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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
how it should be."
"Not the back side. I don't care how tightly you managed to fit the new
ones, microscopic dirt and grit can always slip between a contact lens and the
cornea."
"Evan," Azure said evenly, "you can't get them out."
"Your old lenses were deficient, as I explained," the first physician
reminded him. "There was no way to modify them to see properly. So we replaced
them."
"I can see that." Evan pointed toward his old shades, lying nearby.
"No. Your old lenses are here." Reaching into a cavity within his own
body, the first physician removed something small and shiny and held it out.
Evan found himself staring transfixed at two small, glassy objects. They were
oval when seen from the side, round when viewed from above. They quivered
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slightly in the physician's open hand.
Evan stared at them until he began to shake violently. Finally he turned
away, unable to look any longer. Despite the bright sunlight he was suddenly
cold. But the headache was beginning to fade and there was no pain, though he
was more conscious of his eyes than he'd ever been in his life. He kept them
tightly shut, afraid to open them again.
"It was not as difficult as one might suppose." Unaware of Evan's trauma,
physician rambled on as though discussing the repair of a simple household
utensil. "We have studied soft-bodied forms intensively. We simply replaced
your original lenses with new ones and made some small adjustments to the
interpretation mechanism behind them."
"You did something to the rods and cones," Evan mumbled. "Something that
enables me to see beyond the normal visible spectrum in both directions as
well as to interpret fractal shapes more clearly."
Gently he used the tips of his fingers to press all around the orbits of
his eyes. "What if it hadn't worked? What if I'd woken up completely blind?"
"You must have more confidence." Library spoke for the first time since
Evan had rejoined them. "These physicians are among the most artistic of their
kind."
"Your eyes are simple in form and almost identical to many we have
studied," the second physician said. "The modifications were not complex. And
we can always replace your old lenses anytime you wish us to do so."
"Not complex. My God, what could you people do with access to a few basic
biology texts? What other operations can you perform?"
The first physician took another step toward him. "We have devoted much
speculation to that. If you would like, we can-"
Evan retreated hastily. "No, no, you've done, more than enough!" He
blinked at the wonderfully enhanced world around him. "You're sure you can
restore my original sight if you have to?"
The physician displayed Evan's original lenses a second time. "Reasonably
sure. That is why I will retain them." In a gesture worthy of the most
accomplished surrealist he slipped them back into a small body cavity.
"I do hope you will elect to keep your new lenses," the second physician
said. "It would be a shame to undo such a good piece of work."
"I'll think about it," Evan told it. "In the meantime, promise me you
won't perform any more surprise operations? No matter how much you're
convinced it will benefit me?" The physicians promised. Reluctantly, it seemed
to Evan.
"If we had told you of our intentions beforehand, would you have
permitted us to perform the operation?" asked the second physician.
Evan swallowed. "Look, I've been out for most of a day and a night. It's
time we were moving on. And no modifications while I sleep, understand?"
They pushed through the forest, leaving the river far behind. It was late
afternoon when Azure came running back to rejoin them from his forward
position. Instead of speaking immediately he reared back on his hind legs and
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listened intently.
"What is it?" Library inquired impatiently.
"I wish we had a talker with us to confirm."
Wishful thinking indeed, Evan knew. The towering talkers had less
mobility than any other member of the Associative, which was why none had come
along in the first place.
"Confirm what?"
"Something is coming toward us. Very low-grade emanations. Not
intelligent."
Suddenly Evan found himself joining his companions in scanning the
surrounding growths. They were in a section of forest where the pure silicate
flora had largely crowded out the organosilicates. Clusters of glassy gripes
reached heavenward all around them save where they were shoved aside by thick
brown arches. The crest of each arch was full of huge, weaving photoreceptors.
Evan turned sharply to his left. "Wait a minute, I think I hear something
too." This announcement was followed by a loud, splintering crash.
The physician next to his legs looked around nervously. "I hear nothing."
It struck Evan that his friends might be deaf at the lower frequencies,
attuned as they were to radio frequencies they utilized for interpersonal
communication. Something sporting half a dozen delicate wings set three to a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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