Methuselah's Children by Robert A. Heinlein Page A

perhaps indefinitely, the span of human life. For that they are to be commended; it is a worthy and potentially fruitful research. But their claim that their solution is no more than hereditary predisposition defies both science and common sense. Our modern knowledge of the established laws of genetics enables us to deduce with certainty that they are withholding from the public some secret technique or techniques whereby they accomplish their results.
    " 'It is contrary to our customs to permit scientific knowledge to be held as a monopoly for the few. When concealing such knowledge strikes at life itself, the action becomes treason to the race. As a citizen, I call on the Administration to act forcefully in this matter and I remind them that the situation is not one which could possibly have been foreseen by the wise men who drew up the Covenant and codified our basic customs. Any custom is man-made and is therefore a finite attempt to describe an infinity of relationships. It follows as the night from day that any custom necessarily has its exceptions. To be bound by them in the face of new-' "
    Lazarus pressed the hold button. "Had enough of that guy?"
    "Yes, I had already heard it." The stranger sighed. "I have rarely heard such complete lack of semantic rigor. It surprises me-Dr. Oscarsen has done sound work in the past."
    "Reached his dotage," Lazarus stated, as he told the machine to try again. "Wants what he wants when he wants it-and thinks that constitutes a natural law."
    The machine hummed and clicked and again spoke up. "The DAILY DATA, the only midwest news-"
    "Can't we scramble that commercial?" suggested Lazarus.
    His companion peered at the control panel. "Doesn't seem to be equipped for it."
    "Ensenada, Baja California. Jeffers and Lucy Weatheral today asked for special proctor protection, alleging that a group of citizens had broken into their home, submitted them to personal indignity and committed other asocial acts. The Weatherals are, by their own admission, members of the notorious Howard Families and claim that the alleged incident could be traced to that supposed fact. The district provost points out that they have offered no proof and has taken the matter under advisement. A town mass meeting has been announced for tonight which will air-"
    The other man turned toward Lazarus. "Cousin, did we hear what I thought we heard? That is the first case of asocial group violence in more than twenty years . . . yet they reported it like a breakdown in a weather integrator."
    "Not quite," Lazarus answered grimly. "The connotations of the words used in describing us were loaded."
    "Yes, true, but loaded cleverly. I doubt if there was a word in that dispatch with an emotional index, taken alone, higher than one point five. The newscasters are allowed two zero, you know."
    "You a psychometrician?"
    "Uh, no. I should have introduced myself. I'm Andrew Jackson Libby."
    "Lazarus Long."
    "I know. I was at the meeting last night."
    " 'Libby . . . Libby,' " Lazarus mused. "Don't seem to place it in the Families. Seems familiar, though."
    "My case is a little like yours-"
    "Changed it during the Interregnum, eh?"
    "Yes and no. I was born after the Second Revolution. But my people had been converted to the New Crusade and had broken with the Families and changed their name. I was a grown man before I knew I was a Member."
    "The deuce you say! That's interesting-how did you come to be located . . . if you don't mind my asking?"
    "Well, you see I was in the Navy and one of my superior officers-"
    "Got it! Got it! I thought you were a spaceman. You're Slipstick Libby, the Calculator."
    Libby grinned sheepishly. "I have been called that."
    "Sure, sure. The last can I piloted was equipped with your paragravitic rectifier. And the control bank used your fractional differential on the steering jets. But I installed that myself-kinda borrowed your patent."
    Libby seemed undisturbed by the theft. His face lit up. "You are