Time Waits for Winthrop by William Tenn Read Free Book Online

is certainly not one of them. By the time a child has gone through our educational system, he or she is a well-balanced member of society who can be trusted to do whatever is socially necessary. From that point on, government ceases to take an active role in the individual’s life.”
    “But Winthrop isn’t a citizen of your world, Storku. He didn’t go through your educational system, didn’t have these psychological things, these readjustment courses, every couple of years, and didn’t—”
    “But he came here as our invited guest,” Mr. Storku pointed out. “And, as such, he’s entitled to the full protection of our laws.”
    “And we aren’t, I suppose!” Mr. Mead shouted. “He can do whatever he wants to us and get away with it. Do you call that law? Do you call that justice? I don’t. Red-tape bureaucracy, that’s all it is!”
    The yellow-haired young man put his hand on Mr. Mead’s shoulder. “Listen, my friend, and try to understand. If Winthrop tried to
do
anything to you, it would be stopped. Not by interfering with Winthrop directly but by removing you from his neighborhood. In order for us to take even such limited action, he’d have to do. That would be
commission
of an act interfering with your rights as an individual. What Winthrop is accused of, however, is
omission
of an act. He refuses to go back with you. Well, now. He has a right to refuse to do anything with his own body and mind. The Covenant of 2314 covers that in so many words. Would you like me to quote the relevant passage to you?”
    “No, I would not like you to quote the relevant passage to me. So you’re trying to say that nobody can do anything, is that it? Winthrop can keep all of us from getting back to our own time, but you can’t do anything about it and we can’t do anything about it. One hell of a note.”
    “An interesting phrase, that,” Mr. Storku commented. “If there had only been an etymologist or linguist in your group, I would enjoy discussing it with him. Your conclusion, though, at least in regard to this particular situation, is substantially correct. There is only one thing you can do—you can try to
persuade
Winthrop. Up to the last moment of the scheduled transfer, that, of course, always exists as a possible solution.”
    M r. Mead brushed down his overly emotional jacket lapels. “And if we don’t, we’re out of luck? We can’t take him by the scruff of the neck and—and—”
    “I’m afraid you can’t. A government machine or manufactured government official would appear on the scene and liberate him. Without any damage to your persons, you understand.”
    “No damage,” Mr. Mead brooded. “Just leaving us stuck in this asylum for the rest of our lives, no ifs, no ands, no buts.”
    Mr. Storku looked hurt. “Oh, come now! It may be very different from your own culture in many ways. It may be uncomfortably alien in its artifacts and underlying philosophy. But surely there are compensations. For the loss of the old in terms of family, associates and experiences, there must be a gain in the new and exciting. Your Winthrop has found it so—he’s at Panic Stadium or Shriek Field at least every other day; I’ve run into him at seminars and salons three times in the past ten days; and I hear from the Bureau of Home Appliances of the Department of Internal Economics that he’s a steady, enthusiastic and thoroughly dedicated consumer. What he can bring himself to do—”
    “Sure he gets all those gadgets,” Mr. Mead sneered. “He doesn’t have to pay for them. A lazy relief jack like him couldn’t ask for anything better. What a world—
gahhh!
”
    “My only point,” Mr. Storku continued equably, “is that being ‘stuck in this asylum,’ as you rather vividly picture it, has its positive aspects. And since there appears to be a distinct possibility of this occurring, it would seem logical for you people to begin investigating these positive aspects somewhat more wholeheartedly