Prominent Author E-Book

Philip K. Dick

• Herausgeber: Orpheus Editions
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

Prominent Author is one of the first short stories written by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in 1954.

Henry Ellis is testing an astounding travel device for the military.

But during his trips, he discovers a strange civilization. These people ask him questions, and Ellis decides to secretly give them answers.

Will Ellis get caught ? And what will these strange people do with the informations Ellis offers to them ?

Leseprobe

PROMINENT AUTHOR

By

Philip K. Dick

Copyright © Orpheus Editions 2020.

"MY HUSBAND,” said Mary Ellis, “although he is a very prompt man, and hasn’t been late to work in twenty-five years, is ac tually still someplace around the house.” She sipped at her faintly-scented hormone and carbohydrate drink. “As a matter of fact, he won’t be leaving for another ten minutes.”

“Incredible,” said Dorothy Law rence, who had finished her drink, and now basked in the dermal-mist spray that descended over hervirtually unclad body from an automatic jet above the couch. “What they won’t think of next!”

Mrs. Ellis beamed proudly, as if she personally were an employee of Terran Development. “Yes, it is incredible. According to somebody down at the office, the whole history of civilization can be explained in terms of transportation techniques. Of course, I don’t know anything about history. That’s for Government research people. But from what this man told Henry—”

“Where’s my briefcase?” came a fussy voice from the bedroom.

“Good Lord, Mary. I know I left it on the clothes-cleaner last night.”

“You left it upstairs,” Mary replied, raising her voice slightly.

“Look in the closet.”

“Why would it be in the closet?”

Sounds of angry stirring-mounds.

“You’d think a man’s own briefcase would be safe.” Henry Ellis stuck his head into the living room briefly. “I found it. Hello, Mrs. Lawrence.”

“Good morning,” Dorothy Lawrence replied. “Mary was explaining that you’re still here.”

“Yes, I’m still here.” Ellis straightened his tie, as the mirror revolved slowly around him. “Anything you want me to pick up downtown, honey?”

“No,” Mary replied. “Nothing I can think of. I’ll vid you at the office, if I remember something.”

“Is it true,” Mrs. Lawrence asked, “that as soon as you step into it you’re all the way downtown?”

“Well, almost all the way.”

“A hundred and sixty miles! It’s beyond belief. Why, it takes my husband two and a half hours to get his monojet through the com mercial lanes and down at the parking lot and then walk all the way up to his office.”

“I know,” Elli smuttered, grabbing his hat and coat. “Used to take me about that long. But no

more.”

He kissed his wife goodbye.

“So long. See you tonight. Nice to have seen you again, Mrs. Lawrence.”

“Can I—watch?” Mrs. Lawrence asked hopefully.

“Watch? Of course, of course.”