The Blue World Read Online Free PDF

waiting impassively.
Antagonism hung heavy in the room.
    Ixon Myrex and Semm
Voiderveg came toward Sklar Hast. “Do you have any conditions or
exceptions to make?”
    “Tell me what
you propose,” said Sklar Hast. “Then I’ll tell you my
conditions or exceptions.”
    “We propose
nothing unusual—in fact, a test similar to those at the
Aumerge Tournament during the Year of Waldemar’s Dive.”
    Sklar Hast gave a
curt nod, “Four selections from the Analects?”
    “Precisely.”
    “What
selections?”
    “Apprentice
exercises might be most convenient, but I don’t think Master Rohan is
particular in this case.”
    “Nor I.
Apprentice exercises will be well enough.”
    “I propose we
use tournament weighing: the best score is multiplied by fifty, the
next by thirty, the next by twenty, the worst by ten. This ensures
that your best effort will receive the greatest weight.”
    Sklar Hast
reflected. The system of weighting tended to favor the efforts of the
nervous or erratic operator, while the steadier and more consistent
operator was handicapped. Still, under the present circumstances, it
made small difference: neither he nor Zander Rohan were typically
given to effulgent bursts of speed. “I agree. What of miswinks?”
    “Each error or
miswink to add three seconds to the score.”
    Sklar Hast
acquiesced. There was further discussion of a technical nature, as to
what constituted an error, how the errors should be noted and
reckoned in regard to the operation of the clock.
    Finally all
possible contingencies had been discussed.
    The texts were
selected: Exercises 61, 62, 63, 64, all excerpts from the Analects,
which in turn had been derived from the sixty-one volumes of Memoria.
Before assenting to the exercises, Zander Rohan donned the spectacles
which he recently had taken to using—two lenses of clear gum,
melted, cast and held in frames of laminated withe—and
carefully read the exercises. Sklar Hast followed suit, though
through his work with the apprentices he was intimately acquainted
with them. The contestants might use either machine, and both elected
to use the new machine. Each man would wink an exercise in turn, and
Zander Rohan signified that he wished Sklar Hast to wink first.
    Sklar Hast went to
the machine, arranged Exercise 61 in front of him, stretched his
brown fingers, tested the action of keys and kick-rods. Across the
room sat the judges, while Arbiter Myrex controlled the clock. At
this moment the door slid back, and into the shed came Meril Rohan.
    Zander Rohan made a
peremptory motion, which she ignored. Intercessor Voiderveg frowned
and held up an admonitory finger, which she heeded even less. Sklar
Hast looked once in her direction, meeting her bright gaze, and could
not decide on its emotional content: Scorn? Detestation? Amusement?
It made no great difference.
    “Ready!”
called Ixon Myrex. Sklar Hast bent slightly forward, strong hands and
tense fingers poised. “Set! Wink!”
    Sklar Hast’s hands
struck down at the keys; his foot kicked the release. The first
configuration, the second, the third. Sklar Hast winked deliberately,
gradually loosening, letting his natural muscular rhythm augment his
speed.
    “ —even were we able to communicate with the Home Worlds, I wonder if we
would now choose to do so. Ignoring the inevitable prosecution which
would ensue owing to our unique background—as I say, not even
considering this—we have gained here something which none of
us have ever known before: a sense of achievement on a level other
than what I will call ‘social manipulation’. We are, by and
large, happy on the floats. There is naturally much homesickness,
nostalgia, vain regrets—how could this be avoided? Would they
be less poignant on New Ossining? This is a question all of us have
argued at length, to no decision. The facts are that we all seem to
be facing the realities of our new life with a fortitude and
equanimity of which we probably did not suspect ourselves