（外文电子版资料）One Night Of Song.pdf

file:///E|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Princess%20Delilah/Desktop/Isaac%20Asimov/One%20Night%20of%20Song.txt One Night of Song By Issac Asimov As it happens, I have a friend who hints, sometimes, that he can call up spirits from the vasty deep. Or at least one spirit--a tiny one, with strictly limited powers. He talks about it sometimes but only after he has reached his fourth scotch and soda. Its a delicate point of equilibrium-- three and he knows nothing about spirits (the supernatural kind); five and he falls asleep. I thought he had reached the right level that evening, so I said, Do you remember that spirit of yours, George? Eh? said George, looking at his drink as though he won- dered why that should require remembering. Not your drink, I said. The little spirit about two centime- ters high, whom you once told me you had managed to call up from some other place of existence. The one with the paranatural powers. Ah, said George. Azazel. Not his name, of course. Couldnt pronounce his real name, I suppose, but thats what I call him. I remember him. Do you use him much? No. Dangerous. Its too dangerous. Theres always the temp- tation to play with power. Im careful myself; deuced careful. As you know, I have a high standard of ethics. Thats why I felt called upon to help a friend once. The damage that did! Dread- ful! Doesnt bear thinking of. What happened? I suppose I ought to get it off my chest, said George, thoughtfully. It tends to fester-- I was a good deal younger then (said George) and in those days women made up an important part of ones life. It seems silly now, looking back on it, but I distinctly remember thinking, back in those days, that it made much difference which woman. Actually, you reach in the grab bag and whichever comes out, its much the same, but in those days-- I had a friend, Morten