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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24955-h.zip b/24955-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..51f3364 --- /dev/null +++ b/24955-h.zip diff --git a/24955-h/24955-h.htm b/24955-h/24955-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..093af50 --- /dev/null +++ b/24955-h/24955-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1210 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Man Made, by Albert R. Teichner + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1 {text-align: left; clear: both; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} + h2 {text-align: left; clear: both; margin-top: 2.5em;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; clear: both; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .tease {clear: both; margin: 0 auto 2em; font-size: large; text-align: justify; width: 18em;} + .theend {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 2em;} + .bk1 {float: left; width: 50%; border-right: solid 2px;} + .bk2 {float: right; width: 40%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Man Made, by Albert R. Teichner + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Man Made + +Author: Albert R. Teichner + +Release Date: March 30, 2008 [EBook #24955] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAN MADE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><h1><big>MAN<br /> +MADE</big></h1></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h2>By<br /> +ALBERT R. TEICHNER</h2></div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="tease"><b><i>A story that comes to grips with an age-old +question—what is soul? and where?—and +postulates an age-new answer.</i></b></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">If</span> I listed every trouble I've +accumulated in a mere two +hundred odd years you might be +inclined to laugh. When a tale of +woe piles up too many details it +looks ridiculous, unreal. So here, +at the outset, I want to say my +life has not been a tragic one—whose +life is in this day of advanced +techniques and universal +good will?—but that, on the contrary, +I have enjoyed this Earth +and Solar System and all the +abundant interests that it has +offered me. If, lying here beneath +these great lights, I could +only be as sure of joy in the +future....</p> + +<p>My name is Treb Hawley. As +far back as I can remember in +my childhood, I was always interested +in astronautics. From the +age of ten I specialized in that +subject, never for a moment regretting +the choice. When I was +still a child of twenty-four I took +part in the Ninth Jupiter Expedition +and after that there were +many more. I had a precocious +marriage at thirty and my boys, +Robert and Neil, were born within +a few years after Marla and I +wed. It was fortunate that I +fought for government permission +that early; after the accident, +despite my high rating, I +would have been denied the rare +privilege of parenthood.</p> + +<p>That accident, the first one, +took place when I was fifty. On +Planet 12 of the Centauri System +I was attacked by a six-limbed +primate and was badly mangled +on the left side before breaking +loose to destroy it. Surgical +Corps operated within an hour. +Although they did an excellent +prosthetic job after removing +my left leg and arm, the substituted +limbs had their limitations. +While they permitted me to do +all my jobs, phantom pain was a +constant problem. There were +new methods of prosthesis to +eliminate this weird effect but +these were only available back on +the home planets.</p> + +<p>I had to wait one year for this +release. Meanwhile I had plenty +of time to contemplate my mysterious +affliction; the mystery of +it was so great that I had little +chance to notice how painful it +actually was. There is enough +strangeness in feeling with absolute +certainty that a limb exists +where actually there is nothing, +but the strangeness is compounded +when you look down and discover +that not only is the leg +gone but that another, mechanical +one has taken its place. Dr. +Erics, who had performed the +operation, said this difficulty +would ultimately prove a blessing +but I often had my doubts.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He was right. Upon my return +to Earth, the serious operations +took place, those giving me plastic +limbs that would become <i>living</i> +parts of my organic structure. +The same outward push of +the brain and nervous system +that had created phantom pain +now made what was artificial +seem real. Not only did my own +blood course through the protoplastic +but I could feel it doing +so. The adjustment took less than +a week and it was a complete one.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the time was already +past when protoplast patients +were looked upon as something +mildly freakish and to be +pitied. Artificial noses, ears and +limbs were becoming quite common. +Whether there was some +justification for the earlier reaction +of pity, however, still remains +to be seen.</p> + +<p>My career resumed and I was +accepted for the next Centauri +Expedition without any questions +being asked. As a matter of +fact, Planning Center preferred +people in my condition; protoplast +limbs were more durable +than the real—no, let us say the +original—thing.</p> + +<p>At home and at the beach no +one bothered to notice my reconstructed +arm and leg. They looked +too natural for the idea to +occur to people who did not know +me. And Marla treated the whole +thing like a big joke. "You're +better than new," she used to +tell me and the kids wanted to +know when they could have second +matter limbs of their own.</p> + +<p>Life was good to me. The one-year +periods away from home +passed quickly and the five-year +layoffs on Earth permitted me to +devote myself to my hobbies, +music and mathematics, without +taking any time away from my +family. Eventually, of course, my +condition became an extremely +common one. Who is there today +among my readers who has all +the parts with which he was +born? If any such person past the +childhood sixty years did, <i>he</i> +would be the freak.</p> + +<p>Then at ninety new difficulties +arose. A new Centaurian subvirus +attacked my chest marrow. +As is still true in this infection, +the virus proved to be ineradicable. +My ribs weren't, though, +and a protoplastic casing, exactly +like the thoracic cavity, was substituted. +It was discovered that +the infection had spread to my +right radius and ulna so here too +a simple substitution was made. +Of course, such a radical infection +meant my circulatory system +was contaminated and synthetically +created living hemoplast +was pumped in as soon as all the +blood was removed.</p> + +<p>This <i>did</i> attract attention. At +the time the procedure was still +new and some medical people +warned it would not take. They +were right only to this extent: +the old cardioarterial organs occasionally +hunted into defective +feedback that required systole-diastole +adjustments. Protoplastic +circulatory substitutes corrected +the deficiency and, just to +avoid the slight possibility of +further complications, the venous +system was also replaced. Since +the changeover there hasn't been +the least trouble in that sector.</p> + +<p>By then Marla had a perfect +artificial ear and both of my sons +had lost their congenitally diseased +livers. There was nothing +extraordinary about our family; +only in my case were replacements +somewhat above the world +average.</p> + +<p>I am proud to say that I was +among the first thousand who +made the pioneer voyage on hyperdrive +to the star group beyond +Centaurus. We returned in +triumph with our fantastic but +true tales of the organic planet +Vita and the contemplative +humanoids of Nirva who will +consciousness into subjectively +grasping the life and beauty of +subatomic space. The knowledge +we brought back assured that the +fatal disease of ennui could never +again attack man though they +lived to Aleph Null.</p> + +<p>On the second voyage Marla, +Robert and Neil went with me. +This took a little political wrangling +but it was worth throwing +my merit around to see them +benefit from Nirvan discoveries +even before the rest of humanity. +Planetary Council agreed my +services entitled me to this special +consideration. Truly I could +feel among the blessed.</p> + +<p>Then I volunteered for the +small expeditionary force to the +38th moon that the Nirvans +themselves refused to visit. They +tried to dissuade us but, being +of a much younger species, we +were less plagued by caution and +went anyway. The mountains of +this little moon are up to fifteen +miles high, causing a state of instability +that is chronic. Walking +down those alabaster valleys +was a more awesome experience +than any galactic vista I have +ever encountered. Our aesthetic +sense proved stronger than common +sense alertness and seven +of us were buried in a rock slide.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Fortunately the great rocks +formed a cavern above us. After +two days we were rescued. The +others had suffered such minor +injuries that they were repaired +before our craft landed on Nirva. +I, though, unconscious and feverish, +was in serious condition +from skin abrasions and a comminuted +cranium. Dr. Erics +made the only possible prognosis. +My skull had to be removed and +a completely new protoskin had +to be supplied also.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>When I came out of coma +Marla was standing at my bedside, +smiling down at me. "Do +you feel," she stumbled, "darling, +I mean, do you feel the way you +did?"</p> + +<p>I was puzzled. "Sure, I'm Treb +Hawley, I'm your husband, and +I remember an awful fall of rocks +but now I feel exactly the way I +always have." I did not even realize +that further substitutions +had been made and did not believe +them when they told me +about it.</p> + +<p>Now I <i>was</i> an object of curiosity. +Upon our return to Earth +the newsplastics hailed me as one +of the most highly reintegrated +individuals anywhere. In all the +teeming domain of man there +were only seven hundred who had +gone through as many substitutions +as I had. Where, they philosophised +in passing, would a +man cease to be a man in the +sequence of substitutions?</p> + +<p>Philosophy had never been an +important preoccupation of mine. +It was the only discipline no +further ahead in its really essential +questions than the Greeks of +four thousand years ago. Oh +certainly, there had been lots +of technical improvements that +were fascinating but these were +peripheral points; the basic issues +could not be experimentally +tested so they had to remain on +the level of accepted or rejected +axioms. I wasn't about to devote +much time to them when +the whole fascinating field of +subatomic mirror numbers was +just opening up; certainly not +because a few sensational journalists +were toying with dead-end +notions. For that matter the +newsplastics weren't either and +quickly went back to the regular +mathematical reportage they +do so well.</p> + +<p>A few decades later, however, +I wasn't so cocksure. The old +Centaurian virus had reappeared +in my brain of all places and +I started to have a peculiar feeling +about where the end point in +all this reintegrating routine +would lie. Not that the brain +operation was a risk; thousands +of people had already gone +through it and the substitute +organisms had made no fundamental +change in them. It didn't +in my case either. But now I was +more second matter than any +man in history.</p> + +<p>"It's the old question of Achilles' +Ship," Dr. Erics told me.</p> + +<p>"Never heard of it," I said.</p> + +<p>"It's a parable, Treb, about +concretised forms of a continuum +in its discrete aspects."</p> + +<p>"I see the theoretical question +but what has Achilles' Ship to do +with it?"</p> + +<p>He furrowed his protoplast +brow that looked as youthful as +it had a century ago. "This ship +consisted of several hundred +planks, most of them forming +the hull, some in the form of +benches and oars and a mainmast. +It served its primitive purpose +well but eventually sprang +a leak. Some of the hull planks +had to be replaced after which +it was as good as new. Another +year of hard use brought further +hull troubles and some more +planks were removed for new +ones. Then the mast collapsed +and a new one was put in. After +that the ship was in such good +shape that it could outrace most +of those just off the ways."</p> + +<p>I had an uneasy feeling about +where this parable was leading +us but my mind shied away from +the essential point and Erics +went relentlessly on. "As the +years passed more repairs were +made—first a new set of oars, +then some more planks, still newer +oars, still more planks. Eventually +Achilles, an unthinking +man of action who still tried to +be aware of what happened to +the instruments of action he +needed most, realized that not +one splinter of the original ship +remained. Was this, then, a new +ship? At first he was inclined to +say yes. But this only evoked the +further question: when had it +become the new ship? Was it +when the last plank was replaced +or when half had been? His confidently +stated answer collapsed. +Yet how could he say it was the +old ship when everything about +it was a substitution? The question +was too much for him. +When he came to Athens he turned +the problem over to the wise +men of that city, refusing ever +to think about it again."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>My mind was now in turmoil. +"What," I demanded, "<i>what</i> did +they decide?"</p> + +<p>Erics frowned. "Nothing. They +could not answer the question. +Every available answer was +equally right and proved every +other right answer wrong. As +you know, philosophy does not +progress in its essentials. It +merely continues to clarify what +the problems are."</p> + +<p>"I prefer to die next time!" I +shouted. "I want to be a live +human being or a dead one, not +a machine."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you won't be a machine. +Nothing exactly like this +has happened before to a living +organic being."</p> + +<p>I knew I had to be on my +guard. What peculiar scheme was +afoot? "You're trying to say +something's still wrong with me. +It isn't true. I feel as well as I +ever have."</p> + +<p>"Your 'feeling' is a dangerous +illusion." His face was space-dust +grey and I realized with +horror that he meant all of it. "I +had to tell you the parable and +show the possible alternatives +clearly. Treb, you're riddled with +Centaurian Zed virus. Unless we +remove almost all the remaining +first growth organisms you will +be dead within six months."</p> + +<p>I didn't care any more whether +he meant it or not; the idea was +too ridiculous. Death is too rare +and anachronistic a phenomenon +today. "You're the one who needs +treatment, Doctor. Overwork, too +much study, one idea on the +brain too much."</p> + +<p>Resigned, he shrugged his +shoulders. "All the first matter +should be removed except for the +spinal chord and the vertebrae. +You'd still have that."</p> + +<p>"Very kind of you," I said, and +walked away, determined to have +no more of his lectures now or +in the future.</p> + +<p>Marla wanted to know why I +seemed so jumpy. "Seems is just +the word," I snapped. "Never felt +better in my life."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I mean," she +said. "Jumpy."</p> + +<p>I let her have the last word but +determined to be calmer from +then on.</p> + +<p>I was. And, as the weeks passed, +the mask I put on sank deeper +and deeper until that was the +way I really felt. 'When you can +face death serenely you will not +have to face it.' That is what +Sophilus, one of our leading philosophers, +has said. I was living +this truth. My work on infinite +series went more smoothly and +swiftly than any mathematical +research I had engaged in before +and my senses responded to living +with greater zest than ever.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Five months later, while walking +through Hydroponic Park, +I felt the first awful tremor +through my body. It was as if +the earth beneath my feet were +shaking, like that awful afternoon +on Nirva's moon. But no +rocks fell from this sky and other +strollers moved across my vision +as if the world of five minutes +ago had not collapsed. The horror +was only inside me.</p> + +<p>I went to another doctor and +asked for Stabilizine. "Perhaps +you need a checkup," he suggested.</p> + +<p>That was the last thing I +wanted and I said so. He, too, +shrugged resignedly and made +out my prescription for the +harmless drug. After that the +hammer of pain did not strike +again but often I could feel it +brush by me. Each time my self-administered +dosage had to be +increased.</p> + +<p>Eventually my equations stopped +tying together in my mind. I +would stare at the calculation +sheets for hours at a time, asking +myself why <i>x</i> should be here or +integral operation there. The +truth could not be avoided: my +mind could no longer grasp truth.</p> + +<p>I went, in grudging defeat, to +Erics. "You have to win," I said +and described my experiences.</p> + +<p>"Some things are inevitable," +he nodded solemnly, "and some +are not. This may solve all your +problems."</p> + +<p>"Not <i>all</i>," I hoped aloud.</p> + +<p>Marla went with me to hospital. +She realized the danger I was +in but put the best possible face +on it. Her courage and support +made all the difference and I +went into the second matter +chamber, ready for whatever fate +awaited me.</p> + +<p>Nothing happened. I came out +of the chamber all protoplast except +for the spinal zone. Yet I +was still Treb Hawley. As the +coma faded away, the last equation +faded in, completely meaningful +and soon followed by all +the leads I could handle for the +next few years.</p> + +<p>Psychophysiology was in an +uproar over my success. "Man +can now be <i>all</i> protoplast," some +said. Others as vehemently insisted +some tiny but tangible +chromosome-organ link to the +past must remain. For my part +it all sounded very academic; I +was well again.</p> + +<p>There <i>was</i> one unhappy moment +when I applied for the new +Centauri Expedition. "Too much +of a risk," the Consulting Board +told me. "Not that you aren't in +perfect condition but there are +unknown, untested factors and +out in space they might—mind +you, we just say might—prove +disadvantageous." They all looked +embarrassed and kept their +eyes off me, preferring to concentrate +on the medals lined up +across the table that were to be +my consolation prize.</p> + +<p>I was disconsolate at first and +would look longingly up at the +stars which were now, perhaps +forever, beyond my reach. But +my sons were going out there +and, for some inexplicable reason, +that gave me great solace. +Then, too, Earth was still young +and beautiful and so was Marla. +I still had the full capacity to +enjoy these blessings.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Not for long. When we saw the +boys off to Centauri I had a dizzy +spell and only with the greatest +effort hid my distress until the +long train of ships had risen out +of sight. Then I lay down in the +Visitors Lounge from where I +could not be moved for several +hours. Great waves of pain flashed +up and down my spine as if +massive voltages were being released +within me. The rest of my +body stood up well to this assault +but every few seconds I had the +eerie sensation that I was back in +my old body, a ghostly superimposition +on the living protoplast, +as the spinal chord projected +its agony outward. Finally +the pain subsided, succeeded +by a blank numbness.</p> + +<p>I was carried on gravito-cushions +to Erics' office. "It had +to be," he sighed. "I didn't have +the heart to tell you after the +last operation. The subvirus is +attacking the internuncial neurones."</p> + +<p>I knew what that meant but +was past caring. "We're not immortal—not +yet," I said. "I'm +ready for the end."</p> + +<p>"We can still try," he said.</p> + +<p>I struggled to laugh but even +gave up that little gesture. "Another +operation? No, it can't +make any difference."</p> + +<p>"It might. We don't know."</p> + +<p>"How could it?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose, Treb, just suppose +you do come out of it all right. +You'd be the first man to be completely +of second matter!"</p> + +<p>"Erics, it can't work. Forget +it."</p> + +<p>"I won't forget it. You said +we're not immortal but, Treb, +your survival would be another +step in that direction. The soul's +immortality has to be taken on +faith now—if it's taken at all. +You could be the first <i>scientific</i> +proof that the developing soul +has the momentum to carry past +the body in which it grows. At +the least you would represent a +step in the direction of soul freed +from matter."</p> + +<p>I could take no more of such +talk. "Go ahead," I said, "do what +you want. I give my consent."</p> + +<p>The last few days have been +the most hectic of my life. Dozens +of great physicians, flown in +from every sector of the Solar +System, have examined me. "I'm +leaving my body to science," I +told one particularly prodding +group, "but you're not giving it +a chance to die!" It <i>is</i> easy for +me to die now; when you have +truly resigned yourself to death +nothing in life can disturb you. +I have at long last reached that +completely stoical moment. That +is why I have recorded this history +with as much objectivity as +continuing vitality can permit.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The operating theatre was +crowded for my final performance +and several Tri-D video +cameras stared down at me. Pupils, +lights and lenses, all came to +a glittering focus on me. I slowly +closed my eyes to blot the hypnotic +horror out.</p> + +<p>But when I opened them everything +was still there as before. +Then Erics' head, growing as he +inspected my face more closely, +covered everything else up.</p> + +<p>"When are you going to begin?" +I demanded.</p> + +<p>"We have <i>finished</i>," he answered +in awe that verged upon +reverence. "You are the new +Adam!"</p> + +<p>There was a mounting burst of +applause as the viewers learned +what I had said. My mind was +working more clearly than it had +in a long time and, with all the +wisdom of hindsight, I wondered +how anyone could have ever +doubted the outcome. We had +known all along that every bit of +atomic matter in each cell is replaced +many times in one lifetime, +electron by electron, without +the cell's overall form disappearing. +Now, by equally gradual +steps, it had happened in the +vaster arena of Newtonian living +matter.</p> + +<p>I sat up slowly, looking with +renewed wonder on everything +from the magnetic screw in the +light above my head to the nail +on the wriggling toe of my left +foot. I was more than Achilles' +Ship. I was a living being at +whose center lay a still yet turning +point that could neither be +new nor old but only immortal.</p> + +<p class="theend">THE END</p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b><br /> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Science Fiction Stories</i> January 1960. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Man Made, by Albert R. Teichner + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAN MADE *** + +***** This file should be named 24955-h.htm or 24955-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/9/5/24955/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Teichner + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Man Made + +Author: Albert R. Teichner + +Release Date: March 30, 2008 [EBook #24955] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAN MADE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + MAN + MADE + + By + ALBERT R. TEICHNER + + + _A story that comes to grips with an age-old + question--what is soul? and where?--and + postulates an age-new answer._ + + +If I listed every trouble I've accumulated in a mere two hundred odd +years you might be inclined to laugh. When a tale of woe piles up too +many details it looks ridiculous, unreal. So here, at the outset, I want +to say my life has not been a tragic one--whose life is in this day of +advanced techniques and universal good will?--but that, on the contrary, +I have enjoyed this Earth and Solar System and all the abundant +interests that it has offered me. If, lying here beneath these great +lights, I could only be as sure of joy in the future.... + +My name is Treb Hawley. As far back as I can remember in my childhood, I +was always interested in astronautics. From the age of ten I specialized +in that subject, never for a moment regretting the choice. When I was +still a child of twenty-four I took part in the Ninth Jupiter Expedition +and after that there were many more. I had a precocious marriage at +thirty and my boys, Robert and Neil, were born within a few years after +Marla and I wed. It was fortunate that I fought for government +permission that early; after the accident, despite my high rating, I +would have been denied the rare privilege of parenthood. + +That accident, the first one, took place when I was fifty. On Planet 12 +of the Centauri System I was attacked by a six-limbed primate and was +badly mangled on the left side before breaking loose to destroy it. +Surgical Corps operated within an hour. Although they did an excellent +prosthetic job after removing my left leg and arm, the substituted limbs +had their limitations. While they permitted me to do all my jobs, +phantom pain was a constant problem. There were new methods of +prosthesis to eliminate this weird effect but these were only available +back on the home planets. + +I had to wait one year for this release. Meanwhile I had plenty of time +to contemplate my mysterious affliction; the mystery of it was so great +that I had little chance to notice how painful it actually was. There is +enough strangeness in feeling with absolute certainty that a limb exists +where actually there is nothing, but the strangeness is compounded when +you look down and discover that not only is the leg gone but that +another, mechanical one has taken its place. Dr. Erics, who had +performed the operation, said this difficulty would ultimately prove a +blessing but I often had my doubts. + + * * * * * + +He was right. Upon my return to Earth, the serious operations took +place, those giving me plastic limbs that would become _living_ parts of +my organic structure. The same outward push of the brain and nervous +system that had created phantom pain now made what was artificial seem +real. Not only did my own blood course through the protoplastic but I +could feel it doing so. The adjustment took less than a week and it was +a complete one. + +Fortunately the time was already past when protoplast patients were +looked upon as something mildly freakish and to be pitied. Artificial +noses, ears and limbs were becoming quite common. Whether there was some +justification for the earlier reaction of pity, however, still remains +to be seen. + +My career resumed and I was accepted for the next Centauri Expedition +without any questions being asked. As a matter of fact, Planning Center +preferred people in my condition; protoplast limbs were more durable +than the real--no, let us say the original--thing. + +At home and at the beach no one bothered to notice my reconstructed arm +and leg. They looked too natural for the idea to occur to people who did +not know me. And Marla treated the whole thing like a big joke. "You're +better than new," she used to tell me and the kids wanted to know when +they could have second matter limbs of their own. + +Life was good to me. The one-year periods away from home passed quickly +and the five-year layoffs on Earth permitted me to devote myself to my +hobbies, music and mathematics, without taking any time away from my +family. Eventually, of course, my condition became an extremely common +one. Who is there today among my readers who has all the parts with +which he was born? If any such person past the childhood sixty years +did, _he_ would be the freak. + +Then at ninety new difficulties arose. A new Centaurian subvirus +attacked my chest marrow. As is still true in this infection, the virus +proved to be ineradicable. My ribs weren't, though, and a protoplastic +casing, exactly like the thoracic cavity, was substituted. It was +discovered that the infection had spread to my right radius and ulna so +here too a simple substitution was made. Of course, such a radical +infection meant my circulatory system was contaminated and synthetically +created living hemoplast was pumped in as soon as all the blood was +removed. + +This _did_ attract attention. At the time the procedure was still new +and some medical people warned it would not take. They were right only +to this extent: the old cardioarterial organs occasionally hunted into +defective feedback that required systole-diastole adjustments. +Protoplastic circulatory substitutes corrected the deficiency and, just +to avoid the slight possibility of further complications, the venous +system was also replaced. Since the changeover there hasn't been the +least trouble in that sector. + +By then Marla had a perfect artificial ear and both of my sons had lost +their congenitally diseased livers. There was nothing extraordinary +about our family; only in my case were replacements somewhat above the +world average. + +I am proud to say that I was among the first thousand who made the +pioneer voyage on hyperdrive to the star group beyond Centaurus. We +returned in triumph with our fantastic but true tales of the organic +planet Vita and the contemplative humanoids of Nirva who will +consciousness into subjectively grasping the life and beauty of +subatomic space. The knowledge we brought back assured that the fatal +disease of ennui could never again attack man though they lived to Aleph +Null. + +On the second voyage Marla, Robert and Neil went with me. This took a +little political wrangling but it was worth throwing my merit around to +see them benefit from Nirvan discoveries even before the rest of +humanity. Planetary Council agreed my services entitled me to this +special consideration. Truly I could feel among the blessed. + +Then I volunteered for the small expeditionary force to the 38th moon +that the Nirvans themselves refused to visit. They tried to dissuade us +but, being of a much younger species, we were less plagued by caution +and went anyway. The mountains of this little moon are up to fifteen +miles high, causing a state of instability that is chronic. Walking down +those alabaster valleys was a more awesome experience than any galactic +vista I have ever encountered. Our aesthetic sense proved stronger than +common sense alertness and seven of us were buried in a rock slide. + + * * * * * + +Fortunately the great rocks formed a cavern above us. After two days we +were rescued. The others had suffered such minor injuries that they were +repaired before our craft landed on Nirva. I, though, unconscious and +feverish, was in serious condition from skin abrasions and a comminuted +cranium. Dr. Erics made the only possible prognosis. My skull had to be +removed and a completely new protoskin had to be supplied also. + + * * * * * + +When I came out of coma Marla was standing at my bedside, smiling down +at me. "Do you feel," she stumbled, "darling, I mean, do you feel the +way you did?" + +I was puzzled. "Sure, I'm Treb Hawley, I'm your husband, and I remember +an awful fall of rocks but now I feel exactly the way I always have." I +did not even realize that further substitutions had been made and did +not believe them when they told me about it. + +Now I _was_ an object of curiosity. Upon our return to Earth the +newsplastics hailed me as one of the most highly reintegrated +individuals anywhere. In all the teeming domain of man there were only +seven hundred who had gone through as many substitutions as I had. +Where, they philosophised in passing, would a man cease to be a man in +the sequence of substitutions? + +Philosophy had never been an important preoccupation of mine. It was the +only discipline no further ahead in its really essential questions than +the Greeks of four thousand years ago. Oh certainly, there had been lots +of technical improvements that were fascinating but these were +peripheral points; the basic issues could not be experimentally tested +so they had to remain on the level of accepted or rejected axioms. I +wasn't about to devote much time to them when the whole fascinating +field of subatomic mirror numbers was just opening up; certainly not +because a few sensational journalists were toying with dead-end notions. +For that matter the newsplastics weren't either and quickly went back to +the regular mathematical reportage they do so well. + +A few decades later, however, I wasn't so cocksure. The old Centaurian +virus had reappeared in my brain of all places and I started to have a +peculiar feeling about where the end point in all this reintegrating +routine would lie. Not that the brain operation was a risk; thousands of +people had already gone through it and the substitute organisms had made +no fundamental change in them. It didn't in my case either. But now I +was more second matter than any man in history. + +"It's the old question of Achilles' Ship," Dr. Erics told me. + +"Never heard of it," I said. + +"It's a parable, Treb, about concretised forms of a continuum in its +discrete aspects." + +"I see the theoretical question but what has Achilles' Ship to do with +it?" + +He furrowed his protoplast brow that looked as youthful as it had a +century ago. "This ship consisted of several hundred planks, most of +them forming the hull, some in the form of benches and oars and a +mainmast. It served its primitive purpose well but eventually sprang a +leak. Some of the hull planks had to be replaced after which it was as +good as new. Another year of hard use brought further hull troubles and +some more planks were removed for new ones. Then the mast collapsed and +a new one was put in. After that the ship was in such good shape that it +could outrace most of those just off the ways." + +I had an uneasy feeling about where this parable was leading us but my +mind shied away from the essential point and Erics went relentlessly on. +"As the years passed more repairs were made--first a new set of oars, +then some more planks, still newer oars, still more planks. Eventually +Achilles, an unthinking man of action who still tried to be aware of +what happened to the instruments of action he needed most, realized that +not one splinter of the original ship remained. Was this, then, a new +ship? At first he was inclined to say yes. But this only evoked the +further question: when had it become the new ship? Was it when the last +plank was replaced or when half had been? His confidently stated answer +collapsed. Yet how could he say it was the old ship when everything +about it was a substitution? The question was too much for him. When he +came to Athens he turned the problem over to the wise men of that city, +refusing ever to think about it again." + + * * * * * + +My mind was now in turmoil. "What," I demanded, "_what_ did they +decide?" + +Erics frowned. "Nothing. They could not answer the question. Every +available answer was equally right and proved every other right answer +wrong. As you know, philosophy does not progress in its essentials. It +merely continues to clarify what the problems are." + +"I prefer to die next time!" I shouted. "I want to be a live human being +or a dead one, not a machine." + +"Maybe you won't be a machine. Nothing exactly like this has happened +before to a living organic being." + +I knew I had to be on my guard. What peculiar scheme was afoot? "You're +trying to say something's still wrong with me. It isn't true. I feel as +well as I ever have." + +"Your 'feeling' is a dangerous illusion." His face was space-dust grey +and I realized with horror that he meant all of it. "I had to tell you +the parable and show the possible alternatives clearly. Treb, you're +riddled with Centaurian Zed virus. Unless we remove almost all the +remaining first growth organisms you will be dead within six months." + +I didn't care any more whether he meant it or not; the idea was too +ridiculous. Death is too rare and anachronistic a phenomenon today. +"You're the one who needs treatment, Doctor. Overwork, too much study, +one idea on the brain too much." + +Resigned, he shrugged his shoulders. "All the first matter should be +removed except for the spinal chord and the vertebrae. You'd still have +that." + +"Very kind of you," I said, and walked away, determined to have no more +of his lectures now or in the future. + +Marla wanted to know why I seemed so jumpy. "Seems is just the word," I +snapped. "Never felt better in my life." + +"That's just what I mean," she said. "Jumpy." + +I let her have the last word but determined to be calmer from then on. + +I was. And, as the weeks passed, the mask I put on sank deeper and +deeper until that was the way I really felt. 'When you can face death +serenely you will not have to face it.' That is what Sophilus, one of +our leading philosophers, has said. I was living this truth. My work on +infinite series went more smoothly and swiftly than any mathematical +research I had engaged in before and my senses responded to living with +greater zest than ever. + + * * * * * + +Five months later, while walking through Hydroponic Park, I felt the +first awful tremor through my body. It was as if the earth beneath my +feet were shaking, like that awful afternoon on Nirva's moon. But no +rocks fell from this sky and other strollers moved across my vision as +if the world of five minutes ago had not collapsed. The horror was only +inside me. + +I went to another doctor and asked for Stabilizine. "Perhaps you need a +checkup," he suggested. + +That was the last thing I wanted and I said so. He, too, shrugged +resignedly and made out my prescription for the harmless drug. After +that the hammer of pain did not strike again but often I could feel it +brush by me. Each time my self-administered dosage had to be increased. + +Eventually my equations stopped tying together in my mind. I would stare +at the calculation sheets for hours at a time, asking myself why _x_ +should be here or integral operation there. The truth could not be +avoided: my mind could no longer grasp truth. + +I went, in grudging defeat, to Erics. "You have to win," I said and +described my experiences. + +"Some things are inevitable," he nodded solemnly, "and some are not. +This may solve all your problems." + +"Not _all_," I hoped aloud. + +Marla went with me to hospital. She realized the danger I was in but put +the best possible face on it. Her courage and support made all the +difference and I went into the second matter chamber, ready for whatever +fate awaited me. + +Nothing happened. I came out of the chamber all protoplast except for +the spinal zone. Yet I was still Treb Hawley. As the coma faded away, +the last equation faded in, completely meaningful and soon followed by +all the leads I could handle for the next few years. + +Psychophysiology was in an uproar over my success. "Man can now be _all_ +protoplast," some said. Others as vehemently insisted some tiny but +tangible chromosome-organ link to the past must remain. For my part it +all sounded very academic; I was well again. + +There _was_ one unhappy moment when I applied for the new Centauri +Expedition. "Too much of a risk," the Consulting Board told me. "Not +that you aren't in perfect condition but there are unknown, untested +factors and out in space they might--mind you, we just say might--prove +disadvantageous." They all looked embarrassed and kept their eyes off +me, preferring to concentrate on the medals lined up across the table +that were to be my consolation prize. + +I was disconsolate at first and would look longingly up at the stars +which were now, perhaps forever, beyond my reach. But my sons were going +out there and, for some inexplicable reason, that gave me great solace. +Then, too, Earth was still young and beautiful and so was Marla. I still +had the full capacity to enjoy these blessings. + + * * * * * + +Not for long. When we saw the boys off to Centauri I had a dizzy spell +and only with the greatest effort hid my distress until the long train +of ships had risen out of sight. Then I lay down in the Visitors Lounge +from where I could not be moved for several hours. Great waves of pain +flashed up and down my spine as if massive voltages were being released +within me. The rest of my body stood up well to this assault but every +few seconds I had the eerie sensation that I was back in my old body, a +ghostly superimposition on the living protoplast, as the spinal chord +projected its agony outward. Finally the pain subsided, succeeded by a +blank numbness. + +I was carried on gravito-cushions to Erics' office. "It had to be," he +sighed. "I didn't have the heart to tell you after the last operation. +The subvirus is attacking the internuncial neurones." + +I knew what that meant but was past caring. "We're not immortal--not +yet," I said. "I'm ready for the end." + +"We can still try," he said. + +I struggled to laugh but even gave up that little gesture. "Another +operation? No, it can't make any difference." + +"It might. We don't know." + +"How could it?" + +"Suppose, Treb, just suppose you do come out of it all right. You'd be +the first man to be completely of second matter!" + +"Erics, it can't work. Forget it." + +"I won't forget it. You said we're not immortal but, Treb, your survival +would be another step in that direction. The soul's immortality has to +be taken on faith now--if it's taken at all. You could be the first +_scientific_ proof that the developing soul has the momentum to carry +past the body in which it grows. At the least you would represent a step +in the direction of soul freed from matter." + +I could take no more of such talk. "Go ahead," I said, "do what you +want. I give my consent." + +The last few days have been the most hectic of my life. Dozens of great +physicians, flown in from every sector of the Solar System, have +examined me. "I'm leaving my body to science," I told one particularly +prodding group, "but you're not giving it a chance to die!" It _is_ easy +for me to die now; when you have truly resigned yourself to death +nothing in life can disturb you. I have at long last reached that +completely stoical moment. That is why I have recorded this history with +as much objectivity as continuing vitality can permit. + + * * * * * + +The operating theatre was crowded for my final performance and several +Tri-D video cameras stared down at me. Pupils, lights and lenses, all +came to a glittering focus on me. I slowly closed my eyes to blot the +hypnotic horror out. + +But when I opened them everything was still there as before. Then Erics' +head, growing as he inspected my face more closely, covered everything +else up. + +"When are you going to begin?" I demanded. + +"We have _finished_," he answered in awe that verged upon reverence. +"You are the new Adam!" + +There was a mounting burst of applause as the viewers learned what I had +said. My mind was working more clearly than it had in a long time and, +with all the wisdom of hindsight, I wondered how anyone could have ever +doubted the outcome. We had known all along that every bit of atomic +matter in each cell is replaced many times in one lifetime, electron by +electron, without the cell's overall form disappearing. Now, by equally +gradual steps, it had happened in the vaster arena of Newtonian living +matter. + +I sat up slowly, looking with renewed wonder on everything from the +magnetic screw in the light above my head to the nail on the wriggling +toe of my left foot. I was more than Achilles' Ship. I was a living +being at whose center lay a still yet turning point that could neither +be new nor old but only immortal. + + +THE END + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Amazing Science Fiction Stories_ + January 1960. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that + the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling + and typographical errors have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Man Made, by Albert R. 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