K-Pax Read Free Page B

on."
    "Anythin g yo u say."
    "Good . First , ho w d o yo u accoun t fo r th e fac t that , a sa visito r fro m space , yo u   loo k   s o   muc h   lik e   an
    Eart h person?"
    "Wh y i sa soa p bubbl e round?"
    " I don' t know-why?"
    "Fo r a n educate d person , yo u don' t kno w much , d o you , gene ?A soa p bubbl e i s   roun d   becaus e   that i s   th e   mos t   energy-efficien t   configuration .   Similarly ,   man y   being s   aroun d   th e   UNIVERS E   loo k   pretty muc h lik e w e do."
    " I see .   Okay-yo u   mentione d   earlie r   that-mm'EART H   i s   a   particularl y   livel y plac e   a s   see n   an d   heard fro m space. ' Wha t di d yo u mea n b y that?"
    "You r   televisio n   an d   radi o   wave s   g o   ou t   fro m   EART H   i n   al l   directions .   Th e   whol e   GALAX Y   is watchin g an d listenin g t o everythin g yo u sa y an d do."
    "Bu t thes e   wave s   trave l   onl y   a t   th e   spee d   o f   light ,   don' t   they ?   The y   couldn' t   possibl y   hav e   reached
    K-PA X a s yet."
    H e sighe d again , mor e loudl y thi s time . "Bu t som e   o f   th e   energ y   goe s   int o   highe r   overtones ,   don'tcha know ? It' s thi s principle , i n fact , tha t make s ligh t trave l possible . Hav e yo u studie d physics?"
    I suddenl y   remembere d   m y   long-sufferin g   hig h   schoo l   physic s   teacher ,   wh o   ha d   trie d   t o   dru m   this kin d o f informatio n int o m y head .I   als o   fel t   a   nee d   fo r   a   cigarette ,   thoug h   I   hadn' t   smoke d   on e   i n years.
    "I'l l tak e you r wor d fo r that , Mist-uh-prot . On e mor e thing : Wh y d o yo u trave l   aroun d   th e   univers e   al l by yourself?"
    "Wouldn' t you , i f yo u could?'
    "Maybe .I don' t know . Bu t wha tI mean t was : Wh y d o yo u d o i t alone?"
    "I s tha t wh y yo u thin k I' m crazy?"
    "No t a t all . Bu t doesn' t i t ge t kin d o f lonely , al l thos e   years-fou r   year s   an d   eigh t   months ,   wasn' t   it?-in space?"
    "No . An dI wasn' t i n spac e tha t long . I'v e bee n her e fo r fou r year s an d nin e months."
    "Ho w lon g wer e yo u i n spacer'
    " I age d abou t seve n o f you r months , i f that' s wha t yo u mean."
    "Yo u didn' t fee la nee d t o hav e someon e t o tal k t o fo r al l tha t time?"
    "No. "I jotte d down : Patien t dislike s everyone?
    "Wha t di d yo u d o t o kee p yoursel f occupied?"
    H e wagge d hi s head . "Yo u   don' t   understand ,   gene .   Althoug h   I   becam e   seve n   EART H   month s   older durin g   th e   trip ,   i t   reall y   seeme d   lik e   a n   instan t   t o   me .   Yo u   see ,   tim e   i s   warpe d   a t   supe r   ligh t   speeds .   In othe r words-"
    Unforgivably ,I wa s to o annoye d t o le t hi m g o on .   "An d   speakin g   o f   time ,   our s   i s   u p   fo r   today .   Shall w e continu e th e discussio n nex t week?"
    "A s yo u wish."
    "Good . I'l l cal l Mr . Kowalsk i an d Mr . Jense n t o escor t yo u bac k t o you r ward."
    " I kno w th e way."
    "Well , i f yo u don' t mind , I' d rathe r cal l them . Jus t routin e hospita l procedure . I' m sur e you understand."
    "Perfectly."
    "Good. "   Th e   orderlie s   arrive d   i na   momen t   an d   th e   patien t   lef t   wit h   them ,   noddin g   complacentl y   to m e a s h e wen t out .I wa s   surprise d   t o   fin d   tha t   I   wa s   drippin g   wit h   perspiration ,   an d   I   remembe r   getting u p t o chec k th e thermosta t afte r switchin g of f th e recorder.
    Whil e   th e   tap e   wa s   rewindin g   I   copie d   m y   scribble d   observation s   fo r   hi s   permanen t   file ,   making mentio n   o f   m y distast e   fo r   wha t   seeme d   t o   m e   hi s   arrogan t   manner ,   afte r