The 6 Fingers of Time and Five Other Stories, by Samuel H. Post

Author:Samuel H. Post [Post, Samuel H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi Collection
Publisher: MacFadden Books
Published: 1965-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Norah Conover told the arbitrator that even in her distress she didn’t feel IOU had done it deliberately. If IOU would own up to its mistake she’d be of a mind to forgive.

She waved her cane. That obscene obit was none of Pat’s doing. “All those lascivious dancing-girls! All that drinking and carousing! Oh no, that wasn’t the heaven my Pat planned for us. I lived with the man forty years and I know Pat Conover never made that obit.”

The arbitrator turned. “Mr. Tumulty?”

Rush handed in data strips. “Here’s proof that Pat Conover made and paid for the obit in question.”

The cane failed. “Some other Pat Conover!”

“Sorry, madam, but according to our computer it has serviced no other Pat Conover.”

“Then your computer is loony!”

The arbitrator said, “I understand your agitation, Mrs. Conover, but let’s not get personal.”

Rush was handing in more data strips. “Service records prove our computer in perfect operating condition since activation.”

Norah tightened her lips as the arbitrator took in the data. Rush studied the ceiling.

The arbitrator said, “Unless you can show me some proof, Mrs. Conover, I’m afraid—”

Norah broke down. The cane clattered.

The arbitrator printed up its decision. It wondered why a breakdown always embarrassed not the one breaking down but those looking on …

(When Ken ran off the transcript of the proceedings, he felt that embarrassment. But Rush was right. They had scaled the heights of a higher justice …)

Otto Trever neared the IOU building. Knowing IOU to be infallible, he disregarded the catcalling of the Zealot pickets.

“Better unbought unhappiness than bought, unearned pleasure!”

“You have chased after sin!”

“Say farewell to your immortal soul!”

On second thought, it would be better to begin with an aloof Hannah O’Dea. The triumph would be greater when she wound up a passionate slave.

Unaware his dreamy smile was maddening, Trever passed through traffic administrators holding back the Zealots.

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