Read Online Wyst: Alastor 1716 by Jack Vance - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jack Vance
Tags: Science-Fiction
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inclination which rejoices at public degradation.
Well, enough on this subject. I think I mentioned that my camera
has been stolen: hence no photographs. In fact, I’m not sure that there is any
agency at Uncibal to make prints from my matrix.
I will report further in my next letter.
From your loving,
Jantiff.
Chapter 4
One morning Esteban came by Jantiff’s apartment with a Mend.
“Attention, please, Janty Ravensroke! This is Olin, a dear good fellow,
for all his portly abdomen. It signifies sound sleep and a peaceful conscience,
or so Olin assures me; he owns no magic bonter cabinet.”
Jantiff politely acknowledged the introduction, and offered
a pleasantry of his own: “Please don’t consider me guilt-ridden because I am
thin!”
Olin and Esteban were provoked to hearty laughs. Esteban
said: “Olin’s screen has developed a most curious ailment; it spits up plumes
of red fire, even at amusing messages. He naturally suffers agonies of
distress. I told him: Be of good cheer! My friend Jantiff is a Zeck technician
who likes nothing better than setting such things right.”
Jantiff attempted a bright tone. “I have rather a good idea
along these lines. Suppose I conduct a seminar on small repairs, at a charge
per session, say, of fifty tokens a student. Everyone—you and Olin included—can
learn all I know, and then you can do your own repairs and also oblige those of
your friends who lack the skills.”
Olin’s smile trembled uncertainly; Esteban’s handsome eyebrows
peaked emphatically. “My dear fellow!” exclaimed Esteban. “Are you really in
earnest?”
“Of course! Everyone gains. I earn extra tokens and also
avoid the nuisance of running about performing favors. You in turn augment your
capabilities.”
For a moment Esteban stood speechless. Then, half-laughing,
he said: “But Jantiff, dear naive Jantiff! I don’t want to augment my
capabilities! This implies a predisposition for work. For civilized men
work is an unnatural occupation!”
“I suppose there is no inherent virtue in work,” Jantiff
conceded. “Unless, of course, it is performed by someone else.”
“Work is the useful function of machines,” said Esteban. “Let
the machines augment their capabilities! Let the automatons ponder and drudge!
The span of existence is oh! so brief; why should a single second be wasted?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” said Jantiff. “An ideal concept and
all very well. In practice however both you and Olin already have wasted two or
three hours inspecting Olin’s screen, exclaiming at the flaw, formulating plans
and coming here. Assume that I agreed to look into the matter, then you and
Olin must return to Olin’s apartment to watch me make the repair. Let us say a
total of four hours apiece. Eight man-hours as a grand total, not even counting
my time, when Olin probably could have set the matter to rights in ten, minutes.
Isn’t this a case where capabilities saves time?”
Esteban gave his head a grave shake. “Jantiff, above all you
are a master of casuistry. This ‘capability’ implies a point of view quite at odds
with the beatific [17] life.”
“I feel that I must agree to this,” said Olin.
“You’d rather lose the use of your screen than fix it yourself?”
Esteban’s versatile eyebrows performed another feat, this
time indicating quizzical distaste. It goes without saying! This practicality
of yours is a backward step. I also might mention that your proposed class is
exploitative, and would surely excite the Monitors.”
“I hadn’t thought in those terms,” said Jantiff. “Well, in
all candor, I find that these little favors are taking too much of my time and
destroying the beatitude of my life. If Olin wants to work my next drudge, I’ll
fix his screen.”
Olin and Esteban exchanged amused glances. Both shrugged,
turned away and departed the apartment.
From Zeck came a parcel for Jantiff, containing pigments,
applicators, papers and mats. Jantiff
Well, enough on this subject. I think I mentioned that my camera
has been stolen: hence no photographs. In fact, I’m not sure that there is any
agency at Uncibal to make prints from my matrix.
I will report further in my next letter.
From your loving,
Jantiff.
Chapter 4
One morning Esteban came by Jantiff’s apartment with a Mend.
“Attention, please, Janty Ravensroke! This is Olin, a dear good fellow,
for all his portly abdomen. It signifies sound sleep and a peaceful conscience,
or so Olin assures me; he owns no magic bonter cabinet.”
Jantiff politely acknowledged the introduction, and offered
a pleasantry of his own: “Please don’t consider me guilt-ridden because I am
thin!”
Olin and Esteban were provoked to hearty laughs. Esteban
said: “Olin’s screen has developed a most curious ailment; it spits up plumes
of red fire, even at amusing messages. He naturally suffers agonies of
distress. I told him: Be of good cheer! My friend Jantiff is a Zeck technician
who likes nothing better than setting such things right.”
Jantiff attempted a bright tone. “I have rather a good idea
along these lines. Suppose I conduct a seminar on small repairs, at a charge
per session, say, of fifty tokens a student. Everyone—you and Olin included—can
learn all I know, and then you can do your own repairs and also oblige those of
your friends who lack the skills.”
Olin’s smile trembled uncertainly; Esteban’s handsome eyebrows
peaked emphatically. “My dear fellow!” exclaimed Esteban. “Are you really in
earnest?”
“Of course! Everyone gains. I earn extra tokens and also
avoid the nuisance of running about performing favors. You in turn augment your
capabilities.”
For a moment Esteban stood speechless. Then, half-laughing,
he said: “But Jantiff, dear naive Jantiff! I don’t want to augment my
capabilities! This implies a predisposition for work. For civilized men
work is an unnatural occupation!”
“I suppose there is no inherent virtue in work,” Jantiff
conceded. “Unless, of course, it is performed by someone else.”
“Work is the useful function of machines,” said Esteban. “Let
the machines augment their capabilities! Let the automatons ponder and drudge!
The span of existence is oh! so brief; why should a single second be wasted?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” said Jantiff. “An ideal concept and
all very well. In practice however both you and Olin already have wasted two or
three hours inspecting Olin’s screen, exclaiming at the flaw, formulating plans
and coming here. Assume that I agreed to look into the matter, then you and
Olin must return to Olin’s apartment to watch me make the repair. Let us say a
total of four hours apiece. Eight man-hours as a grand total, not even counting
my time, when Olin probably could have set the matter to rights in ten, minutes.
Isn’t this a case where capabilities saves time?”
Esteban gave his head a grave shake. “Jantiff, above all you
are a master of casuistry. This ‘capability’ implies a point of view quite at odds
with the beatific [17] life.”
“I feel that I must agree to this,” said Olin.
“You’d rather lose the use of your screen than fix it yourself?”
Esteban’s versatile eyebrows performed another feat, this
time indicating quizzical distaste. It goes without saying! This practicality
of yours is a backward step. I also might mention that your proposed class is
exploitative, and would surely excite the Monitors.”
“I hadn’t thought in those terms,” said Jantiff. “Well, in
all candor, I find that these little favors are taking too much of my time and
destroying the beatitude of my life. If Olin wants to work my next drudge, I’ll
fix his screen.”
Olin and Esteban exchanged amused glances. Both shrugged,
turned away and departed the apartment.
From Zeck came a parcel for Jantiff, containing pigments,
applicators, papers and mats. Jantiff
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