Ripeness Is All
By JESSE ROARKE
Illustrator SUMMERS
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Fantastic Stories ofImagination May 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidencethat the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Shakespeare wrote it, in the tragedy of King Lear—a phrase to live by:
Men must endure
Their going hence, even as their coming hither;
He was disturbed, but he did not know it. Murky, agitated waters creptup in his vast subconscious world, and sought the threshold, the mouthof the pit, the slope of the clean shore; little rainbows of lightnow and then flashed over the waters. They heaved, and against thesluice-gates they beat, sullenly. There was a yielding, but the greatforce was contained.
He left his Pad, curiously mopping his brow a little, and furrowing itbetween the eyes. It came to him that he was hungry. He stepped to thecurb, pushed the button, and leaned against the post, as if waiting, orin thought. Almost immediately a Car appeared, in a cheery orange andgreen. He almost shuddered, and he almost knew that he did so. Then hebrightened, stepped into the car, and voiced his desire.
He was carried at a moderate pace through clean, broad streets and pastbright, shiny buildings and smiling parks and gardens. He came to thetop of a high hill, saw the sparkling blue bay in the distance, andthought vaguely of sailing upon it. On his face he felt a brisk spray,and the air was tanged with salt. Then a warmed, faintly perfumedglow dried and composed him, and the Car shut off all its machineryand glided to a stop. He got out, ever so comfortable, and entered aluxurious Kitchen, in which he had not dined for several days.
The doors opened automatically, and a smiling android, gaily featuredand clothed, conducted him to a table. She was a soothing sight: yes,that's what it was. He ordered a sumptuous meal, rubbing his amplewaistline in anticipation.
"Dig dig!" crooned the waitress.
He patted good-naturedly her well-moulded behind as she turned; sheglowed sweetly back over her soft and delicate shoulder. He wondered ifMeg was enough, and decided that, well, for the time being, he guessedshe was. No use hurrying things. The waitress returned and served themeal. As always, it was excellent. He finished with a leisurely bottleof wine and a cigar, pinched the waitress's firm yet ever so yieldingthigh, and departed.
Then a deep stirring almost took hold upon him. Yes, that was whathe needed. It had been several months now. He pushed another button,and a rosy pink Car appeared to his service. "Take me to a House, youknow what I mean?" he said, as he arranged himself upon the pearl greycushions. The Car glided away.
On and on along the shore of the ocean they pleasantly careened. Atlength they turned into a rich garden bower, and stopped in front ofa great mansion overlooking the waves. He alighted; the Car departed.Profusely bloomed scarlet and golden and azure flowers, everywhere;succulent and bright was the lavish green. The doors opened, and a Womanreceived him. She was past child-bearing, motherly, and smiling.
He smiled back, and said, "You got one, huh?"
"Of course," she answered.
He