Second Variety and Other Stories by Philip K. Dick Page A

discussing?"
    "Things."
    "What kind of things?"
    Jon gestured vaguely. "Great things. The world. The universe."
    There was silence. Ryan grunted. He did not say anything. Finally he put out his cigarette. "Jon
--"
    "Yes?"
    "You think what you see is real?"
    Jon smiled. "I know it's real."
    Ryan's gaze was sharp. "What do you mean, real? In what way is this world of yours real?"
    "It exists."
    "Where does it exist?"
    "I don't know."
    "Here? Does it exist here?"
    "No. It's not here."
    "Some place else? A long way off? Some other part of the universe beyond our range of
experience?"
    "Not another part of the universe. It has nothing to do with space. It's here." Jon waved around
him. "Close by. It's very close. I see it all around me."
    "Do you see it now?"
    "No. It comes and goes."
    "It ceases to exist? It only exists sometimes?"
    "No, it's always there. But I can't always make contact with it."
    "How do you know it's always there?"
    "I just know."
    "Why can't I see it? Why are you the only one who can see it?"
    "I don't know." Jon rubbed his forehead wearily. "I don't know why I'm the only one who can
see it. I wish you could see it. I wish everybody could see it."
    "I don't know." Jon rubbed his forehead wearily. "I don't know why I'm the only one who can
see it. I wish you could see it. I wish everybody could see it."
    "Maybe it can't. I don't know. I don't care. I don't want to present it for empirical analysis."
    There was silence. Jon's face was set and grim, his jaw tight. Ryan sighed. Impasse.
    "All right, Jon." He moved slowly toward the door. I'll see you later."
    Jon said nothing.
    At the door Ryan halted, looking back. "Then your visions are getting stronger, aren't they?
Progressively more vivid."
    Jon nodded curtly.
    Ryan considered awhile. Finally he raised his hand. The door slid away and he passed outside
the room, into the hall.
    Grant came up to him. "I was watching through the window. He's quite withdrawn, isn't he?"
    "It's difficult to talk to him. He seems to believe these attacks are some kind of vision."
    "I know. He's told me."
    "Why didn't you let me know?"
    "I didn't want to alarm you more. I know you've been worried about him."
    "The attacks are getting worse. He says they're more vivid. More convincing."
    Grant nodded.
    Ryan moved along the corridor, deep in thought, Grant a little behind. "It's difficult to be certain
of the best course of action. The attacks absorb him more and more. He's beginning to take them
seriously. They're usurping the place of the outside world. And in addition --"
    "And in addition you're leaving soon."
    "I wish we knew more about time travel. A great number of things may happen to us." Ryan
rubbed his jaw. "We might not come back. Time is a potent force. No real exploration has been done.
We have no idea what we may run into."
    He came to the lift and stopped.
    "I'll have to make my decision right away. It has to be made before we leave."
    "Your decision?"
    Ryan entered the lift. "You'll know about it later. Watch Jon constantly from now on. Don't be
away from him for even a moment. Do you understand?"
    Grant nodded. "I understand. You want to be sure he doesn't leave his room."
    "You'll hear from me either tonight or tomorrow." Ryan ascended to the roof and entered his
inter-city ship.
    As soon as he was in the sky he clicked on the vidscreen and dialed the League Offices. The
face of the League Monitor appeared. "Offices."
    "Give me the medical center."
    The monitor faded. Presently Walter Timmer, the medical director, appeared on the screen. His
eyes flickered as he recognized Ryan. "What can I do for you, Caleb?"
    "I want you to get out a medical car and a few good men and come over here to City Four."
    "Why?"
    "It's a matter I discussed with you several months ago. You recall, I think."
    Timmer's expression changed. "Your son?"
    "I've decided. I can't wait any longer. He's getting worse, and we'll be leaving soon on the time
trip. I want it performed