Second Variety: Volume Two of The Collected Stories by Philip K. Dick

Author:Philip K. Dick [Dick, Philip K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781473206670
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2014-08-27T22:00:00+00:00

The Directorate hall buzzed with murmuring echoes, its vast reaches alive with moving shadows, men taking their places and preparing for the session’s business.

Eldon von Stern, Directorate Floor Leader, stood with Hull off to one side behind the platform. “Let’s get this straight,” von Stern said nervously, running his fingers through his iron-gray hear. “You intend to speak for this bill of yours? You want to defend it yourself?”

Hull nodded. “That’s right. Why not?”

“The analytical machines can break the bill down and present an impartial report for the members. Spellbinding has gone out of style. If you present an emotional harangue you can be certain of losing. The members won’t —”

“I’ll take the chance. It’s too important to leave to the machines.”

Hull gazed out over the immense room that was slowly quieting. Representatives from all over the world were in their places. White-clad property owners. Blue-clad financial and industrial magnates. The red shirts of leaders from factory cooperatives and communal farms. The green-clad men and women representing the middle-class consumer group. His own gray-striped body, at the extreme right, the doctors, lawyers, scientists, educators, intellectuals and professionals of all kinds.

“I’ll take the chance,” Hull repeated. “I want to see the bill passed. It’s time the issues were made clear.”

Von Stern shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He eyed Hull curiously. “What do you have against Worldcraft? It’s too powerful a combine to buck. Packman himself is here, someplace. I’m surprised you —”

The robot chair flashed a signal. Von Stern moved away from Hull, up onto the platform.

“Are you sure you want to speak for the bill?” Julia said, standing beside Hull in the shadows. “Maybe he’s right. Let the machines analyze the bill.”

Hull was gazing out across the sea of faces, trying to locate Packman. The owner of Worldcraft was sitting out there. Forrest Packman, in his immaculate white shirt, like an ancient, withered angel. Packman preferred to sit with the property group, considering Worldcraft real estate instead of industry. Property still had the edge on prestige.

Von Stern touched Hull’s arm. “All right. Take the chair and explain your proposal.”

Hull stepped out onto the platform and seated himself in the big marble chair. The endless rows of faces before him were carefully devoid of expression.

“You’ve read the terms of the proposal I’m speaking for,” Hull began, his voice magnified by the speakers on each member’s desk. “I propose we should declare Worldcraft Industries a public menace and the real property the possession of the State. I can state my grounds in a few sentences.

“The theory and construction of the Worldcraft product, the sub-atomic universe system, is known to you. An infinite number of sub-atomic worlds exist, microscopic counterparts of our own spatial coordinate. Worldcraft developed, almost a century ago, a method of controlling to thirty decimals the forces and stresses involved on these micro-coordinate planes, and a fairly simplified machine which could be manipulated by any adult person.

“These machines for controlling specific areas of sub-atomic coordinates have been manufactured and sold to the

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