Winston K. Marks

“ Human physiology and behaviour has no unsolved problems in it, you said once. So you went into robotics—positronic brains—infinite variety of response, with built in neuroses and psychoses. Human behaviour was too stereo-typed for you, Clifford. ”

“ Webb said softly, gradually closing the distance between them. "Your mechanical geniuses have outstripped our finest playwrights and novelists for creativity and originality. You've probed every conceivable aberrated twist of human nature with your psychological-probabilities computers. You've reduced sociology and human relations to a cipher—"
Clifford shrugged. "Merely an extension of early work in general semantics—the same work that gave us mental stability to go with physical immortality. ”

“ She moistened her lips and spoke without opening her eyes. "It was you or Clifford—and Cliff hasn't practiced for a century or more. It's—it's quite important to me, Webb. I really want to live. Not because I'm afraid of dying, but...."
"I know, Anne. I know."
Everyone in Chicago knew. Anne Tabor was the first female of that city to be chosen for motherhood in almost a decade. And in the three days since the news had flashed from Washington, Anne Tabor had generated within the blood-stream of her lovely, near-perfect body, a mutated cancerous cell that threatened to destroy her. ”

“ The spacious quarters and expensive appointments reminded Webb of Clifford's wealth.
"The robot business must be thriving," Webb remarked. "Anne didn't mention such luxury over here."
"The girl is tactful, my friend. Tactful, sweet, intelligent."
Webb looked up quickly. He had seated himself, and Clifford stood before him in a stiff, almost challenging pose. "Am I welcome here?" the physician asked bluntly.
"Certainly, certainly. We'll always welcome you here. Nothing need be changed just because Anne is to have a child. ”

“ Clifford collapsed to his knees, and Webb let him go with one final, irrevocable wrench that certified his death.
Clifford's death and his own. The penalty for murder was still capital punishment, and in his own case Webb acknowledged the logic and necessity of such harsh consequences.
If there was one activity that immortal, 28th Century Man could no longer afford, it was the luxury of falling in love.... ”

“ He turned away abruptly and studied the dials that registered her blood-pressure, pulse and metabolism. Incredible how even women three hundred years old remained sensitive to the slightest sign of infantile passion in their men. ”