О дивный новый мир

           Theholidayitgavewasperfectand,ifthemorningafterwasdisagreeable,itwasso,notintrinsically,butonlybycomparisonwiththejoysoftheholiday.Theremedywastomaketheholidaycontinuous.Greedilysheclamouredforeverlarger,evermorefrequentdoses.Dr.Shawatfirstdemurred;thenletherhavewhatshewanted.Shetookasmuchastwentygrammesaday.

           "Whichwillfinishheroffinamonthortwo,"thedoctorconfidedtoBernard."Onedaytherespiratorycentrewillbeparalyzed.Nomorebreathing.Finished.Andagoodthingtoo.Ifwecouldrejuvenate,ofcourseitwouldbedifferent.Butwecan’t."

           Surprisingly,aseveryonethought(foronsoma-holidayLindawasmostconvenientlyoutoftheway),Johnraisedobjections.

           "Butaren’tyoushorteningherlifebygivinghersomuch?"

           "Inonesense,yes,"Dr.Shawadmitted."Butinanotherwe’reactuallylengtheningit."Theyoungmanstared,uncomprehending."Somamaymakeyouloseafewyearsintime,"thedoctorwenton."Butthinkoftheenormous,immeasurabledurationsitcangiveyououtoftime.Everysoma-holidayisabitofwhatourancestorsusedtocalleternity."

           Johnbegantounderstand."Eternitywasinourlipsandeyes,"hemurmured.

           "Eh?"

           "Nothing."

           "Ofcourse,"Dr.Shawwenton,"youcan’tallowpeopletogopoppingoffintoeternityifthey’vegotanyseriousworktodo.Butasshehasn’tgotanyseriouswork..."

           "Allthesame,"Johnpersisted,"Idon’tbelieveit’sright."

           Thedoctorshruggedhisshoulders.