The Wizard from Earth Read Online Free PDF

the oxygen content to Matt's brain.  Matt stretched and Ivan measured muscular tension and flexibility.   Matt arose, and Ivan continuously calculated the shifting center of balance. 
    Matt went to the bathroom and per long-standing agreement, Ivan went into standby mode until Matt was done with showering and drying himself off.
    Matt printed himself a tee-shirt emblazoned with the name 'Seattle' partially obscured by clouds.  In the kitchen he printed a cappuccino and sipped while staring across Elliot Bay.  Ivan tracked his eyes to an incoming boat. 
    "I remember when I thought it was a big deal to ride the ferry," Matt said.  
    Consulting their schedule, Ivan calculated the optimal caloric intake for the day and said, "Aren't you going to have breakfast?"
    "I guess I should," Matt said.  He printed toast and eggs, made a few jabs and continued staring westward. 
    The ferry docked manually, an operation that dated back to the twentieth century, and via telescopic magnification Ivan observed the passengers clapping at the efforts of the captain, who bowed in response.  Of course, Ivan knew, no one took the ferry any more for commuting, it was all an historical re-enactment, today's captain having trained as an amateur after enduring months on a waiting list for the privilege of the 'thrill of the experience.'  Ivan knew to define 'a thrill' as 'something that humans enjoy in an excitable manner' and left it at that – though he still anticipated to someday penetrate the mystery as to why humans would find it even remotely entertaining to engage in a manual procedure that could be accomplished so easily by automation. 
    Matt yawned and closed his eyes.  Ivan registered neural pathway activation that was associated with daydreaming.  Ivan knew it was psychologically disruptive to intrude at such moments, and strove to avoid doing so. 
    Though his host had his eyes shut, Ivan could see perfectly well through thousands of  micro-lenses penetrating through Matt's skin pores.  Ivan monitored two views of the apartment at once.  One view showed a bare room with unmarked boxy machines.  The other view showed oak paneling, paintings, and semi-transparent control screens that floated above luminescently glowing printers.   The augmented-reality view was for Matt's enjoyment, the realistic view was for Ivan's ever-vigilant security scan.
    "Matt!" his father called sonically from the outer door.  "On the roof now!"
    Matt opened his eyes and directed his gaze to where Ivan had suspended the augmented-reality clock in his field of vision.  It was five minutes until seven.
    "Coming," Matt said, responding over the family radio comm link. 
    On the way to the door, Ivan said, "Don't forget the box."
    "Right." 
    As Matt left the kitchen, the house robot rustled and scooted about, disposing into the printer recycler Matt's half-eaten breakfast and the last traces of his DNA traces in the residence.  In his bedroom, Matt retrieved the tiny box of mementos that were all that he was allowed to take with him from Earth to Tian.  He headed to the outside door, and at the threshold, took a last look at the interior of the apartment. 
    He concentrated attention on the lights in the way that neural implants interpret to mean that their host wishes the lights to be turned on or off.  Since the lights were on, Ivan signaled to the house computer, and the house computer turned them off.  Matt forgot to 'will' the door locked, but Ivan took care of that matter on his own initiative.  It was required by the leasing agreement. 
    Matt followed his father up the few flights of steps to the roof.  The day was sunny and bright.  Matt gazed over the city.  Ivan registered more physiological indicators of nostalgia, reverie, and daydreaming.  Matt searched the sky.  When the taxi AI notified Ivan of its approach, Ivan imposed an AR arrow upon Matt's field of vision to point out the speck.
    "Thanks," Matt murmured.  Ivan