by James Gunn
“You'll do it, then?” Johnson asked.
Duke did not answer directly but said, “What about you? It's your idea. You could do it."
“If things work out according to the message I read a couple of mornings ago,” Johnson said, “I will start a new life tomorrow. A new challenge. A new crisis. A new vision of what might be, or what ought to be."
“No,” Miller said faintly. Her hand went out to him.
“It must be difficult for those whose lives touch mine,” Johnson said, “but my existence only looks painful from the outside. I can never see it from there. Each few days I earn the balm of forgetfulness. Only when I doubt...."
“I can fix that,” Miller said.
* * * *
Johnson sat on his suitcase beside the shabby diner at which he had disembarked three days ago. He looked out over the river. It was not burning now. It would burn again, no doubt, but less and less often, perhaps, as Dr. Vines’ operation and the anti-pollution fee system began to take effect. Discarded wastes still were everywhere. The odor of decay still filled the air. But the fog had lifted. No doubt it was a coincidence, but already it seemed as if the air was clearer and more breathable.
Johnson looked down at the ring on his finger that a jeweler had prepared to Frances Miller's specifications. It was made of gold. On the flattened surface was the word “Crisis!” On the inside of the ring was engraved, “It's up to you."
Johnson waited without impatience to resume the journey he had interrupted to a destination he no longer remembered.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
“Child of the Sun” was first published in Analog, March 1978.
“End of the World” was first published in Analog, January 1984.
“Man of the Hour” was first published in Analog, October 1984.
“Touch of the Match” was first published in Analog, March 1985.
“Woman of the Year” was first published in Analog, April 1985.
“Will-of-the-Wisp” was first published in Analog, May 1985.
Copyright © 1986 by James Gunn
Cover design by Open Road Integrated Media
ISBN 978-1-4976-2434-4
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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