The Celestial Blueprint and Others Stories Read Free Page A

shocks, it becomes accustomed, forgets its conditioning, and leaves you alone.”
    Lusine laughed and said in a low conspirational tone, “So your Ssassaror pal and you adopted the Philosophy of Violence because you remained fish and meat eaters?”
    “Yes, we did. When Mapfarity reached puberty he became a Giant and went off to live in a castle in the forest. But we have remained friends through our connection in the underground.”
    “Your parents must have suspected that you were a fish eater when you first proposed your Philosophy of Violence?” she said.
    “Suspicion isn’t proof,” he answered. “But I shouldn’t be telling you all this, Lusine. I feel it is safe for me to do so only because you will never have a chance to tell on me. You will soon be taken to Chalice and there you will stay until you have been cured.”
    She shivered and said, “This Chalice? What is it?”
    “It is a place far to the north where both Terrans and Ssassarors send their incorrigibles. It is an extinct volcano whose steep-sided interior makes an inescapable prison. There those who have persisted in unnatural behavior are given special treatment.”
    “They are bled?” she asked, her eyes widening as her tongue flicked over her lips again hungrily.
    “No. A special breed of Skin is given them to wear. These Skins shock them more powerfully than the ordinary ones, and the shocks are associated with the habit they are trying to cure. The shocks effect a cure. Also, these special Skins are used to detect hidden unnatural emotions. They recondition the deviate. The result is that when the Chaliced Man is judged able to go out and take his place in society again, he is thoroughly reconditioned. Then, his regular Skin is given back to him, and it has no trouble keeping him in line from then on. The Chaliced Man is a very good citizen.”
    “And what if a revolter doesn't become Chaliced?”
    “Then, he stays in Chalice until he decides to become so.” Her voice rose sharply as she said, “But if I go there, and I am not fed the diet of the Amphibs, I will grow old and diel”
    “No. The government will feed you the diet you need until you are reconditioned. Except . . He paused.
    “Except I won’t get blood,” she wailed. Then, realizing she was acting undignified before a Landman, she firmed her voice.
    “The King of the Amphibians will not allow them to do this to me,” she said. “When he hears of it, he will demand my return. And, if the King of Men refuses, my King will use violence to get me back.”
    Rastignac smiled and said, “I hope he does. Then, perhaps, my people will wake up and get rid of their Skins and make war upon your people.”
    “So that is what you Philosophers of Violence want, is it? Well, you will not get it. My father, the Amphib King, will not be so stupid as to declare a war.”
    “I suppose not,” replied Rastignac. “He will send a band to rescue you. If they’re caught, they’ll claim to be criminals and say they are not under the King’s orders.”
    Lusine looked upwards to see if a guard was hanging over the well’s mouth listening. Perceiving no one, she nodded and said, “You have guessed it correctly. And that is why we laugh so much at you stupid Humans. You know as well as we do what’s going on, but you are afraid to tell us so. You keep clinging to the idea that your tum-the-other-cheek policy will soften us and insure peace.”
    “Not I,” said Rastignac. “I know perfectly well there is only one solution to man’s problems. That is—”
    “That is Violence,” she finished for him. “That is what you have been preaching. And that is why you are in this cell, waiting for trial.”
    “You don’t understand,” he said. “Men are not put into the Chalice for proposing new philosophies. As long as they behave naturally, they may say what they wish. They may even petition the King that the new philosophy be made a law. The King passes it on to the Chamber of