Latest / Mr. Spaceship / 03 - Mr. Spaceship by Philip K. Dick

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03 - Mr. Spaceship by Philip K. Dick · Mr. Spaceship

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Section three of Mister Spaceship by Philip K. Dick. This
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Section three. You
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: can see what has happened. Kramer said, calmly. The old
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: man won't let go of it now that he has it.
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: I was afraid of this when I saw the wiring changes.
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: Everything in this ship is centrally controlled, even the cooling system,
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: the hatches, the garbage. Release, We're helpless. Nonsense. Gross strode
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: to the board. He took hold of the wheel and
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: turned it. The ship continued on its course, moving away
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: from the Moon, leaving it behind. Release, Kramer said into
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: the microphone. Let go of the controls. We'll take it back.
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: Release no good. The pilot said nothing. He spun the
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: useless wheel. It's dead, completely dead, and we're still heading out.
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: Winter said, grinning foolishly. We'll be going through the line
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: defense belt in a few minutes. If they don't shoot
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: us down, we'd better radio back. The pilot clicked the
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: radio to send. I'll contact the main bases, one of
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: the observation stations. Better get the defense belt. At the
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: speed we're going, we'll be into it in a minute.
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: And after that, Kramer said, we'll be in outer space.
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: He's moving us toward out space velocity? Is this ship
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: equipped with baths bath? Gross said the sleep tank for
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: a space drive. We may need them if we go
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: much faster. But good god, where are we going? Gross said?
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: Where where's he taking us? The pilot obtained contact. This
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: is Dwight on ship. He said, we're entering the defense
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  Speaker 1: zone in high velocity. Don't fire on us. Turn back.
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: The impersonal voice came through the speaker. You're not allowed
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: in the defense zone. We can't. We've lost control, lost control.
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: This is an experimental ship. Rose took the radio. This
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: is Commander Grows Security. We're being carried into outer space.
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: There's nothing we can do. Is there any way that
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: we can be removed from this ship? A hesitation? We
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: have some fast pursuit chips that could pick you up
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: if you wanted to jump. The chances are good they'd
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: find you. Do you have space flares? We do? The
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: pilot said, let's try it. Abandoned ship. Kramer said, if
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: we leave now, we'll never see it again. What else
• 2:29
  Speaker 1: can we do? We're gaining speed all the time. Do
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: you propose that we stay here? No? Kramer shook his head.
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: Damn it, there ought to be a better solution. Could
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: you contact him, Winter asked the old man. Try to
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: reason with him. It's worth a chance, Gross said, try it.
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: Kramer took the microphone. He paused a moment. Listen. Can
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: you hear me? This is phil Kramer. Can you hear me, professor?
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: Can you hear me? I want you to release the controls.
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: There was silence. This is Kramer, professor, can you hear me?
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: Do you remember who I am? Do you understand who
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: this is? Above the control panel, the wall speaker made
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: a sound, a sputtering static. They looked up. Can you
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: hear me, professor, This is Philip Kramer. I want you
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: to give the ship back to us. If you can
• 3:25
  Speaker 1: hear me, release the controls. Let go, professor, let go static,
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: a rushing sound like the wind. They gazed at each other.
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: There was silence for a moment. It's a waste of time.
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: Gros said, no, listen. The sputter came again, then, mixed
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: with the sputter, almost lost in it, a voice came, toneless,
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  Speaker 1: without inflection, a mechanical, lifeless voice from the metal speaker
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: in the wall above their heads. Oh, sir, your phellop,
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: I can't make you darkness. Who's there with you? It's
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: me Kramer. His fingers tightened against the microphone handle. You
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: must release the controls, Professor. We have to get back
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: to terror. You must silence. Then the faint, faltering voice
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: came again, a little stronger than before. Cremer, everything so strange.
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: I was right, though, consciousness result of thinking necessary result
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: cognito ergosum, retain conceptual ability. Can you hear me? Yes, Professor,
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: I altered the wiring control. I was fairly certain. I
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: wonder if I can do it. Try. Suddenly the air
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: conditioning snapped into operation. It snapped abruptly off again. Down
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: the corridor, a door slammed, Something thudded. The men stood listening.
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: Sounds came from all sides of them, Switches shutting opening.
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  Speaker 1: The lights blinked off. They were in darkness. The lights
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: came back on, and at the same time, the heating
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: coils dimmed and faded. Good God, Winter, said, water poured
• 5:25
  Speaker 1: down on them the emergency firefighting system. There was a
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: screaming rush of air. One of the escaped hatches had
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: slid back, and the air was roaring frantically out into space.
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: The hatch banged closed. The ship subsided into silence. The
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: heating coils glowed into life. As suddenly as it had begun.
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: The weird exhibition ceased. I can do everything. The dry,
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: toneless voice came from the wall speaker. It is all controlled, Kramer.
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: I wish to talk to you. I have been thinking.
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: I haven't seen you in many years. A lot to discuss.
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: You've changed up. Boy, we have much to discuss your wife.
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: The pilot grabbed Kramer's arm. There's a ship standing off
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  Speaker 1: our bow. Look. They ran to the port. A slender,
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  Speaker 1: pale craft was moving along with them, keeping pace with them.
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  Speaker 1: It was signal blinking, a Terran pursuit ship. The pilot said,
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: let's jump. They'll pick us up suits. He ran to
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: the supply cupboard and turned the handle. The door opened
• 6:36
  Speaker 1: and he pulled the suits out onto the floor. Hurry,
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: Gross said, A panic seized them. They dressed frantically, pulling
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: the heavy garments over them. Winter staggered to the escape
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: hatch and stood by it, waiting for the others. They
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: joined him one by one. Let's go, Gross said, open
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  Speaker 1: the hatch. Winter tugged at the hatch. Help me. They
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: grabbed talking together. Nothing happened. The hatch refused to budge
• 7:05
  Speaker 1: get a crowbar. The pilot said, doesn't anyone go to blaster?
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: Gross looked frantically around. Damn it blasted open? Pull, Kramer grated,
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: pulled together. Are you at the hatch? The toneless voice came,
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: drifting and eddying through the corridors of the ship. They
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: looked up, staring around them. I sensed something nearby outside
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: a ship. You are leaving all of you, Kramer, You
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: are leaving two. Very unfortunate. I had hoped we could talk.
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: Perhaps at some other time, you might be induced to
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: remain open the hatch, Kramer said, staring up at the
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: impersonal walls of the ship. For God's sake, open it.
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  Speaker 1: There was silence, an endless pause, Then very slowly the
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  Speaker 1: hatch slid back. The air screamed out, rushing past them
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  Speaker 1: into space. One by one, they leaped, one after the other,
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: propelled away by the repulsive material of the suits. A
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: few minutes later, they were being hauled aboard the pursuit ship.
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: As the last one of them was lifted through the port,
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: their own ship pointed itself suddenly upward and shot off
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: at a tremendous speed. It disappeared. Kramer removed his helmet, gasping.
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: Two sailors held on to him and began to wrap
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  Speaker 1: him in blankets. Grose sipped a mug of coffee, shivering.
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  Speaker 1: It's gone, Kramer muttered, I'll have the alarm sent out.
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: Grose said, what's happened to your ship? A sailor asked curiously.
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  Speaker 1: It's sure took off in a hurry. Who's on it.
• 8:49
  Speaker 1: We'll have to have it destroyed. Grose went on his face, grim,
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  Speaker 1: it's got to be destroyed. There's no telling what it
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: what he has in mind. Gross sat down weekly on
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: a metal bench. What a close call for us? We
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: were so damn trusting. What could he be planning? Kramer said,
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  Speaker 1: half to himself. It doesn't make sense. I don't get it.
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: As the ship sped back toward the moon base, they
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: sat around the table in the dining room, sipping hot
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  Speaker 1: coffee and thinking, not saying very much. Look here, Gross said,
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: at last, what kind of man was Professor Thomas? What
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: do you remember about him? Kramer put his coffee bug down.
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: It was ten years ago. I don't remember much. It's vague.
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: He let his mind run back. Over the years. He
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: and Dolores had been at hot College together in physics
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: and the life sciences. The college was small and set
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: back away from the momentum of modern life. He had
• 9:51
  Speaker 1: gone there because it was his home town, and his
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  Speaker 1: father had gone there before him. Professor Thomas had been
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  Speaker 1: at the college a long time, as as long as
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: anyone could remember. He was a strange old man, keeping
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  Speaker 1: to himself most of the time. There were many things
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  Speaker 1: that he disapproved of, but seldom said what they were.
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  Speaker 1: Do you recall anything that might help us, Gross asked,
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  Speaker 1: anything that would give us a clue as to what
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  Speaker 1: he might have in mind. Kramer nodded slowly. I remember
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  Speaker 1: one thing. One day, he and the professor had been
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: sitting together in the school chapel, talking leisurely. Well, you'll
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: be out of school soon, The professor had said, what
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: are you going to do? Do? Work at one of
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  Speaker 1: the government research projects, I suppose, and eventually, what's your
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: ultimate goal? Kramer had smiled. The question is unscientific. It
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  Speaker 1: presupposes such things as ultimate ends. Suppose instead along these lines, then,
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  Speaker 1: what if there were no war and no government research projects?
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  Speaker 1: What would you do? Then? I don't know, But how
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: can I imagine a hypothetical situation like that? There's been
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  Speaker 1: war as long as I can remember, we're geared for war.
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  Speaker 1: I don't know what i'd do. I suppose I'd just
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  Speaker 1: get used to it. The professor had stared at him, Oh,
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  Speaker 1: you do think you'd get accustomed to it? Eh? Well,
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  Speaker 1: I'm glad of that. And do you think you could
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  Speaker 1: find something to do? Gross listened intently. What do you
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  Speaker 1: refer from this screamer? Not much except that he was
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: against war. We're all against war. Gross pointed out, true,
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  Speaker 1: but he was withdrawn set apart. He lived very simply,
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  Speaker 1: cooking his own meals. His wife died many years ago.
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  Speaker 1: He was born in Europe, in Italy. He changed his
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  Speaker 1: name when he came to the United States. He used
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  Speaker 1: to read Dante and Milton. He even had a Bible.
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  Speaker 1: Very anachronistic, don't you think. Yes, he lived quite a
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  Speaker 1: lot in the past. Found an old phonograph in records,
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: and he listened to the old music. You saw his house,
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: how old fashioned it was. Did he have a file,
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: Winter asked Gross with security, No, none at all, As
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  Speaker 1: far as we could tell. He never engaged in political work,
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: never joined anything or even seemed to have strong political convictions. No,
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: Kramer agreed about. All he ever did was walk through
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: the hills. He liked nature. Nature can be of great
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  Speaker 1: use to a scientist. Gross said, there wouldn't be any
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: science without it. Kramer, what do you think his plan is?
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: Taking control of the ship and disappearing? Winter said, maybe
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: the transfer made him insane. The pilot said, maybe there's
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: no plan, nothing rational at all. But he had the
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: ship rewired, and he had made sure that he would
• 12:53
  Speaker 1: retain consciousness and memory before he even agreed to the operation.
• 12:59
  Speaker 1: He must have had some thing planned from the start.
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: But what Perhaps he just wanted to stay alive longer.
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  Speaker 1: Kramer said he was old and about to die, or
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: or what? Nothing? Kramer stood up. I think as soon
• 13:13
  Speaker 1: as we get to the moon base, I'll make a
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: VID call to Earth. I want to talk to somebody
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: about this. Who's that, Gross asked Dolores. Maybe she remembers
• 13:23
  Speaker 1: something that's a good idea, Gross said, where are you
• 13:28
  Speaker 1: calling from? Dolores asked when he succeeded in reaching her
• 13:31
  Speaker 1: from the moon base, all kinds of rumors are running around.
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: Why didn't the ship come back? What happened. I'm afraid
• 13:40
  Speaker 1: he ran off with it. He the old man. Professor
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: Thomas Kramer explained what had happened. Dolors listened intently. How strange,
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: and you think he planned it all in advance from
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: the start. I'm certain he asked for the plans of
• 13:57
  Speaker 1: construction and the theoretical die rams at once. But why
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: what for? I don't know? Look, Delorus, what do you
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  Speaker 1: remember about him? Is there anything that might give a
• 14:09
  Speaker 1: clue to all this? Like? What? I don't know? That's
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: the trouble on the vidscreen. Delorus knitted her brow. I
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: remember he raised chickens in his back yard, and once
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: he had a goat, She smiled. Do you remember the
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: day the goat got loose and wandered down the main
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: street of town. Nobody could figure out where he came from?
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  Speaker 1: Anything else? No. He watched her, struggling, trying to remember
• 14:37
  Speaker 1: he wanted to have a farm sometime. I know, all right, thanks,
• 14:41
  Speaker 1: Kramer touched the switch. When I get back to Tara,
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: maybe i'll stop and see you. Let me know how
• 14:47
  Speaker 1: it works out. He cut the line, and the picture
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: dimmed and faded. He walked slowly back to where Gros
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: and some officers of the military were sitting at a
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: chart table talking. Did he luck, Groce said, looking up, No,
• 15:00
  Speaker 1: all she remembers is that he kept a goat. Come
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: over and look at this detailed chart. Gross motioned him
• 15:07
  Speaker 1: around to his side. Watch. Kramer saw the record tabs
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: moving furiously, the little white dots racing back and forth.
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: What's happening, he asked. A squadron outside the defense zone
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: has finally managed to contact the ship. They're maneuvering now
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: for position watch. The white counters were forming a barrel
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: formation around a black dot that was moving steadily across
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: the board away from the central position. As they watched
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: the white dots constricted around it. They're ready to open fire.
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: A technician at the board said, Commander, what shall we
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: tell them to do? Gross hesitated. I hate to be
• 15:46
  Speaker 1: the one who makes the decision. When he comes right
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: down to it, It's not a ship, Kramer said, It's
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: a man, a living person, a human being is up
• 15:55
  Speaker 1: there moving through space. I wish we knew what, but
• 15:59
  Speaker 1: the order has to be given. We can't take any chances.
• 16:02
  Speaker 1: Suppose he went over to them, to the Yuck's Kramer's
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: jaw dropped. My god, he wouldn't do that. Are you sure?
• 16:10
  Speaker 1: Do you know what he'll do? He wouldn't do that.
• 16:13
  Speaker 1: Gros turned to the technician tell them to go ahead.
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: End of Section three.