11 Jan 1645
'I once asked my Father about mercy and
turning the other cheek and all that. I felt, I feel, that if somebody
whacks my cheek, they're looking for a response. But father asked me if
a rock fell on my foot, would it be asking for it?
'He said we're all going to suffer and die no matter
what. It didn't matter why it happenned, it only matters how you responded,
how you dealt with other people.
'Personally, I'd gutshot at that damn rock.'
-Saratoga May James
What did you mean, I'm throwing
my life away?
Oh, hi, Sara. If you want to play the tough kid, that's your choice,
but society frowns on murder.
Oh, yeah, I'm sooo evil. Gee, I'm sorry.
I don't give a damn what's going on inside your skull.
Oh?
Like it or not, you're going to have to live in some kind of society.
At this rate, it'll be a society of felons.
I guess this country is too peaceful for me.
Is it? Your army recently killed tens of thousands of Iraqis.
Yeah. So?
So?
So.....
Yes. You remind of another Sara. Very violent childhood, but she
became a famous soldier.
Hmmm. I'm not sure. Dad'd be real happy.
Why?
He's real religious. Skypilot. He used to be
a missionary in Hong Kong until the Brits kicked us out.
All the little hairs on Mary's back stood on end.
I killed a gangmember. I was only eight, so they
couldn't prosecute me. But they made us leave anyway.
You seem so pale. Ah, poor Mary. Did I offend
your delicate sensibilities?
I am in the hospital for a reason. I don't feel well.
What are you going to do?
Oh, we're moving to the Coast, to that new state,
Pacific. Mom's got a new job. It's kinda neat. Her boss, I mean. I always
thought I had a strange name.
"Sara"
isn't strange.
My full name is "Saratoga." I was born in Saratoga
Springs.
Saratoga.
Yeah. Anyway, my Mom's boss is named "Verity."
How's that for a name?
I suppose I shouldn't tell you Verity has two sisters, Honesty and
Charity.
You're kidding.
Nope.
Howja know?
I come from Pacific, Saratoga May.
Nice place?
I've been away a long time. There's some rumblings there. Maybe
an opportunity for your talents.
Sara, you're not as shocking as you think you are.
What do you mean?
Have you killed your sister?
No.
I killed mine. I've done my bit to populate Heaven, too. Unlike
you, I didn't enjoy it.
If you say so.
You don't believe me?
Oh, there's a few, like my Father. They really
do hate violence. But most people, they make a show about being, oh, so
righteous. But they're there, cheering the police and waving the flags.
Just as long as they don't have to get their pretty little hands dirty.
At least I'm honest.
You are that. There's a bitter edge to life.
And everybody tries to hide it. But it gets you
in the end.
Oh, shoot, here comes that Jenny.
What's wrong with her?
She's always whining. I wish she would just do
it. What has she got to lose?
Her life.Hi, Mary. Sara.
There's the sherrif. I guess I have to leave.
Bye.
Bye.
'So many of my friends.... I wonder if
it's worthwhile.
'By not living on any planet we are free. Free from
wars, from storms, the ravages of nature. But when you live your entire
life ten centimeters from a vacuum, even minor accidents are fatal.
-kendricks Harmony
So that was what the pip was faulting on.
Pardon?
Oh, nothing. At least I'm out of danger.
With her gone, we all are. I don't know why you talked to her.
Why not?
Because she so evil.
We all are. I am in no position to make moral judgements.
But how can you excuse-
I don't. I don't excuse or accuse. If I had started on her, I'd
have to start on you as well. Do you want that?
No.
Did you really kill you sister?
Yes. Does that bother you?
No. It's....it's.... I can't talk about it. Does it, that, bother you?
Yes. I slammed a pressure door in her face. Sacrafice one person
to save a dozen others.
It must've been hard.
Let's say I know what slashed wrists feel like.
'Combat aircraft are so powerful, compact,
so smoothly put together. So functional compared to us noisy, smelly, clumsy,
humans.
'Why did God create Man? Father once joked that humans
were the most advanced intelligence blind evolution could produce. God
created Man to construct His true children, the robots.
'Sometimes, though, I wonder if the joke is on us.'
-Saratoga May James
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