The Whipping Star by Frank Herbert Read Free Book Online

time.
    "You'll have to establish that the Caleban concept of discontinuity interprets precisely as death," Abnethe said.  "You can't do that, because it's not true.  Why do you interfere?  This is just harmless play between consenting ad --"
    "More than play," the Caleban said.
    "Fanny Mae!" Abnethe snapped.  "You are not to interrupt!  Remember our agreement."
    McKie stared in the direction of the Caleban's unpresence, tried to interpret the spectrum-flare that rejected his senses.
    "Discern conflict between ideals and structure of government," the Caleban said.
    "Precisely!" Abnethe said.  "I'm assured that Calebans cannot suffer pain, that they don't even have a term for it.  If it's my pleasure to stage an apparent flogging and observe the reactions of . . ."
    "Are you sure she suffers no pain?" McKie asked.
    Again a gloating smile came over Abnethe's face.  "I've never seen her suffer pain.  Have you?"
    "Have you seen her do anything?"
    "I've seen her come and go."
    "Do you suffer pain, Fanny Mae?" McKie asked.
    "No referents for this concept," the Caleban said.
    "Are these floggings going to bring about your ultimate discontinuity?" McKie asked.
    "Explain bring about," the Caleban said.
    "Is there any connection between the floggings and your ultimate discontinuity?"
    "Total universe connectives include all events," the Caleban said.
    "I pay well for my game," Abnethe said.  "Stop interfering, McKie."
    "How're you paying?"
    "None of your business!"
    "I make it my business," McKie said.  "Fanny Mae?"
    "Don't answer him!" Abnethe snapped.
    "I can still summon police and the officers of a Discretionary Court," McKie said.
    "By all means," Abnethe gloated.  "You are, of course, ready to answer a suit charging interference with an open agreement between consenting members of different species?"
    "I can still get an injunction," McKie said.  "What's your present address?"
    "I decline to answer on advice of counsel."
    McKie glared at her.  She had him.  He could not charge her with flight to prevent prosecution unless he had proved a crime.  To prove a crime he must get a court to act and serve her with the proper papers in the presence of bonded witnesses, bring her into a court, and allow her to face her accusers.  And her attorneys would tie him in knots every step of the way.
    "Offer judgment," the Caleban said.  "Nothing in Abnethe contract prohibits revelation of payment.  Employer provides educators."
    "Educators?" McKie asked.
    "Very well," Abnethe conceded.  "I provide Fanny Mae with the finest instructors and teaching aids our civilization can supply.  She's been soaking up our culture.  Anything she requested, she's got.  And it wasn't cheap."
    "And she still doesn't understand pain?" McKie demanded.
    "Hope to acquire proper referents," the Caleban said.
    "Will you have time to acquire those referents?" McKie asked.
    "Time difficult concept," the Caleban said.  "Statement of instructor, to wit:  'Relevancy of time to learning varies with species.'  Time possesses length, unknown quality termed duration, subjective and objective dimension.  Confusing.  "
    "Let's make this official," McKie said.  "Abnethe, are you aware that you're killing this Caleban?"
    "Discontinuity and death are not the same," Abnethe objected.  "Are they, Fanny Mae?"
    "Wide disparity of equivalents exists between separate waves of being," the Caleban said.
    "I ask you formally, Mliss Abnethe," McKie said, "if this Caleban calling herself Fanny Mae has told you the consequences of an event she describes as ultimate discontinuity."
    "You just heard her say there are no equivalents!"
    "You've not answered my question."
    "You're quibbling!"
    "Fanny Mae," McKie said, "have you described for Mliss Abnethe the consequences of . . ."
    "Bound by contract connectives," the Caleban said.
    "You see!" Abnethe pounced.  "She's bound by our open agreement, and you're interfering."  Abnethe gestured to someone not visible in the