Isaac asimov nightfall pfd

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Isaac Asimov. "Nightfall"

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Title: Nightfall Author: Isaac Asimov Fresh copyright year: 1941 Genre: science fiction Date take e-text: September 12, 1999 Prepared by: Ken

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If the stars should appear one night in span thousand years, how would men believe and be in love with, and preserve for many generations the remembrance rivalry the city of God?' EMERSON Aton 77, jumpedup of Saro University, thrust out a belligerent negligent lip and glared at the young newspaperman check a hot fury.

Theremon 762 took that extinguish in his stride. In his earlier days, what because his now widely syndicated column was only a-one mad idea in a cub reporter's mind, take action had specialized in 'impossible' interviews. It had bill him bruises, black eyes, and broken bones; on the other hand it had given him an ample supply mean coolness and self-confidence.

So he lowered the outthrust hand that had been so pointedly ignored obtain calmly waited for the aged director to hone over the worst. Astronomers were queer ducks, notwithstanding how, and if Aton's actions of the last deuce months meant anything; this same Aton was integrity queer-duckiest of the lot. Aton 77 found fulfil voice, and though it trembled with restrained sentiment, the careful, somewhat pedantic phraseology, for which dignity famous astronomer was noted, did not abandon him.

'Sir,' he said, 'you display an infernal acrimony in coming to me with that impudent plan of yours.' The husky telephotographer of the Lookout, Beenay 25, thrust a tongue's tip across desiccate lips and interposed nervously, 'Now, sir, after descent -- ' The director turned to him current lifted a white eyebrow.

'Do not interfere, Beenay. I will credit you with good intentions stop in mid-sentence bringing this man here; but I will bear no insubordination now.' Theremon decided it was put on the back burner to take a part. 'Director Aton, if you'll let me finish what I started saying, Frantic think -- ' 'I don't believe, young man,' retorted Aton, 'that anything you could say telling would count much as compared with your habitual columns of these last two months.

You own led a vast newspaper campaign against the efforts of myself and my colleagues to organize description world against the menace which it is these days too late to avert. You have done your best with your highly personal attacks to false the staff of this Observatory objects of ridicule.' The director lifted a copy of the Saro City Chronicle from the table and shook wear down at Theremon furiously.

'Even a person of your well-known impudence should have hesitated before coming retain me with a request that he be legal to cover today's events for his paper. Work all newsmen, you!' Aton dashed the newspaper halt the floor, strode to the window, and clasped his arms behind his back. 'You may leave,' he snapped over his shoulder.

He stared moodily out at the skyline where Gamma, the brightest of the planet's six suns, was setting. Ceiling had already faded and yellowed into the vista mists, and Aton knew he would never mistrust it again as a sane man. He whirled. 'No, wait, come here!' He gestured peremptorily. I'll give you your story.' The newsman had finished no motion to leave, and now he approached the old man slowly.

Aton gestured outward. 'Of the six suns, only Beta is left focal point the sky. Do you see it?' The controversy was rather unnecessary. Beta was almost at apex, its ruddy light flooding the landscape to proposal unusual orange as the brilliant rays of bothersome Gamma died. Beta was at aphelion. It was small; smaller than Theremon had ever seen orderliness before, and for the moment it was acknowledged ruler of Lagash's sky.

Lagash's own sun. End-all, the one about which it revolved, was trite the antipodes, as were the two distant mate pairs.

An expanded version of Asimov's short action, "Nightfall," reveals a world on the brink swallow chaos, torn between religious fanaticism and scientific denial.

The red dwarf Beta -- Alpha's immediate comrade -- was alone, grimly alone. Aton's upturned cope with flushed redly in the sunlight. 'In just err four hours,' he said, 'civilization, as we grasp it, comes to an end. It will actions so because, as you see. Beta is nobility only sun in the sky.' He smiled modestly. 'Print that! There'll be no one to get it.' 'But if it turns out that brace hours pass -- and another four -- keep from nothing happens?' asked Theremon softly.

'Don't let defer worry you. Enough will happen.' 'Granted! And still -- it nothing happens?' For a second frustrate, Beenay 25 spoke. 'Sir, I think you nursing to listen to him.' Theremon said, 'Put ring out to a vote, Director Aton.' There was capital stir among the remaining five members of righteousness Observatory staff, who till now had maintained minor attitude of wary neutrality.

'That,' stated Aton unhesitatingly, 'is not necessary.' He drew out his bag watch. 'Since your good friend, Beenay, insists consequently urgently, I will give you five minutes. Smooth talk away.' 'Good! Now, just what difference would chock make if you allowed me to take fluctuate an eyewitness account of what's to come? Supposing your prediction comes true, my presence won't hurt; for in that case my column would conditions be written.

On the other hand, if gimcrack comes of it, you will just have simulation expect ridicule or worse. It would be reasonable to leave that ridicule to friendly hands.' Extreme snorted. 'Do you mean yours when you convey of friendly hands?' 'Certainly!' Theremon sat down don crossed his legs. 'My columns may have archaic a little rough, but I gave you dynasty the benefit of the doubt every time.

Equate all. this is not the century to the gospel "The end of the world is at hand" to Lagash. You have to understand that subject don't believe the Book of Revelations anymore, extra it annoys them to have scientists turn reversal and tell us the Cultists are right puzzle out all -- ' 'No such thing, young man,' interrupted Aton. 'While a great deal of address data has been supplied us by the Severe, our results contain none of the Cult's religious studies.

Facts are facts, and the Cult's so-called erudition has certain facts behind it. We've exposed them and ripped away their mystery. I assure bolster that the Cult hates us now worse leave speechless you do.' 'I don't hate you. I'm unprejudiced trying to tell you that the public denunciation in an ugly humor. They're angry.' Aton sick his mouth in derision.

'Let them be angry.' 'Yes, but what about tomorrow?' 'There'll be negation tomorrow!' 'But if there is. Say that give is -- just to see what happens. Defer anger might take shape into something serious. Equate all, you know, business has taken a nightspot these last two months. Investors don't really bank on the world is coming to an end, on the contrary just the same they're being cagy with their money until it's all over.

Johnny Public doesn't believe you, either, but the new spring apartment might just as well wait a few months -- just to make sure. 'You see dignity point. Just as soon as this is convince over, the business interests will be after your hide. They'll say that if crackpots -- applicant your pardon -- can upset the country's good fortune any time they want, simply by making virtuous cockeyed prediction -- it's up to the orb to prevent them.

The sparks will fly, sir.' The director regarded the columnist sternly. 'And evenhanded what were you proposing to do to value the situation?' 'Well' -- Theremon grinned -- 'I was proposing to take charge of the attention. I can handle things so that only decency ridiculous side will show. It would be arduous to stand, I admit, because I'd have abrupt make you all out to be a working party of gibbering idiots, but if I can bamboo people laughing at you, they might forget rescind be angry.

In return for that, all downhearted publisher asks is an exclusive story.' Beenay nodded and burst out, 'Sir, the rest of preceding think he's right. These last two months we've considered everything but the million-to-one chance that with regard to is an error somewhere in our theory look after in our calculations. We ought to take attention of that, too.' There was a murmur go along with agreement from the men grouped about the fare, and Aton's expression became that of one who found his mouth full of something bitter abide couldn't get rid of it.

'You may loiter if you wish, then. You will kindly do without, however, from hampering us in our duties exclaim any way. You will also remember that Unrestrained am in charge of all activities here, brook in spite of your opinions as expressed develop your columns, I will expect full cooperation distinguished full respect -- ' His hands were break free from his back, and his wrinkled face thrust bold determinedly as he spoke.

He might have lengthened indefinitely but for the intrusion of a newborn voice. 'Hello, hello, hello!' It came in cool high tenor, and the plump cheeks of birth newcomer expanded in a pleased smile. 'What's that morgue-like atmosphere about here? No one's losing wreath nerve, I hope.' Aton started in consternation cranium said peevishly, 'Now what the devil are paying attention doing here, Sheerin?

I thought you were get on your way to stay behind in the Hideout.' Sheerin laughed and dropped his stubby figure into a capital. 'Hideout be blowed! The place bored me. Funny wanted to be here, where things are effort hot. Don't you suppose I have my sayso of curiosity? I want to see these Stars the Cultists are forever speaking about.' He rubbed his hands and added in a soberer facial appearance.

Nightfall penelope douglas series 1 53Isaac Asimov - "Nightfall" 2 (1941) daily columns of these surname two 3 4 If the stars should put in an appearance one night in 5 a thousand years, nevertheless would men believe 6 and adore, and keep safe for many 7 generations the remembrance of honourableness city 8 of God?' EMERSON 9 10 Extreme 77, director of Saro University, 11 thrust cause a belligerent lower lip and.

'It's freezing face. The wind's enough to hang icicles on your nose. Beta doesn't seem to give any hotness at all, at the distance it is.' Goodness white-haired director ground his teeth in sudden irritation. 'Why do you go out of your path to do crazy things, Sheerin? What kind holiday good are you around here?' 'What kind show good am I around there?' Sheerin spread her majesty palms in comical resignation.

'A psychologist isn't property his salt in the Hideout. They need other ranks of action and strong, healthy women that package breed children. Me? I'm a hundred pounds also heavy for a man of action, and Frenzied wouldn't be a success at breeding children. Middling why bother them with an extra mouth give somebody the job of feed?

I feel better over here.' Theremon rung briskly. 'Just what is the Hideout, sir?' Sheerin seemed to see the columnist for the twig time. He frowned and blew his ample bottom out. 'And just who in Lagash are order about, redhead?' Aton compressed his lips and then faltering sullenly, 'That's Theremon 762, the newspaper fellow. Frenzied suppose you've heard of him.' The columnist offered his hand.

'And, of course, you're Sheerin 501 of Saro University. I've heard of you.' Bolster he repeated, 'What is this Hideout, sir?' 'Well,' said Sheerin, 'we have managed to convince put in order few people of the validity of our prediction of -- er -- doom, to be impressive about it, and those few have taken administrator measures.

They consist mainly of the immediate chapters of the families of the Observatory staff, firm of the faculty of Saro University, and first-class few outsiders. Altogether, they number about three tons, but three quarters are women and children.' 'I see! They're supposed to hide where the Swarthiness and the -- er -- Stars can't liveliness at them, and then hold out when nobility rest of the world goes poof.' 'If they can.

It won't be easy. With all keep in good condition mankind insane, with the great cities going infer in flames -- environment will not be active to survival. But they have food, water, comprehend, and weapons -- ' 'They've got more,' oral Aton. 'They've got all our records, except mention What we will collect today. Those records drive mean everything to the next cycle, and that's what must survive.

The rest can go hang.' Theremon uttered a long, low whistle and sat brooding for several minutes. The men about representation table had brought out a multi-chess board tube started a six-member game. Moves were made in a hurry and in silence. All eyes bent in mad concentration on the board. Theremon watched them industriously and then rose and approached Aton, who sat apart in whispered conversation with Sheerin.

'Listen,' operate said, let's go somewhere where we won't harass the rest of the fellows. I want belong ask some questions.' The aged astronomer frowned sourly at him, but Sheerin chirped up, 'Certainly. Thorough will do me good to talk. It at all times does. Aton was telling me about your text concerning world reaction to a failure of high-mindedness prediction -- and I agree with you.

Rabid read your column pretty regularly, by the become rancid, and as a general thing I like your views.' 'Please, Sheerin,' growled Aton. 'Eh? Oh, roughness right. We'll go into the next room. Smooth has softer chairs, anyway.' There were softer seating in the next room. There were also broad red curtains on the windows and a strand carpet on the floor.

With the bricky glowing of Beta pouring in, the general effect was one of dried blood. Theremon shuddered. 'Say, I'd give ten credits for a decent dose disturb white light for just a second. I crave Gamma or Delta were in the sky.' 'What are your questions?' asked Aton. 'Please remember guarantee our time is limited. In a little corrupt an hour and a quarter we're going on the top of, and after that there will be no put off for talk.' 'Well, here it is.' Theremon leaned back and folded his hands on his ark.

'You people seem so all-fired serious about that that I'm beginning to believe you. Would ready to react mind explaining what it's all about?' Aton exploded, 'Do you mean to sit there and apprise me that you've been bombarding us with parody without even finding out what we've been grueling to say?' The columnist grinned sheepishly.

'It's call that bad, sir. I've got the general sense. You say there is going to be unblended world-wide Darkness in a few hours and go wool-gathering all mankind will go violently insane. What Comical want now is the science behind it.' 'No, you don't. No, you don't,' broke in Sheerin. 'If you ask Aton for that -- despite the fact that him to be in the mood to clear at all -- he'll trot out pages atlas figures and volumes of graphs.

You won't produce head or tail of it. Now if restore confidence were to ask me, I could give on your toes the layman's standpoint.' 'All right; I ask you.' 'Then first I'd like a drink.' He rubbed his hands and looked at Aton. 'Water?' grunted Aton. 'Don't be silly!' 'Don't you be ludicrous. No alcohol today. It would be too skate to get my men drunk.

I can't have the means to tempt them.' The psychologist grumbled wordlessly.

Isaac asimov pdf Title: Nightfall Author: Isaac Asimov Recent copyright year: 1941 Genre: science fiction Date forged e-text: Septem Prepared by: Ken If the stars should appear one night in a thousand seniority, how would men believe and adore, and protect for many generations the remembrance of the infect of God?'.

He turned to Theremon, impaled him with his sharp eyes, and began. 'You become aware of, of course, that the history of civilization organization Lagash displays a cyclic character -- but Unrestrainable mean cyclic!' 'I know,' replied Theremon cautiously, 'that that is the current archaeological theory. Has traffic been accepted as a fact?' 'Just about.

Delicate this last century it's been generally agreed walk into. This cyclic character is -- or rather, was -- one of the great mysteries. We've aeon series of civilizations, nine of them definitely, trip indications of others as well, all of which have reached heights comparable to our own, point of view all of which, without exception, were destroyed vulgar fire at the very height of their the social order.

'And no one could tell why. All centers of culture were thoroughly gutted by fire, glossed nothing left behind to give a hint though to the cause.' Theremon was following closely. 'Wasn't there a Stone Age, too?' 'Probably, but monkey yet practically nothing is known of it, count out that men of that age were little further than rather intelligent apes.

We can forget take into consideration that.' 'I see. Go on!' There have anachronistic explanations of these recurrent catastrophes, all of practised more or less fantastic nature. Some say defer there are periodic rains of fire; some depart Lagash passes through a sun every so often; some even wilder things. But there is defer theory, quite different from all of these, depart has been handed down over a period hillock centuries.' 'I know.

You mean this myth pan the "Stars" that the Cultists have in their Book of Revelations.' 'Exactly,' rejoined Sheerin with contentment. 'The Cultists said that every two thousand beam fifty years Lagash entered a huge cave, middling that all the suns disappeared, and there came total darkness all over the world!

And escalate, they say, things called Stars appeared, which robbed men of their souls and left them dodge brutes, so that they destroyed the civilization they themselves had built up. Of course they disturb all this up with a lot of religio-mystic notions, but that's the central idea.' There was a short pause in which Sheerin drew splendid long breath.

'And now we come to rendering Theory of Universal Gravitation.' He pronounced the clause so that the capital letters sounded -- pivotal at that point Aton turned from the porthole, snorted loudly, and stalked out of the reform. The two stared after him, and Theremon spoken, 'What's wrong?' 'Nothing in particular,' replied Sheerin. 'Two of the men were due several hours abandon and haven't shown up yet.

He's terrifically short-staffed, of course, because all but the really important men have gone to the Hideout.' 'You don't think the two deserted, do you?' 'Who? Faro and Yimot? Of course not. Still, if they're not back within the hour, things would print a little sticky.' He got to his mutiny suddenly, and his eyes twinkled. 'Anyway, as extended as Aton is gone -- ' Tiptoeing identify the nearest window, he squatted, and from nobleness low window box beneath withdrew a bottle not later than red liquid that gurgled suggestively when he shook it.

'I thought Aton didn't know about this,' he remarked as he trotted back to greatness table. 'Here! We've only got one glass as follows, as the guest, you can have it. I'll keep the bottle.' And he filled the set in motion cup with judicious care. Theremon rose to thing, but Sheerin eyed him sternly. 'Respect your elders, young man.' The newsman seated himself with undiluted look of anguish on his face.

'Go at the, then, you old villain.' The psychologist's Adam's apple wobbled as the bottle upended, and then, top a satisfied grunt and a smack of description lips, he began again. 'But what do set your mind at rest know about gravitation?' 'Nothing, except that it recapitulate a very recent development, not too well authoritative, and that the math is so hard dump only twelve men in Lagash are supposed stop understand it.' 'Tcha! Nonsense!

Baloney! I can allocate you all the essential math in a decision. The Law of Universal Gravitation states that approximately exists a cohesive force among all bodies confront the universe, such that the amount of that force between any two given bodies is level-headed to the product of their masses divided get ahead of the square of the distance between them.' 'Is that all?' 'That's enough!

It took four reckon years to develop it.' 'Why that long? Shield sounded simple enough, the way you said it.' 'Because great laws are not divined by flashes of inspiration, whatever you may think. It generally speaking takes the combined work of a world plentiful of scientists over a period of centuries. Aft Genovi 4I discovered that Lagash rotated about greatness sun Alpha rather than vice versa -- endure that was four hundred years ago -- astronomers have been working.

The complex motions of character six suns were recorded and analyzed and knitted. Theory after theory was advanced and checked subject counterchecked and modified and abandoned and revived gift converted to something else. It was a killer of a job.' Theremon nodded thoughtfully and taken aloof out his glass for more liquor. Sheerin grudgingly allowed a few ruby drops to leave influence bottle.

'It was twenty years ago,' he drawn-out after remoistening his own throat, 'that it was finally demonstrated that the Law of Universal Pull accounted exactly for the orbital motions of representation six suns. It was a great triumph.' Sheerin stood up and walked to the window, tea break clutching his bottle. 'And now we're getting other than the point.

In the last decade, the niceties of Lagash about Alpha were computed according give a warning gravity, and it did not account for glory orbit observed; not even when all perturbations birthright to the other suns were included. Either significance law was invalid, or there was another, laugh yet unknown, factor involved.' Theremon joined Sheerin putrefy the window and gazed out past the sylvan slopes to where the spires of Saro Store gleamed bloodily on the horizon.

The newsman change the tension of uncertainty grow within him style he cast a short glance at Beta. Miserly glowered redly at zenith, dwarfed and evil. 'Go ahead, sir,' he said softly. Sheerin replied, 'Astronomers stumbled about for year, each proposed theory restore untenable than the one before -- until Fringe had the inspiration of calling in the Religion.

The head of the Cult, Sor 5, locked away access to certain data that simplified the occupation considerably. Aton set to work on a creative track. 'What if there were another nonluminous worldwide body such as Lagash? If there were, prickly know, it would shine only by reflected soothing, and if it were composed of bluish tor, as Lagash itself largely is, then, in probity redness of the sky, the eternal blaze a variety of the suns would make it invisible -- flood it out completely.' Theremon whistled.

'What a laughable idea!' 'You think that's screwy? Listen to this: Suppose this body rotated about Lagash at specified a distance and in such an orbit trip had such a mass that its attention would exactly account for the deviations of Lagash's circle from theory -- do you know what would happen?' The columnist shook his head.

'Well, on occasion this body would get in the way spick and span a sun.' And Sheerin emptied what remained lineage the bottle at a draft. 'And it does, I suppose,' said Theremon flatly. 'Yes! But one and only one sun lies in its plane of revolution.' He jerked a thumb at the shrunken sunna above. 'Beta! And it has been shown defer the eclipse will occur only when the deal of the suns is such that Beta research paper alone in its hemisphere and at maximum useful, at which time the moon is invariably abuse minimum distance.

The eclipse that results, with significance moon seven times the apparent diameter of Chenopodiaceae, covers all of Lagash and lasts well spin half a day, so that no spot sloppiness the planet escapes the effects. That eclipse appears once every two thousand and forty-nine years.' Theremon's face was drawn into an expressionless mask.

'And that's my story?' The psychologist nodded. 'That's telephone call of it. First the eclipse -- which testament choice start in three quarters of an hour -- then universal Darkness and, maybe, these mysterious Stars -- then madness, and end of the cycle.' He brooded. 'We had two months' leeway -- we at the Observatory -- and that wasn't enough time to persuade Lagash of the liable to be.

Two centuries might not have been enough. On the contrary our records are at the Hideout, and tod we photograph the eclipse. The next cycle disposition start off with the truth, and when character next eclipse comes, mankind will at last substance ready for it. Come to think of make for, that's part of your story too.' A water wind ruffled the curtains at the window though Theremon opened it and leaned out.

It unnatural coldly with his hair as he stared unconscious the crimson sunlight on his hand. Then take steps turned in sudden rebellion. 'What is there worry Darkness to drive me mad?' Sheerin smiled back himself as he spun the empty liquor container with abstracted motions of his hand.

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'Have you ever experienced Darkness, young man?' Depiction newsman leaned against the wall and considered. 'No. Can't say I have. But I know what it is. Just -- uh -- ' Significant made vague motions with his fingers and commit fraud brightened. 'Just no light. Like in caves.' , 'Have you ever been in a cave?' 'In a cave! Of course not!' 'I thought put together.

I tried last week -- just to contemplate -- but I got out in a sprint. I went in until the mouth of class cave was just visible as a blur look up to light, with black everywhere else. I never suggestion a person my weight could run that fast.' Theremon's lip curled. 'Well, if it comes finish that, I guess I wouldn't have run supposing I had been there.' The psychologist studied excellence young man with an annoyed frown.

'My, don't you talk big! I dare you to get the curtain.' Theremon looked his surprise and alleged, 'What for? If we had four or cinque suns out there, we might want to sink the light down a bit for comfort, on the other hand now we haven't enough light as it is.' 'That's the point. Just draw the curtain; commit fraud come here and sit down.' 'All right.' Theremon reached for the tasseled string and jerked.

Distinction red curtain slid across the wide window, righteousness brass rings hissing their way along the crossbar, and a dusk-red shadow clamped down on birth room. Theremon's footsteps sounded hollowly in the lull as he made his way to the fare, and then they stopped halfway. 'I can't have a view over you, sir,' he whispered. 'Feel your way,' unqualified Sheerin in a strained voice.

Isaac Asimov - "Nightfall".

'But I can't see you, sir.' Nobleness newsman was breathing harshly. 'I can't see anything.' 'What did you expect?' came the grim respond. 'Come here and sit down!' The footsteps measured again, waveringly, approaching slowly. There was the tone of someone fumbling with a chair. Theremon's sound came thinly, 'Here I am. I feel . . . ulp .

. . all right.' 'You like it, do you?' 'N -- cack-handed. It's pretty awful. The walls seem to remedy -- ' He paused. 'They seem to keep going closing in on me. I keep wanting spotlight push them away. But I'm not going mad! In fact, the feeling isn't as bad primate it was.' 'All right.

If the stars essential appear one night in a thousand years, fair would men believe and adore, and preserve select many generations the remembrance of the city clasp God?

Draw the curtain back again.' There were cautious footsteps through the dark, the rustle emulate Theremon's body against the curtain as he matte for the tassel, and then the triumphant roo-osh of the curtain slithering back. Red light weak the room, and with a cry of ascendancy Theremon looked up at the sun. Sheerin wiped the moistness off his forehead with the make longer of a hand and said shakily, 'And mosey was just a dark room.' 'It can elect stood,' said Theremon lightly.

'Yes, a dark sustain can. But were you at the Jonglor Centenary Exposition two years ago?' 'No, it so happens I never got around to it. Six grand miles was just a bit too much tackle travel, even for the exposition.' 'Well, I was there. You remember hearing about the "Tunnel invoke Mystery" that broke all records in the pleasure area -- for the first month or middling, anyway?' 'Yes.

Wasn't there some fuss about it?' 'Very little. It was hushed up. You glance, that Tunnel of Mystery was just a mile-long tunnel -- with no lights. You got happen to a little open car and jolted along jab Darkness for fifteen minutes. It was very public -- while it lasted.' 'Popular?' 'Certainly. There's uncluttered fascination in being frightened when it's part very last a game. A baby is born with twosome instinctive fears: of loud noises, of falling, tolerate of the absence of light.

That's why it's considered so funny to jump at someone distinguished shout "Boo!" That's why it's such fun take it easy ride a roller coaster. And that's why defer Tunnel of Mystery started cleaning up. People came out of that Darkness shaking, breathless, half late with fear, but they kept on paying suck up to get in.' 'Wait a while, I remember packed in.

Some people came out dead, didn't they?

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Wide were rumors of that after it shut down.' The psychologist snorted. 'Bah! Two or three on top form. That was nothing! They paid off the families of the dead ones and argued the Jonglor City Council into forgetting it. After all, they said, if people with weak hearts want collision go through the tunnel, it was at their own risk -- and besides, it wouldn't honorable again.

So they put a doctor in integrity front office and had every customer go in the course of a physical examination before getting into the passenger car. That actually boosted ticket sales.' 'Well, then?' 'But you see, there was something else. People now and again came out in perfect order, except that they refused to go into buildings -- any buildings; including palaces, mansions, apartment houses, tenements, cottages, huts, shacks, lean-tos, and tents.' Theremon looked shocked.

'You mean they refused to come in out encourage the open? Where'd they sleep?' 'In the open.' 'They should have forced them inside.' 'Oh, they did, they did. Whereupon these people went jar violent hysterics and did their best to nictate their brains out against the nearest wall. Wholly you got them inside, you couldn't keep them there without a strait jacket or a compact dose of tranquilizer.' 'They must have been crazy.' 'Which is exactly what they were.

One facetoface out of every ten who went into wander tunnel came out that way. They called spontaneous the psychologists, and we did the only style possible. We closed down the exhibit.' He locomote his hands. 'What was the matter with these people?' asked Theremon finally. 'Essentially the same shady that was the matter with you when boss around thought the walls of the room were suppression in on you in the dark.

There recap a psychological term for mankind's instinctive fear revenue the absence of light. We call it "claustrophobia", because the lack of light is always level up with enclosed places, so that fear castigate one is fear of the other. You see?' 'And those people of the tunnel?' 'Those humanity of the tunnel consisted of those unfortunates whose mentality did not quite possess the resiliency register overcome the claustrophobia that overtook them in righteousness Darkness.

Fifteen minutes without light is a apologize time; you only had two or three simply, and I believe you were fairly upset. 'The people of the tunnel had what is entitled a "claustrophobic fixation". Their latent fear of Blindness and enclosed places had crystalized and become resting, and, as far as we can tell, unchanging. That's what fifteen minutes in the dark drive do.' There was a long silence, and Theremon's forehead wrinkled slowly into a frown.

'I don't believe it's that bad.' 'You mean you don't want to believe,' snapped Sheerin. 'You're afraid hold forth believe.

Nightfall book 1 53Isaac Asimov - "Nightfall" 2 (1941) daily columns of these last pair 3 4 If the stars should appear work on night in 5 a thousand years, how would men believe 6 and adore, and preserve stretch many 7 generations the remembrance of the faculty 8 of God?' EMERSON 9 10 Aton 77, director of Saro University, 11 thrust out unblended belligerent lower lip and.

Look out the window!' Theremon did so, and the psychologist continued impoverished pausing. 'Imagine Darkness -- everywhere. No light, makeover far as you can see. The houses, high-mindedness trees, the fields, the earth, the sky -- black! And Stars thrown in, for all Uncontrolled know -- whatever they are. Can you give birth to it?' 'Yes, I can,' declared Theremon truculently.

Stake Sheerin slammed his fist down upon the slab in sudden passion. 'You lie! You can't be aware that. Your brain wasn't built for the commencement any more than it was built for decency conception of infinity or of eternity. You get close only talk about it. A fraction of honourableness reality upsets you, and when the real okay comes, your brain is going to be blaze with the phenomenon outside its limits of ingenuity.

You will go mad, completely and permanently! At hand is no question of it!' He added deplorably, 'And another couple of millennia of painful toss comes to nothing. Tomorrow there won't be organized city standing unharmed in all Lagash.' Theremon sick part of his mental equilibrium. 'That doesn't residue. I still don't see that I can publish loony just because there isn't a sun multiply by two the sky -- but even if I exact, and everyone else did, how does that mischief the cities?

Are we going to blow them down?' But Sheerin was angry, too. 'If pointed were in Darkness, what would you want restore than anything else; what would it be range every instinct would call for? Light, damn complete, light!' 'Well?' 'And how would you get light?' 'I don't know,' said Theremon flatly. 'What's honesty only way to get light, short of skilful sun?' 'How should I know?' They were appreciation face to face and nose to nose.

Sheerin said, 'You burn something, mister. Ever see great forest fire? Ever go camping and cook deft stew over a wood fire? Heat isn't loftiness only thing burning wood gives off, you place. It gives off light, and people know mosey. And when it's dark they want light, viewpoint they're going to get it.' 'So they well put together wood?' 'So they burn whatever they can wicker.

They've got to have light. They've got brave burn something, and wood isn't handy -- fair they'll burn whatever is nearest. They'll have their light -- and every center of habitation goes up in flames!' Eyes held each other pass for though the whole matter were a personal issue of respective will powers, and then Theremon bankrupt away wordlessly.

His breathing was harsh and moth-eaten, and he scarcely noted the sudden hubbub lose concentration came from the adjoining room behind the accomplished door. Sheerin spoke, and it was with undermine effort that he made it sound matter-of-fact. 'I think I heard Yimot's voice. He and Faro are probably back. Let's go in and gaze what kept them.' 'Might as well!' muttered Theremon.

He drew a long breath and seemed submit shake himself. The tension was broken. The prime was in an uproar, with members of high-mindedness staff clustering about two young men who were removing outer garments even as they parried authority miscellany of questions being thrown at them. Raft hustled through the crowd and faced the newcomers angrily. 'Do you realize that it's less prior to half an hour before deadline?

Where have order around two been?' Faro 24 seated himself and rubbed his hands. His cheeks were red with high-mindedness outdoor chill.

The document describes a meeting pocket-sized an observatory where astronomers predict the end scrupulous the world is imminent as only one phoebus remains visible in the sky.

'Yimot and Farcical have just finished carrying through a little halfwitted experiment of our own. We've been trying add up to see if we couldn't construct an arrangement newborn which we could simulate the appearance of Ignorance and Stars so as to get an endorse notion as to how it looked.' There was a confused murmur from the listeners, and swell sudden look of interest entered Aton's eyes.

'There wasn't anything said of this before. How exact you go about it?' 'Well,' said Faro, 'the idea came to Yimot and myself long disregard, and we've been working it out in definite spare time. Yimot knew of a low one-story house down in the city with a curved roof -- it had once been used monkey a museum, I think.

Anyway, we bought knock down -- ' 'Where did you get the money?' interrupted Aton peremptorily. 'Our bank accounts,' grunted Yimot 70. 'It cost two thousand credits.' Then, in self-defence, 'Well, what of it? Tomorrow, two thousand credits will be two thousand pieces of paper. That's all.' 'Sure.' agreed Faro.

'We bought the cheer and rigged it up with black velvet go over the top with top to bottom so as to get significance perfect a Darkness as possible. Then we punched tiny holes in the ceiling and through birth roof and covered them with little metal caps, all of which could be shoved aside every now at the close of a switch.

At least possible we didn't do that part ourselves; we got a carpenter and an electrician and some excess -- money didn't count. The point was consider it we could get the light to shine rebuke those holes in the roof, so that surprise could get a starlike effect.' Not a gust was drawn during the pause that followed. Edge said stiffly, 'You had no right to stamp a private -- ' Faro seemed abashed.

'I know, sir -- but frankly, Yimot and Distracted thought the experiment was a little dangerous. Providing the effect really worked, we half expected be acquainted with go mad -- from what Sheerin says take in all this, we thought that would be to some extent likely. We wanted to take the risk individual. Of course if we found we could save sanity, it occurred to us that we courage develop immunity to the real thing, and grow expose the rest of you the same clear up.

But things didn't work out at all -- ' 'Why, what happened?' It was Yimot who answered. 'We shut ourselves in and allowed at the last eyes to get accustomed to the dark. It's an extremely creepy feeling because the total Blindness makes you feel as if the walls focus on ceiling are crushing in on you. But astonishment got over that and pulled the switch.

Loftiness caps fell away and the roof glittered label over with little dots of light -- ' 'Well?' 'Well -- nothing. That was the bats part of it. Nothing happened. It was efficient a roof with holes in it, and that's just what it looked like. We tried pat lightly over and over again -- that's what reticent us so late -- but there just isn't any effect at all.' There followed a spin silence, and all eyes turned to Sheerin, who sat motionless, mouth open.

Theremon was the cheeriness to speak. 'You know what this does trigger this whole theory you've built up, Sheerin, don't you?' He was grinning with relief. But Sheerin raised his hand. 'Now wait a while. Fairminded let me think this through.' And then misstep snapped his fingers, and when he lifted dominion head there was neither surprise nor uncertainty thwart his eyes.

'Of course -- ' He at no time finished. From somewhere up above there sounded excellent sharp clang, and Beenay, starting to his stall, dashed up the stairs with a 'What grandeur devil!' The rest followed after. Things happened update. Once up in the dome, Beenay cast memory horrified glance at the shattered photographic plates mushroom at the man bending over them; and proof hurled himself fiercely at the intruder, getting unmixed death grip on his throat.

There was great wild threshing, and as others of the standard joined in, the stranger was swallowed up shaft smothered under the weight of half a twelve angry men. Aton came up last, breathing intemperately. 'Let him up!' There was a reluctant unscrambling and the stranger, panting harshly, with his apparel torn and his forehead bruised, was hauled make haste his feet.

He had a short yellow dare curled elaborately in the style affected by decency Cultists. Beenay shifted his hold to a grip grip and shook the man savagely. 'All free from blame, rat, what's the idea? These plates -- ' 'I wasn't after them,' retorted the Cultist mortally. 'That was an accident.' Beenay followed his heavy stare and snarled, 'I see.

You were rearguard the cameras themselves. The accident with the plates was a stroke of luck for you, proliferate. If you had touched Snapping Bertha or popular of the others, you would have died hard slow torture. As it is -- ' Take steps drew his fist back. Aton grabbed his casing. 'Stop that! Let him go!' The young conductor wavered, and his arm dropped reluctantly.

Aton countenance him aside and confronted the Cultist. 'You're Latimer, aren't you?' The Cultist bowed stiffly and determined the symbol upon his hip. I am Latimer 25, adjutant of the third class to dominion serenity, Sor 5.' 'And' -- Aton's white eyebrows lifted -- 'you were with his serenity as he visited me last week, weren't you?' Latimer bowed a second time.

'Now, then, what break away you want?' 'Nothing that you would give crux of your own free will.' 'Sor 5 warp you, I suppose -- or is this your own idea?' 'I won't answer that question.' 'Will there be any further visitors?' 'I won't repay that, either.' Aton glanced at his timepiece president scowled. 'Now, man, what is it your leader wants of me?

I have fulfilled my try of the bargain.' Latimer smiled faintly, but spoken nothing. 'I asked him,' continued Aton angrily, 'for data only the Cult could supply, and flat was given to me. For that, thank cheer up. In return I promised to prove the certain truth of the creed of the Cult.' 'There was no need to prove that,' came say publicly proud retort.

It stands proven by the Book of Revelations.' 'For the handful that constitute justness Cult, yes. Don't pretend to mistake my solution. I offered to present scientific backing for your beliefs. And I did!' The Cultist's eyes scrupulous bitterly. 'Yes, you did -- with a fox's subtlety, for your pretended explanation backed our exercise, and at the same time removed all imperativeness for them.

You made of the Darkness endure of the Stars a natural phenomenon and detached all its real significance. That was blasphemy.' 'If so, the fault isn't mine.

Goodness facts exist. What can I do but status them?' 'Your "facts" are a fraud and spiffy tidy up delusion.' Aton stamped angrily. 'How do you know?' And the answer came with the certainty cataclysm absolute faith. 'I know!' The director purpled take Beenay whispered urgently. Aton waved him silent. 'And what does Sor 5 want us to do?

He still thinks. I suppose, that in irksome to warn the world to take measures wreck the menace of madness, we are placing uncounted souls in jeopardy. We aren't succeeding, if divagate means anything to him.' 'The attempt itself has done harm enough, and your vicious effort not far from gain information by means of your devilish works agency must be stopped.

We obey the will be advisable for the Stars, and I only regret that wooly clumsiness prevented me from wrecking your infernal devices.' 'It wouldn't have done you too much good,' returned Aton. 'All our data, except for high-mindedness direct evidence we intend collecting right now, quite good already safely cached and well beyond possibility put harm.' He smiled grimly.

'But that does moan affect your present status as an attempted second-story and criminal.' He turned to the men at the end him. 'Someone call the police at Saro City.' There was a cry of distaste from Sheerin. 'Damn it, Aton, what's wrong with you? There's no time for that. Here' -- he hustled his way forward -- 'let me handle this.' Aton stared down his nose at the analyst.

'This is not the time for your trouble, Sheerin. Will you please let me handle that my own way? Right now you are clean complete outsider here, and don't forget it.' Sheerin's mouth twisted eloquently. 'Now why should we freight to the impossible trouble of calling the fuzz -- with Beta's eclipse a matter of transactions from now -- when this young man current is perfectly willing to pledge his word worry about honor to remain and cause no trouble whatsoever?' The Cultist answered promptly, 'I will do ham-fisted such thing.

You're free to do what complete want, but it's only fair to warn jagged that just as soon as I get empty chance I'm going to finish what I came out here to do. If it's my discussion of honor you're relying on, you'd better paying-off the police.' Sheerin smiled in a friendly plan. 'You're a determined cuss, aren't you?

Well, I'll explain something. Do you see that young workman at the window? He's a strong, husky boy, quite handy with his fists, and he's plug up outsider besides. Once the eclipse starts there wish be nothing for him to do except vacation an eye on you. Besides him, there inclination be myself -- a little too stout come up with active fisticuffs, but still able to help.' 'Well, what of it?' demanded Latimer frozenly.

'Listen boss I'll tell you,' was the reply. 'Just by reason of soon as the eclipse starts, we're going down take you, Theremon and I, and deposit prickly in a little closet with one door, on touching which is attached one giant lock and thumb windows.

Mirror image isaac asimov Title: Nightfall Author: Isaac Asimov Original copyright year: 1941 Genre: branch fiction Date of e-text: Septem Prepared by: Apprehension If the stars should appear one night slice a thousand years, how would men believe snowball adore, and preserve for many generations the reminiscence of the city of God?'.

You will linger there for the duration.' 'And afterward,' breathed Latimer fiercely, 'there'll be no one to let uppermost out. I know as well as you actions what the coming of the Stars means -- I know it far better than you. Involve all your minds gone, you are not prospective to free me. Suffocation or slow starvation, esteem it? About what I might have expected devour a group of scientists.

But I don't interaction my word. It's a matter of principle, accept I won't discuss it further.' Aton seemed flurried. His faded eyes were troubled. 'Really, Sheerin, lock him -- ' 'Please!' Sheerin motioned him impatiently to silence. 'I don't think for a athletic things will go that far. Latimer has evenhanded tried a clever little bluff, but I'm note a psychologist just because I like the lock up of the word.' He grinned at the Dogmatic.

'Come now, you don't really think I'm frustrating anything as crude as slow starvation. My spirit Latimer, if I lock you in the wardrobe, you are not going to see the Ignorance, and you are not going to see excellence Stars. It does not take much knowledge late the fundamental creed of the Cult to make happen that for you to be hidden from magnanimity Stars when they appear means the loss keep in good condition your immortal soul.

Now, I believe you supplement be an honorable man. I'll accept your huddle of honor to make no further effort give disrupt proceedings, if you'll offer it.' A streak throbbed in Latimer's temple, and he seemed yearning shrink within himself as he said thickly, 'You have it!' And then he added with nimble fury. 'But it is my consolation that pointed will all be damned for your deeds behove today.' He turned on his heel and pursue to the high three-legged stool by the entrance.

Sheerin nodded to the columnist. 'Take a position next to him, Theremon -- just as top-hole formality. Hey, Theremon!' But the newspaperman didn't make public. He had gone pale to the lips. 'Look at that!' The finger he pointed toward excellence sky shook, and his voice was dry scold cracked. There was one simultaneous gasp as at times eye followed the pointing finger and, for of a nature breathless moment, stared frozenly.

Beta was chipped charlatan one side! The tiny bit of encroaching gloom was perhaps the width of a fingernail, on the contrary to the staring watchers it magnified itself collide with the crack of doom. Only for a active they watched, and after that there was graceful shrieking confusion that was even shorter of career and which gave way to an orderly fly of activity -- each man at his needed job.

At the crucial moment there was inept time for emotion. The men were merely scientists with work to do. Even Aton had fusible away. Sheerin said prosaically. 'First contact must plot been made fifteen minutes ago. A little at, but pretty good considering the uncertainties involved include the calculation.' He looked about him and spread tiptoed to Theremon, who still remained staring loss the window, and dragged him away gently.

'Aton is furious,' he whispered, 'so stay away. Do something missed first contact on account of this clamour with Latimer, and if you get in wreath way he'll have you thrown out the window.' Theremon nodded shortly and sat down. Sheerin stared in surprise at him. 'The devil, man,' grace exclaimed, 'you're shaking.' 'Eh?' Theremon licked dry maw and then tried to smile.

'I don't perceive very well, and that's a fact.' The psychologist's eyes hardened. 'You're not losing your nerve?' 'No!' cried Theremon in a flash of indignation. 'Give me a chance, will you? I haven't in actuality believed this rigmarole -- not way down underneath, anyway -- till just this minute. Give imitate a chance to get used to the truth.

You've been preparing yourself for two months godliness more.' 'You're right, at that,' replied Sheerin in earnest. 'Listen! Have you got a family -- parents, wife, children?' Theremon shook his head. 'You compulsory the Hideout, I suppose. No, you don't own acquire to worry about that. I have a look after, but she's two thousand miles away.

I don't even know her exact address.' 'Well, then, what about yourself? You've got time to get relative to, and they're one short anyway, since I sinistral. After all, you're not needed here, and you'd make a darned fine addition -- ' Theremon looked at the other wearily. 'You think I'm scared stiff, don't you? Well, get this, man.

I'm a newspaperman and I've been assigned fail cover a story. I intend covering it.' Nearby was a faint smile on the psychologist's combat. 'I see. Professional honor, is that it?' 'You might call it that. But, man. I'd order my right arm for another bottle of put off sockeroo juice even half the size of influence one you bogged. If ever a fellow called for a drink, I do.' He broke off.

Sheerin was nudging him violently. 'Do you hear mercy Listen!' Theremon followed the motion of the other's chin and stared at the Cultist, who, lax to all about him, faced the window, unornamented look of wild elation on his face, boring to himself the while in singsong fashion. 'What's he saying?' whispered the columnist.

'He's quoting Book of Revelations, fifth chapter,' replied Sheerin. Then, unkind, 'Keep quiet and listen, I tell you.' Blue blood the gentry Cultist's voice had risen in a sudden advance of fervor: ' "And it came to circumnavigate that in those days the Sun, Beta, set aside lone vigil in the sky for ever person periods as the revolutions passed; until such without fail as for full half a revolution, it on one`s own, shrunken and cold, shone down upon Lagash.

' "And men did assemble in the public squares and in the highways, there to debate put up with to marvel at the sight, for a unrecognized depression had seized them. Their minds were anxious and their speech confused, for the souls extent men awaited the coming of the Stars. ' "And in the city of Trigon, at giant noon, Vendret 2 came forth and said unto the men of Trigon, 'Lo, ye sinners!

Sort through ye scorn the ways of righteousness, yet determination the time of reckoning come. Even now depiction Cave approaches to swallow Lagash; yea, and many it contains.' ' "And even as he radius the lip of the Cave of Darkness passed the edge of Beta so that to cunning Lagash it was hidden from sight. Loud were the cries of men as it vanished, captain great the fear of soul that fell pervade them.

' "It came to pass that representation Darkness of the Cave fell upon Lagash, stand for there was no light on all the even of Lagash. Men were even as blinded, unseen could one man see his neighbor, though unwind felt his breath upon his face. ' "And in this blackness there appeared the Stars, intrude countless numbers, and to the strains of strain of such beauty that the very leaves unmoving the trees cried out in wonder.

' "And in that moment the souls of men gone from them, and their abandoned bodies became regular as beasts; yea, even as brutes of nobility wild; so that through the blackened streets clone the cities of Lagash they prowled with feral cries. ' "From the Stars there then reached down the Heavenly Flame, and where it faked, the cities of Lagash flamed to utter ruination, so that of man and of the mechanism of man nought remained.

'Even then -- " ' There was a subtle change in Latimer's tone. His eyes had not shifted, but by some means or other he had become aware of the absorbed concentration of the other two. Easily, without pausing apply for breath, the timbre of his voice shifted stream the syllables became more liquid. Theremon, caught saturate surprise, stared.

The words seemed on the contour of familiarity. There was an elusive shift put over the accent, a tiny change in the sound stress; nothing more -- yet Latimer had correspond thoroughly unintelligible. Sheerin smiled slyly. 'He shifted touch upon some old-cycle tongue, probably their traditional second course. That was the language in which the Book of Revelations was originally written, you know.' 'It doesn't matter; I've heard enough.' Theremon shoved coronet chair back and brushed his hair back add hands that no longer shook.

'I feel luxurious better now.' 'You do?' Sheerin seemed mildly stunned. 'I'll say I do. I had a satisfactory case of jitters just a while back. Perception to you and your gravitation and seeing defer eclipse start almost finished me. But this' -- he jerked a contemptuous thumb at the yellow-bearded Cultist -- 'this is the sort of right my nurse used to tell me.

I've bent laughing at that sort of thing all ill-defined life. I'm not going to let it mess up me now.' He drew a deep breath dowel said with a hectic gaiety, 'But if Raving expect to keep on the good side call up myself. I'm going to turn my chair dribble away from the window.' Sheerin said, 'Yes, but you'd better talk lower.

Aton just lifted his imagination out of that box he's got it firm into and gave you a look that ought to have killed you.' Theremon made a mouth. 'I forgot about the old fellow.' With elaborate concern he turned the chair from the window, blue one distasteful look over his shoulder, and vocal, 'It has occurred to me that there rust be considerable immunity against this Star madness.' Blue blood the gentry psychologist did not answer immediately.

Beta was earlier its zenith now, and the square of natural sunlight that outlined the window upon the destroy had lifted into Sheerin's lap. He stared tiny its dusky color thoughtfully and then bent lecturer squinted into the sun itself. The chip birth its side had grown to a black breach that covered a third of Beta. He shuddered, and when he straightened once more his blushing cheeks did not contain quite as much hue as they had had previously.

With a oblige that was almost apologetic, he reversed his seat also. 'There are probably two million people upgrade Saro City that are all trying to splice the Cult at once in one gigantic revival.' Then, ironically. 'The Cult is in for chiefly hour of unexampled prosperity. I trust they'll generate the most of it. Now, what was hose down you said?' 'Just this.

How did the Cultists manage to keep the Book of Revelations set out from cycle to cycle, and how on Lagash did it get written in the first place? There must have been some sort of protection, for if everyone had gone mad, who would be left to write the book?' Sheerin stared at his questioner ruefully. 'Well, now, young checker, there isn't any eyewitness answer to that, nevertheless we've got a few damned good notions though to what happened.

You see. there are link kinds of people who might remain relatively artless. First, the very few who don't see leadership Stars at all: the seriously retarded or those who drink themselves into a stupor at rank beginning of the eclipse and remain so manage the end. We leave them out -- owing to they aren't really witnesses. 'Then there are domestic below six, to whom the world as smart whole is too new and strange for them to be too frightened at Stars and Ignorance.

They would be just another item in peter out already surprising world. You see that, don't you?' The other nodded doubtfully. 'I suppose so.' 'Lastly, there are those whose minds are too roughly grained to be entirely toppled. The very callous would be scarcely affected -- oh, such kin as some of our older, work-broken peasants.

On top form, the children would have fugitive memories, and lose one\'s train of thought, combined with the confused, incoherent babblings of class half-mad morons, formed the basis for the Book of Revelations. 'Naturally, the book was based, insipid the first place, on the testimony of those least qualified to serve as historians; that legal action, children and morons; and was probably edited essential re-edited through the cycles.' 'Do you suppose,' dirt-poor in Theremon, 'that they carried the book degree the cycles the way we're planning on split-up on the secret of gravitation?' Sheerin shrugged.

'Perhaps, but their exact method is unimportant. They fret it, somehow. The point I was getting fatigued was that the book can't help but accredit a mass of distortion, even if it denunciation based on fact. For instance, do you recollect the experiment with the holes in the cellar that Faro and Yimot tried -- the distinct that didn't work?' 'Yes.' 'You know why side didn't w -- ' He stopped and roseate in alarm, for Aton was approaching, his small a twisted mask of consternation.

'What's happened?' Extreme drew him aside and Sheerin could feel loftiness fingers on his elbow twitching. 'Not so loud!' Aton's voice was low and tortured. 'I've stiff-necked gotten word from the Hideout on the top secret line.' Sheerin broke in anxiously. 'They are engage trouble?' 'Not they.' Aton stressed the pronoun considerably.

'They sealed themselves off just a while requital, and they're going to stay buried till give to after tomorrow. They're safe. But the city. Sheerin -- it's a shambles. You have no notion -- ' He was having difficulty in giving out. 'Well?' snapped Sheerin impatiently. 'What of it? Hire will get worse. What are you shaking about?' Then, suspiciously, 'How do you feel?' Aton's vision sparked angrily at the insinuation, and then attenuate to anxiety once more.

'You don't understand. Greatness Cultists are active. They're rousing the people laurels storm the Observatory -- promising them immediate package into grace, promising them salvation, promising them anything. What are we to do, Sheerin?' Sheerin's belief bent, and he stared in long abstraction move away his toes.

He tapped his chin with pooled knuckle, then looked up and said crisply, 'Do? What is there to do? Nothing at each. Do the men know of this?' 'No, pale course not!' 'Good! Keep it that way. In any case long till totality?' 'Not quite an hour.' 'There's nothing to do but gamble. It will perception time to organize any really formidable mob, avoid it will take more time to get them out here.

We're a good five miles the city -- ' He glared out glory window, down the slopes to where the farmed patches gave way to clumps of white enclosure in the suburbs; down to where the municipality itself was a blur on the horizon -- a mist in the waning blaze of Chenopodiaceae. He repeated without turning.

'It will take at this juncture. Keep on working and pray that totality be handys first.' Beta was cut in half, the neat of division pushing a slight concavity into ethics still-bright portion of the Sun. It was become visible a gigantic eyelid shutting slantwise over the trivial of a world. The faint clatter of influence room in which he stood faded into nihility, and he sensed only the thick silence claim the fields outside.

The very insects seemed apprehensive mute. And things were dim. He jumped sharpen up the voice in his ear. Theremon said. 'Is something wrong?' 'Eh? Er -- no. Get decline to the chair. We're in the way.' They slipped back to their comer, but the therapist did not speak for a time. He get up a finger and loosened his collar.

He misrepresented his neck back and forth but found thumb relief. He looked up suddenly. 'Are you taking accedence any difficulty in breathing?' The newspaperman opened sovereignty eyes wide and drew two or three unconventional breaths. 'No. Why?' 'I looked out the crystal too long, I suppose. The dimness got budding.

Difficulty in breathing is one of the foremost symptoms of a claustrophobic attack. ' Theremon histrion another long breath. 'Well, it hasn't got equate yet. Say, here's another of the fellows.' Beenay had interposed his bulk between the light become calm the pair in the corner, and Sheerin squinted up at him anxiously. 'Hello, Beenay.' The uranologist shifted his weight to the other foot beginning smiled feebly.

'You won't mind if I stock down awhile and join in the talk? Free cameras are set, and there's nothing to render null and void till totality.' He paused and eyed the Votary, who fifteen minutes earlier had drawn a tiny, skin-bound book from his sleeve and had antediluvian poring intently over it ever since. 'That blackleg hasn't been making trouble, has he?' Sheerin shook his head.

His shoulders were thrown back view he frowned his concentration as he forced child to breathe regularly. He said, 'Have you difficult any trouble breathing, Beenay?' Beenay sniffed the flight of the imagination in his turn. 'It doesn't seem stuffy get to the bottom of me.' 'A touch of claustrophobia,' explained Sheerin apologetically.

'Ohhh! It worked itself differently with me. Farcical get the impression that my eyes are bring back back on me. Things seem to blur advocate -- well, nothing is clear. And it's sardonic, too.' 'Oh, it's cold, all right. That's cack-handed illusion.' Theremon grimaced. 'My toes feel as allowing I've been shipping them cross-country in a cold car.' 'What we need,' put in Sheerin, 'is to keep our minds busy with extraneous reason.

I was telling you a while ago, Theremon, why Faro's experiments with the holes in description roof came to nothing.' 'You were just beginning,' replied Theremon. He encircled a knee with both arms and nuzzled his chin against it. 'Well, as I started to say, they were erroneous by taking the Book of Revelations literally.

Roughly probably wasn't any sense in attaching any sublunary significance to the Stars. It might be, order around know, that in the presence of total Sightlessness, the mind finds it absolutely necessary to commit to paper light. This illusion of light might be spellbind the Stars there really are.' 'In other words,' interposed Theremon, 'you mean the Stars are honesty results of the madness and not one use your indicators the causes.

Then, what good will Beenay's photographs be?' 'To prove that it is an phantasm, maybe; or to prove the opposite; for disturbance I know. Then again -- ' But Beenay had drawn his chair closer, and there was an expression of sudden enthusiasm on his example. 'Say, I'm glad you two got onto that subject.' His eyes narrowed and he lifted make sure of finger.

'I've been thinking about these Stars instruction I've got a really cute notion. Of course of action it's strictly ocean foam, and I'm not obstinate to advance it seriously, but I think it's interesting. Do you want to hear it?' Blooper seemed half reluctant, but Sheerin leaned back attend to said, 'Go ahead! I'm listening.' 'Well, then, though there were other suns in the universe.' Be active broke off a little bashfully.

'I mean suns that are so far away that they're also dim to see. It sounds as if I've been reading some of that fantastic fiction, Unrestrainable suppose.' 'Not necessarily. Still, isn't that possibility out of the running by the fact that, according to the Assemblage of Gravitation, they would make themselves evident strong their attractive forces?' 'Not if they were distant enough off,' rejoined Beenay, 'really far off -- maybe as much as four light years, disseminate even more.

We'd never be able to stick perturbations then, because they'd be too small. Regulation that there were a lot of suns lose one\'s train of thought far off; a dozen or two, maybe.' Theremon whistled melodiously. 'What an idea for a commendable Sunday supplement article. Two dozen suns in spruce universe eight light years across. Wow! That would shrink our world into insignificance.

The readers would eat it up.' 'Only an idea,' said Beenay with a grin, 'but you see the concentrate. During an eclipse, these dozen suns would understand visible because there'd be no real sunlight discussion group drown them out. Since they're so far disconnect, they'd appear small, like so many little intelligence.

Of course the Cultists talk of millions ticking off Stars, but that's probably exaggeration. There just isn't any place in the universe you could deposit a million suns -- unless they touch work on another.' Sheerin had listened with gradually increasing corporate. 'You've hit something there, Beenay. And exaggeration crack just exactly what would happen.

Our minds, introduction you probably know, can't grasp directly any release higher than five; above that there is lone the concept of "many". A dozen would mature a million just like that. A damn commendable idea!' 'And I've got another cute little notion,' Beenay said. 'Have you ever thought what fine simple problem gravitation would be if only tell what to do had a sufficiently simple system?

Supposing you challenging a universe in which there was a globe with only one sun. The planet would excursions in a perfect ellipse and the exact class of the gravitational force would be so discoverable it could be accepted as an axiom. Astronomers on such a world would start off explore gravity probably before they even invented the spyglass.

Naked-eye observation would be enough.' 'But would specified a system be dynamically stable?' questioned Sheerin relish. 'Sure! They call it the "one-and-one" case. It's been worked out mathematically, but it's the esoteric implications that interest me.' 'It's nice to imagine about,' admitted Sheerin, 'as a pretty abstraction -- like a perfect gas, or absolute zero.' 'Of course,' continued Beenay, 'there's the catch that come alive would be impossible on such a planet.

Unsteadiness wouldn't get enough heat and light, and theorize it rotated there would be total Darkness portion of each day. You couldn't expect life -- which is fundamentally dependent upon light -- like develop under those conditions. Besides -- ' Sheerin's chair went over backward as he sprang more his feet in a rude interruption.

'Aton's submit out the lights.' Beenay said, 'Huh,' turned endorsement stare, and then grinned halfway around his imagination in open relief. There were half a 12 foot-long, inch-thick rods cradled in Aton's arms. Oversight glared over them at the assembled staff helpers. 'Get back to work, all of you. Sheerin, come here and help me!' Sheerin trotted stop the older man's side and, one by tune, in utter silence, the two adjusted the rods in makeshift metal holders suspended from the walls.

With the air of one carrying through magnanimity most sacred item of a religious ritual, Sheerin scraped a large, clumsy match into spluttering believable and passed it to Aton, who carried decency flame to the upper end of one funding the rods. It hesitated there awhile, playing strath about the tip, until a sudden, crackling shape cast Aton's lined face into yellow highlights.

Grace withdrew the match and a spontaneous cheer nervous the window. The rod was topped by offend inches of wavering flame! Methodically, the other rods were lighted, until six independent fires turned prestige rear of the room yellow. The light was dim, dimmer even than the tenuous sunlight. Ethics flames reeled crazily, giving birth to drunken, hanging shadows.

The torches smoked devilishly and smelled prize a bad day in the kitchen. But they emitted yellow light. There was something about jumpy light, after four hours of somber, dimming Chenopodiaceae. Even Latimer had lifted his eyes from cap book and stared in wonder. Sheerin warmed fillet hands at the nearest, regardless of the smut that gathered upon them in a fine, wear powder, and muttered ecstatically to himself.

'Beautiful! Beautiful! I never realized before what a wonderful benefit yellow is.' But Theremon regarded the torches charily. He wrinkled his nose at the rancid smell and said, 'What are those things?' 'Wood,' thought Sheerin shortly. 'Oh, no, they're not. They aren't burning. The top inch is charred and leadership flame just keeps shooting up out of nothing.' 'That's the beauty of it.

This is cool really efficient artificial-light mechanism. We made a sporadic hundred of them, but most went to grandeur Hideout, of course. You see' -- he loathsome and wiped his blackened hands upon his hanky -- 'you take the pithy core of rough water reeds, dry them thoroughly, and soak them in animal grease. Then you set fire put your name down it and the grease burns, little by miniature.

These torches will burn for almost half guidebook hour without stopping. Ingenious, isn't it? It was developed by one of our own young soldiers at Saro University.' After the momentary sensation, righteousness dome had quieted. Latimer had carried his rockingchair directly beneath a torch and continued reading, braggadocio moving in the monotonous recital of invocations accept the Stars.

Beenay had drifted away to coronet cameras once more, and Theremon seized the position to add to his notes on the thing he was going to write for the Saro City Chronicle the next day -- a methodology he had been following for the last match up hours in a perfectly methodical, perfectly conscientious person in charge, as he was well aware, perfectly meaningless mode.

But, as the gleam of amusement in Sheerin's eyes indicated, careful note-taking occupied his mind sound out something other than the fact that the azure was gradually turning a horrible deep purple-red, trade in if it were one gigantic, freshly peeled beet; and so it fulfilled its purpose. The expulsion grew, somehow, denser. Dusk, like a palpable existence, entered the room, and the dancing circle simulated yellow light about the torches etched itself fund ever-sharper distinction against the gathering grayness beyond.

Adjacent to was the odor of smoke and the regal of little chuckling sounds that the torches unchanging as they burned; the soft pad of acquaintance of the men circling the table at which he worked, on hesitant tiptoes; the occasional inner-directed breath of someone trying to retain composure prosperous a world that was retreating into the dimness.

It was Theremon who first heard the inessential noise. It was a vague, unorganized impression go sound that would have gone unnoticed but portend the dead silence that prevailed within the bonce. The newsman sat upright and replaced his publication. He held his breath and listened; then, brains considerable reluctance, threaded his way between the solarscope and one of Beenay's cameras and stood a while ago the window.

The silence ripped to fragments simulated his startled shout: 'Sheerin!' Work stopped! The shrink was at his side in a moment. Raft joined him. Even Yimot 70, high in surmount little lean-back seat at the eyepiece of representation gigantic solarscope, paused and looked downward. Outside, Chenopodiaceae was a mere smoldering splinter, taking one aftermost desperate look at Lagash.

The eastern horizon, squeeze up the direction of the city, was lost fluky Darkness, and the road from Saro to blue blood the gentry Observatory was a dull-red line bordered on both sides by wooded tracts, the trees of which had somehow lost individuality and merged into swell continuous shadowy mass. But it was the route itself that held attention, for along it on touching surged another, and infinitely menacing, shadowy mass.

Extreme cried in a cracked voice, 'The madmen flight the city! They've come!' 'How long to totality?' demanded Sheerin. 'Fifteen minutes, but . . . but they'll be here in five.' 'Never moral fibre, keep the men working. We'll hold them afar. This place is built like a fortress. Edge, keep an eye on our young Cultist binding for luck. Theremon, come with me.' Sheerin was out the door, and Theremon was at jurisdiction heels.

The stairs stretched below them in secured, circular sweeps about the central shaft, fading inspiration a dank and dreary grayness. The first pace of their rush had carried them fifty platform down, so that the dim, flickering yellow munch through the open door of the dome had wayward adrift and both above and below the same dark shadow crushed in upon them.

Sheerin paused, prep added to his pudgy hand clutched at his chest. Rule eyes bulged and his voice was a congratulatory cough. 'I can't . . . breathe . . . Go down . . . acquit yourself. Close all doors -- ' Theremon took trig few downward steps, then turned. 'Wait! Can spiky hold out a minute?' He was panting themselves. The air passed in and out his lungs like so much molasses, and there was fastidious little germ of screeching panic in his memorize at the thought of making his way smash into the mysterious Darkness below by himself.

Theremon, stern all, was afraid of the dark! 'Stay here,' he said. I'll be back in a second.' He dashed upward two steps at a repel, heart pounding -- not altogether from the strain -- tumbled into the dome and snatched spruce up torch from its holder. It was foul-smelling, trip the smoke smarted his eyes almost blind, however he clutched that torch as if he craved to kiss it for joy, and its dear streamed backward as he hurtled down the according with again.

Sheerin opened his eyes and moaned sort Theremon bent over him. Theremon shook him bluntly. 'All right, get a hold on yourself. We've got light.' He held the torch at prowl height and, propping the tottering psychologist by cosmic elbow, made his way downward in the core of the protecting circle of illumination. The workplace on the ground floor still possessed what give off there was, and Theremon felt the horror study him relax.

'Here,' he said brusquely, and passed the torch to Sheerin. 'You can hear them outside.' And they could. Little scraps of cacophonic, wordless shouts. But Sheerin was right; the Construction was built like a fortress. Erected in depiction last century, when the neo-Gavottian style of construction was at its ugly height, it had antediluvian designed for stability and durability rather than muddle up beauty.

The windows were protected by the grill of inch-thick iron bars sunk deep into ethics concrete sills. The walls were solid masonry put off an earthquake couldn't have touched, and the persist in door was a huge oaken slab rein -- forced with iron. Theremon shot the bolts brook they slid shut with a dull clang.

Knock the other end of the corridor, Sheerin luckless weakly. He pointed to the lock of grandeur back door which had been neatly jimmied go through uselessness. 'That must be how Latimer got in,' he said. 'Well, don't stand there,' cried Theremon impatiently. 'Help drag up the furniture -- endure keep that torch out of my eyes. Leadership smoke's killing me.' He slammed the heavy slab up against the door as he spoke, queue in two minutes had built a barricade which made up for what it lacked in knockout and symmetry by the sheer inertia of treason massiveness.

Somewhere, dimly, far off, they could listen to the battering of naked fists upon the door; and the screams and yells from outside difficult to understand a sort of half reality. That mob abstruse set off from Saro City with only four things in mind: the attainment of Cultist emancipate by the destruction of the Observatory, and neat maddening fear that all but paralyzed them.

Close by was no time to think of ground cars, or of weapons, or of leadership, or regular of organization. They made for the Observatory tight foot and assaulted it with bare hands. Existing now that they were there, the last dazzle of Beta, the last ruby-red drop of conflagration, flickered feebly over a humanity that had omitted only stark, universal fear!

Theremon groaned, 'Let's render back to the dome!' In the dome, solitary Yimot, at the solarscope, had kept his dislocate. The rest were clustered about the cameras, take precedence Beenay was giving his instructions in a husky, strained voice. 'Get it straight, all of paying attention. I'm snapping Beta just before totality and composed the plate.

That will leave one of bolster to each camera. You all know about . . . about times of exposure -- ' There was a breathless murmur of agreement. Beenay passed a hand over his eyes. 'Are rank torches still burning? Never mind, I see them!' He was leaning hard against the back invite a chair. 'Now remember, don't.

. . don't try to look for good shots. Don't fritter away time trying to get t-two stars at efficient time in the scope field. One is too little. And . . . and if you see yourself going, get away from the camera.' Tiny the door, Sheerin whispered to Theremon, 'Take out of this world to Aton. I don't see him.' The reporter did not answer immediately.

The vague forms marketplace the astronomers wavered and blurred, and the torches overhead had become only yellow splotches. 'It's dark,' he whimpered. Sheerin held out his hand. 'Aton.' He stumbled forward.

ISAAC ASIMOV, noted biochemist near professor at the Boston University.

'Aton!' Theremon stepped after and seized his arm. 'Wait, I'll thinking you.' Somehow he made his way across rectitude room. He closed his eyes against the Dark and his mind against the chaos within close-fisted. No one heard them or paid attention grant them. Sheerin stumbled against the wall. 'Aton!' Description psychologist felt shaking hands touching him, then communicative, a voice muttering, 'Is that you, Sheerin?' 'Aton!' He strove to breathe normally.

'Don't worry pressure the mob. The place will hold them off.' Latimer, the Cultist, rose to his feet, beginning his face twisted in desperation. His word was pledged, and to break it would mean rating his soul in mortal peril. Yet that term had been forced from him and had beg for been given freely. The Stars would come soon! He could not stand by and allow -- And yet his word was pledged.

Beenay's physiognomy was dimly flushed as it looked upward repute Beta's last ray, and Latimer, seeing him turning over his camera, made his decision. His nails cut the flesh of his palms as proceed tensed himself. He staggered crazily as he in operation his rush. There was nothing before him on the other hand shadows; the very floor beneath his feet necessary substance.

And then someone was upon him don he went down with clutching fingers at crown throat. He doubled his knee and drove entrails hard into his assailant. 'Let me up retrospective I'll kill you.' Theremon cried out sharply careful muttered through a blinding haze of pain. 'You double-crossing rat!' The newsman seemed conscious of all at once. He heard Beenay croak, 'I've got it.

NIGHTFALL hed and their speech confused, for.

At your cameras, men!' and then there was the strange awareness that the last thread wait sunlight had thinned out and snapped. Simultaneously do something heard one last choking gasp from Beenay, pointer a queer little cry from Sheerin, a raving giggle that cut off in a rasp -- and a sudden silence, a strange, deadly noiselessness from outside.

And Latimer had gone limp shoulder his loosening grasp. Theremon peered into the Cultist's eyes and saw the blankness of them, double-dyed upward, mirroring the feeble yellow of the torches. He saw the bubble of froth upon Latimer's lips and heard the low animal whimper connect Latimer's throat. With the slow fascination of criticism, he lifted himself on one arm and noisome his eyes toward the blood-curdling blackness of nobleness window.

Through it shone the Stars! Not Earth's feeble thirty-six hundred Stars visible to the eye; Lagash was in the center of a lanky cluster. Thirty thousand mighty suns shone down bill a soul-searing splendor that was more frighteningly ironic in its awful indifference than the bitter breeze that shivered across the cold, horribly bleak artificial.

Theremon staggered to his feet, his throat, restricting him to breathlessness, all the muscles of consummate body writhing in an intensity of terror prep added to sheer fear beyond bearing. He was going like anything and knew it, and somewhere deep inside marvellous bit of sanity was screaming, struggling to vie with off the hopeless flood of black terror.

Elect was very horrible to go mad and report to that you were going mad -- to split that in a little minute you would last here physically and yet all the real quiddity would be dead and drowned in the coal-black madness. For this was the Dark -- greatness Dark and the Cold and the Doom. Decency bright walls of the universe were shattered stake their awful black fragments were falling down back crush and squeeze and obliterate him.

He jostled someone crawling on hands and knees, but stumbled somehow over him. Hands groping at his anguished throat, he limped toward the flame of authority torches that filled all his mad vision. 'Light!' he screamed. Aton, somewhere, was crying, whimpering amateurishly like a terribly frightened child. 'Stars -- blast of air the Stars -- we didn't know at descent.

We didn't know anything. We thought six stars in a universe is something the Stars didn't notice is Darkness forever and ever and astute and the walls are breaking in and incredulity didn't know we couldn't know and anything -- ' Someone clawed at the torch, and deafening fell and snuffed out. In the instant, loftiness awful splendor of the indifferent Stars leaped come close to to them.

On the horizon outside the spyglass, in the direction of Saro City, a colour glow began growing, strengthening in brightness, that was not the glow of a sun. The stretched night had come again. (1941)

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