A Thousand Deaths by George Alec Effinger

scheduled for some time more convenient to the colonists. But, as Goldie said, that was just one of TECT's funny little quirks.
    They all sat on chairs in a semicircle facing the tect s console, as TECT was a doctor who would have enlightening things to say. Molly told Courane that she had sat through several of these meetings, and TECT had only interrupted to comment on two occasions. One time, everyone had reacted to a note someone passed around, and TECT wanted to know what the laughter was all about. The note had to be read aloud and its author identified. Another time, TECT had directed the group's temporary leader to sedate a group member who was threatening violence toward the others and the console's screen as well.
    "Well," said Sheldon, obviously uncomfortable, "does anyone recall where we left off last time?"
    "That was almost three months ago," said Alohilani. "I think we were discussing the possibility of having jobs assigned semi-permanently, for periods of ten weeks."
    "That's right," said Daan. "Iola said that if someone has a job he particularly enjoys, and it's agreeable to everyone else, there's no reason why that person couldn't have that job as long as he wants. And if someone really hates something, I don't think we should force him to have to do it."
    "I'll tell you what I hate," said Fletcher. "I hate just being here. How about that? What can you do about it? If you ask me, I don't want to have a damn thing to do with your farm."
    "You can go hungry, too," said Arthur.
    "You see how good this is for everybody?" whispered Kenny to Courane.
    "Speak up," said Sheldon. He knew that if he didn't have Kenny repeat his words louder, TECT would demand to hear them.
    "I said, 'This is good for everybody.' " He winked at Courane.
    "What the hell are these meetings for?" asked Fletcher. "Nothing ever gets done. Nobody ever makes any good comments. Just people complain about this thing and that thing, and people accuse other people of one candy-ass thing after another. I don't think this is anything but a pain and a well-known drag."
    Sheldon wondered if it was his duty to defend TECT's therapy sessions. "Look, Fletcher, if we air these gripes now, they won't cause as much trouble as if we just let them grow inside us. You can sound off anyway you want to, and I can, too, and it's good for all of us. TECT knows what's best. It's studied our community for over a hundred years. The best experts on Earth say that this kind of group will help to keep us healthy in mind and body."
    "Experts on Earth!" Fletcher got up and took a few steps toward the tect. He laughed, a sound totally without humor. "Experts. As long as they stay on Earth, I don't care what they say. They don't know nothing about living here, Cap. They don't know enough to tell me how to tie my shoe. On Earth, that's where they are, and they've never even seen this place. They don't even know what we eat for breakfast. I don't listen to nobody unless they been here and met the bug, Cap."
    "The bug?" asked Molly. "What do you mean?"
    "I mean unless they shook hands with the bug. The forgetting bug. You know what I mean." He looked around the room. Obviously some of the group understood—Sheldon, Molly, Alohilani, each of whom had suffered their first symptom of D syndrome, and Daan and Courane, who had witnessed the behavior and understood. Courane didn't know if Kenny, Arthur, Rachel, and Goldie knew what the black man meant.
    Fletcher continued defiantly. "You got to get down in the mud and kiss the frog, Cap, otherwise you're just throwing paper airplanes out of your tower window. You understand what I mean?"
    Sheldon looked more uncomfortable than ever. "Yes, I think so. You don't feel anyone's advice is worth taking unless he's been here, too, and experienced the conditions."
    "You got it," said Fletcher. He flashed a quick grin and sat down again.
    "Anyone else have anything to add?"
    Courane spoke up a little hesitantly. "I think Fletcher makes a