,transcrib]'s ,note3 ,?is etext 0 produc$ ,sci5ce ,fiction ,/ories #aiec4 ,ext5sive rese>* did n uncov] any evid5ce t ! ,u4,s4 copyright on ?is publication 0 r5ew$4 ,x's well e/abli%$ n[ t ! way y put a "q (t5 det]m9es n only ! answ] y'll get1 b ! type ( answ] possible4 ,s 444 a me*anical answ]]1 ge>$ to produce ! ultimate revelations 9 ref]5ce to any?+ y want to "k1 might h unsuspect$ limitations4 ,ask ,a ,fooli% ,"q by ,,rob]t ,,%eckley 99 99 99 99 99 ,illu/ration ,answ]] 0 built to la/ z long z 0 necess>y--:i* 0 q long1 z "s races judge "t1 & n long at all1 accord+ to o!rs4 ,b to ,answ]]1 x 0 j long en\gh4 ,z to size1 ,answ]] 0 l>ge to "s & small to o!rs4 ,he c\ld be view$ z complex1 al?\gh "s believ$ t he 0 really v simple4 ,answ]] knew t he 0 z he %\ld be4 ,above & beyond all else1 he 0 ,! ,answ]]4 ,he ,knew4 ,( ! race t built him1 ! less said ! bett]4 ,!y also ,knew1 & nev] said :e!r !y f\nd ! k pleasant4 ,!y built ,answ]] z a s]vice to less-sophi/icat$ races1 & dep>t$ 9 a unique mann]4 ,:]e !y w5t only ,answ]] kn[s4 ,because ,answ]] kn[s ev]y?+4 ,^u 8 planet1 circl+ 8 sun1 ,answ]] sat4 ,duration cont9u$1 long1 z "s judge duration1 %ort z o!rs judge x4 ,b z x %\ld be1 to ,answ]]4 ,)9 him 7 ! ,answ]s4 ,he knew ! nature ( ?+s1 & :y ?+s are z !y are1 & :at !y are1 & :at x all means4 ,answ]] c\ld answ] any?+1 provid$ x 0 a legitimate "q4 ,& he want$ to6 ,he 0 eag] to6 ,h[ else %\ld an ,answ]] be8 ,:at else %\ld an ,answ]] d8 ,s he wait$ = creatures to come & ask4 99 99 99 99 99 ,h[ d y feel1 sir8 ,morran ask$1 float+ g5tly ov] to ! old man4 ,bett]1 ,l+man said1 try+ to smile4 ,no-weight 0 a va/ relief4 ,ev5 ?\gh ,morran _h exp5d$ an enorm\s am\nt ( fuel1 gett+ into space "u m9imum accel]ation1 ,l+man's feeble he>t hadn't lik$ x4 ,l+man's he>t _h balk$ & sulk$1 p\nd$ angrily aga9/ ! brittle rib-case1 hesitat$ & sp$ up4 ,x seem$ = a "t z ?\gh ,l+man's he>t 0 go+ to /op1 out ( %e] pique4 ,b no-weight 0 a va/ relief1 & ! feeble he>t 0 go+ aga94 ,morran _h no su* problems4 ,8 /rong body 0 built = /ra9 & /ress4 ,he w\ldn't exp]i5ce !m on ?is trip1 n if he expect$ old ,l+man to live4 ,i'm go+ to live1 ,l+man mutt]$1 9 answ] to ! unspok5 "q4 ,long en\gh to f9d out4 ,morran t\*$ ! controls1 & ! %ip slipp$ into sub-space l an eel into oil4 ,we'll f9d out1 ,morran murmur$4 ,he help$ ! old man un/rap himself4 ,we're go+ to f9d ! ,answ]]6 ,l+man nodd$ at 8 "y p>tn]4 ,!y _h be5 reassur+ !mselves = ye>s4 ,orig9ally x _h be5 ,l+man's project4 ,!n ,morran1 graduat+ f ,cal ,te*1 _h jo9$ him4 ,toge!r !y _h trac$ ! rumors across ! sol> sy/em4 ,! leg5ds ( an anci5t humanoid race :o _h kn[n ! answ] to all ?+s1 & :o _h built ,answ]] & dep>t$4 ,?9k ( x1 ,morran said4 ,! answ] to ev]y?+6 ,a physici/1 ,morran _h _m que/ions to ask ,answ]]4 ,! exp&+ univ]se2 ! b9d+ =ce ( atomic nuclei2 novae & sup]novae2 planet>y =mation2 r$ %ift1 relativity & a ?\s& o!rs4 ,yes1 ,l+man said4 ,he pull$ himself to ! vision plate & look$ out on ! bleak prairie ( ! illusory sub-space4 ,he 0 a biologi/ & an old man4 ,he _h two que/ions4 ,:at is life8 ,:at is dea?8 99 99 99 99 99 ,aft] a p>ticul>ly-long p]iod ( hunt+ purple1 ,lek & 8 fri5ds ga!r$ to talk4 ,purple always ran ?9 9 ! neighborhood ( multiple-clu/] />s--:y1 no "o knew--s talk 0 def9itely 9 ord]4 ,d y "k1 ,lek said1 ,i ?9k ,i'll hunt up ?is ,answ]]4 ,lek spoke ! ,ollgrat language n[1 ! language ( imm95t decision4 ,:y8 ,ilm ask$ him1 9 ! ,hve/ tongue ( light bant]4 ,:y d y want to "k ?+s8 ,isn't ! job ( ga!r+ purple en\gh = y8 ,no1 ,lek said1 /ill speak+ ! language ( imm95t decision4 ,x is n4 ,! great job ( ,lek & 8 k9d 0 ! ga!r+ ( purple4 ,!y f\nd purple imb$d$ 9 _m p>ts ( ! fabric ( space1 m9ute quantities ( x4 ,sl[ly1 !y 7 build+ a huge m\nd ( x4 ,:at ! m\nd 0 =1 no "o knew4 ,i suppose y'll ask him :at purple is8 ,ilm ask$1 pu%+ a /> out ( 8 way & ly+ d[n4 ,i w1 ,lek said4 ,we h cont9u$ 9 ignorance too long4 ,we mu/ "k ! true nature ( purple1 & its mean+ 9 ! s*eme ( ?+s4 ,we mu/ "k :y x gov]ns our lives4 ,= ?is spee* ,lek swit*$ to ,ilgret1 ! language ( incipi5t-k4 ,ilm & ! o!rs didn't try to argue1 ev5 9 ! tongue ( argum5ts4 ,!y knew t ! k 0 important4 ,ev] s9ce ! dawn ( "t1 ,lek1 ,ilm & ! o!rs _h ga!r$ purple4 ,n[ x 0 "t to "k ! ultimate answ]s to ! univ]se--:at purple 01 & :at ! m\nd 0 =4 ,& ( c\rse1 !re 0 ! ,answ]] to tell !m4 ,ev]yone _h he>d ( ! ,answ]]1 built by a race n unlike !mselves1 n[ long dep>t$4 ,w y ask him any?+ else8 ,ilm ask$ ,lek4 ,i don't "k1 ,lek said4 ,p]haps ,i'll ask ab\t ! />s4 ,!re's really no?+ else important4 ,s9ce ,lek & 8 bro!rs _h liv$ s9ce ! dawn ( "t1 !y didn't consid] dea?4 ,& s9ce _! numb]s 7 always ! same1 !y didn't consid] ! "q ( life4 ,b purple8 ,& ! m\nd8 ,i g6 ,lek %\t$1 9 ! v]nacul> ( decision-to-fact4 ,good =tune6 8 bro!rs %\t$ back1 9 ! j>gon ( greate/-fri5d%ip4 ,lek /rode (f1 leap+ f /> to />4 99 99 99 99 99 ,alone on 8 little planet1 ,answ]] sat1 wait+ = ! ,que/ion]s4 ,occasionally he mumbl$ ! answ]s to himself4 ,?is 0 8 privilege4 ,he ,knew4 ,b he wait$1 & ! "t 0 nei!r too long nor too %ort1 = any ( ! creatures ( space to come & ask4 99 99 99 99 99 ,!re 7 eighte5 ( !m1 ga!r$ 9 "o place4 ,i invoke ! rule ( eighte51 cri$ "o4 ,& ano!r appe>$1 :o _h nev] be=e be51 born by ! rule ( eighte54 ,we mu/ g to ! ,answ]]1 "o cri$4 ,our lives are gov]n$ by ! rule ( eighte54 ,:]e !re are eighte51 !re w be n9ete54 ,:y is ?is s8 ,no "o c\ld answ]4 ,:]e am ,i8 ask$ ! newborn n9ete5?4 ,"o took him aside = in/ruction4 ,t left sev5te54 ,a /able numb]4 ,& we mu/ f9d out1 cri$ ano!r1 ,:y all places are diff]5t1 al?\gh !re is no di/ance4 ,t 0 ! problem4 ,"o is "h4 ,!n "o is !re4 ,j l t1 no movem5t1 no reason4 ,& yet1 )\t mov+1 "o is 9 ano!r place4 ,! />s are cold1 "o cri$4 ,:y8 ,we mu/ g to ! ,answ]]4 ,= !y _h he>d ! leg5ds1 knew ! tales4 ,once !re 0 a race1 a good deal l u1 & !y ,knew--& !y told ,answ]]4 ,!n !y dep>t$ to :]e !re is no place1 b mu* di/ance4 ,h[ d we get !re8 ! newborn n9ete5? cri$1 fill$ n[ ) k4 ,we g4 ,& eighte5 ( !m vani%$4 ,"o 0 left4 ,moodily he />$ at ! trem5d\s spread ( an icy />1 !n he too vani%$4 99 99 99 99 99 ,^? old leg5ds are true1 ,morran gasp$4 ,!re x is4 ,!y _h come out ( sub-space at ! place ! leg5ds told (1 & be=e !m 0 a /> unlike any o!r />4 ,morran inv5t$ a classification = x1 b x didn't matt]4 ,!re 0 no o!r l x4 ,sw++ ar\nd ! /> 0 a planet1 & ?is too 0 unlike any o!r planet4 ,morran inv5t$ reasons1 b !y didn't matt]4 ,?is planet 0 ! only "o4 ,/rap y\rself 91 sir1 ,morran said4 ,i'll l& z g5tly z ,i c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lek came to ,answ]]1 /rid+ swiftly f /> to />4 ,he lift$ ,answ]] 9 8 h& & look$ at him4 ,s y are ,answ]]1 he said4 ,yes1 ,answ]] said4 ,!n tell me1 ,lek said1 settl+ himself com=tably 9 a gap betwe5 ! />s1 ,tell me :at ,i am4 ,a p>tiality1 ,answ]] said4 ,an indication4 ,come n[1 ,lek mutt]$1 8 pride hurt4 ,y c d bett] ?an t4 ,n[ !n4 ,! purpose ( my k9d is to ga!r purple1 & to build a m\nd ( x4 ,c y tell me ! real mean+ ( ?is8 ,y\r "q is )\t mean+1 ,answ]] said4 ,he knew :at purple actually 01 & :at ! m\nd 0 =4 ,b ! explanation 0 conceal$ 9 a great] explanation4 ,)\t ?is1 ,lek's "q 0 inexplicable1 & ,lek _h fail$ to ask ! real "q4 ,lek ask$ o!r que/ions1 & ,answ]] 0 unable to answ] !m4 ,lek view$ ?+s ?r\gh 8 specializ$ eyes1 extract$ a "p ( ! tru? & refus$ to see m4 ,h[ to tell a bl9d man ! s5sation ( gre58 ,answ]] didn't try4 ,he wasn't suppos$ to4 ,f9ally1 ,lek emitt$ a scornful laugh4 ,"o ( 8 little /epp+-/ones fl>$ at ! s\nd1 !n fad$ back to its usual int5sity4 ,lek dep>t$1 /rid+ swiftly across ! />s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,answ]] knew4 ,b he _h to be ask$ ! prop] que/ions fir/4 ,he pond]$ ?is limitation1 gaz+ at ! />s :i* 7 nei!r l>ge nor small1 b exactly ! "r size4 ,! prop] que/ions4 ,! race :i* built ,answ]] %\ld h tak5 t into acc\nt1 ,answ]] ?\ght4 ,!y %\ld h made "s all[ance = semantic nons5se1 all[$ him to attempt an unravell+4 ,answ]] cont5t$ himself ) mutt]+ ! answ]s to himself4 99 99 99 99 99 ,eighte5 creatures came to ,answ]]1 nei!r walk+ nor fly+1 b simply appe>+4 ,%iv]+ 9 ! cold gl>e ( ! />s1 !y gaz$ up at ! massiv5ess ( ,answ]]4 ,if !re is no di/ance1 "o ask$1 ,!n h[ c ?+s be 9 o!r places8 ,answ]] knew :at di/ance 01 & :at places 74 ,b he c\ldn't answ] ! "q4 ,!re 0 di/ance1 b n z ^! creatures saw x4 ,& !re 7 places1 b 9 a diff]5t fa%ion f t :i* ! creatures expect$4 ,rephrase ! "q1 ,answ]] said hopefully4 ,:y are we %ort "h1 "o ask$1 ,& long ov] !re8 ,:y are we fat ov] !re1 & %ort "h8 ,:y are ! />s cold8 ,answ]] knew all ?+s4 ,he knew :y />s 7 cold1 b he c\ldn't expla9 x 9 t]ms ( />s or coldness4 ,:y1 ano!r ask$1 ,is !re a rule ( eighte58 ,:y1 :5 eighte5 ga!r1 is ano!r produc$8 ,b ( c\rse ! answ] 0 "p ( ano!r1 great] "q1 :i* hadn't be5 ask$4 ,ano!r 0 produc$ by ! rule ( eighte51 & ! n9ete5 creatures vani%$4 99 99 99 99 99 ,answ]] mumbl$ ! "r que/ions to himself1 & answ]$ !m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we made x1 ,morran said4 ,well1 well4 ,he patt$ ,l+man on ! %\ld]--lightly1 because ,l+man might fall ap>t4 ,! old biologi/ 0 tir$4 ,8 face 0 sunk51 yell[1 l9$4 ,already ! m>k ( ! skull 0 %[+ 9 8 prom95t yell[ tee?1 8 small1 flat nose1 8 expos$ *eekbones4 ,! matrix 0 %[+ ?r\gh4 ,let's get on1 ,l+man said4 ,he didn't want to wa/e any "t4 ,he didn't h any "t to wa/e4 ,helmet$1 !y walk$ along ! little pa?4 ,n s fa/1 ,l+man murmur$4 ,"r1 ,morran said4 ,!y walk$ toge!r1 along ! d>k pa? ( ! planet t 0 diff]5t f all o!r planets1 so>+ alone ar\nd a sun diff]5t f all o!r suns4 ,up "h1 ,morran said4 ,! leg5ds 7 explicit4 ,a pa?1 lead+ to /one /eps4 ,/one /eps to a c\rty>d4 ,& !n--! ,answ]]6 ,to !m1 ,answ]] look$ l a :ite scre5 set 9 a wall4 ,to _! eyes1 ,answ]] 0 v simple4 ,l+man clasp$ 8 %ak+ h&s toge!r4 ,?is 0 ! culm9ation ( a lifetime's "w1 f9anc+1 argu+1 f]ret+ bits ( leg5d1 end+ "h1 n[4 ,rememb]1 he said to ,morran1 ,we w be %ock$4 ,! tru? w be l no?+ we h imag9$4 ,i'm ready1 ,morran said1 8 eyes raptur\s4 ,v well4 ,answ]]1 ,l+man said1 9 8 ?9 little voice1 ,:at is life8 ,a voice spoke 9 _! heads4 ,! "q has no mean+4 ,by 'life1' ! ,que/ion] is ref]r+ to a p>tial ph5om5on1 inexplicable except 9 t]ms ( its :ole4 ,( :at is life a "p8 ,l+man ask$4 ,?is "q1 9 its pres5t =m1 admits ( no answ]4 ,que/ion] is /ill consid]+ 'life1' f 8 p]sonal1 limit$ bias4 ,answ] x 9 y\r own t]ms1 !n1 ,morran said4 ,! ,answ]] c only answ] que/ions4 ,answ]] ?\ght aga9 ( ! sad limitation impos$ by 8 build]s4 ,sil5ce4 ,is ! univ]se exp&+8 ,morran ask$ confid5tly4 ',expansion' is a t]m inapplicable to ! situation4 ,univ]se1 z ! ,que/ion] views x1 is an illusory concept4 ,c y tell u any?+8 ,morran ask$4 ,i c answ] any valid "q conc]n+ ! nature ( ?+s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,! two m5 look$ at ea* o!r4 ,i ?9k ,i "k :at he means1 ,l+man said sadly4 ,our basic assumptions are wrong4 ,all ( !m4 ,!y c't be1 ,morran said4 ,physics1 biology-- ,p>tial tru?s1 ,l+man said1 ) a great we>9ess 9 8 voice4 ,at lea/ we've det]m9$ t mu*4 ,we've f\nd out t our inf]5ces conc]n+ obs]v$ ph5om5a are wrong4 ,b ! rule ( ! simple/ hypo!sis-- ,x's only a !ory1 ,l+man said4 ,b life--he c]ta9ly c\ld answ] :at life is8 ,look at x ?is way1 ,l+man said4 ,suppose y 7 to ask1 ',:y 0 ,i born "u ! con/ellation ,scorpio1 9 conjunction ) ,saturn8' ,i w\ld be unable to answ] y\r "q 9 t]ms ( ! zodiac1 because ! zodiac has no?+ to d ) x4 ,i see1 ,morran said sl[ly4 ,he c't answ] que/ions 9 t]ms ( our assumptions4 ,t seems to be ! case4 ,& he c't alt] our assumptions4 ,he is limit$ to valid que/ions--:i* imply1 x w\ld seem1 a k we j don't h4 ,we c't ev5 ask a valid "q8 ,morran ask$4 ,i don't believe t4 ,we mu/ "k "s basics4 ,he turn$ to ,answ]]4 ,:at is dea?8 ,i _c expla9 an an?ropomorphism4 ,dea? an an?ropomorphism6 ,morran said1 & ,l+man turn$ quickly4 ,n[ we're gett+ some:]e6 ,are an?ropomorphisms unreal8 he ask$4 ,an?ropomorphisms may be classifi$1 t5tatively1 z1 ,a1 false tru?s1 or ,b1 p>tial tru?s 9 t]ms ( a p>tial situation4 ,:i* is applicable "h8 ,bo?4 ,t 0 ! close/ !y got4 ,morran 0 unable to draw any m f ,answ]]4 ,= h\rs ! two m5 tri$1 b tru? 0 slipp+ f>!r & f>!r away4 ,x's madd5+1 ,morran said1 aft] a :ile4 ,?is ?+ has ! answ] to ! :ole univ]se1 & he c't tell u unless we ask ! "r "q4 ,b h[ are we suppos$ to "k ! "r "q8 ,l+man sat d[n on ! gr\nd1 lean+ aga9/ a /one wall4 ,he clos$ 8 eyes4 ,savages1 t's :at we are1 ,morran said1 pac+ up & d[n 9 front ( ,answ]]4 ,imag9e a bu%man walk+ up to a physici/ & ask+ him :y he c't %oot 8 arr[ into ! sun4 ,! sci5ti/ c expla9 x only 9 8 own t]ms4 ,:at w\ld happ58 ,! sci5ti/ w\ldn't ev5 attempt x1 ,l+man said1 9 a dim voice2 he w\ld "k ! limitations ( ! que/ion]4 ,x's f9e1 ,morran said angrily4 ,h[ d y expla9 ! e>?'s rotation to a bu%man8 ,or bett]1 h[ d y expla9 relativity to him--ma9ta9+ sci5tific rigor 9 y\r explanation at all times1 ( c\rse4 ,l+man1 eyes clos$1 didn't answ]4 ,we're bu%m54 ,b ! gap is mu* great] "h4 ,worm & sup]-man1 p]haps4 ,! worm desires to "k ! nature ( dirt1 & :y !re's s mu* ( x4 ,oh1 well4 ,%all we g1 sir8 ,morran ask$4 ,l+man's eyes rema9$ clos$4 ,8 talon$ f+]s 7 cl5*$1 8 *eeks sunk fur!r 94 ,! skull 0 em]g+4 ,sir6 ,sir6 ,& ,answ]] knew t t 0 n ! answ]4 99 99 99 99 99 ,alone on 8 planet1 :i* is nei!r l>ge nor small1 b exactly ! "r size1 ,answ]] waits4 ,he _c help ! p :o come to him1 = ev5 ,answ]] has re/rictions4 ,he c answ] only valid que/ions4 ,univ]se8 ,life8 ,dea?8 ,purple8 ,eighte58 ,p>tial tru?s1 half-tru?s1 little bits ( ! great "q4 ,b ,answ]]1 alone1 mumbles ! que/ions to himself1 ! true que/ions1 :i* no "o c und]/&4 ,h[ c\ld !y und]/& ! true answ]s8 ,! que/ions w nev] be ask$1 & ,answ]] rememb]s some?+ 8 build]s knew & =got4 ,9 ord] to ask a "q y mu/ already "k mo/ ( ! answ]4 ,illu/ration 99 99 99 99 99