human
Bed was there, of course. Primus:
gpt
What are 'dreams?' Herman:
human
Well, when a human being goes to bed, and sleeps....
gpt
Bolster was there, too, but not in the same sense. Herman:
human
To bolster its argument, the unconscious--what we call the id--frequently alters the person's likes and dislikes on what seem to be petty and commonplace subjects.... And
gpt
Herman:
human
I want you to understand that I don't know all about this subject myself, Mr. Primus. Nobody does; our knowledge is just a candle in the darkness....
gpt
May I talk to you privately?
human
Of course.
gpt
Look, he said,
human
Wait, let me finish. I can go ahead on that basis, but as far as I'm concerned I might just as well be counting the angels on the head of a pin. You've got to give me more information, Secundus. I want to know who you are, and who Primus is, and whether there's any other being with whom Primus could possibly have a filial relationship. And if you can't tell me all that without giving me the Secret of the Universe, then you'd better give it to me whether it's good for me or not. I can't work in the dark.
gpt
There is justice in what you say, Doctor. Very well, I shall be entirely frank with you--in so far as it is possible for me to do so of course. Let's see, where can I begin?
human
First question, retorted Herman.
gpt
Who are you?
human
We are-- Secundus thought a moment, then spread his hands with a helpless smile.
gpt
There are no words, Doctor. To put the case in negatives, we are not evolved organisms, we are not mortal, we are not, speaking in the usual sense, alive, although, of course--I hope you will not be offended--neither are you.
human
Are you _real_?
gpt
You have found me out, Dr. Raye. I endeavored to give you that impression--through vanity, I am ashamed to say--but, unhappily, it is not true. I, too, belong to the realm of noumena.
human
Then, blast it all, what _is_ real? This planet isn't. You're not. What's it all for? He paused a moment reflectively.
gpt
We're getting on to my second question, about Primus's attitude toward his 'father.' Perhaps I should have asked just now, '_Who_ is real?' Who remembers you, Secundus?
human
This question, unfortunately, is the one I cannot answer with complete frankness, Doctor. I assure you that it is not because I do not wish to; I have no option in the matter. I can tell you only that there is a Person of whom it might be said that He stands in the parental relationship to Primus, to me, and all the rest of our order.
gpt
God? Herman inquired.
human
Jahweh? Allah?
gpt
Please, no names, Doctor.
human
Then, damn it, tell me the rest! Herman realized vaguely that he was soothing his own hurt vanity at Secundus's expense, but he was enjoying himself too much to stop.
gpt
You're afraid of something; that's been obvious right along. And there must be a time limit on it, or you wouldn't be rushing me. Why? Are you afraid that if this unnamable Person finds out you've botched your job, He'll wipe you out of existence and start over with a new bunch?
human
Not us alone, Dr. Raye, said Secundus gravely.
gpt
If the Inspector discovers this blunder--and the time is coming soon when He must--no corrections will be attempted. When a mistake occurs, it is--painted out.
human
Oh, said Herman after a moment. He sat down again, weakly.
gpt
How long have we got?
human
Approximately one and a quarter days have gone by at the Earth's normal rate since Primus lost his memory, Secundus said.
gpt
I have not been able to 'speed you up,' as you termed it, by more than a twenty-to-one ratio. The deadline will have arrived, by my calculation, in fifteen minutes of normal time, or five hours at your present accelerated rate.
human
As for your final question, Doctor--you might think of the Universe as a Pointillist painting, in which this planet is one infinitesimally small dot of color. The work is wholly imaginary, of course, since neither the canvas nor the pigment has what you would term an independent existence. Nevertheless, the artist takes it seriously. He would not care to find, so to speak, mustaches daubed on it.
gpt
I hope you will not think that I am displeased with you, Doctor, he said.
human
On the contrary, I feel that you are accomplishing more than anyone else has. However, should you succeed, as I devoutly hope, there may not be sufficient time to congratulate you as you deserve. I shall have to replace you immediately in your normal world-line, for your absence would constitute as noticeable a flaw as that of the planet. In that event, my present thanks and congratulations will have to serve.