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

before I leave."
    "All right." Timmer made a note. "We'll make immediate arrangements here. And we'll send a
ship over to pick him up at once."
    Ryan hesitated. "You'll do a good job?"
    "Of course. We'll have James Pryor perform the actual operation." Timmer reached up to cut the
vidscreen circuit. "Don't worry, Caleb. He'll do a good job. Pryor is the best lobotomist the center has."
    vidscreen circuit. "Don't worry, Caleb. He'll do a good job. Pryor is the best lobotomist the center has."
    Kastner peered over his shoulder. "Will we be confined to the one Project -- getting
Schonerman's papers? Or can we move around?"
    "Only the one Project is contemplated. But to be certain of success we should make several
stops on this side of Schonerman's continuum. Our time map may be inaccurate, or the drive itself may
act with some bias."
    The work was finished. All the final sections were put in place.
    In a corner of the room Jon sat watching, his face expressionless. Ryan glanced toward him.
"How does it look to you?"
    "Fine."
    The time ship was like some stubby insect, overgrown with warts and knobs. A square box with
windows and endless turrets. Not really a ship at all.
    "I guess you wish you could come," Kastner said to Jon. "Right?"
    Jon nodded faintly.
    "How are you feeling?" Ryan asked him.
    "Fine."
    Ryan studied his son. The boy's color had come back. He had regained most of his original
vitality. The visions, of course, no longer existed.
    "Maybe you can come next time," Kastner said.
    Ryan returned to the map. "Schonerman did most of his work between 2030 and 2037. The
results were not put to any use until several years later. The decision to use his work in the war was
reached only after long consideration. The Government seemed to have been aware of the dangers."
    "But not sufficiently so."
    "No." Ryan hesitated. "And we may be getting ourselves into the same situation."
    "How do you mean?"
    "Schonerman's discovery of the artificial brain was lost when the last claw was destroyed. None
of us have been able to duplicate his work. If we bring his papers we may put society back in jeopardy.
We may bring back the claws."
    Kastner shook his head. "No. Schonerman's work was not implicitly related to the claws. The
development of an artificial brain does not imply lethal usage. Any scientific discovery can be used for
destruction. Even the wheel was used in the Assyrian war chariots."
    "I suppose so." Ryan glanced up at Kastner. "Are you certain USIC doesn't intend to use
Schonerman's work along military lines?"
    "USIC is an industrial combine. Not a government."
    "It would ensure its advantage for a long time."
    "USIC is strong enough as it is."
    "Let it go." Ryan rolled up the map. "We can start any minute. I'm anxious to get going. We've
worked a long time on this."
    "I agree."
    Ryan crossed the room to his son. "We're leaving, Jon. We should be back fairly soon. Wish us
luck."
    Jon nodded. "I wish you luck."
    "You're feeling all right?"
    "Yes."
    "Jon -- you feel better now, don't you? Better than before?"
    "Yes."
    "Aren't you glad they're gone? All the troubles you were having?"
    "Yes."
    Ryan put his hand awkwardly on the boy's shoulder. "We'll see you later."
    Ryan put his hand awkwardly on the boy's shoulder. "We'll see you later."
    Ryan paused at the hatch. He called one of the guards over. "Tell Timmer I want him."
    The guard went off, pushing through the exit.
    "What is it?" Kastner said.
    "I have some final instructions to give him."
    Kastner shot him a sharp glance. "Final? What's the matter? You think something's going to
happen to us?"
    "No. Just a precaution."
    Timmer came striding in. "You're leaving, Ryan?"
    "Everything's ready. There's no reason to hold back any longer."
    Timmer came up the ramp. "What did you want me for?"
    "This may be unnecessary. But there's always the possibility something might go wrong. In case
the ship doesn't reappear according to schedule I've filed with the League