!   c>nivore     ,by ,g4 ,a4 ,,morris   
,illu/rat$ by ,,bur*>d       ,:y 7 !y   
apologetic8 ,x   wasn't _! fault t !y   
came to ,e>? mu* too late4      ,! be+s 
/ood ar\nd my b$ 9 air suits l ski      
suits1 ) globes  ov] _! heads l         
upside-d[n fi%b[ls4 ,x 0 all l a        
masqu]ade1 ) odd co/umes & funny masks4 
,i "k t ! masks are _! faces1 b ,i argue
 ) !m & f9d ,i  ?9k z if ,i am argu+ )  
humans beh9d ! masks4 ,!y are p4  ,i    
recognize p & :e!r ,i am go+ to l ?is   
p]son or t  p]son by some?+ 9 ! way !y  
move & h[ !y get excit$ :5  !y talk2 &  
,i "k t ,i l ^! p 9 a mo!rly sort (     
way4 ,y h to feel mo!rly t[>d !m1 ,i    
guess4    ,!y all rem9d me ( ,ronny1 a  
m$ical /ud5t ,i knew once4 ,he 0 small  
& r\nd & eag]4 ,y _h to l him1 b y      
c\ldn't take him v  s]i\sly4 ,he 0 a    
pacifi/2 he wrote poetry & pull$ x out  
to read  al\d at ill-tim$ mom5ts2 & he  
/utt]$ :5 he talk$ too fa/4    ,!y are l
 t1 all fright & g5tl5ess4           99 
99       99       99       99    ,i am n

 ! only survivor--!y h expla9$ t--b ,i  
am ! fir/  !y f\nd1 & ! lea/ damag$1 !  
"o !y h *os5 to repres5t  ! human race  
to !m4 ,!y /& ar\nd my b$ & answ]       
que/ions1  & are nice to me :5 ,i argue 
) !m4    ,all 9 a gr\p !y look half-way 
betwe5 a delegation ( nations & an  ark1
 "o ( ea*1 big & small1 ?ick & ?91 f\r  
arms or w+s1 all  %apes & colors 9 fur &
 sk9 & fea!rs4    ,i c picture !m 9 _!  
,,un ( ! ,univ]se1 mak+ spee*es 9 _!    
diff]5t languages1 li/5+ pati5tly )\t   
und]/&+ ea*  o!r's diff]5t problems1    
bor+ ea* o!r & be+ too polite to  yawn4 
,!y are polite1 s polite ,i almo/ feel  
!y are afraid ( me1 & ,i  want to       
reassure !m4    ,b ,i talk z if ,i 7    
angry4 ,i c't help x1 because if ?+s _h 
only be5 a little diff]5t 444 ,:y       
c\ldn't y h come soon]8 ,:y  c\ldn't y h
 tri$ to /op x be=e x happ5$1 or at lea/
 come  soon]1 aft]w>d4448    ,if !y _h  
come soon] to :]e ! work]s ( ! ,nevada  
p[] pile  />v$ sl[ly beh9d _! protect+  
walls ( lead--if !y _h look$  soon] =   

survivors ( ! du/ ) :i* ! nations ( ! _w
 _h  sla9 ea* o!r--,george ,craig w\ld  
be alive4 ,he di$ be=e !y came4  ,he 0  
my co-work]1 & ,i lov$ him4    ,we _h   
gone d[n toge!r1 pass+ door by door !   
automatic safegu>ds  ( ! plant1 :i* 7   
suppos$ to protect ! p on ! outside  f !
 radioactive dang] f ! inside--b ! dang]
 ( a failure  ( politics 0 f> m real ?an
 ! dang] ( failure 9 ! sci5ce  ( ! p[]  
pile1 & t _h n be5 calculat$ by !       
build]s4 ,we  7 f> und]gr\nd :5 ! fir/  
radioactivity 9 ! air outside _h  %ut   
all ! heavy1 lead-%ield$ automatic doors
 betwe5 u & !  outside4    ,we 7 safe4  
,& we />v$ !re4    ,:y didn't y come    
soon]8 ,i wond] if !y "k or guess h[ ,i 
feel4  ,my que/ions are n que/ions1 b ,i
 h to ask !m4 ,he is dead4 ,i  don't    
mean to reproa* !m--!y look well mean+ &
 k9dly--b ,i  feel z if1 someh[1 kn[+ :y
 x happ5$ c\ld make x /op1 c\ld  let me 
turn ! clock back & make x happ5        
diff]5tly4 ,if ,i c\ld  h signal$ !m1 s 
!y w\ld h come j a little soon]4    ,!y 

look at "o ano!r1 turn+ _! funny-face   
heads uneasily1  mov+ back & =?1 b no "o
 w answ]4    ,! _w is dead4444 ,george  
is dead1 t ?91 pa!tic creature )  !     
bones %[+ ?r\gh 8 sk9 t he 0 :5 we sat  
/ill at !  la/ ) our h&s t\*+1 ?9k+ !re 
7 p outside :o _h  =gott5 u1 hop+ !y    
w\ld rememb]4 ,we didn't guess t ! _w  0
 dead1 blanket$ 9 radiat+ du/ outside4  
,politics _h kill$ x4    ,^! be+s ar\nd 
me1 !y _h be5 wat*+1 see+ :at 0 go+ to  
happ5 to our _w1 li/5+ to our radios f  
_! small  settlem5ts on ! o!r planets ( 
! ,sol> ,sy/em4 ,!y _h se5 !  doom ( w> 
com+4 ,!y repres5t$ /ell> civilizations 
( great  p[] & te*nology1 & )           
populations t w\ld h made ours  seem a  
small village2 !y 7 /rong] ?an we 71 &  
yet !y _h  done no?+4    ,:y didn't y   
/op u8 ,y c\ld h /opp$ u4           99  
99       99       99       99    ,a     
rabbity "o :o is clos] ?an ! o!rs backs 
away1 ge/ur+  politely t he is giv+ room
 = someone else to speak1 b he looks    
guilty & w n look at me ) 8 big r\nd    

eyes4 ,i /ill feel  weak & dizzy4 ,x is 
h>d to ?9k1 b ,i feel z if !y are hid+ a
  secret4    ,a doelike "o hesitates &  
comes clos] to my b$4 ,we discuss$ x 444
  we vot$4444 ,x talks ?r\gh a          
microphone 9 its helmet ) a s(t  lisp+  
acc5t t ,i ?9k comes f ! %ape ( its m\?4
 ,x has a  muzzle & v s(t1 da9ty1 long  
nibbl+ lips l a de] t  nibbles on twigs 
& buds4    ,we 7 afraid1 adds "o :o     
looks l a be>4    ,to u ! future 0 v    
t]rible1 says "o :o looks z if x  might 
h desc5d$ f "s sort ( l>ge bird l a     
p5gu94 ,s  mu*-- ,y\r weapons 7 v       
t]rible4    ,n[ !y all talk at once1    
cr[d+ ab\t my b$1 apologiz+4 ,s mu*     
kill+4 ,x hurt to "k ab\t4 ,b y\r p     
didn't seem to m9d4    ,we 7 afraid4    
,& 9 y\r fiction1 ! doelike "o lisp$1 ,i
 saw plays f y\r  amusem5t ma*9es :i*   
said t ! discov]y ( be+s 9 space  w\ld  
save y f w>1 n because y w\ld let u br+ 
fri5d%ip  & tea* peace1 b because !     
human race w\ld unite 9 hatr$ (  !      
outsid]s4 ,!y w\ld =get _! hatr$ ( ea*  

o!r only 9 a  new & m t]rible w> ) u4   
,its voice breaks 9 a squeak & x  turns 
its face away f me4    ,y 7 ab\t to come
 out into space4 ,we 7 wond]+ h[ to     
hide6  ,t is a quick-talk+ "o1 z small z
 a *ild4 ,he looks z if he  might h     
desc5d$ f a bat--gray silk5 fur on 8    
po9t$ face1  big night-see+ eyes1 & big 
s5sitive e>s1 ) a hump$ %ape on  ! back 
( 8 air suit :i* might be fold$ w+s4 ,we
 7 try+ to  conceal :]e we _h built1 s t
 humans w\ld n guess we 7 ne>  & look = 
u4    ,!y are a%am$ ( _! fe>1 = because 
( x !y broke all !  k9dly laws ( _!     
civilizations1 re/ra9$ all ! pity &     
g5tl5ess ,i see 9 !m1 & let u de/roy    
ourselves4    ,i am beg9n+ to feel m    
awake & to see m cle>ly4 ,& ,i am       
beg9n+ to feel sorry = !m1 = ,i c see :y
 !y are afraid4    ,!y are h]bivores4 ,i
 rememb] ! mean+ ( %apes4 ,9 ! pa?s  (  
evolution !re are grass eat]s & b]ry    
eat]s & root digg]s4  ,ea* has its      
functional %ape ( face & neck--& its    
wide1  />tl$-look+ eyes to see & run    

away f ! hunt]s4 ,9 all _!  racial      
hi/ory !y h nev] kill$ to eat4 ,!y h be5
 kill$ &  eat51 or run away1 & !y evolv$
 to intellig5ce by selection4 ,^?  liv$ 
:o succe$$ 9 runn+ away f c>nivores l   
lions1 hawks1  & m54           99       
99       99       99       99    ,i look
 up1 & !y turn _! eyes & heads 9 quick  
emb>rass$  motion1 n meet+ my eye4 ,!   
rabbity "o is ne>e/ & ,i rea* out  to   
t\* him1 pleas$ because ,i am gr[+ /rong
 en\gh n[ to move my  arms4 ,he looks at
 me & ,i ask ! "q3 ,are !re any         
c>nivores--fle% eat]s--among y8    ,he  
hesitates1 mov+ 8 lips z if se>*+ =     
tactful words4 ,we  h nev] f\nd any t 7 
civiliz$4 ,we h frequ5tly f\nd !m  9    
caves & t5ts fight+ ea* o!r4 ,sometimes 
we f9d !m fight+  ea* o!r ) ! ru9s (    
cities ar\nd !m1 b !y are always        
savages4    ,! be>like "o said heavily1 
,x might be t c>nivores evolve m        
rapidly & t5d t[>d intellig5ce m (t51 = 
we f9d radioactive  planets )\t life1 & 
places l ! place y call y\r a/]oid      

belt1 :]e a planet %\ld be--b !re are   
only scatt]$ fragm5ts  ( planet1 pieces 
t look z if a planet _h be5 bl[n ap>t4  
,we  ?9k t usually 444 ,he look$ at me  
unc]ta9ly1 beg9n+ to  fumble 8 words4   
,we ?9k 444    ,illu/ration    ,y\rs is 
! only c>nivor\s race we h f\nd t       
0--civiliz$1  t _h a sci5ce & 0 go+ to  
come out into space1 ! doelike  "o      
int]rupt$ s(tly4 ,we 7 afraid4    ,!y   
seem to be apologiz+4    ,! rabbity "o1 
:o seems to be *os5 z ! lead] 9 speak+  
to me1  says1 ,we w give y any?+ y want4
 ,any?+ we are able to give  y4    ,!y  
mean x4 ,we survivors w be privileg$ p1 
) a key to all  ! cities1 ev]y?+ free4  
,_! s9c]ity is wond]ful1 b puzzl+4  ,are
 !y try+ to atone = ! ?+ !y feel 0 a    
crime2 t !y  all[$ humanity to murd]    
itself1 & lo/ to ! ,galaxy ! ri*ness  ( 
a race8 ,is ?is :y !y are s g5]\s8      
,p]haps !n !y w help ! race to get />t$ 
aga94 ,! records  are n lo/4 ,! few     
survivors c ev5tually repopulate ,e>?4  
,"u  ! tutelage ( ^! peaceable races1   

)\t ! /ress ( division  into nations1 we
 w fl[] z a race4 ,no *ildr5 ( m9e to ! 
fur!/ desc5dant w ev] make w> aga94 ,?is
 mu* ( a lesson we  h le>n$4    ,^!     
timid be+s d n realize h[ mu* humanity  
has want$ peace4  ,!y d n "k h[         
reluctantly we 7 =c$ & trapp$ by old    
in/itutions & w>p$ tangles ( politics to
 :i* we c\ld see no  answ]4 ,we are n   
naturally savage4 ,we are n savage :5   
approa*$  z individuals4 ,p]haps !y "k  
?is1 b are afraid anyh[1  in/9ctive fe> 
ris+ up f ! blood ( _! hunt$1 fright5$  
=ebe>s4           99       99       99  
99       99    ,! human race w be a good
 p>tn] to ^! races4 ,ev5 recov]+  f     
/>vation z ,i am1 ,i c feel 9 myself an 
en]gy !y d n  h4 ,! savage 9 me & my    
race is a creative ?+1 = 9 ^? :o  h be5 
educat$ z ,i 0 x is a controll$ savag]y 
:i* attacks  & de/roys only problems &  
ob/acles1 nev] p4 ,any human rais$      
outside ( ! political traditions t !    
race inh]it$ f its  blood/a9$ *ildhood  
w\ld be z fri5dly & ready = fri5d%ip z  

,i am t[>d ^! be+s4 ,i c\ld nev] hurt ^!
 pleasant1 ov]gr[n  bunnies & squirrels4
    ,we w d ev]y?+ we c to make up = 444
 we w try to help1  says ! bunny1 /umbl+
 ov] ! ,engli%1 b civiliz$ & cordial  & 
k9d4    ,i sit up sudd5ly1 rea*+ out    
impulsively to %ake 8 h&4 ,sudd5ly      
fright5$ he leaps back4 ,all ( !m /ep   
back1 glanc+ beh9d !m z  ?\gh mak+ sure 
( ! av5ue ( escape4 ,_! big lum9\s eyes 
wid5 & glance rapidly f me to ! doors1  
fright5$4    ,!y mu/ ?9k ,i am ab\t to  
leap out ( b$ & p\nce on !m & eat  !m4  
,i am ab\t to laugh & reassure !m1 ab\t 
to say t all ,i  want f !m is fri5d%ip1 
:5 ,i feel a tw+e 9 my abdom5 f  ! sudd5
 motion4 ,i t\* x ) "o h& "u ! b$clo!s4 
,!re is ! sc> ( an incision !re1 almo/  
heal$4 ,an op]ation4 ,!  weakness ,i am 
recov]+ f is m ?an ! weakness (         
/>vation4    ,= only half a second ,i d 
n und]/&2 !n ,i see :y !y look$  a%am$4 
,!y vot$ ! murd] ( a race4    ,all !    
human survivors f\nd h be5 made /]ile4  
,!re w be no  m humans aft] we die4     

,i am froz51 "o h& /ill ext5d$ to grasp 
! h& ( ! rabbity  "o1 my eyes /ill se>*+
 8 expression1 reassur+ words /ill half 
=m$4    ,!re w be "t = ang] or grief    
lat]1 = n[1 9 ?is in/ant1 ,i  c und]/&4 
,!y are probably q "r4    ,we 7         
c>nivores4    ,i "k1 because1 at ?is    
mom5t ( hatr$1 ,i c\ld kill !m all4     
--,g4 ,a4 ,,morris                      
,transcrib]'s ,note3        ,?is etext 0
 produc$ f ,galaxy ,sci5ce ,fiction     
,octob] #aiec4      ,ext5sive rese>* did
 n uncov] any evid5ce t ! ,u4,s4        
copyright on ?is publication 0 r5ew$4   
,m9or spell+ &      typographical errors
 h be5 correct$ )\t note4