Part 30 (1/2)

Baley says: ”I knew in time you would confess this awful crime. You Understand, of course, you're in an awful mess!”

The Commissioner keels over on the floor.

When he wakes up, R. Daneel says: ”We're not sore; Since the crime was accidental, we'll be merciful and gentle.

Go,” he says in solemn tones, ”and sin no more!”

Then says Baley to the robot, with a grin: ”It was nice of you to overlook his sin.

As a friend, I wouldn't trade you! By the Asimov who made you, You're a better man than I am, Hunka Tin!”

ALFRED BESTER'S.

”THE DEMOLISHED MAN”.

By Randall Garrett

This ”Review in Verse” was taken from Bester's original magazine version, which appeared in Galaxy. It differs somewhat from the book version. For instance, ”the author, Mr. Bester, doesn't specify the year” in the magazine version, whereas, in the book version, he does. Another change was his lessened use of shortcut symbols. In the original, ”Tate” was spelled ”T8”; in the book, it's spelled out. Also, there's a character in the original called ”$$son.” Now, I could have sworn that was ”Dollarson” and I wrote the verse accordingly. But when the book came out, it was spelled ”Jackson.”

”Obscure, Alfie,” says I.

”That's why I changed it,” says he.

At any rate, when you read it-and it must be read aloud for full effect-p.r.o.nounce the symbols as though they were words. ”@” is p.r.o.nounced ”at,” so ”” is p.r.o.nounced ”fat.” The trouble is that the twelfth letter of the alphabet and the fi.gure ”one” look pretty much alike in print, so, in Verse 14, when you come to the word ”18,” p.r.o.nounce it ”late,” not ”ei.ghteen.”

”*” is ”asterisk,” ”%” is ”percent,” and ”(” is ”parenthesis.”

Now you're on your own.

In the far & distant future-you can pick the d8 2 suit your- Self, the author, Mr. Bester, doesn't specify the year- There's a fellow named Ben Reich, a rich investor who's no piker, Who has dreams about a Faceless Man in nightmares odd & queer.

Craye D-Courtney is his rival. Says Ben Reich: ”While he's alive, I'll Never rest, so I must rub him out the best way I can”'

But, according 2 report, neither Ben Reich nor old D'Courtney Knows the other well enough 4 Ben 2 h8 the older man.

Now, despite his wealth & power, Ben Reich still does not see how ar- Ranging old D'Courtney's death car, be achieved with grace & ease.

If he gets in2 a mess, perception by an expert Esper Will eventually happen, 4 these lads are thick as fleas.

But since Reich remains determined 2 extermin8 vermin,d- Rastic action must be taken 2 make sure he won't get caught.

So he calls Augustus T8, a doctor who, we find, is r8ed As a 1st Cla.s.s Esper Medic. Reich is sure he can be bought.

”Gus, D'Courtney is a bird I rather think I'd like 2 murder, & I'll pay an even million if you'll help me kill the slob!”

T8 says: ”I don't like it, still you never know-an even million?

's an awful lot of money, Ben; I think I'll take the job!”

Next he needs some brain protection from the Espers' keen detection; Just a song he can think of so they cannot read his mind.

So he calls a gal named Duffy, who is just a bit of fluff he Knows, who has a music shop carries songs of every kind.

”Just a song with rhythm in it?” Duffy frowns & thinks a minute. ”Well, we have all kinds of songs, but if you simply must have 1 keeps running through your head, the best we have is 'lOser, said the 10sor, 10sion, apprehension & dission have begun!' ”

Now the fireworks really start; he hears from T8 about a party At the Beaumonts” Craye D'Courtney will be there without a doubt.

Ben Reich packs his & goes there, smiles @ everyone he knows there, & sneaks up 2 old D'Courtney's room when all the lights are out.

Craye says: ”Ben, I'm sick & feeble!” Says Ben Reich: ”You can't make me bel- Ieve a word of all guff!” & then he shoots Craye through the head.

But Ben's planning's al14 naught; around comes old D'Courtney's daughter , & she grabs the & runs off when she sees her father dead.

Now comes Powell, a detective, whose main job is 2 collect ev- Aders of the law, who ought 2 know they can not succeed.

He's an Es% by the police 2 peep @ all the people @ the party 2 determine who has done this dreadful deed.

His Lieu10ant, known as $$son, is hot beneath the collar.

”What's the motive? Where's the witness? Who's the killer? Where's the gun?