,rebuttal ,by ,,betsy ,,curtis ,illu/rat$ by ,,giunta ,immortality8 ,l any?+ else1 x may be a matt] ( def9ition1 or j ( ! po9t ( view4444 ,,! ,,/> by ,ar?ur ,c4 ,cl>ke 0 by all odds ! mo/ popul> /ory 9 ! fir/ issue ( ,,inf9ity1 & probably "o ( ! mo/ popul> sci5ce-fiction /ories to be publi%$ any:]e 9 #aiee4 ,x 0 also highly controv]sial1 & 9 ,rebuttal ,betsy ,curtis pres5ts ! o!r side ( ! "q--plus an idea t seems to be totally new4 ,! result1 we ?9k y'll agree1 is "o ( ! out/&+ sci5ce-fictional ev5ts ( #aief4 ,transcrib]'s ,note3 ,?is etext 0 produc$ f ,inf9ity ,sci5ce ,fiction1 ,june #aief4 ,ext5sive rese>* did n uncov] any evid5ce t ! ,u4,s4 copyright on ?is publication 0 r5ew$4 ,!y br\ght ,fa!r ,phillip ,burt to ,/4 ,luke's z our %>e ( ! rese>* project on ! my/]i\s disease :i* afflict$ mo/ ( ! crew ( ! rec5tly return$ ,pho5ix ,nebula exp$ition4 ,news ( ! disease1 ( c\rse1 0 n spread beyond ! rese>* teams1 z ! public seems to fe> a plague worse ?an damnation itself4 ,& x didn't seem to be a v s]i\s disease3 ,fa!r ,phillip 0 easily ! wor/ case ( all2 & al?\gh sev]al memb]s ( ! exp$ition _h di$1 _! dea?s c\ld be evaluat$ z due to second>y infections ( common en\gh e>? orig94 ,v few ( ! crew memb]s 7 9 actual pa92 b ,fa!r ,phillip 0 9 con/ant agony :i* no am\nt ( s$ation seem$ to calm4 ,i ran ! cu/om>y tissue cultures & biopsies1 includ+ ^? on int]nal organs n cu/om>ily available4 ,we 7 giv5 an excuse = gett+ int]nal samples ( tissue :5 ,fa!r ,phillip's app5dix flam$ into infection4 ,& al?\gh ,i did n f9d a g5]al infect+ organism1 :at ,i did f9d 0 en\gh to s5d me trott+ up to 8 room on ! d\ble4 ,i suppose ,i %\ld expla9 "h t ,i1 ,fa!r ,niccolo ,mol9a1 am head rese>* pa?ologi/ = ,/4 ,luke's & t ,i don't1 !re=e1 meet ! pati5ts p]sonally v (t54 ,b ,fa!r ,phillip ,i _h to meet4 ,8 day nurse1 ,si/] ,m>y ,felicia1 met me at ! door 9 h] crisp :ite teflon ov]all4 ,fa!r is v uncom=table today1 %e told me4 ,! incision is n heal+ at all & he keeps try+ to talk & !n break+ (f 9 ! middle ( a s5t5ce ) ! pa94 ,talk+ ab\t any?+ 9 p>ticul>8 ,i ask$ suspici\sly4 ,! m]e/ *it-*at4 ,! wea!r 444 pleasantries ab\t ! hospital 444 jokes ab\t doctors 9 p>ticul>4 ,he doesn't h a v high reg>d = doctors1 x seems4 ,?9ks !y are notable a!i/s1 ,i ga!r4 ,%e smil$4 ,_m ?anks = ! diagnosis1 ,si/]1 ,i told h] gravely4 ,!n ,i add$1 ,i suppose y are hav+ to ma9ta9 a consid]able qu>ant9e & decontam9ation r\t9e z ,fa!r's nurse8 ,oh yes4 ,9 ?is w+1 y "k1 we are all 9 solit>y1 approa*+ no p]sons o!r ?an our pati5t & ! doctors 444 sometimes = z mu* z ?ree mon?s aft] ! end ( a case4 ,x provides excell5t "t = a retreat1 :i* is :y mo/ ( u apply = su* duty4 ,%e po9t$ to ! small prie-dieu 9 h] t9y cubicle1 :i* /ood z a buff] betwe5 ! contagion room & ! hallway ( ! w>d4 ,if ,i am "r ab\t ! nature ( ,fa!r ,burt's disease1 ,i told h]1 y w soon see ! end ( ?is case1 & )\t any ?ree mon?s' decontam9ation1 ei!r4 ,%e smil$ aga94 ,y c\ldn't say a happi] ?+1 %e said1 ev5 ?\gh ,i %all probably apply = a leprosy case if ,i am reliev$ ( ?is "o4 ,i've become v conc]n$ ab\t ,fa!r ,phillip4 ,good4 ,he ne$s y\r pray]s z no man probably ev] ne$$ !m be=e4 ,i'll see him n[4 ,i cross$ h] small room & op5$ ! inn] door & w5t 94 99 99 99 99 99 ,fa!r ,phillip 0 ly+ flat 9 ! n>r[ :ite b$1 8 arms ly+ li/lessly on ei!r side ( ! slight hump ( 8 body "u ! %eet4 ,! big bulge halfway d[n 0 8 knees ov] a pill[1 ! usual position = po/-op]ative app5dectomies4 ,he squeez$ out a smile ) an ef=t4 ,morn+1 doctor1 he said4 ,fa!r ,nick1 ,i smil$ back4 ,fa!r ,nick ,mol9a ( ,pa?ology1 ,fa!r4 ,8 wa/$ body j]k$ z if ) a knife ?ru/4 ,!n he said1 ,excuse me4 ,i _h =gott5 t !re 7 doctors :o 7 n laym54 ,i'm sorry4 ,he drew up a %\ld] aga9/ 8 *eek 9 a curi\s ge/ure1 !n %iv]$4 ,sorry = :at8 ,i ask$4 ,j sorry1 ,i guess4444 ,he w9c$ & 0 sil5t4 ,sorry = me8 ,well1 yes4 ,t ,i'm n a layman8 ,y c\ld put x t way4 ,t's a v int]e/+ /atem5t1 ,fa!r1 & "o ab\t :i* ,i want to "k a good deal m aft] ,i've ask$ y "s o!r que/ions4 ,y see1 ,i ?9k ,i "k :at's ! matt] ) y1 & x's def9itely curable4 ,x is n curable4 ,8 voice _h a flat f9ality1 & 8 lips drew into a ?9 firm l9e4 ,let me ask y ! que/ions anyway1 ,fa!r1 ,i said4 ,he gave no o!r sign1 ,h y ev] look$ ?r\gh a microscope8 ,at ! little bea/ies8 ,yes1 9 college4 ,well1 t's :at ,i h j f9i%$ do+ ) a numb] ( sliv]s ( liv+ tissue f y\r body4 ,d y "k :at ,i saw t w\ld br+ me up "h8 ,i might1 he answ]$ w>ily4 ,:at d y ?9k8 ,canc]1 maybe4 ,no1 canc] cells h _! own patt]n ( behavior :i* is v pretty &1 ( c\rse1 no long] at all deadly4 ,y d n h canc]2 b ! cells ( y\r kidneys1 = in/ance1 are do+ some?+ ,i've nev] se5 live kidney cells do+4 ,& :at is t8 he said1 z if he really c\ldn't c>e less4 ,no?+ 9 p>ticul>4 ,?is is unhe>d ( inde$4 ,kidney cells are busy little widgets do+ a trem5d\s job night & day4 ,l ! individual muscle fib]s ( ! he>t1 !y "w on ye> aft] ye> ) no vacations1 no c(fee breaks1 secure 9 ! k ( _! purpose4 ,no pseudo-s]mons1 please1 ,fa!r6 ,fa!r ,phillip's voice 0 /]n4 ,y don't h to ,pet] ,rabbit up biology = me4 ,a s*ol> inde$ to h he>d ( ,pet] ,rabbit1 ,i laugh$ b he did n smile4 ,!n ,i ask$1 ,d y want to see h[ real kidney cells--y\rs---are behav+8 ,i h a project+ microscope 9 ! basem5t4 ,d y want to see :at's go+ on8 ,n p>ticul>ly4 ,if y ?9k y c cure me1 g ahead & try4 ,are y will+ to pray = y\r own recov]y8 ,no6 ,he spat out ! ^w ) a f]ocity t seem$ to surprise ev5 himself4 ,!n ,i am go+ to s]monize inde$4 ,& y are go+ to li/51 my de> little kidney cell4 ,oh1 g ahead4 ,b ,i w>n y t ,i "k some?+ t w cancel x all 9 advance4 ,he _h develop$ m =ce ( p]sonality ?an he _h %[$ s9ce ,i came 94 ,oh8 ,!n suppose y tell me ab\t t4 ,i always d bett] 9 rebuttal4 99 99 99 99 99 ,& he blurt$ x out 444 ! :ole /ory ( ! ,pho5ix ,nebula exp$ition & its discov]y ( ! memorials ( t beautiful race :i* 0 de/roy$ utt]ly 9 ! explosion ( its /> 444 ! sup]nova :i* 0 our own ,/> ( ,be?lehem4 ,s y see1 he conclud$1 we f\nd out t ultimate dreadful secret ( ! cosmos1 t !re is no plan1 no purpose1 no good ,god :o wat*es ! fall ( ! sp>r[s ) t5d] conc]n4 ,to :om c\ld ,i pray = my recov]y8 ,to ! r&om sp9 ( electrons or planets8 ,to a petty tribal totem8 ,to no?+6 ,we f\nd out8 ,y & ! crew8 ,i gave !m :at answ]s ,i c\ld4 ,!y ask$ y 444 & = a fi% y gave !m a /one1 is t x8 ,scold away1 he said tonelessly4 ,i w\ld n lie to !m4 ,! poet ,dante1 ,i began4 ,sp>e me ! poets1 he said bitt]ly4 ,! poet ,dante1 ,i repeat$ firmly1 9 8 rec\nt+ ( ! vision ( ,p>adise1 came at la/ to ! ,outside4 ,he _h press$ on j z y ( ! exp$ition _h press$ on1 ev] outw>ds1 look+ = ,! ,purpose4 ,he 0 =tunate1 ( c\rse1 9 n actually mak+ 8 exp$ition physically1 9 spite ( pret5d+ t he did s4 ,because space seems to be too big = man to make any?+ ( :ile he's 9 ! fle%4 ,anyh[1 :5 ,dante got ,outside1 ! :ole univ]se did a /range flip-flop4 ,if y c imag9e a t5nis ball really turn+ inside-out & e o!r atom ( ! univ]se be+ compact$ at ! c5t] & ! atoms ( ! orig9al ball r>efy+ outw>ds1 y may h 8 ,rosa ,my/ica4 ,at any rate1 y c und]/& t ! fur!r out y g1 ! m y look at ! same ?+ no matt] 9 :i* direction y look 444 l e direction be+ ,s\? f ! ,nor? ,pole 444 s y might z well say t y are look+ at a ,c5t] :5 y h rea*$ ! p]iph]y & look f>!r out4 ,= ! purposes ( analogy1 ,i suppose8 ,he 0 /ill bitt]4 ,= ! purposes ( mak+ x cle> :at ,i want y to d4 ,i want y to turn inside-out4 ,i want y to be ,god1 s to speak1 = a few m9utes4 ,inde$8 ,inde$4 ,= ^? m9utes1 at lea/1 y h done ) se>*+ = ,him fur!r & fur!r out 444 :]e y mu/ h ?\ght ,he 0 7& ,he is1 ( c\rse7 or y'd probably h be5 a nucle> physici/ or a cytologi/ l myself4 ,consid] y\rself1 !n1 ! deity ( y\rself1 y\r body1 ( ea* p]sonality-pack$ cell )9 x4 ,^? cells respond m or less well to y\r purposes & y\r plans4 ,y love !m all & !y love y1 :e!r or n !y "k x v well4 ,n[ ?9k back 444 h[ did y expla9 x to y\r baby incisor :5 x fir/ felt ! pu%+ ( a second too? und]nea?8 ,t x 0 exp5dable8 ,t x 0 no long] "p ( y\r purpose8 ,i don't suppose ,i felt t ,i 0 acc\ntable to my tee?4 ,grumpily4 ,b at any rate1 y\r purposes _h n *ang$1 _h !y8 ,i suppose n4 ,n[ li/5 closely1 ,god4 ,suppose y actually told y\r tee? t y didn't ne$ !m any m 444 & y\r he>t cells t _h be5 contract+ along s bravely 444 & y\r m>r[ cells t _h be5 mak+ blood 444 & y\r /oma* & y\r sple5 444 y told ea* & e cell t x 0 probably a good en\gh cell b t really !re 0 no purpose 9 _! do+ any?+ z y y\rself _h no purpose & probably didn't exi/ anyway4 ,!n :at8 ,!y'd g "r on work+4 ,:at a man tells 8 cells c't affect !m4 ,y "k t4 ,trucul5tly 444 z if to say3 y c't fool me4 ,!y w\ld beg9 to quit "r !n & !re4 ,a man might n be able to tell 8 cells mu*1 b rememb]1 a god c4 ,n[ let's g a /ep fur!r 94 ,let a cell be ,god & let its individual molecules be its creatures4 ,& ?is ,god tells ,8 creatures t x's all ov] 444 no m purposes1 no m action because !re's no reason = x 444 :at !n8 ,! molecules break d[n8 ,faceti\sly4 ,exactly4 ,& ! atoms disp]se & ! electron %ells fall away & :at happ5s aft] t1 ,i'm h>dly prep>$ to say4 ,h>dly4 ,amus$ly n[4 ,n[ back to man z man1 n ,god1 = ! next4 ,:ile y & y\r eag] pr$ecessors 7 pu%+ outw>d to ! />s1 ,i & m9e 7 explor+ cells4 ,& we f\nd cells dy+ f simple lack ( fai? 444 or1 y might say1 f an excess ( fai? 9 purposes :i* _h be5 ab&on$4 ',our ,god said s & s' !y insi/$1 long aft] _! ,god _h revis$ 8 plans to su* & su*4 ,*angeable gods d n int]e/ me4 ,bor$ly4 ,i'm glad to he> x1 ,i told him4 ,t's fairly important4 ,! discov]y "p ( ?is inve/igation1 h[ev]1 is t man does act z a god to 8 cells1 c tell !m ?+s & "k t !y he> 8 /ill small voice4 ,& among o!r ?+s :i* man has to say to 8 cells is 8 promise ( immortality to ea* & e "o4 ,t's go+ too f>1 ,i ?9k1 ,fa!r ,phillip object$ s]i\sly4 ,! body dies4 ,man has a ,prec$5t1 ,i said quietly4 ,b1 ,i add$1 y h j told me t x 0 a numb] ( bodily dea?s :i* de/roy$ y\r fai? 9 all patt]n & purpose4 ,is t comp>able8 ,n only is x comp>able 444 x is1 y might say1 "o ( ! myriad id5tical petals ( ! ,my/ic ,rose4 ,& x is ! "o ,i "k some?+ important ab\t4 ,y see1 ,i h witness$ ! immortality ( ! cell4 ,t's my contribution to ! j\rnals1 if n to ! in/ruction ( ! _w :i* doesn't read !m4 ,oh1 ,i "k 444 e cell t's alive is m]ely a daught] cell ( "o orig9al cell1 s t cell is immortal4 ,i don't mean t at all1 ev5 ?\gh t's true4 ,y might say t ,i mean ,i h se5 ! s\ls ( 'dead' cells 9 heav54 99 99 99 99 99 ,incr$ul\sly3 ,?r\gh ! project+ microscope 9 ! basem5t8 ,no1 y don't see !m ) eyes or he> !m ) e>s1 ,i assur$ him4 ,i ?\ght n4 ,b t doesn't mean !y're n !re4 ,! fir/ "t 0 9 a plac5ta f ! g>bage c4 ,we _h be5 cultur+ polio viruses 9 human plac5tas 7v int]e/+ p]sonalities viruses are1 too7 & ,i'd be5 s5t a :ole plac5ta m ?an ,i ne$$4 ,:at c a "m tell a plac5ta :i* has be5 do+ its "w & is /ill 9 excell5t %ape1 j l t civilization 9 ! ,pho5ix ,nebula "s two & a half mill5nia ago8 ,does %e say1 ',!re's no?+ m = y 9 "t or space2 ! baby is born1 ,i ab&on y to utt] no?+ness'8 ,v r>ely4 ,& ev5 !n %e doesn't mean x4 ,b ! life does g out ( ! cells4 ,& disp]ses to ,god1 glorify+ ,him 9 no unc]ta9 t]ms4 ,?is is :at ,i he>d & saw1 ) a ,god-giv5 p]ception :i* is n 9 my eyes & e>s4 ,y don't mean intuition1 surely1 he object$ disgu/$ly4 ,let me put x ano!r way ) ano!r "q4 ,) :at e>s d y he> ! music ( ! sph]es8 ,y are too mu* ! poet4 ,i don't foll[ y4 ,he 0 puzzl$4 ,to be v prosaic1 !n1 h[ d y s5se ! 'turnov]' or *ange 9 en]gy level ( ! lone electron ( a hydrog5 atom 9 int]/ell> space8 ,by d$uction f :atev] type ( record+ is made f a radiotelescope4 ,y h no physical n]ve end+s to s5se ?is directly8 ,( c\rse n4 ,b y are q sure1 nev]!less1 t s gross a creature z man may be aw>e ( s slight an emission ( en]gy8 ,yes4 ,& t :at man c be aw>e (1 ,god is also aw>e (8 ,x foll[s1 if ,god is aw>e at all4 ,if !re is a ,god1 !n1 !re w\ldn't be mu* *ance t ,he didn't "k ab\t su* gross creatures z ! m5 ( ! ,pho5ix8 ,excuse me 444 ,i've gone f> afield4 ,y said ! radiotelescope4 ,well1 a few o!r doctors & ,i h be5 work+ on an in/rum5t to measure cellul> action curr5ts--9 liv+ cells1 ( c\rse2 & ,i _h add$ an auxili>y compon5t :i* 0 suppos$ to f9d out :at became ( c]ta9 suspect$ possible en]gy emissions n acc\nt$ = or requir$ by *emical processes 9 ! cell4 ,:]e !re's smoke !re's fire1 y "k 444 & :]e !re's en]gy !re's apt to be m en]gy4 ,& "h 0 a nice piece ( fre% dy+ tissue 9 beautiful condition4 ,i put a t9y sliv] into ! infrascope j z a "y *ild w put any?+ t comes 8 way into 8 m\? = analysis 444 & ,i saw ! sc9tillations on ! plate :i* ,i knew signall$ ! asc5t ( ! s\ls ( ! cells1 ! b9d+ en]gies 444 "o fla% = ea* dy+ cell body 444 calculat$ lat] 444 "o quantum ( b9d+ en]gy1 "o s\l6 ,& s !y 7 gone 444 done 444 dissipat$ into y\r ma*9e 444 s\ls no long]4 ,fa!r ,phillip's sigh 0 "o ( inf9ite disappo9tm5t4 ,b9d+ en]gy to light 444 light to mass1 maybe 444 & mass to en]gy aga9 444 or is !re any?+ b en]gy 9 ! f9al analysis8 ,y a/ronom]s pr(ess to "k some?+ ( ?is4 ,:y is x1 !n1 t :5 y bump head-on into life y suppose x to be my/]i\sly some?+ else8 ,some?+ capable ( complete ext9ction1 ( contradict+ ! laws ( ! univ]se8 ,b ,i digress aga94 ,i am sorry4 ,i h n said :at y are wait+ to he>4 ,fa!r ,phillip drew 9 a long brea?4 ,9 a fr5zy ( _s ,i work$ = mon?s to ref9e ! in/rum5t & to make m precise ! regi/]+ & record+1 daily try+ v>i\s tissues 9 ! orig9al ma*9e 444 gett+ reacqua9t$1 too1 ) ! p]sonalities ( v>i\s types ( cells 9 ! big project+ mike4 ,today ,i c %[ y1 or any int]e/$ p]son1 ! endurance ( p]sonality 9 ! en]gy quanta aft] ! cell body is dead4 ,does ?is make a diff]5ce8 ,fa!r ,phillip's sigh ?is "t 0 a relaxation ( 8 :ole be+4 ,someh[ x does1 he said1 b ,i don't "k :y4 ,y "k1 ,i assur$ him1 t ! crux ( ! ,pho5ix matt] 0 ! "q ( p]sonal immortality4 ,if ! s\ls ( ! ,pho5ix folk are 9 ! h& ( ,god1 :at does x matt] to y or to me :]e _! bodies are8 ,suppose1 j be=e ! end1 ,god told !m t ,he w\ld bless _! physical pass+ & set x = a sign to a y\ng] p t _! savior 0 at h&8 ,y h no way ( kn[+ t ,he did n4 ,y d "k t ,he said3 ',o!r %eep ,i h :i* are n ( ?is flock4' ,& :5 y\r own body dies1 y may ev5 meet y\r belov$ folk ( ! ,pho5ix ,nebula & !re %all be '"o flock & "o ,%eph]d4' ,fa!r ,phillip's h& rea*$ out & ,i grasp$ x4 ,he return$ ! pressure firmly4 ,?ank y1 ,fa!r1 he said gravely4 ,i h be5 9 mortal dang] ( mak+ a mi/ake4 ,y h be5 s5t to me4 ,z y 7 s5t to ! crew ( ! exp$ition1 & h n yet :olly fail$ !m4 ,h[ d y feel at ?is mom5t 444 9 y\r body8 ,8 look became ab/ract$ & he seem$ to be se>*+ himself int]nally4 ,!n he look$ back at me ) a %ade ( a gr94 ,my incision it*es l fury1 he said1 & ,i ne$ ! b$pan4 ,s1 y are heal+ already8 ,n[ try to tell me a man c say no?+ to 8 cells4 ,i drew back ! %eet & obs]v$ ! dry+ ( ! s]um at ! edges ( ! incision4 ,h[ soon c ,i get out ( "h8 he ask$ eag]ly4 ,i mu/ g to ! o!r memb]s ( ! crew at once6 ,fir/ to confession1 ,i rem9d$ him4 ,& !n1 dep5d+ on ,god's w1 x may be weeks or ev5 days4 ,i _c pr$ict ! spe$ ( a miracle4 99 99 99 99 99 ,& x 0 well ,i did n try4 ,x 0 a scant t5 h\rs lat] t ! figure ( ,fa!r ,phillip ,burt 0 :eel$ 9 a *air to a wait+ ambulance t 0 to take him to ! fir/ ( ! hospitals :]e a memb] ( ! crew lay 9 desolate qu>ant9e4 ,8 body 0 /ill frail1 b 8 smile 0 ( radiant heal?4 ,he wav$ to me4 ,"o flock1 he call$1 & 0 borne away4