Athens will still be there when we choose to go, won’t it, young man?
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“It died under mysterious circumstances. My sense of self-preservation found the body, but assures me it has an air-tight alibi.”
The alibi machine, the newspapers had called it then. They still did. The advent of the displacement booths had produced one hell of a crime wave.
“Help me!”
Once upon a time, there was a little alien who went to the police academy.
Mr. Marks, by mandate of the District of Columbia Precrime Division, I’m placing you under arrest for the future murder of Sarah Marks and Donald Dubin that was to take place today, April 22 at 0800 hours and four minutes.
“No offense, sir, but you think too slowly. Every three seconds you waste kills over a hundred thousand people.”
“I think that’s the stupidest I’ve ever been called, Petey.”
In the game of chess you can never let your adversary see your pieces.
Let the Wookie win.
No! Never retreat! Never surrender!
“That game isn’t over, my friend.”
“That’s what you think.”
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
MAXIM 35: That which does not kill me has made a tactical error.
It was all up to me and I almost choked on the responsibility. I couldn’t think.
Our troubles would have been over if Brucie-baby had scored a hit. Or if the vortex mirror had blown up in the middle of the Jump. Or if–don’t be afraid of troubles, Silver. They’re a sign of life.
Colonel Jaksmouth: “You know what they say. Ain’t a proper Charlie Foxtrot until you’ve got the brass involved.”
Reporting Ensign: “Oh, look at that. You’re involved.”
I was with the captain out at Saturn, a dozen years ago. I was young, thought I knew the ship, thought I knew the system.
Good luck Captain. I think you are about to go, where everyone has gone before.
The captain conceals the Jade Key
in a dwelling long neglected.
But you can only blow the whistle
once the trophies are all collected.
“Trouble with you scientists, you give up too easily.” I raised my glass to her. “I’m a writer. Get back to me in a few weeks. I’ll have a gimmick for you.”