for the reclamation of new territories, the further development of engineering and instrument-making, the transformation and study of the environment, travel, personal appearance, physical fitness, and the proliferation of the species. An active first-layer life would help us solve the problem of early-onset obesity, thrombosis, strokes and heart attacks.
And finally – if I can dream a little bit? – extra-
social
curiosity might reopen the Living’s path to the stars. Before the Nativity ancient man was actively pursuing expansion into space; it is very regrettable that this sphere remains absolutely undeveloped in our time. Who knows? Maybe the Living is not alone in the Universe…
…But I’ve got sidetracked.
I will strive to have Zero included in the list of correctees taking part in our experiment. In his case incarnational retrospection using the Leo-Lot ray may give tremendous results. I suggest that we simply must do this. To figure out what he means for us: ‘harm’ or ‘benefit’. I really do hope that the boy has come to us bearing gifts.
As far as I can tell, this Ef, the SPO officer looking after Zero, is prepared to be of assistance to us in this endeavour. He was very impressed by our report about the visit to the Farm, and is petitioning for his charge to be included on the list.
Zero
I was eleven when the dog at the Farm licked my hand. The scientist who was there at the time said that there had never been anything like this anywhere. The scientist was called Leo. He was glowing with pleasure all over.
He seemed to be disappointed by my reaction: I was not happy.
He tried to gee me up a bit; I probably seemed a bit slow to him. ‘Animals are afraid of the Living,’ he explained slowly, as if I was mentally retarded. ‘We are trying to change that situation, but so far without success. That dog… she went up to you on her own. A unique case. Do you realise? Your case is unique!’
I realised that my case was unique. I’d realised that long before my conversation with Leo, long before the Farm. But there, at the Farm, I realised that I was screwed. That dog: it was like it had marked me. Left the sticky mark of death on my hand.
Animals are afraid of The Living: it’s always been that way. Since the Nativity, That’s what our elderly teacher said in the natural development group. I remembered that lesson well.
‘…Nine months before the Nativity, at the beginning of the Great Reduction, all over the world the human population fell into headlong decline. Epidemics, wars and natural disasters ended thousands of lives every day. A panic began: people did not understand that… the Reduction did not mean their destruction at all, but… the opposite, it heralded the birth of Eternal… the Living. Everyone was still mortal, they didn’t know that soon… they would become part of Him…’
I noticed that she was having some difficulty talking: she was short of breath. It was like she didn’t have enough air, as if she was talking on the run:
‘…And we all know don’t we – all together now! – the number of the Living…is unchanging, the Living…is…three billion livings, and neither by one…’
She was constantly quietly clearing her throat. She was nervy, although she tried not to show it. It was her last day before a compulsory pause.
‘…shall it be diminished, nor by one shall it… be increased, for… eternal rebirth is… the secret of life…’
She could have taken a day off, but she came in anyway. She told us it was a farewell lesson. That she was being transferred to a different region.
She did not tell her pupils about the pause: she was ashamed to have lasted right up to a compulsory, and didn’t want to be a bad example. But we knew. In the last month her health had deteriorated a lot, it was as if she had suddenly got old and started mixing up her layers. It looked like she had the beginnings of introverbalia: at break times a few times we heard
And finally – if I can dream a little bit? – extra-
social
curiosity might reopen the Living’s path to the stars. Before the Nativity ancient man was actively pursuing expansion into space; it is very regrettable that this sphere remains absolutely undeveloped in our time. Who knows? Maybe the Living is not alone in the Universe…
…But I’ve got sidetracked.
I will strive to have Zero included in the list of correctees taking part in our experiment. In his case incarnational retrospection using the Leo-Lot ray may give tremendous results. I suggest that we simply must do this. To figure out what he means for us: ‘harm’ or ‘benefit’. I really do hope that the boy has come to us bearing gifts.
As far as I can tell, this Ef, the SPO officer looking after Zero, is prepared to be of assistance to us in this endeavour. He was very impressed by our report about the visit to the Farm, and is petitioning for his charge to be included on the list.
Zero
I was eleven when the dog at the Farm licked my hand. The scientist who was there at the time said that there had never been anything like this anywhere. The scientist was called Leo. He was glowing with pleasure all over.
He seemed to be disappointed by my reaction: I was not happy.
He tried to gee me up a bit; I probably seemed a bit slow to him. ‘Animals are afraid of the Living,’ he explained slowly, as if I was mentally retarded. ‘We are trying to change that situation, but so far without success. That dog… she went up to you on her own. A unique case. Do you realise? Your case is unique!’
I realised that my case was unique. I’d realised that long before my conversation with Leo, long before the Farm. But there, at the Farm, I realised that I was screwed. That dog: it was like it had marked me. Left the sticky mark of death on my hand.
Animals are afraid of The Living: it’s always been that way. Since the Nativity, That’s what our elderly teacher said in the natural development group. I remembered that lesson well.
‘…Nine months before the Nativity, at the beginning of the Great Reduction, all over the world the human population fell into headlong decline. Epidemics, wars and natural disasters ended thousands of lives every day. A panic began: people did not understand that… the Reduction did not mean their destruction at all, but… the opposite, it heralded the birth of Eternal… the Living. Everyone was still mortal, they didn’t know that soon… they would become part of Him…’
I noticed that she was having some difficulty talking: she was short of breath. It was like she didn’t have enough air, as if she was talking on the run:
‘…And we all know don’t we – all together now! – the number of the Living…is unchanging, the Living…is…three billion livings, and neither by one…’
She was constantly quietly clearing her throat. She was nervy, although she tried not to show it. It was her last day before a compulsory pause.
‘…shall it be diminished, nor by one shall it… be increased, for… eternal rebirth is… the secret of life…’
She could have taken a day off, but she came in anyway. She told us it was a farewell lesson. That she was being transferred to a different region.
She did not tell her pupils about the pause: she was ashamed to have lasted right up to a compulsory, and didn’t want to be a bad example. But we knew. In the last month her health had deteriorated a lot, it was as if she had suddenly got old and started mixing up her layers. It looked like she had the beginnings of introverbalia: at break times a few times we heard
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