K-Pax by Gene Brewer Page A

on K-PAX , especiall y sinc e ther e   ar e   onl y   tw o   varietie s   and ,   a s   yo u   know ,   whe n   you'v e   see n   both ,   you've see n the m all."
    H e   leane d   bac k   an d   close d   hi s   eye s   again ,   obviousl y   enjoyin g   th e   exposition .   "Okay ,   we've awakened ,   we'v e   eate n   something ,   we'v e   urinated ,   picke d   ou r   teeth ,   wha t   d o   w e   d o   now ?   Well, whateve r need s t o b e done .   Soa k som e mor e grain s fo r nex t time , wip e ou t ou r bowls , fi x anythin g   that's broken . Otherwise , anythin g w e want ! Som e prefe r t o searc h   th e   skies ,   other s   observ e   th e   leafin g   o f   the tree s   o r   th e   antic s   o f   th e   ap s   o r   th e   behavio r   o f   th e   korm s   o r   horns ,   o r   pla y   musi c   o r   pain t   o r   sculpt. Whe n I' m no t travelin gI usuall y spen d mos t o f m y tim e i n on e o f th e libraries , whic h ar e usuall y   fille d   with being s a t an y give n tim e o f cycle."
    "Tel l m e mor e abou t th e libraries."
    "Ther e ar e som e book s there , o f course , bu t thos e   ar e   ver y   old ,   an d   ther e   i s   somethin g   muc h   better. Le t   m e   se e   i f   I   ca n   describ e   i t   fo r   you. "   prot' s   eye s   rolle d   u p   again ,   an d   hi s   finger s   bega n   tapping together ,   mor e   rapidl y   thi s   time .   "Imagin e   a   compute r   wit h   a   monito r   tha t   project s   three-dimensional image s   complet e   wit h   all-sens e   capability .   No w   suppos e   yo u   ar e   intereste d   i n ballooning .   Let' s   sa y   you wan t t o kno w wha t i t wa s lik e t o pilo ta balloo na hundre d million , cycle s   ago ,   befor e   w e   learne d   ho w   to trave l wit h light . Yo u jus t se t u p th e computer , ta p   i n th e   instructions ,   an d   ther e   yo u   are !   Yo u   woul d   find yoursel f   i n a n   ancien t   gondola ,   floatin g   a t   whateve r   locatio n   an d   altitud e   yo u   specified ,   a t   th e   authentic win d spee d   an d   directio n   o n   th e   dat e   yo u   selected .   Fee l   th e   rope s   i n you r   hand s   an d   th e   sun s   o n   your face ! Smel l th e tree s below ! Hea r th e korm s o f tha t   tim e   wh o   perc h   o n   to p   o f   th e   bladde r   o r   joi n   yo u   in th e   gondola !   Tast e   th e   frui t   an d   nut s   provide d   fo r   th e   trip !   Th e   surfac e   feature s   yo u   se e   belo w   yo u   are perfectl y accurate . I t i s exactl y lik e bein g there! " B y no w pro t wa s virtuall y quiverin g wit h excitement.
    "Wha t happen s i f yo u fal l off?"
    Hi s brigh t eye s opene d onc e mor e an d hi s finger s becam e still . "That' sa   questio n   onl y   a   huma n   being woul d   ask !   Bu t   th e   answe r   is :   nothing .   Yo u   woul d   fin d   yoursel f   bac k   i n   th e   library ,   read y   fo r   another adventure."
    "Wha t othe r kind s o f adventure s migh t yo u have?"
    "Us e   you r   imagination ,   doc .   Anythin g   tha t   ha s   happene d   o n   K-PA X   i n   th e   las t   fe w   millio n   year s   is your s t o experience , i n thre e dimension s an d al l senses . Yo u coul d recreat e you r ow n birth , i f yo u wanted to . O r reliv e an y par t o f you r life . O r tha t o f an y othe r being."
    "Thes e   holograms-d o   yo u   hav e   an y   fo r   othe r   planets ?   Wil l   yo u   b e   takin g   somethin g   bac k   from
    Earth?"
    "Planetar y trave l i s stil l somewha t   ne w   t o   us .   We'v e   onl y   bee n   a t   i t   fo r   a   fe w   hundred s   o f   thousands o f you r years , mostl y jus t scoutin g