My Library

I knew he was shaken, but I had to push him all the way. Then I could be positive he would appreciate the outer rings. I reached, homed on ident sexual pile, and stretched. After a short movement, we stopped. We were less than ten feet away. Beside me, BB focused, blanked, and closed. I waited, and he finally opened again slightly. I focused away from the pile of writhing human forms and half-closed. It was about all I could take. BB vibrated weakly. (What happened to them!) (They’ve died physically and they at least know they’re different, not responsible, they think, so they’re letting it all hang out.) (But, uh, what are they doing, like that?) (They have no interest but reproducing, not to make copies, but just the act of reproducing. That’s all they know and all they care about. They keep trying but get no satisfaction because it takes a physical body the way they know it—and they don’t have any.) BB attempted to focus again, and turned away. (Let’s get out of here.) I wanted his rote to be absolutely real. (Convinced?) (Yeh, yeh, let’s go.) I reached and stretched outward, positive he was close behind me, moved slowly outward. We passed through the density of still gray forms who were neither here nor there, barely conscious and waiting for something to happen—and it would, all positive. Very little M Band noise there. I eased us to a stop in the center of the nextinnermost ring. There were forms all around us, very human. Each was aware and active in a tight circle that included only their own rote. BB nudged me. (Why you stopping here? Noise is still heavy.) I opened. (There’s a big difference. These know they no longer have physical bodies, but not much more. Focus in on a couple, and you’ll get a percept.) BB turned and faced a woman who seemed to be walking in slow motion, in one place. She appeared middle-aged, overweight, tears running down her face … (I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mommy didn’t mean to leave you, baby doll, but she just couldn’t help it, but I’m coming back, I’m