,transcrib]'s ,note3      ,?is etext 0  
produc$ f ! ,m>* #aiec issue ( ,galaxy4 
,ext5sive     rese>* did n uncov] any   
evid5ce t ! ,u4,s4 copyright on ?is     
publication 0 r5ew$4                    
games                            ,by    
,,ka!r9e ,mac,l,e,a,n        ,x is a    
t\gh assignm5t = a *ild to "k :]e a     
daydream ends & impossibility beg9s6    
,illu/rat$ by ,,a%man         99        
99       99       99       99     ,ronny
 0 play+ by himself1 :i* meant he 0 two 
tribes ( ,indians hav+ a w>4  ,bang1 he 
mutt]$1 fir+ an imag9>y rifle4 ,he      
decid$ t x 0 a "t 9 hi/ory be=e ! :ite p
 _h sold ! ,indians any guns1 & *ang$ ! 
rifle into a b[4 ,wizz?unk1 he          
sub/itut$1 mimick+ f an ,indian film on 
,,tv ! graphic s\nd ( an arr[ /rik+     
fle%4  ,o(4 ,he fold$ d[n onto ! grass1 
moan+1 ,uhhhooh 444 & relax+ into defeat
 & dea?4  ,want "s *ocolate milk1       
,ronny8 ask$ 8 "m's voice f ! kit*54    
,no1 ?anks1 he call$ back1 climb+ to 8  
feet to be ano!r man4 ,wizz?unk1        

wizz?unk1 he add$ to ! flights ( arr[s z
 ! be/ ar*] 9 ! tribe4 ,la/ arr[4       
,wizzzz1 he said1 miss+ "o enemy =      
realism4 ,he address$ ano!r battl+      
brave4 ,:o has m arr[s8 ,!y are com+ too
 close4 ,no "t--,i'll h to use my knife4
 ,he drew ! imag9>y knife1 duck+ an arr[
 z x %ot close4         99       99     
99       99       99  ,!n he 0 ! tribal 
*ief /&+ some:]e else1 & he saw t !     
w>riors left alive 7 outnumb]$4  ,we mu/
 retreat4 ,we _c leave our tribe )\t    
w>riors to protect ! wom54  ,ronny      
decid$ t ! *ief 0 h]oically w\nd$1 8    
voice wav]+ f weakness4 ,he _h be5      
propp+ himself aga9/ a tree to appe>    
unh>m$1 b n[ he mov$ s t 8 braves c\ld  
see he 0 p9n$ to ! trunk by an arr[ &   
c\ld n walk4 ,!y cri$ out4  ,he said1   
,leave me & escape4 ,b rememb]4444 ,no  
words came1 j ! feel+ ( be+ :at he 01 a 
dy+ old eagle1 a *ief ( w>riors1 speak+ 
to "y w>riors :o w\ld ne$ advice (      
season$ humor & mod]ation to c>ry !m    
?r\gh _! "y battles4 ,he _h to f9i% !   

s5t5ce1 tell !m some?+ wise4  ,ronny    
tri$ h>d]1 pull+ ! feel+ ar\nd him l a  
cloak ( resignation & pride1 lean+      
indiff]5tly aga9/ ! tree :]e ! arr[ _h  
p9n$ him1 he>+ dimly 9 anticipation !   
s\nd ( 8 ag$ voice conqu]+ weakness to  
speak wisely ( :at !y ne$$ to be told4  
,!y _h _m battles ahead ( !m1 & !       
battles w\ld be aga9/ odds1 ) s _m dead 
already4  ,!y mu/ wat* & wait1 be       
flexible & t5aci\s1 det]m9$ & p]si/5t--b
 n too ra%1 subtle & indirect--n c[>dly1
 & above all be pati5t ) ! triumph ( !  
enemy & n madd5$ into suicidal direct   
attack4  ,8 /oma* hurt ) ! arr[ w\nd1 & 
8 braves wait$ to he> 8 words4 ,he _h to
 sum a "p ( 8 life's exp]i5ce 9 words4  
,ronny tri$ h>d] to build ! sc5e        
reali/ically4 ,!n sudd5ly x 0 real4 ,he 
0 ! man4  ,he 0 an old man1 guide &     
advis] 9 an oblique battle aga9/ great  
odds4 ,he 0 dy+ ( some?+ & 8 /oma* hurt 
) a knott$ a*e1 l hung]1 & he 0 ?ir/y4  
,he _h refus$ to let ! "y m5 make !     
sacrifice ( try+ to rescue him4 ,he 0   

ho/age 9 ! jail & dy+1 because he w\ld n
 surr5d] to ! enemy nor cease to fight  
!m4 ,he smil$ & said1 ,rememb] to live l
 o!r m51 b--rememb] to rememb]4  ,& !n  
he 0 say+ ?+s t c\ld n be put into      
words1 complex feel+s t 7 ways ( tak+   
bad situations t made !m easi] to smile 
at1 & !n s5t5ces t 7 n s5t5ces1 b s+le  
alphabet lett]s pu%+ ea* o!r ) signs1 ) 
a feel+ ( be+ connect$ l two halves ( a 
sw+1 "o side mov+ up :5 ! o!r mov$ d[n1 
or l sw+s or l cogs & p5dulums inside a 
clock1 only )\t ! cogs1 j ) ! pu%4  ,x  
wasn't add+ or multiplication1 & x us$  
lett]s in/ead ( numb]s1 b ,ronny knew x 
0 "s k9d ( ari?metic4  ,& he wasn't     
,ronny4  ,he 0 an old man1 tea*+ "y m51 
& ! old man did n "k ab\t ,ronny4 ,he   
?\ght sadly h[ little he w\ld be able to
 convey to ! "y m51 & he rememb]$ m1    
try+ to sum long memories & mu* liv+    
into a few direct ?\ghts4 ,& ,ronny 0 ! 
old man & himself1 bo? at once4         
99       99       99       99       99  
,x 0 too int5se4 ,"p ( ,ronny want$ to  

escape & be alone1 & t "p )drew & want$ 
to play some?+4 ,ronny sat 9 ! grass &  
play$ ) 8 toes l a mu* y\ng] *ild4  ,"p 
( ,ronny t 0 ,doctor ,rev]t ,purcell sat
 on ! edge ( a prison cot1 conc5trat+ on
 secret unpubli%$ equations ( biog5ic   
/ability :i* he want$ to pass on to !   
responsible h&s ( "y rese>*]s 9 !       
conceal$-rese>* *a94 ,he 0 us+ ! way (  
?9k+ :i* !y _h told him 0 ! telepa?ic   
s5d+ ( ideas to anyone ready to receive4
 ,x 0 odd t he himself c\ld nev] tell :5
 he 0 s5d+4 ,probably a matt] ( age4 ,!y
 _h />t$ try+ to tea* him :5 he 0       
already too old = any?+ s diff]5t4  ,!  
wat] tap1 f\r feet away1 0 dripp+       
/eadily1 & x 0 h>d = ,purcell to        
conc5trate1 s int5se 0 8 ?ir/4 ,he      
wond]$ if he c\ld ga!r /r5g? to walk t  
f>4 ,he 0 sitt+ up & t 0 good1 b !      
/ruggle to raise himself t f> _h left   
him dizzy & trembl+4 ,if he tri$ to /&1 
! ef=t w\ld surely int]rupt 8 transmitt+
 ( equations & all ! data he _h n s5t   
yet4  ,w\ld ! man ) ! keys :o look$ 9 ! 

door twice a day c>e :e!r ,purcell di$ )
 dignity8 ,he 0 ! only audi5ce1 & 8     
expression nev] *ang$ :5 ,purcell ask$  
him to po9t out to ! au?orities t he 0 n
 be+ giv5 any?+ to eat4 ,x 0 funny to   
,purcell to f9d t he want$ ! respect (  
any audi5ce to 8 dy+1 ev5 ( a man )\t   
response :o treat$ him z if he 7 already
 a corpse4  ,p]haps ! man w\ld respond  
if ,purcell said1 ,i h *ang$ my m9d4 ,i 
w tell4  ,b if he said t1 he w\ld lose 8
 own respect4  ,at ! bio*emi/s' &       
bio-physici/s' conv5tion1 ! report] _h  
ask$ him if any ( 8 rese>*es c\ld be    
appli$ to w>f>e4  ,he _h answ]$ ) no    
feel+ ( dang]1 kn[+ t :at he did 0      
common practice among rese>* m51 sure t 
x 0 an un*all5geable "r4  ,"s ( !m c1 b 
^? ,i keep to myself4  ,! report] rema9$
 dead-pan4 ,= in/ance8  ,well1 ,i h to  
*oose some?+ t won't reveal h[ x's done 
n[1 b--ah--= example1 a way ( *eaply    
mass-produc+ specific antitox9s aga9/   
any g]m4 ,x s\nds h>mless if y don't ?9k
 ab\t x1 b actually x w\ld make g]m     

w>f>e ! mo/ deadly & inexp5sive weapon  
yet develop$1 = x w\ld make x possible  
to prev5t ! backspread ( contagion into 
a c\ntry's own troops1 )\t mu* exp5se4  
,!re w\ld be hell to pay if anyone ev]  
let t out4 ,!n he _h add$1 try+ to get !
 report] to und]/& en\gh to *ange 8     
cynical unimpress$ expression1 ,y       
und]/&1 g]ms are *eap--!re w\ld be a new
 plague to spread e "t "s pipsqueak     
biologi/ mutat$ a new g]m4 ,x isn't ev5 
exp5sive or difficult1 z atom bombs are4
  ,! headl9e 03 ,sci5ti/ ,refuses to    
,give ,secret ( ,weapon to ,gov]nm5t4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,gov]nm5t m5 came & ask$ him if ?is 0   
correct1 & on hav+ x confirm$ po9t$ out 
t he _h an obligation4 ,! rese>*        
f\ndations :]e he _h work$ 7 subsidiz$  
by gov]nm5t money4 ,he _h be5 def]r$ f  
milit>y s]vice dur+ 8 e>ly ye>s ( /udy &
 "w s he c\ld become a sci5ti/1 in/ead (
 hav+ to fight or die on ! battlefield4 
,?is might be s1 he _h said4 ,i am mak+ 
an attempt to s]ve mank9d by do+ z mu*  

good & z little damage z possible4 ,if y
 don't m9d1 ,i'd r use my own judgm5t   
ab\t :at con/itutes s]vice4  ,! /atem5t 
seem$ too blunt ! m9ute he _h said x1 & 
he recogniz$ t x _h implications t 8    
judgm5t 0 sup]ior to t ( ! gov]nm5t4 ,x 
probably 0 ! mo/ antagoniz+ ?+ t c\ld h 
be5 said1 b he c\ld see no o!r possible 
/atem5t1 = x repres5t$ precisely :at he 
?\ght4  ,illu/ration  ,!re 7 bigg]      
headl9es ab\t t int]view1 & :5 he /epp$ 
outside 8 build+ = lun* ! next day1     
sev]al small gangs ( patriots arriv$ ) !
 proclaim$ purpose ( p]suad+ him to     
tell4 ,!y f\ght ea* o!r = ! privilege4  
,! police _h rescu$ him aft] he _h lo/  
sev]al front tee? & _h "o eye badly     
g\g$4 ,!y !n left him to ! c>e ( !      
prison doctor 9 protective cu/ody4 ,two 
days lat]1 aft] hav+ be5 que/ion$ sev]al
 times on 8 attitude t[>d reveal+ ! p>ts
 ( 8 rese>* he _h kept secret1 he 0     
transf]r$ to a place t look$ l a milit>y
 jail1 & left alone4 ,he 0 n told :at 8 
/atus 04  ,:5 someone came & ask$ him   

que/ions ab\t 8 attitude1 ,purcell felt 
q sure t :at !y 7 do+ to him 0 illegal4 
,he /at$ t he 0 go+ on a hung] /rike    
until he 0 all[$ to h visitors & see a  
lawy]4  ,! next "t ! d9n] h\r arriv$1 !y
 gave him no?+ to eat4 ,!re _h be5 no   
food 9 ! cell s9ce1 & t 0 probably two  
weeks ago4 ,he 0 n sure j h[ long1 =    
dur+ "p ( ! second week 8 memory _h     
become g>bl$4 ,he dimly rememb]$ some?+ 
t might h be5 delirium1 :i* c\ld h la/$ 
m ?an "o day4  ,p]haps ! milit>y :o     
want$ ! antitox9s = g]m w>f>e 7 wait+   
quietly = him ei!r to talk or die4      
99       99       99       99       99  
,ronny got up f ! grass & w5t into !    
kit*51 /umbl+ 9 8 walk l a beg9n+       
toddl]4  ,*oc-mil8 he said to 8 "m4  ,%e
 p\r$ him "s & teas$ g5tly1 ,:at's !    
matt]1 ,ronny--back to baby-talk8  ,he  
look$ at h] ) big solemn eyes & drank   
sl[ly1 n answ]+4  ,9 ! cell some:]e     
di/ant1 ,dr4 ,purcell1 fam\s bio*emi/1  
began wav]+ly try+ to rise to 8 feet1   
unable to rememb] hung] z any?+ sep>ate 

f him t c\ld ev] be end$1 b weakly want+
 a glass ( wat]4 ,ronny c\ld n fe$ him )
 ! *ocolate milk4 ,ev5 ?\gh ?is 0 ano!r 
himself1 ! body t 0 dr9k+ 0 n ! "o t 0  
?ir/y4  ,he w&]$ out into ! backy>d     
aga91 c>ry+ ! glass4  ,bang1 he said    
deceptively1 po9t+ ) 8 h& 9 case 8 "m 0 
look+4 ,bang4 ,ev]y?+ _h to seem usual2 
he 0 sure ( t4 ,?is 0 too big a ?+1 &   
too private1 to tell a gr[nup4  ,on !   
way back f ! s9k1 ,dr4 ,purcell slipp$ &
 fell & hit 8 head aga9/ ! edge ( ! iron
 cot4 ,ronny felt ! edge ga%+ ?r\gh sk9 
& into bone1 & !n a relax+ blankness    
inside 8 head1 l fall+ asleep sudd5ly :5
 !y are tell+ y a fairy /ory :ile y want
 to /ay awake to f9d out :at happ5$     
next4  ,bang1 said ,ronny vaguely1 po9t+
 at a tree4 ,bang4 ,he 0 a%am$ because  
he _h fall5 d[n 9 ! cell & hurt 8 head &
 become j ,ronny aga9 be=e he _h f9i%$  
s5d+ out 8 equations4 ,he tri$ to make  
believe he 0 alive aga91 b x didn't "w4 
,y c\ld nev] make-believe any?+ to a    
real good f9i%4 ,!y nev] end$           

neatly--!re 0 always some?+ unf9i%$1 &  
some?+ t w\ld g "r on aft] ! end4  ,x   
w\ld h be5 nice if ! jail]s _h come 9 & 
he _h be5 able to say some?+ noble to !m
 be=e dy+1 to %[ t he 0 brave4  ,bang1  
he said r&omly1 po9t+ 8 f+] at 8 head1 &
 !n j]k$ 8 h& away z if x _h burn$ him4 
,he _h become ! wrong p]son t "t4 ,!    
feel ( a bullet jolt+ ! side ( 8 head 0 
/>tl+ & unpleasant1 ev5 if n real1 & !  
fla% ( someone's v9dictive ang] &       
self-pity :ile pull+ a trigg]4444 ,my   
wife w be sorry %e ev]4444 ,he didn't l 
t k9d ( make-believe4 ,x felt unsafe to 
d x )\t mak+ up a /ory fir/4  ,ronny    
decid$ to be ,indian braves aga94 ,!y   
w]5't v real1 & :5 !y 71 !y _h simple   
/raight=w>d emotions ab\t c\rage & skill
 & pride & fri5d%ip t he w\ld l4        
99       99       99       99       99  
,a man 0 lean+ 8 arms on ! f5ce1 wat*+  
him4 ,nice day4 ,:at's ! matt]1 kid1 are
 y an esp]8  ,hul-lo4 ,ronny /ood on "o 
foot & wat*$ him4 ,j mak+ believe4 ,i   
only want to play4 ,!y make x too s]i\s1

 hav+ all ^! tr\bles4  ,good c\ntryside4
 ,! man ge/ur$ at ! back y>ds1 all op5$ 
9 toge!r ) tangl$ bu%es "h & !re to cr\*
 beh9d1 :5 o!r kids 7 !re to play hide &
 seek1 & ) trees to climb4 ,x c be !    
,univ]se if y pick & *oose :o to be1 &  
don't let wrong *oices make y %ut (f f  
x4 ,y c make y\rself le>n f ?is if y are
 /rong en\gh4 ,:o h y be58  ,ronny /ood 
on ! o!r foot & scrat*$ ! back ( 8 leg )
 8 toes4 ,he didn't want to rememb]4 ,he
 always =got "r away1 b ?is gr[nup 0    
confid5t & "y & /rong-look+1 & meant    
some?+ :5 he talk$1 n l mo/ gr[nups4  ,i
 0 play+ ,indian4 ,i 0 an old *ief1     
captur$ by enemies1 try+ to pass on to  
o!r w>riors ! wisdom ( my life be=e ,i  
di$4 ,he made believe he 0 ! *ief a     
little to %[ ! "y man :at he 0 talk+    
ab\t4  ,purcell6 ,! man drew 9 8 brea?  
betwe5 8 tee?1 & 8 face pal$4 ,he pull$ 
back f rea*+ ,ronny ) 8 feel+s1 l hold+ 
8 brea? 94 ,good game4 ,y c le>n f him4 
,don't leave him %ut (f1 ,i beg y4 ,y c 
let him influ5ce y )\t be+ pull$ (f y\r 

own c\rse4 ,he 0 a good man4 ,y 7       
honor$1 & ,i envy ! man y w be if y     
contact$ him on resonant simil>ities4   
,! gr[nup look$ fright5$4 ,b y are too  
"y4 ,y'll block him out & lose him4     
,kids h to gr[ & le>n at _! own spe$4   
,!n he look$ less afraid1 b unc]ta91 & 8
 ?\ghts /ruggl$ aga9/ ea* o!r4 ,_! own  
spe$4 ,b !re %\ld be someone alive )    
,purcell's patt]n & memories4 ,we lov$  
him4 ,kids %\ld gr[ at _! own spe$1     
b4444 ,h[ /rong are y1 ,ronny8 ,c y move
 ahead ( ! normal gr[? patt]n8  ,gr[nups
 always want y to d some?+4 ,ronny />$  
back1 cl5*+ 8 h&s & mov+ 8 feet         
uneasily4  ,! ?\ghts 7 op5 to him4 ,d y 
want to be ! old *ief aga91 ,ronny8 ,be 
him (t51 s y c le>n to "k :at he knew8  
7,& feel z he felt4 ,x w\ld be a /iff   
dose = a kid47 ,x w be ri* & excit+1    
full ( memories & skills4 7,b h>d to    
*ew4 ,i'm do+ ?is = ,purcell1 ,ronny1 n 
= y4 ,y h to make up y\r own m9d47  ,t 0
 a good game4 ,are y go+ to play x any  
m8         99       99       99       99

       99  ,8 "m w\ld n l x4 ,%e w\ld   
feel ! diff]5ce 9 him1 z mu* z if he _h 
read "o ( ! books %e kept away f him1   
books t 7 suppos$ to be = adults only4  
,! diff]5ce w\ld hurt h]4 ,he 0 be+ bad1
 l eat+ betwe5 meals4 ,b to "k :at      
gr[nups knew4444  ,he tight5$ 8 fi/s &  
look$ d[n at ! grass4 ,i'll play x "s m4
  ,! "y man smil$1 /ill pale & hold+    
half 8 feel+s back beh9d a dam4 ,!n me% 
) me a mom5t4 ,let me 94  ,he 0 9 ) !   
?\ght1 feel+ ,ronny's confus$ cons5t1   
reassur+ him by n ?9k+ or look+ ar\nd   
inside :ile s5d+ out a s+le call1       
,purcell1 ,doc1 t f\nd ! comb9ation key 
to ,ronny's gu>d$ ye/]days & la/ nights 
& t5 m9utes agos4 ,ronny1 ,i'll set t   
door1 ,purcell's memories1 op5 = y4 ,y  
c't close x1 b feel l ?is ab\t x--& he  
plant$ 9 a /rong set1 que/ion+1 cool1   
op51 a feel+ ( absorb+ )\t words 444 x w
 give in=mation :5 y ne$ x1 l a         
diction>y4  ,! gr[nup /raight5$ away f !
 f5ce1 prep>+ to walk (f4 ,beh9d a dam  
press$ grief & ang] = ! dea? ( ! man he 

call$ ,purcell4  ,& any "t y want to be 
! old *ief1 at any age he liv$1 j make  
believe y are him4  ,grief & ang] press$
 m /rongly aga9/ ! dam1 & ! man turn$ & 
left rapidly1 lett+ 8 ?\ghts flick] &   
scatt] ?r\gh private memories t ,ronny  
did n %>e1 t no "o %>$1 break+ ?\ght    
contact ) ev]yone s t ! man c\ld be     
alone 9 8 own m9d to h 8 feel+s 9       
private4         99       99       99   
99       99  ,ronny pick$ up ! empty    
glass t _h held 8 *ocolate milk f ! back
 /eps :]e he _h left x & w5t inside4 ,z 
he /epp$ into ! kit*51 he knew :at ano!r
 kit*5 _h look$ l = a five-ye>-old *ild 
:o _h be5 ,purcell n9ety ye>s ago4 ,!re 
_h be5 an iron s9k1 & a                 
br[n-&-gre5-spott$ faucet1 & ! glass _h 
be5 heavi] & transp>5t1 l real glass4   
,ronny rea*$ up & put ! color$ pla/ic   
tumbl] d[n4  ,t 0 a nice "y man1 de>4   
,:at did he say to y8  ,ronny look$ up  
at 8 mamma1 comp>+ h] ) ! rememb]$ mamma
 ( fifty ye>s ago4 ,he lov$ ! o!r "o1   
too4  ,he tol' me he's glad ,i play     

,indian4                                
--,,ka!r9e ,mac,l,e,a,n         99      
99       99       99       99