappointment tat e -as sorr for er. %en one9minuteeartbreaks -ere keen at tat ae. To find a kindred soul/ to a%e tecance to enae in enuine adult seA -it im/ te dream of proclaiminafter-ard =6 ad it -it a full9ro-n man/ fort at least/ and totallopposite raceG=9and ten to lose im to sometin as stupid as tisGetland understood/ for e sared te feelin/ -eter strait ormirror9imae. No- se -ould a%e to participate in te -itc9unt/ lestse suffer ostracism b er companions/ and it mit be monts beforese ad anoter suc cance. But condemnation b er peers -as/ ofcourse/ beond er capacit to tolerate. 7ould te tr reall to urt im> 6f it -as to be merel a matterof tacklin im/ ettin im do-n/ strippin im/ rubbin sand in isair/ and peraps plain a ame of =amson= b oldin im do-n -ilete took turns plain -it is enitals and concludin -it a =rape=b te cosen nmp before te let im o ... -ell/ e ad eard ofsuc tins/ and -ould be -illin to submit. But e ad no assurancetat te -ould not instead punis im trul/ beatin im as ard aste dared -itout killin im. Tat/ too/ e kne- of. He -as a man in fit psical condition@ te -ere fresl nubileirls. He could fit/ usin is trainin to knock tem out in rapidorder. He doubted tat all siA toeter could stand effecti%el aainst

im if e cose tat course. But e didn,t -ant to attack tese lo%ellittle nmps9especiall if teir intent -as merel to pla -it im/ in-ate%er manner. Tat left onl one safe and feasible course te one suested. Tecase. He leaped for te blimp. Te t-o -ere too ?uick for im. :auin/te let te craft o. ;nburdened/ it sot into te air/ its brokenplane danlin. He made a rab for it/ but a ello- nmp blocked im/ettin er illicit trill as is bod trust aainst ers. Ten teblimp -as out of reac.


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=8ou a%e -asted te balloonG= te naiad cried/ orrified. =Tat,sust as bad as -at e9= But etland,s motion ad started te clock. =0ne/ t-o/= te irlscanted in place/ clappin teir ands in te measured cadence. =Tree/four/ F6IG= He ran. Te sand a%e -a under is feet/ costin im traction.Barefooted/ te irls -ere better off. + stone caut im in te back.6t didn,t urt@ it -as too small/ and lacked force. Te -eren,t realltrin to arm im/ ten/ ust to castise im. 6t -as a demonstrationte ad to make/ to pro%e o- te ated space. Te -aste of spaceG Had e made a mistake/ ten/ in runnin> Had e e%en ad%anced ontem menacinl/ te probabl -ould a%e scattered in panic. +ll eAceptte naiad/ peraps. But e/ too/ ad a demonstration to make tat in nocase -ould e urt tem. 6f e became certain tat te -ere onlplain/ e mit allo- tem to catc im/ and e -ould submit -it onltoken resistance to teir =punisment.= He ad seen te forbiddenlonin in te naiad,s face. Not merel seAual one da se mit e%eno to space erself/ a%in seen te uman side of it. Tere -as so muce could tell er/ in te uise of a casual erotic encounter. o muc emit ain from er innocent but enuine attention. Her feelins -ere

miAed but enuine. He cared do-n te beac to-ard te Darrieus rotor. + mistake@tere -as no pat beond it/ ust te open -ater9and tese nude irlscould surel s-im better tan e could in is clotes. He -ould becaut in a dro-n9or9be9dro-ned situation/ for teir fren) -as buildinlike te storm/ becomin enuine. 7ater could be an eAcellent site forseAual ames/ but it -as also entirel too danerous. +lread oternaked sunbaters -ere oinin in/ male and female/ and te naiad -asfallin back. Tat -as te sinal of te deterioratin nature of tecase. Te pursuers ad te land cut off@ tere -as no-ere to o butto-ard te -indmill. abe tat -as teir intent/ if a formin mob could be said to a%eintent to dri%e im into te rapidl mo%in blades of te mill. Tente people -ould be anonmous and blameless@ it -ould be called accidentor suicide. urder -as still a crime/ for it -as te -astin of umanlife/ but suicide -as leitimate so lon as it did not destro antinelse of %alue. Te murder of a spacer -ould rouse te enforcementaencies/ and retribution -ould be se%ere@ te suicide of te sameperson -ould not occasion muc alarm on art. Te fair nmps ad been read to enae in roup seA -it im.7illinl/ ofull/ peraps imainati%el/ -it te %er umaneAcitement of first sinificant eAperience/ and peraps some mind9to9mind camaraderie slipped in/ as it -ere illicitl9te %er kind ofeAperience e cra%ed. Tese irls -ere too oun to possess teemotional control of te mature -oman@ teir os and urts -ere openleApressed. 7 adn,t e kept is mout sut> He could a%e ad it all/and one is -a anonmousl. +ll se%en participants -ould a%e

benefited. But of course e ad te ans-er. 6t -ould a%e been disonest toaccept teir ministrations under a false pretense. Tou e likedenuine seAual interpla/ interit -as fundamental. Tis -as not aposition man people understood or appreciated/ but e kne- e -ouldne%er alter it. 6f e e%er found a -oman -it a similar attitude . . . +ctuall/ e ad found one/ once. e ad been/ if antin/ etmore set in tis matter tan e. e ad e%en9No/ noG Block it outGForet/ bur/ ideG He -as pantin no-/ but e ad outdistanced te pursuit. His


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foot-ear a%e im an ad%antae ere on te rock proection@ teir barefeet slo-ed tem. He -as a po-erful man/ -it unusual endurance@ tatcame of eAposure to sustained i9ee acceleration. He also adinfleAible determination/ and could pus imself/ psicall andmentall/ muc beond te normal limits of oters. He -as/ o-e%er/ comin up aainst natural limits no-. Te bladesbarred is furter proress/ and te lake on eiter side of tepromontor limited maneu%erin. No police lider -as in sit tis time.He -ould a%e to coose bet-een is propensities for disablin and9to9and combat and is inclination to offer no resistance at all. Teformer -as more likel/ no- tat te roup of irls ad been supplantedb a different kind of tron/ but also more complicated. He -ould beeld accountable for an person e urt/ and te imae of te paceer%ice -ould suffer et anoter blo-. But if e did not resist/ ecould et imself maimed or killed. No- e sa- tat te mill rotor -as set up on a substantial pedestal9in more tan one respect/ considerin tis culture,s ne-found -orsip of=free= po-er9in order to brin te blades into te -ind properl. He-ould a%e to leap up to touc te danerous part. Tat -as fortunate/because te -ind -as no- increasin to near9ale strent/ -it stroner

usts/ makin te blades sin -it teir special melod of force. Temill -as in its element/ literall@ it -as built to -itstand urricane9force -inds/ and etland kne- tat te po-er to be dra-n from tat -ind%aried -it te cube of its %elocit. + storm -as eAcellent ne-s fortis millG +nd bad ne-s for etland. His predicament remained. Te -a%es ofte reser%oir -ere no- -ippin up i@ e dared not trust imself totat. ;nless te storm scattered te tron9but tis did not seem to beappenin. $ater/ it ured tem into abandoned eAcitement@ te mitdo antin. He passed under te oop and came up aainst te central to-er ofte -indmill. Beond tis/ e remembered/ te escarpment dropped do-ninto te -ater. He could o no farter. Te pursuers s-armed in. Te intensifin storm ad tinned out teentler elements/ lea%in te most aressi%e males. Te -ere forininto te opposin -ind/ teir ees slitted/ teir air flattened back.Te -ere no- beond reason@ te -ere o%erned b te blood9lust of temob. Tere could be no submission@ tat -ould lead onl to a ?uickerdemise. =6 am of spaceG= e cried. =Tere -ill be an accountinG= But tistreat/ ?uite %alid/ -as -asted in te o-l of te -ind. Te could note%en ear im. He ad to fit. +ain/ belatedl/ e -ised e ad linered for te briefin at tetation. He -ould surel a%e been -arned of tis tpe of encounter/ andtold o- to a%oid it. (eraps te -ould a%e pro%ided im -it a betterblimped route/ one tat did not pass i buildins or beaces or-indmills.

etland braced is back aainst te stone and concrete -all andraised is ands/ prepared to defend imself. He -as no- out of te-ind/ -ile it still alf blinded is pursuers. But -en te came closeto te to-er/ te -ould be sielded from it too. =Come in/ Captain/= a deep %oice said almost beind im. etland umped/ startled. His ead snapped about. + lare ello- man stood in a door-a tat ad opened in te base ofte Darrieus structure. He -as pure onoloid/ terefore anoter racialoutcast/ and e -as smilin. etland lanced at te oncomin cro-d/ anddecided to accept te proffered ospitalit. He stepped rapidl to te


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door. Te ello- man closed it beind tem/ and te fur of te stormabruptl cut off. Te ost set an old9fasioned -ooden bar across teinside. Te door -as stout/ as befitted te fiAtures of a urricane9proof domicile@ no one -ould break trou it bareanded. =Te -eater -ill no- disperse tem/= te man said. His %oice -asbeautiful not merel eAtraordinaril lo-/ but possessed of specialtonal ?ualities tat made it fascinatin. ome deep %oices etland adeard -ere coarse/ but tis one -as almost musical/ like te lo-estpitc of te base strins in an orcestra. Te effect -as eitened ba certain subtle oriental accent@ undoubtedl te man ad been broutto tis section of te -orld b one of te tremendous mirator currentsspa-ned b te isceenation +ct. =Tank ou. 6 am9err etland/= e asped. Tat pursuit ad becomeas danerous as an treat in spaceG =No Captain@ m le%el is Commander.But it is true 6 am of space.= He -aited for te neati%e reaction/ but it did not come. =6 amomnanda.= Te sook ands ra%el. 6t occurred to etland tat a formal bo-mit be more in keepin -it tis man,s eritae. But it -ould be

artificial to attempt tat ere. =6 -as a-are of our approac/=omnanda said. =Te -ole beac -as a-are of itG= etland areed ruefull. =6 refer to prior information.= omnanda alf turned. =6 a%eprepared a meal@ ou are in uner.= He so-ed te -a to a smallcentral compartment/ more b a nod of te lare ead tan b anperambulator motion/ for te space ere -as as cro-ded as tat of asuttlesip. + compact table risin onl inces off te floor -as setfor t-o. =8ou reall did kno-G= etland said. =+re ou pscic>= =8es.= etland paused. He ad spoken litl/ but te assent -ascompletel serious. ;nable to eAplore te ramifications of tis responserapidl/ e caned te subect. =Don,t ou a%e to tend to te milldurin te storm> 6 sould tink tere -ould be adustments/ and 6 -ouldnot -is to distract ou from our business.= =6 am a-are of te mill.= Tat -as all te eAplanation a pscicneeded to pro%ide/ it seemed. =6 fa%or te oriental -as. 8ou -illmaster copsticks rapidl/ for ou a%e eAcellent coordination.= =8es.= Coordination -as anoter necessit of space@ no pscicinformation -as needed for tat insitG Te sat crossleed on te floor on eiter side of te table andpicked up teir bo-ls. ure enou/ etland imitated is ost and?uickl ot te an of te sticks. Te tecni?ue -as to brin te bo-lclose to te face and manipulate te finers ?uickl so tat spillae-as minimal e%en b ineAperienced ands. Te food -as a miAture of %eetables/ spiced. 6t -as strane but

?uite ood. =Ho- is it tat ou do not obect to te space effort>= etlandin?uired. =8ou surel kno- o- muc ener it consumes.= =6t is a necessar consumption/ Captain. 6t9= =(lease/ ou embarrass me. 6 lack tat status b t-o rades.= =6 doubt tat/ Captain. 6 seldom make errors of tat nature.= o muc for pscic accurac. etland let it o@ e ad ad enouof dissension/ and did not -is to antaoni)e is msterious ost. =6reret interruptin ou.= =pace is te onl a%enue remainin for te possible sal%ation of


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our kind/= omnanda said ra%el. 0/ tat melodic %oice tat made e%enob%ious statements seem to a%e special importG =0ur critical need isfor ener. 0nl in space is tere ope of disco%erin ne- sources. 6tis true tat tis searc re?uires tremendous eApenditures of resources/but -e appear to a%e no alternati%e. oon te effort ma be re-arded-it penomenal success. +nd our o-n part in it9= =6 am surprised tat one -o is pscic sould manae a -indmill/=etland said. =Te task -ould seem to lack callene.= =6t seems 6 am also letaric/ Captain. (eraps tat is te root ofm abilit. 6t is easier to economi)e on te eApenditure of ener ifone is a-are of te larer frame-ork. 7atcmen are needed for tecomparati%el dull assinments like tis one/ for te mill as a cannelof po-er as considerable %alue to te societ/ and full emploment isuaranteed b te o%ernment.= =Te mploment +ct/= etland areed. =6t is larel a sinecure inerent in te sstem tat allo-s us torelaA. 6 do/ o-e%er/ maintain te rotor in eAcellent operational form.= B bein pscicall a-are of its needs> =6 understand tere are anumber of suc sinecures/= etland said. =an people/ it seems/consider te entire pace er%ice to be of a similar nature.=

omnanda smiled/ ackno-ledin te iron. He mo%ed aside te emptbo-ls. =7ater/ Captain>= =6f ou please.= Te took lasses of cill -ater/ oldin tem momentaril i inte manner of a toast. +fter te spiced %eetables/ te drink -as mostrefresin. =all -e pla a ame of cess/ Captain>= etland smiled. =8ou certainl are a-are of m foiblesG Do ou a%ea board>= =6t is not necessar. elect our openin.= + da-nin ope filled etland,s breast. 7at e contemplated -asfull as appealin as te seA proposed b te naiad/ in its special -a.=7ite (a-n to in Four/= e said. =Black (a-n to Jueen Four.= =icilian/= etland murmured/ pleased. Te openin intriued im@but more tan tat/ e appreciated te fact tat omnanda/ like imself/could pla mental cess. + rare disco%erG =Do ou also a%e eideticmemor>= =No/ Captain. 6 merel eno te ame. 6t re?uires no psicaleffort.= Tat -as certainl true/ -en no board or pieces -ere usedGDelitful. Te plaed out te ame. etland kne- imself to be a stron ifcon%entional plaer/ because e ad total recall and seldom made simpleerrors. He could re%ie- all te principal lines of strate from ismental cess manuals. But omnanda/ plain in less ortodoA fasion/defeated im roundl. Te formidable po-er of te man,s mind manifested

obli?uel trou is strate@ mo%es tat ad seemed superfluous so-edteir rationale later in te ame/ -en it -as too late to counter tem.%en ere/ tere -as an econom of concept/ -it brilliance ser%in inlieu of offensi%e force@ a la) man,s mode. etland -as a-are tat e-as losin from te outset/ but plaed it trou because e -asfascinated b te coordinated beaut of omnanda,s tecni?ue. %er timee tried to mount an offensi%e/ e disco%ered tat is opponent adanticipated it and set is pieces to foil te trust. 6t -as atoroul enoable eAperience/ tis meetin -it an oriinal andpo-erful mind.


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=8ou are a most intellient man/= etland said/ after concedin teame. =6 en% ou tat facilit.= =8our en%/ in tis case/ is misplaced. 6 am not intellient@ 6merel di%ine our intent and counter it before it takes effect.= Tat seemed indeed to a%e been te caseG =8ou beat me b beinpscic>= =8es. 6 did not belie%e ou -ould obect.= =6 don,t obect. 6 don,t belie%e in te supernatural9no offenseintended. 6 feel ou are merel an eAcellent plaer. 6 a%e not ad aame like tis in ears.= +nd -itout a board9o/ mar%elousG + pone sounded. =6t is for ou/= omnanda said/ unmo%in. urprised/ for te man ad not touced te instrument/ etlandreaced across and picked up te recei%er. =Commander etlandspeakin.= =6 sall read tese orders to ou %erbatim/= te operator said/seemin unsurprised to a%e er part ans-er on tis strane number. ead a s-eet %oice/ as te all did. =$$ HT:+ND *95 (+C $I6C/(:+NT :+I C+NC:D. $(0$T T0 0$B6T+: T+T60N F0$ D;T8 +B0+$D TH "66 T6H6( + C0+ND6N" 0FF6C$. ($00T60N T0 C+(T+6N *9# FFCT6ITH6 H0;$.= e paused. =Tat is te messae@ please ackno-lede.=

etland sat openmouted/ unans-erin. =+ckno-leded/= omnanda said loudl. =Tank ou9and conratulations/ Captain/= te operator said/ anddisconnected. etland un up te recei%er and stared at omnanda. =8ou reallare pscicG 6 ad no inklin of tisG= omnanda nodded ra%el. =8ou kept callin me ,Captain/, and ou kne- te call -as mine9etm arri%al ere -as random/ and m arb outlandis.= He lanced do-n atis bedraled outfit. =No one could a%e anticipated9= He paused. =8ette operator also kne-9= =6 notified te local s-itcboard tat ou ad arri%ed -en 6 sa-ou on te beac/= omnanda eAplained. =6 did not ten kno- our name/for suc specifics are not -itin m competence/ but presumabl tereare not man space officers in tis reion at tis moment. No msterattaces tere. 6t -ould also a%e been possible for me to ain noticeof our ne- status -en9= =Te pace er%ice does not read orders to stranersG= etlandobected9ten reali)ed tat e -as aruin te case for pscickno-lede. He sook is ead. =+ll tis is entirel contrar to m modeof belief. 6 do not accept te supernatural as a %alid force.= =Nor do 6.= Te man smiled at etland,s surprise. =6 do not reardm pscic abilit as oter tan natural/ Captain. 6t is a specialtalent/ similar to our potorapic memor.= =8es/ but96 mit as -ell place credence in a ostG= =7 not/ Captain> 6 do.= etland sook is ead aain/ but it did not clear te confusion.

=6 am an eAtremel pramatic indi%idual.= =Tis -ould seem to be te reason for our promotion.= etland/ balked b te immensit of concept/ focused on a detail.=8ou are not surel= =6 kno- -at is/ not -/= omnanda eAplained. =+nd m po-er doesnot enerall appl to mself/ eAcept as 6 relate to oters/ as inplain cess. 6 read our situation/ ten tailor mine to it. 6 do notkno- m o-n future/ and 6 reall do not kno- ours. 6 am merel a-are ofcontemporar e%ents as te relate to tose people around me/ suc asour ne- assinment. Tat ad been determined before -e met. 6t seems


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tat te messae did not reac ou before our lea%e commenced.= =Tpical red tape/= etland areed. He reread te messae no-imprinted in is memor. =Dut aboard te e 66 Timesip as commandinofficer. o te ad to promote me to te minimum rade for tat office/tou te bucked cannels9= He fro-ned. =7at in space is a,timesip,>= =Tat -ould be a sip tat tra%els in time.= =(aradoA/ terefore impossible.= =6 sould a%e tout so too. 6t seems -e -ere mistaken.= =7e can,t be mistaken. Tere is no -a a sip can tra%el in time9oter tan strait for-ard at te rate -e all do. Time is infleAible.Consider te anomalies if -e -ere to o fi%e ears into our o-n past9=He sook is ead aain and rubbed is sore knees. =(aradoAG= =6 aree/= omnanda said. =8et tere is no error in our orders. 8ouare to command a timesip9and 6 feel tis -ill be cruciall important tote -elfare of our species.= =8ou mentioned a ost. 7at is tat>= omnanda fro-ned. =8ou mentioned it/ Captain. 6 onl concurred.= etland suppressed a tine of annoance. =Ten -at ost do oukno- of/ tat brout tat concurrence>=

=6 do not kno-. 0nl tat it relates to ou in a transcendentlimportant manner/= etland stood -it abrupt decision. =6 must report to m ne- sip.6 tank ou for our ospitalit and a fine cess ame/ and trust -esall meet aain.= For once/ omnanda looked surprised. =Captain/ ou intend to a%e medrafted into te pace er%iceG= =0/ do 6>= etland in?uired/ smilin. =6f 6 disco%er tat tissip/ te e 66/ reall can tra%el in time/ or tat tere reall issome kind of ost/ 6 am oin to need te ser%ices of a reallcompetent pscic.=

Capter 3 + narro- rin about aturn composed of

solidified alcool/ absolutel potable -en ta-ed/ di%inel fla%ored. +mine on (luto -it nuets of pure iridium9some %ersions said osmium9oneof te most precious of metals/ lin about for te takin. But alsomore sinister fears/ suc as of a ost in space/ resemblin a smallaseous nebula te sip tat passed trou it became aunted/ a sourceof orrible miscief tereafter. + ost> uddenl e -ondered ... Te timesip rumors seemed to be fasioned of similar stuff/ tefutile opes and fears of an inro-n space cadre. 0nce space ad been abold frontier/ eAcitin te popular imaination. Ho- nice it -ould be totake a modern spacesip back to tat time/ to bask in te -armt of


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public appro%alG etland felt tat tu imself/ especiall afterdisco%erin te eAtent of te antispace antipat tat ad de%eloped.(+C/ (+CDG 7+,/ 7+TG "o find a black oleG (rokG 0/ tat urt/for reasons e -ould ne%er speak. But e ne%er fooled imself@ realit-as realit/ and neiter osts nor time tra%els -ere part of it. +nd so e ad slept/ a%in settled is mind as far as feasible. Hekne- e -ould disco%er tat te e 66 -as a speciali)ed refinement/peraps containin free)in e?uipment for passeners so tat te couldendure a ourne of ears -ile ain onl minutes. 6n tat sense/ fortem/ it -as time tra%el. But strictl one -a. Tere -as no =timedilation= effect for ordinar space tra%el/ because tere -as no -a forman,s present and probabl future tecnolo to boost a sip to tatmaor fraction of te %elocit of lit in %acuum re?uired to in%okedilation to an sinificant deree. Naturall te captain and cre- -ouldae te full amount/ and tis -ould make it an undesirable assinmentre?uirin special inducement like double promotions. ost spacers li%edfor te time te could return to art/ despite teir lo- repute tere.etland actuall liked space9and tat/ e -as sure/ -as a maor elementin is selection and promotion. 7o else could te pre%ail upon toundertake some lon/ difficult %oae -it peraps no return>

Te orbital station -as ue. 6t -as far out from art/ so as notto offend te delicate sensiti%ities of te populace aboard te omeplanet b bein conspicuous. He smiled pri%atel/ sufferin a %ision ofte screamin outs bumpin is blimp/ and of nude nmps tro-insand. Te station ad a resident population of tousands. Te ad omesin =spinnin -eels= tat pro%ided artificial ra%it/ and soppin andentertainment facilities. Atensi%e droponic ardens and solar enercollectors made te station larel self9sufficient in food and po-er. But spacers -ere not permitted to take teir lea%es ere. Te adto o to art despite te added eApense of transport. Tis -as part ofte net-ork of reulations tat ad become larel nonsensical.Criticall ener9sort art still -asted its ener/ as al-as. Totis eAtent/ te popular ire o%er te space effort -as ustified. 7ell/ not eAactl/ e ad to admit. 6f te members of te paceer%ice e%er became completel detaced from art/ te -ould a%ed-indlin loalt to it/ and terein -ould sprout te seeds of disaster.6n old ears te armies of small nations and sometimes lare nationscould become detaced/ ten callousl con?uer teir o-n countries andrule instead of te ci%ilians. ;nified art intended to a%oid tatparticular menace/ for te most de%astatin -eapons -ere no- in space. Te suttle docked. etland/ eAperienced in free9fall as in i9ee/cleared te locks -itout trouble and floated into te personalrecei%in station at te end of te main tube. $otation pro%ided alfra%it ere in te narro- section. =Captain etland>= te desk clerk in?uired/ ein te Commander,sinsinia -it disappro%al. 6t did not matter tat etland ad ad noopportunit to re%ise tese tokens of rank@ to tis functionar e -as

out of uniform. =$eport to te +dmiral at 1***.= Te +dmiral ad a name/but it seemed superfluous@ no one used it. etland nodded. He ad almost an our. He decided to %isitHdroponics for a bite to eat/ as omnanda,s salad ad been is lastmeal. Ten e -ould stop b te commissar for ne- insinia. trictlspeakin e sould attend to te latter first/ but te ardens -ere onte -a to te store. He did not like te inefficienc of retracin issteps. He liked te droardens@ e admitted to imself tat tis -aspart of is moti%ation. +t te entr a -oman approaced im. =+re ou te officer in care


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toda/ sir>= se in?uired. e -as a slitl obese onoloid/ aconsiderable contrast to te sleek nmps of art. e -ould be alikel taret for maem/ on te surface of te planet/ as se ob%iouslconsumed too muc food and terefore -ould be considered a -aster. Buttose -o -orked in Hdro normall li%ed on te culls/ and it -ould beas -asteful to tro- tem a-a as to eat tem. =6 am not in care/= e said. =Tere,s a ost in te arden/ 6 tink.= etland smiled@ se e%identl adn,t paid attention to isresponse. =Tere is no ost.= Tis se eard. e -as onl momentaril set back. =7ill ou atleast look/ sir> 6t,s te stranest tin/ and 6,m afraid it -ill oa-a before 6 find te9= =6 a%e no autorit ere/ especiall o%er supernaturalmanifestations/ but if ou -ill obtain for me some lea%es of freslettuce/ 6 -ill look at our ost.= =Fair enouG= se eAclaimed. =Te appen to be in te samesection.= Ten/ in belated introduction =6,m Tibet/ sir.= +s ad beente case -it ostenna at te satellite station/ se did not i%e erlast name. Te matter -as optional/ and -omen tended to o b teir

i%en names/ -ile men tended to o b teir surnames. He consideredtis distinction of address to be nonsensical/ but e liked it. =etland.= He did not i%e is rank/ as te mismatc -it ispresent insinia -ould onl cause confusion. Te entered te main tube. 6t -idened out in a iant circulardo-nill slant to acie%e te diameter necessar to produce one ee atpresent rotation. 6t -as beautiful. :are -indo- %ents admitted sunsineso neatl te seemed to a%e no material at all/ tou of course te-ere completel airtit. Te lit crossed te ollo- center to fall onte banks of plants on te opposite sides. Te air -as especiall s-eetbecause of te plants. 6n fact/ tis -as te station,s main source ofoAen. Narro- ramps tra%ersed te rim/ i%in access to e%er part ofit. Tere -ere no -eeds in tis arden/ no -aste space. an of te plants -ere in flo-er/ and man more -ere fruitin.Teir reen bous leaned o%er te ramp/ makin occasional arbors.%ertin -as ro-n ere/ from licen to rapefruit trees. =Tis is%er like ea%en/= etland remarked. Tibet smiled. =6 a%e tout tat too/ CommanderG speciall forte plants. Here te a%e no disease/ no drouts/ no free)es96,d liketo be reincarnated as a plant rit ere. Notin could e%er o -ron.= =;ntil ou -ere ar%ested/= e pointed out. =7ell/ peraps. But as 6 see it/ a plant eAists to be ar%ested.Tat,s its mission in life. o b bein used/ it is bein fulfilled.Eust as -e fulfill oursel%es b reproducin and -orkin and finall bdin to make room for our cildren.= =6 suppose tat is true/= e said. (ri%atel e felt no similarures@ e preferred seA -it companionsip but -itout reproduction/ and

-ork as an end in itself/ and e did not like to tink about deat. =Ha%en,t ou e%er lo%ed/ Commander>= Naturall se assumed isinsinia -ere accurate/ and e did not correct er. e -as ettin %er personal. =Not in te sense ou mean/ 6,mafraid. Ha%e ou>= e made a sort eAalation/ not a si or snort/ ust an eApulsionof air and meanin. =No. But 6 -ould like to.= +nd -ould e like to> Te ?uestion tapped into a lon buried arter/and it -as as tou blood bean spoutin out in a to-erin fountain. Tolo%e . . .


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Hastil e blocked te -ound and buried te arter under tons ofindifference. 6n is mind,s ee/ a truckload of eart cascaded do-n/absorbin te pool of blood/ co%erin it/ concealin it. Ten a pa%incre- came and sealed it o%er/ lea%in an aspalt i-a surface. assedbiccles rode o%er it. 6nsolent outs tramped on it/ breakin -ind.Nude irls danced across it/ teir firm oun buttocks t-inklin. 8et/-ellin up trou a tin crack appeared a drop of red tat alarmed anmp on a uniccle . . . =+re ou all rit/ sir>= Tibet in?uired/ soundin -orried. =erel reflectin/= e said ?uickl. $ecent de%elopments must a%edisturbed im more tan e ad reali)ed@ e kept sufferin tese%isions. :ike la%a/ te red pused up trou trace fractures in ispa%ed consciousness. =Here is te lettuce/= se announced. =7e are permitted to cullindi%idual lea%es/ pro%ided -e select from se%eral plants so as not tourt an. all 6 pick ou some>= =8es/ please.= e carefull remo%ed one firm reen leaf from te nearest plant/usin a little sarp knife so as not to tear or tu at te main plant.Hdroponics meant less stable root sstems@ no solid dirt or rocks to

clin to. Ten se took anoter leaf from its neibor. oon se ad ado)en lea%es for im/ absolutel fres but not ?uite crisp. Tat -as oneof te tins about lettuce it crisped most -en refrierated@terefore te crispest -as not te fresest. =Tank ou/= etland said/ eatin te first leaf. 6t -as eAcellent. =Te ost is rit do-n ere.= +/ es/ te ostG Could tis be te one tat omnanda of te-indmill ad percei%ed> e led im into a section of tall sunflo-ers.:ike so man blankl smilin faces te -a%ed in te entl circulatinair. Tese -ere nearin maturit/ teir nutrient seeds eApandin -itinte lare disks. =Tere/= se said/ pointin. =Ho%erin abo%e te collards9= etland looked. =6,m afraid 6 don,t see it.= =6t,s mo%in a-a/ sir. Here/ let,s follo- it.= e urried on. He-as beinnin to feel te press of time/ as e ad anoter errand to dobefore reportin to te +dmiral/ but e ad made a commitment ere. Hekept pace -it er. =Tere9terel= se cried. =6 can almost make out its sape no-.Human9= He follo-ed er a)e. For an instant e tout e sa- a -as ofred. He blinked/ and it disappeared. e fatiue/ of course. =Come onG= Tibet said/ plunin for-ard. =6f -e can catc it9= etland ?uestioned te ad%isabilit of actuall catcin a ost/but kept silent. Te passed trou a field of flo-erin s-eet peas.Te blossoms -ere eAceedinl prett9but in is urr e disturbed tebees tat -ere attendin to tem. 0ne bee baned aainst is ceek andstun im ust under te rit ee@ e brused it a-a9and anoter stun

im on te and. uddenl te -ere ettin drenced. =0/ noG= Tibet eAclaimed. =Teost -ent into te so-er areaG= =Tat sould dampen its spirit some-at/= etland muttered. Te backed out/ but it -as too late. etland,s uniform -asdrippin/ and Tibet,s dress -as clinin to er torso. He sa- tat se-as some-at ea%ier tan e ad uded@ se could not a%e been onart for some time. =Did ou see it>= se demanded eaerl. =mall/ like a cild/needin a moter9=


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etland spread is ands noncommittall/ is a)e still on ertorso. Tibet looked do-n at erself. =8es/ 6 kno-/= se said ruefull. , ,6eat too muc. ob ere keeps me in too muc temptation. 6f 6 adli%ed in te eda of art,s conspicuous consumption ae/ 6,d a%eored mself on steaks and pastries and9= e paused. =Don,t look soorrified/ CommanderG Te did used to eat meat and s-eets/ ou kno-.= =6t re?uired eit to ten pounds of feed to produce one pound ofedible co- meat/= e said a bit stiffl. =Tat -as rossl -asteful.= =6 kno-. 6 don,t condone it. 6 don,t mind te Ieetarian +ct/ reall6 don,t. illin te poor animals ust for te fles of teir bodies9tat boters me e%en more tan te inefficienc of it. But te s-eets/no-9= =uar -as outla-ed because of its armful effect on te uman bod-en o%ersupplied/= e said. =+nd of course nonnutriti%e foods are seer-aste. 7it ten billion -orld citi)ens to feed9,, =8es/ es/ of course/ Commander. 8ou are rit. 7e can,t ustif teold -as. But -en 6 -as a cild/ 6 did like9-ell/ ne%er mind/ it realldoesn,t become me. 7e a%e an immediate problem. dress/ our uniform9o/ m/ -at appened to our ee>=

=6t seems a bee took umbrae at m intrusion.= =0/ sir/ 6,m sorrG Te don,t stin me9te must be used to me.Here/ 6 a%e some sal%e9= =6 reall don,t a%e te time/= e said ruffl. =+nd -e didn,t e%en catc our ost.= etland formed te briefest of smiles. =Tat is te nature ofosts.= He left er and proceeded to te +dmiral,s office. 6t -as better toreport in sad condition tat to report late.

Te +dmiral/ resplendent in dress uniform/ affected not to noticeetland,s sodden condition or -ron insinia or s-ellin ee. Hereturned salute/ ten sook ands. =Captain/= e said abruptl/ =if oucould a%e antin ou -anted9antin at all9-at -ould it be>= etland looked at im -it is ood left ee/ not kno-in -at toans-er. His bod itced -ere te soakin caused te underclotin tosift and cafe. =Te trut/ no-/= te +dmiral said. He -as a eart man -o lookedas if e ad a%ailed imself some-at of te pleasures of tedroardens -itout actuall puttin on -eit. =+ lo%el -oman> +fi%e9course ban?uet> +noter promotion>= =+ dr uniform/= etland said under is breat. =6 eard tatG= te +dmiral said/ smilin. =Captain/ take mine.= +nde bean to strip off is acket. =irG= etland said/ ama)ed. =Come on/ Captain96 kno- ou ot dunked and stun in Hdro. Tat,ste kind of tin tat appens to people -o dall in te pleasures of

nature.= He -inked. =6,%e been stun on occasion mself/ and not merelb errant bees. Not our fault/ and ou did -at -as rit -itoutmakin eAcuses@ tat,s all te er%ice e%er asks of ou. :et,s bot etcomfortable. 7at 6 a%e to impart is too important for formalit. 6,%eot a pair of -arm dr robes ere.= =0.= Ten/ as an aftertout/ e added =sir.= o te bot caned. =No- 6 am onl beinnin to make m point/=te +dmiral continued o%er teir lasses of droponic cider. =Tis istoo bi to sa -it one blurt/ and ou a%e to be prepared for it. Traain if ou could a%e antin=>=


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Te round under te pa%ement in etland,s mind suddered. Tepassin cclists %eered a-a/ alarmed. Te nmps fled to teir beac/-it onl te naiad lancin reretfull back. + trickle of reddisfluid appeared. =6 can,t ans-er tat/ sir.= =Ten 6 sall a%e to ans-er it for ou/= te +dmiral said. =8ou-ere once enaed to marr9= =irG= etland said/ spillin some of is cider. Te spilled drops-ere like bleaced blood. Te -asteG =Ier -ell/ Captain. 6 -ill not embarrass ou furter. 6 sall -ait-ile ou re%ie- te matter in our o-n eidetic mind. Tat/incidentall/ -as one9onl oneG9of te ?ualifications tat brout outis assinment. Do it no-.= =ir/ 69= =6 -ould prefer not to a%e to issue tat kind of an order/ Captain.6 do a%e m reasons.= Te +dmiral sipped is cider. 6f tere -as one tin etland did -ell/ it -as to follo- orders/eApress or implied. 0bliinl e did -at e most dreaded e let te%ision proceed. Te pa%ement cracked@ te eart subsided as if into asinkole/ and te pulsin arter -as re%ealed. Te puncture reopened/and te blood used up. 6t became a frotin sea/ carrin im trou

time t-el%e ears. Black ole ... te damned obscenit/ applied to tis concept/ teurt and rae . . . e -as eAtraordinaril prett lon9aired/ et black/ possessed ofunri%aled face and fiure. e ad a mind/ too@ se lacked is trickmemor/ but -as far more intellient tan e. He en%ied er tatintellience9and so e proposed to a%e it for is cildren. To issurprise and intense ratification/ aureen ad areed to marr im. Ten te isceenation +ct ad passed. 6t ad been a sudden tin-orld-ide/ ur9ried amid a flurr of measures desined to abate tesa%ae race riots ten occurrin. Te ne- -orld o%ernment ad ineritedstaerin reional problems/ and it ad to act. Te a%es ad refusedto sare sufficientl -it te a%e9nots/ and te racial bomb ad to bedefused. 0f all te -as tat mit a%e been tried/ ad tere beenleisure to -ork out te ideal/ tis -as te one tat b some freak oflobal politics attained te maorit decision. No person in all te-orld -as permitted to marr anoter person of is o-n race/ or toproduce offsprin tereb if alread married. Tere -ere compleAdefinitions of race/ and allo-ances for tose alread of miAed blood9butneiter etland nor aureen ad an preteAt of admiAture. Bot -ere asraciall pure specimens of black as could be found in te -ite culture.6n fact/ etland pri%atel suspected tat aureen ad been attracted toim at first because e -as te blackest man se kne-. e -as/ in erfasion/ an acti%ist about suc tins. =7at are -e oin to do>, aureen demanded. e -as an eAcitableoun -oman -o reacted -it a certain flair e%en to a routine e%ent9andtis -as ardl tat.

=7e must obe te la-/= etland said ea%il. =Not to marr>= se demanded. =7e can marr/= e said/ for of course e ad memori)ed te entireteAt of te act. =(ro%ided -e9= =Bot et sterili)edG= se finised accusinl. =o -e can,t producean more raciall pure stockG 6s tat -at ou -ant>= He ad not tout about it sufficientl/ because race ad not beena factor in is need for er. He did not care -at color is cildrenmit be/ so lon as te -ere intellient. =6 -ant ou9-it or -itoutcildren.= But -as tat te -ole trut>


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=7ell/ 6 -ant a familG= He spread is ands/ feelin numb. 7ould se actuall lea%e im9inorder to a%e cildren> 6t -as ard to imaine9et e -as unsure of testrent of er belief. He -ould rater not a%e cildren/ if te -ereof lo- 6J@ but se/ accustomed to intellience because se ad al-asad it/ ad oter %alues. e -anted er cildren black. 7ic meant secould not accept tis misceenation re?uirement/ tis deliberate miAinof races. o it seemed unlikel tat se -ould seek to marr else-ere.But se still insisted on er famil. He ad tout e kne- er -ell/but tis sudden la- ad caned te picture entirel. Te ad one o%er te issue aain and aain/ but found no solution.He -anted er9and te la-. e -anted im9and cildren. He sa- it as acircular rap/ like te old9stle o%ernmental illustrations of te useof te taA dollar so man neat pie9slices makin up te -ole. 0ne 33percent sement -as labeled F+6:8@ anoter -as :+7. Te tird -asdi%ided in alf H and H. Te situation re?uired tat teir merencecomprise onl t-o9tirds of te pie9but te could not aree on -icslice to omit. He attaced to :+7/ se to F+6:8. He told er of is analo/ e%en dra-in a little diaram of it/so-in o- te matematics of it made teir union impossible unless one

compromised. Neiter could compromise. Te la- -as sacred to etland@ te famil-as sacred to aureen. Te bot kne-/ -itout e%er ?uite sain it/tat teir marriae -as doomed. 8et te un on to te enaement/unable to terminate it. 0ne da e found a note on er door 6 a%e sol%ed our problempainlessl. :o%e fore%er/ aureen. He didn,t understand tat@ tere -as no painless solution. He banedon er door/ alarmed/ but ad no ans-er. He entered te apartment/callin er name. +ll -as silent. He felt a premonition of te sort ead once ad in cildood about is do. He searced trou te rooms/kno-in se -as one9but afraid to disco%er o- se ad one. Finall/reluctantl/ e cecked te little batroom. aureen reposed in te tub/ te -ater up to er delicate cin/ erdark bod concealed beneat te red fluid. Te color -as from diluteblood. e ad administered some local anestetic to er les and slicedopen te reat arteries of er inner tis/ rit up near teiruncture/ lettin te blood pulse into te -arm bat -ater as tou it-ere a monstrous montl period. (ainlessl se ad i%en birt to ero-n deat. He ad been unable e%en to eAperience proper rief. To mourn erloss -ould a%e been to impl acceptance of er %ie-9and e -ould not doin er deat -at e ad not done in er life. Had e been responsiblefor er demise9or ad te la-G Had e reall lo%ed er/ -ould e a%esur%i%ed imself> Had se reall lo%ed im/ -ould se a%e died> Tere-ere no acceptable ans-ers. He ad one to space/ sealin o%er tat tubful of blood fore%er/

obliteratin it/ all traces of er/ of marriae/ and of racial a-arenessfrom is consciousness. Te process ad taken ears/ for is lo%e adbeen reat tou suspect/ and on occasion some cance e%ent still couldlet leak a trickle of blood. But no- e -as reasonabl secure. Time -aste reat ealer/ indeed. Acept -en some cance ibe scored in a manner tat te oter partcould not kno-. Black ole9te supposedl obscene seAual connection -itsuc a -oman/ and te inescapable abss of emotion tat er denialbrout im to. 6n space/ a black ole let notin o/ b definition. 6nemotion9ad e escaped/ or ad e merel papered o%er is a-areness/


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refusin to admit tat e -as emotionall dead> Te +dmiral -as a-are of te completion of etland,s %ision. =o-at do ou -ant most of all>= e asked aain. Tis time etland could ans-er. =To kno- tat m course -ascorrect/= e said simpl. =8our course as been correct/= te +dmiral said. =8ou/ better tanan oter officer in space9and 6 eAcept neiter mself nor m superiors9ou a%e represented tat combination of mind and la- and professionaldetacment tat -e like to tink epitomi)es te er%ice. 8ou a%e a %erspecial facilit96 -ould call it brilliance9,, =Hardl tat/ sir/= etland areed morosel. His memor %ision adleft im depleted@ tere ad been no release in it/ onl a re%i%al ofancient pain and doubt. =6 am neiter smart nor creati%e@ tat is - 6o strictl b te book.= =True/ Captain9but it is a ood book. 8our file documents anintellience ust barel sufficient to meet our minimum officer,scandidate standard@ onl our penomenal memor enabled ou to ?ualifas -ell as ou did. 8our imaination9-ell/ imaination as ne%er beenmuc of a %irtue in te militar spere an-a/ so no loss tere. 8etour mind9=

=6t is called eidetic memor9a literal seein of remembered tins/e%en te printed pae.= =(recisel. 8ou a%e -ole %olumes in our brain/ don,t ouG 6f 6-ere to ask ou to read off te tent -ord listed on pae 1*** of/ sa/te 0Aford nlis Dictionar9= etland cecked/ flippin o%er te paes of te 0D in is mind/findin te place. =Tere are onl siA -ords defined on tat pae/ sir.0f course te numberin starts o%erman times/ so peraps a later %olume9= Te +dmiral smiled. =6 sould a%e kno-nG 6 tout 6 -aseAaeratin.= =Ho-e%er/ if ou -ant te tent -ord appearin in te teAt of tatpae9= =No/ of course notG= Ten te +dmiral reconsidered. =Cancel tat.8ou,%e ot m curiosit up. 7at is tat -ord>= =+nl.= =7at>= =Te full line reads ,K14&3 Cat. +nl. 4& Burdus KBurdeusL/ cinitasest/ burdi9., Te -ord in brackets is actuall unclear@ tere is anobscuration on m cop. (eraps it is ,Burdeas., = =7at in space does it mean> +re ou sure ou didn,t pick up te(aris Frenc Dictionar instead>= =6t related to BordeauA/ a cit in soutern France/ urope. Tedefinition beins on pae '''.= etland skimmed aead/ and smiled. =+?uote from 1&3!/ sir/ if ou -ill ,Don,t o abroad to drink sour -ine/because te call it BordeauA., = Te +dmiral emitted a snort of mirt trou is nose. =Te ad

rare umor in tose das. $are -ine/ too.= He looked at is empt ciderlass. =6 must confess to missin tose delicate alcoolic be%eraes.= =irG= =Captain/ don,t be socked. 6t is no %iolation of te manual tomiss te old das. 6ndeed/ it is permissible to -ork arduousl for teirreturn. +s 6 am doin no-. 7ere -as 6 before -e drifted>= =Commentin on te ?ualities of m mind.= =+/ es. Tank ou. Captain/ our mind is %er special in tiseidetic capacit. 6t enables ou to kno- te complete 0perations anualso -ell ou can follo- it at all times. +nd ou a%e te internal


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discipline to do eAactl tis. 6 don,t belie%e ou a%e e%er de%iatede%en fractionall9= He paused. =Ha%e ou>= =8es/ sir. 6 soiled m uniform/ and reported for dut -en out ofuniform9= =(rokG= te +dmiral cried/ makin etland -ince. =Te manual didn,tallo- for tat -ettin because it ne%er anticipated an officerencounterin a ost9casin irl in Hdroponics. 8ou ac?uitted ourselfonorabl/ Captain. Courtes is also part of te manual9no/ don,t ?uoteme %erse and lineG9and in special cases udment is necessar. +s forte insinia9ou are -ell a-are tat an officer is ranted a fullt-ent9four ours to cane o%er/ and loner in special cases@ ou arenot et out of uniform.= He peered at etland,s ee. =Ho-e%er/ Captain/6 am not at all certain -at te book sas about bee stins in space.Tat is a bit irreular9= etland maintained a riid dinit. Te +dmiral laued. =0/ posG 8ou a%e %er little umorG +noterprime militar ?ualit. 8ou,ll rank me one da/ Captain@ 6 lau toomuc.= He took a moment to sober up/ not at all penitent. =+t an rate/ou reall do o strictl b te book/ in a -a tat fe- oters can.Tat ?ualit as become eAtremel important. Atremel.= He paused/ as

tou mullin o%er sometin sinificant. =8et -at -ould ou do in aenuinel nonbook situation>,, =6 don,t kno-/ sir.= =7ell/ 6 kno-. 8ou,d follo- -at ou kne- te manual -ould sa if itsould be eAtended into tat particular area. 6sn,t tat rit>= etland nodded. =8es/ sir/ 6 -ould.= =ark te place@ 6 sall a%e more to sa on tat before -e close. =8es/ sir.= =No/ cancel aain. 6 don,t -ant to be naed b a loose tread. 7at6 mean to sa is -e are about to send ou in searc of a ost9,, etland coked/ ten instantl reained is composure. Te +dmiral paused momentaril/ a-are of is reaction/ tencontinued. =+nd neiter ou nor our cre- -ill be able to trust our o-npersonal udments/ so all ou -ill a%e to uide ou -ill be te manualin our mind9and at times it -ill seem cra). ;nderstand -at 6 mean>= =No/ sir.= ="ood/ ou,re pain attention. 8ou,ll pick it up in conteAt in duecourse. Course9es/ tat reminds me. 6 remarked tat ou -ere correct inour course -it reard to our irlfriend. :et me make tat ?uiteclear.= =ir/ tere is no need9= =Juiet/ Captain.= etland sut up. =7e face a critical ener sortae. 6t came upon us b staes/ andrelates intimatel to food and population. 6n fact/ -itout tatlimitation/ our species mit ne%er a%e risen to ci%ili)ation at all.7e -ould still be unter9aterers/ li%in in te fool,s paradise of te

"arden of den. But our population increased as -e learned o- too%ercome te treats of our en%ironment/ and -e ad to stop aterinand start ro-in our food. B puttin ener into our abitat/ -eincreased our food suppl and our population. Tis -as te Neolitic$e%olution. Do ou follo- me>= =ner/ food and population interrelate/= etland said. =(recisel. 0nce -e ad mastered te principle/ it carried us allte -a into full ci%ili)ation and space tra%el. But tere are limits toall tins/ and no- -e find tat no matter o- ineniousl -e apploursel%es/ -e do not a%e enou usable ener to make enou food on


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art to feed our monstrous population. ;ntil -e find more ener9a lotmore enerG9-e a%e onl one route to o conser%ation. 8ouunderstand>= etland remembered te biccles/ blimps/ sailboats/ solarcollectors and -indmills of art tat made %isceral a situation e adbeen a-are of intellectuall. =8es.= =+nd -at,s te ultimate conser%ation>= etland esitated. =6 belie%e it -ould be population control.= =AactlG But ou kno- -at trouble -e,%e ad practicin tatG$eliious and social factors a%e fout it e%er step of te -a. omepeople -ould rater die/ literall/ tan i%e up teir rit to9sorr/didn,t mean to et personal/ Captain9to procreate. o -e can,t ust passa la- limitin babies. No-/ if it -ere our ob to reduce te birtrateabruptl/ -itout actuall tellin anone not to reproduce/ -itoutmentionin reliion or moralit/ ust usin some oter issue to effectit as if it -ere a b9product/ di%ertin te public attention from tereal trust9-ell/ o- -ould ou do it>= etland considered. Tis -as not te kind of tinkin e -as oodat/ and e could not see o- tis related to eiter te space effortenerall or is o-n assinment specificall. =6 suppose 6 -ould arrane

to make reproduction incon%enient or distasteful.= =8ou,re on te beam/= te +dmiral said as tou complimentin adutiful student. =Could ou i%e me an eAample>= etland concentrated aain/ but all tat de%eloped -as a trickle ofblood in a crack in a pa%ement. Ten/ abruptl/ it eAploded in is face.=Te isceenation +ctG= =BrilliantG Didn,t tat cut te birtrate/ touG Do ou reali)ete cultural and practical problems entailed in findin a compatiblemate of anoter race>= =8es/= etland said bet-een is teet. =8es/ of course ou do. 8ou -ere about to reproduce9and tat +ctstopped ou cold/ e%en tou ou are no biot. +s it stopped billions.Because of te reall formidable eorapic and cultural barriers. ostof te -orld,s races don,t e%en speak te same lanuae. Ho- could abillion orientals et out of +sia to marr blacks and -ites/ e%en ifte -anted to> Ho- could a -ite man from Nor-a court a black irl inte e?uatorial unle> 7ere -ould te settle> 7at lanuae -ouldteir cildren speak> 0/ -at a%oc -e -rout/ in te name of racialamitG 0f course it asn,t -orked perfectl@ man people simpl matedilleall and ad bastards. But tose offsprin -ere stimati)ed if te-ere too ob%iousl purebred/ and some -ere eAecuted for bein illicit.ome parents committed suicide -en tat appened. Tere as been areat deal of unrest. But te reat maorit compromised in eAactl temanner intended te accepted sterili)ation and married teir o-n kind.Te population of te -orld is definitel droppin.= =Not merel trou birt reduction/= etland muttered/ seein moreblood.

=But tis is ust a temporar eApedient. +lread people areadustin. Te leitimate birtrate is risin/ and te first9enerationmisceenation cildren are nearin repro ae. 7at -ill te do> 0nce,misceenation, -as a peorati%e term/ ou kno-. No more. o te problemis ni on us aain/ and tis time -e -on,t et a-a -it an racialdode. 7e a%e to sol%e te social and political and economic problemsb sol%in te ener problem. For once and for all. 6f -e can,t findte ans-er in te natural uni%erse/ -e,ll ust a%e to ?uest for it inte supernatural uni%erse. +nd tat is our mission/ Captain.= =Te timesip>= etland -as ardl able to keep te +dmiral,s -ords


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in focus@ te implications of te la- and te supernatural -ere stillsinkin in. Could an of tis reall make sense> =Te timesips. 8ou are about to o on a ?uest for ener/ Captain9unlimited ener/ tat -ill free us fore%er from te need for arbitrarcontrols. Find tat ener/ and no one/ e%er aain/ -ill a%e to sufferas ou a%e suffered. 8ou -ill kno- tat ou a%e done rit9babolisin te need for te la- tat killed our fiancee.= Te urtG =6mpossible/ +dmiral. 6t is a ?uest for an illusion. +9aost.= :ike Tibet,s ost. =(recisel. 8ou are oin ost untin9b te book. 8ou ma be teonl man -o can do tat.= =B tra%elin trou time> ir/ 69= ="et tis trou our ead/ Captain. Te t-o es reall aretimesips. Te paradoAes a%e been resol%ed. 8ou can,t tra%el in time onart/ but ou can do it in deep space/ -ere our o-n life and teli%es of oters are not paradoAicall affected. Tere are no paradoAesin tat situation. 8ou -ill ourne into te future9and return intact.+nd te most beautiful tin about it is tat it re?uires %irtuall noener. None of art,s precious ener/ an-a. o ou can o a ear/or a million ears/ or a billion9tere seems to be no upper limit/ and

ou -ill not be dilated9tat,s al-as an illusion/ incidentall/ terene%er -as an so9called clock paradoA/ te clocks onl seemed to differ-en te -ere apart/ muc as a sip in te distance seems small touou kno- it is not.= =But te a%e measured te difference in te clocksG= etlandprotested. =Aperimentall/ -it unmanned9= =7at te a%e measured is te deformation of time accomplised bsustained i acceleration. 0r i ra%it@ same tin. ince li%inuman beins can ne%er be subected to tat ee/ it becomes academic.But in an e%ent/ tat is merel a difference in te rate of ain/ nottime tra%el. $elati%it -ill not enable anone to tra%el back in time toeliminate is randfater/ and neiter -ill tis ne- tecni?ue. Ha%e nofear@ tat daner does not eAist.= =ir/ 6 can ardl be eApected to belie%e time tra%el/ of annature.= =6 ardl belie%e it mself/ CaptainG But it is true/ -e a%e madete breaktrou/ -e a%e damn near perfected it/ and -e a%e t-o sipstat can o literall to te ends of te uni%erse/ te temporal ends/and -e sall do ust tat. 6 a%e been to te future and back mself/ ona limited mission. ome-ere tere -ill be ener -e can tap@ tere ustas to be/ and all -e a%e to do is find it. 8ou -ill find it/ and sa%eart. 6t is tat simple.= Te man -as almost babblin -it te eAcitement of is re%elation.He reall belie%ed tat time tra%el -as possible. =ir/= etland said cautiousl/ =6 am no teoretical eApert/ buttere are problems about te %er concept of time tra%el/ e%en indistant space. Tere are paradoAes9and a paradoA means/ simpl/ tat

tere is some fundamental error/ probabl in basic concept.= =8es/ 6 kno-. 8ou,re still tinkin in terms of art/ aren,t ou>8ou eard me sa tat -e can tra%el for-ard in time/ and back/ so oureason tat -e could tra%el back first/ ten for-ard/ and tat is true/but still tere is no paradoA. 8ou -ant to kno- -at appens if ou doo back and kill our randfater. +nd 6,ll tell ou aain ou can,t doit. Because time is motion/ especiall -en ou,re standin still. 6fou umped back fift ears on art/ ou,d land -ere art -as fiftears ao9-ic is some-ere in deep space/ because of te cumulati%e%ectors of te motions about te sun/ alactic spin and uni%ersal


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eApansion/ amon oters. 8ou,d a%e to use up so muc ener linin upour randfater tat it -ouldn,t be -ort it@ in fact our eAperts, matso-s te amount -ould become infinite. 8ou ust can,t make tatparadoA/ an more tan ou can eAceed te speed of lit in a %acuum.= =But tat,s like space tra%el/= etland obected. =6f ou ump amillion ears into te future/ ou mit be muc farter a-a tan litcould tra%el in tat moment/ so ou a%e in effect eAceeded te %elocitof9,, =No/ no/ Captain. 8ou ne%er eAceed litspeed. Eump a million earsinto te future/ te psical uni%erse -ill a%e eAisted for tatmillion ears/ so ou -ill a%e mo%ed -itin te relati%istic limitse%en if it doesn,t seem tat -a. Eump back a million ears/ and as faras te uni%erse is concerned/ ou ne%er -ent for-ard@ it assumes tatou simpl remained in place. Eump back first/ ten for-ard/ same tinte uni%erse doesn,t belie%e/ te uni%erse doesn,t care. But ou toucon a sinificant point time is distance. To tra%el in time is to tra%elin space/ because as 6 said/ our planet/ our solar sstem/ our alaAand our uni%erse are mo%in. o ou -ill seem to be mo%in in space9butour sip,s clock -ill simpl mark our de%iation from standard time.8ou,ll see. 8ou -ill a%e a number of %er strane concepts to master/

but once ou do/ it -ill be fantastic.= =6t is alread fantastic/= etland said drl. =But also true9as once seemed to be te case -it relati%ititself.= etland still could not accept it. =uppose te sip is alreadmo%in in space> Tat -ould add a %ector9= =Tat -ould multipl -it te passae of time/= te +dmiral areed.=Certainl. 6n tis manner -e a%e -at amounts to space9time tra%el. 7ecan take our t-o sips an-ere/ an-en in te uni%erse9and brin temback. 6f -at -e need eAists an-ere/ or e%er as eAisted/ or e%er -illeAist9= =But te uni%erse is9= etland searced for te proper eApression/but it e%aded im. %en -en one ad a literal dictionar in is ead/e ad to kno- -ere to look. =:are. Te sip -ould et lost/ in timeand space. + orrible fate.= =8es indeed/ Captain. No de%ice in our current tecnolo canaccuratel uide suc a sip back to its startin point in spacetime.But a%e ou eard about psionics>= 7itout -aitin for a repl/ econtinued =(sionics is like a cross bet-een science and maic. Terea%e been carlatans in science and in maic/ and in psionics too. Butno- te enuine researcers are into it/ and ascertainin te core trutof it. Te best tat can be said for it at present is tat it does seemto -ork. $emember te problem reular matematicians ad/ acceptinnoneuclidian eometr> ;ntil a real9life application -as found for -atad been purel teoretical. +nd te uncertaint principle9once anatemato establised belief. But %alid. No- psionics is comin of ae. 7e areinstitutin a searc for ?ualified pscics to operate -at -e call te

beacon.= =(scics>= =Te terminolo as been cobbled from mtolo as -ell as science.7e don,t mean people -o old s!ances and commune -it te dead. 7e meanpeople -o can tune in to realit in a manner tat oters cannot.7itout dependin on normal cannels. Because -e a%e particular use fortem/ no-.= etland remembered omnanda/ te pscic of te -indmill. =+m 6free to make a recommendation/ sir>= =No/= te +dmiral said. =6n matters relatin to our sip/ te e


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66/ ou -ill not make an recommendations.= He paused for effect. =8ou-ill i%e directi%es. 6t is %ital tat a completel compatible cre- beassembled/ because incompatibilit affects te beacon ad%ersel. 8ou-ill appro%e our entire cre-/ and -ork -it it until ou are satisfiedtat our sip is read for spacetime.= etland sied to imself. 7en -ould e e%er be read for suc apreposterous mission> Time tra%el> (sionics9te cross bet-een scienceand maic> Te pursuit of a ost/ indeedG

Capter 4


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6t pleased im to note/ as al-as/ te alpabetic arranement of teDreads. But it botered im to note te imbalance in te lent of telines. 6tem 4 -as too sort. He toed -it te notion of addin a -ord/so tat te last entr -oul

Ghost - Anthony Piers

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