K-Pax by Gene Brewer Page B

expeditions , an d ou r librar y i s rathe r incomplet e o n tha t subject . A s for EARTH-well ,I fin d i t t o b ea ver y interestin g place , an dI wil l s o   stat e   i n m y report .   Bu t   whethe r   anyone wil l wan t t o se t u p al l th e parameters . .. " H e shrugge d an d reache d fo ra mango , bi t int o   i t   withou t   peeling of f th e skin . "Bu t that' s onl y th e beginning! " h e exclaimed , wit ha nois y slurp .   "Suppos e   yo u   ar e   interested i n   geology .   Ta p   i n   th e   instructions ,   an d   sample s   o f   an y   an d   ever y   rock ,   ore ,   gem ,   slag ,   o r   meteorite,
    complet e wit h name , origin , composition , chemistry , density , fro m whateve r sourc e yo u specify , wil l b e   at you r fingertips . Yo u ca n pic k the m up , fee l them , smel l   them .   Sam e   wit h   flor a   an d   faun a   o r   an y   grou p   or specie s   thereof .   Science .   Medicine .   History .   Th e   arts .   Yo u   lik e   opera ,   nich t   wahr ?       I n   a   matte r   of second s   yo u   coul d   selec t   anythin g   yo u   wishe d   t o   se e   an d   hear ,   fro m   a   lis t   o f   everythin g   eve r   writte n   or performe d   o n   K-PA X   o r   certai n   othe r   PLANETS ,   organize d   b y   title ,   subject ,   setting ,   type s   o f   voices, composer ,   performers ,   e t   cetera ,   e t   cetera ,   al l   cross-referenced .   I f   yo u   ha d   thi s   capabilit y   o n   EARTH yo u   coul d   tak e   par t   i n   a   performanc e   yoursel f   alongsid e   Ponsell e   o r   Caruso !   Soun d   good? "   I   ha d   to admi t tha t i t did . "O r yo u coul d sai l wit h Columbus ,   sig n   th e   Magn a   Carta ,   driv e   th e   Ind y   Fiv e   Hundred, pitc h t o Bab e Ruth-yo u nam e it.
    "Afte r   a   tim e   i n th e   library, "   h e   continued ,   a   littl e   mor e   placidl y   now ,   " I   migh t   g o   fo r   a   wal k   i n   the wood s o r jus t si t o r li e dow n somewher e fo ra while . That' s on e o f th e nices t thing s o f all. "   H e   pause d   for a moment ,   apparentl y   dee p   i n thought ,   the n   said :   " A fe w   month s   ag o   I   sa t   besid e   a   pon d   i n   alabama. Ther e wa s n o win d a t al l an d i t wa s absolutel y quiet , wonderfull y stil l excep t fo r th e occasiona l jumpin g of a fis h o r   croakin g   o f   a   fro g   o r   th e   soun d   o f   insect s   makin g   tin y   ripple s   o n   th e   surface .   Hav e   yo u   ever experience d that ? I t i s beautiful . Ther e ar e n o pond s o n KPAX , bu t th e feelin g i s th e same."
    "Whe n wa s this?"
    "Las t   october. "   H e   leane d   bac k   wit h   tha t   perpetua l   smil e   o n   hi s   fac e   a s   i f h e   were ,   a t   tha t   moment, actuall y sittin g besid e th e pon d h e ha d jus t   described .   The n   h e   sa t   u p   an d   sang ,   rathe r   loudl y   an d   no t   on key , "An d that' sa typica l   daaayyyy "   (tap ,   tap) ,   "i n dogpatc h   (tap) ,   u.s.aaayyyy. "   A   reference ,   according t o m y so n Fred , t oa popula r Broadwa y musica l o f th e fiftie s calle d Li' l Abner.
    An d     the n     h e     sai d     somethin g     totall y     unexpected ,     somethin g     precipitated ,     apparently ,     b y     his
    "reminiscing " abou t lif e o n hi s "world. " H e said , "N o offens e intended , gene , bu t m y tim e i s almos t u p here an dI can' t wai t t o ge t back."
    Thi s too k m e completel y b y surprise .I said , "What-t o K-PAX?"
    "Wher e else?"
    No w i t wa s m y tur n t o si t u p straighter . "Whe n ar e yo u plannin g t o return?" Withou ta moment' s hesitation : "O n augus t seventeenth."
    "Augus t seventeenth .