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The Floating Press - Dick Philip K.

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20 pages

English

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Earth doctor Henry Harris is tasked with the responsibility of examining the men who return from missions across the galaxy. Travelers returning from Asteroid Y-3 begin to exhibit strange psychosomatic symptoms -- specifically, they seem to believe that they are plants. When this anomaly becomes an epidemic, Dr. Harris travels to Asteroid Y-3, hoping to get to the bottom of things. Are the men suffering from some kind of mass delusion, or have they stumbled across a hidden truth?

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Science fiction

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 février 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776530533
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0064€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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PIPER IN THE WOODS
* * *
PHILIP K. DICK

*
Piper in the Woods First published in 1953 Epub ISBN 978-1-77653-053-3 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77653-054-0 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Piper in the Woods
*
Earth maintained an important garrison on Asteroid Y-3. Now suddenly it was imperiled with a biological impossibility—men becoming plants!
*
"Well, Corporal Westerburg," Doctor Henry Harris said gently, "just whydo you think you're a plant?"
As he spoke, Harris glanced down again at the card on his desk. It wasfrom the Base Commander himself, made out in Cox's heavy scrawl: Doc,this is the lad I told you about. Talk to him and try to find out how hegot this delusion. He's from the new Garrison, the new check-station onAsteroid Y-3, and we don't want anything to go wrong there. Especially asilly damn thing like this!
Harris pushed the card aside and stared back up at the youth across thedesk from him. The young man seemed ill at ease and appeared to beavoiding answering the question Harris had put to him. Harris frowned.Westerburg was a good-looking chap, actually handsome in his Patroluniform, a shock of blond hair over one eye. He was tall, almost sixfeet, a fine healthy lad, just two years out of Training, according tothe card. Born in Detroit. Had measles when he was nine. Interested injet engines, tennis, and girls. Twenty-six years old.
"Well, Corporal Westerburg," Doctor Harris said again. "Why do you thinkyou're a plant?"
The Corporal looked up shyly. He cleared his throat. "Sir, I am aplant, I don't just think so. I've been a plant for several days, now."
"I see." The Doctor nodded. "You mean that you weren't always a plant?"
"No, sir. I just became a plant recently."
"And what were you before you became a plant?"
"Well, sir, I was just like the rest of you."
There was silence. Doctor Harris took up his pen and scratched a fewlines, but nothing of importance came. A plant? And such ahealthy-looking lad! Harris removed his steel-rimmed glasses andpolished them with his handkerchief. He put them on again and leanedback in his chair. "Care for a cigarette, Corporal?"
"No, sir."
The Doctor lit one himself, resting his arm on the edge of the chair."Corporal, you must realize that there are very few men who becomeplants, especially on such short notice. I have to admit you are thefirst person who has ever told me such a thing."
"Yes, sir, I realize it's quite rare."
"You can understand why I'm interested, then. When you say you're aplant, you mean you're not capable of mobility? Or do you mean you're avegetable, as opposed to an animal? Or just what?"
The Corporal looked away. "I can't tell you any more," he murmured. "I'msorry, sir."
"Well, would you mind telling me how you became a plant?"
Corporal Westerburg hesitated. He stared down at the floor, then out thewindow at the spaceport, then at a fly on the desk. At last he stood up,getting slowly to his feet. "I can't even tell you that, sir," he said.
"You can't? Why not?"
"Because—because I promised not to."
*
The room was silent. Doctor Harris rose, too, and they both stood facingeach other. Harris frowned, rubbing his jaw. "Corporal, just who didyou promise?"
"I can't even tell you that, sir. I'm sorry."
The Doctor considered this. At last he went to the door and opened it."All right, Corporal. You may go now. And thanks for your time."
"I'm sorry I'm not more helpful.