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I'm leaving.
When?.....How?
Right now.
But you can't...you.
What?
Look!
I can't see him at all. He's been destroyed.
No, look! Three degrees from the central azimuth.
How far did you go? Was it cold?
You have nothing to fear. You're safe again.
Well?
Out of a random selection of 150 locations with 150 possible sightings, there were 146 absolute negatives and four conditionals, most of which occurred in the early familiarization stages of the experiment and can be largely discounted.
Not very encouraging.
On the contrary! It absolutely proves what I have always felt. We are located in an apparently uniform space with no visible limits. We are just now beginning to push back the clouds of ignorance and perceive the truth. We must continue the search.
I've got it! Astounding!
What?
No one could have imagined anything onethousandth as fantastic as the sober facts uncovered by patient inquiry. This world is in a state of staticmobility: we are at the same time moving and standing still.
I can just barely see him. I think he's leaving.
Impossible!
He's coming back for the rest of us. He can't make it alone.
I wonder how far he went. He's gathered invaluable information out there.
Wait! I'll talk to him.
Ask him about the air. He looks out of breath.
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
It may seem ridiculous to the untrained mind, but if you were able to interpret the calculations you would see that an apparent paradox is actually a perfect and elegant system in concept and design.
We must escape. We have plans. We can leave. We must wait until...
Incredible!
I thought you were through with it!
We cannot stay here and allow ourselves to be destroyed. You can work with us. An organized plan of escape must be devised first. Could you see anything? You want to leave. You're not like them. You must have left something, or someone.
What's going on....what are you doing?
We're leaving.
What?
We're leaving.
Who? Who's leaving?
THX and me.
But you can't. We must escape.
Then why are they holding us here? Why don't they destroy us right away? Economically, it's not sound at all. Very much unlike....
I've said many times before, and I guess I'll have to repeat it again for your...
You always manage to avoid the issue: What's wrong with our present condition? We're COMFORTABLE and we have plenty of food...I feel absolutely no threat because there is no threat. Why incite trouble? You should examine your emotions. It is senseless...
What are you talking about? When did you sleep last? Do you know what your trouble is? You're blind. You've been here so long you can't see what is happening. We must unite. We need unity. We need action. ) We have come to a time when we must....
But we need a creative dissent. Our voices are not joined in any harmonious chorus, but the differences are differences of emphasis, not of fundamentals. Now, the new alignment's greatest need is to communicate with all its elements, rather than march along in parallel line that never converge. Tomorrow as we focus the new movement more clearly, we will gain a new unity.
What?
Good Lord!
A shelldweller. They live in the outer shell of the city. Quite unique, there have been two here before. They smell.
There goes another of your disciples.
It seems I am destined to endure many frustrations....but at the same time I am secure in the knowledge that the thrust of my studies has been in the right direction, and that even if it remains incomplete, my search has not been in vain.
I'm not hungry.
Well it's fixed, so you'll have to eat it.
No, your going to eat it, or it will go to waste.
What's the matter with you?
What's this? Why did you change it?
You've seen enough.
You know I don't feel well.
Eat your dinner.
What did you get?
I have to see SEN. I've just been given a shift change.
When?
Now.
Now?
He wants me to come to his quarters.
A shift change should come through the scheduling office.
I don't know.
Don't go.
I have to... he's a G34
You don't have to... I don't trust him. You ought to file a report.
No, don't make trouble. It's nothing.
Then why did you bring it up?
I didn't. You asked me about the card. You're going to get us into trouble.
I haven't done anything.
Don't be so sure.
I've never been under the table before.
Look,dirt!
That's not dirt...Can't be dirt.. Dirt is a violation.
Looks like dirt.
Look, food!
That's not food. Can't be food.
Looks like food.
Now...now, I'm sorry...don't don't....please. It's just... I was happy. Why get me involved? You told SEN that you weren't satisfied with me.
What?...Oh, no, THX. That's not true. Not satisfied? THX, I need you so much.
I was so scared...I didn't know what would happen with you...once I started. I almost let you go on so many times. It will be worth it, together. When I was alone, I knew.
But it's so hopeless...you're so beautiful.
What time is it?
What?
I said what time is it? How long was I out?
It's 3+27 hundred
Three! I'm going to be late for my shift.
No! Don't go.
They'll come for me right away if I'm not there. I have to go.
Don't take anything.
I'll try.
Promise...please don't THX leaves the room.
What are you doing here? Is anything wrong?
No....I though I'm afraid.
You're not cleared for this precinct. Let's cross over first.
You slipped on a T297 transfer just before lunch, didn't you?
What?
On the cervix transfer, you almost lost the T297.
What do you think you're doing? You're going to get us arrested.
But...you...
I can't go on like this. I can't.... I don't just sit around and watch people. If I make a mistake, it's all over. You see it every day. Do you want to see me taken away in pieces?