（外文电子版资料）George Zebrowski - Augie.pdf

AUGIE George Zebrowski Copyright ©2001 by George Zebrowski First published in Analog, January 2001 Distributed by F 640,000 bytes of memory ought to be enough for anybody. —Bill Gates. The phone chirped at him— —Then flashed a freeze eye-dee of Miras tired face on the small screen in his kitchen nook. “What?” he said impatiently, hoping that she had blanked her kitchen screen for the morning hours. He was not vain enough to ever blank his screen, but face to face with her, even on the phone, always threw him into the repetitive turmoil that he wanted to avoid, at least until their separation settled in sufficiently to give him the emotional firebreak behind which he could sort out his feelings. Dont take the call, he told himself, even though it was already too late. “Jimmy, its me,” Mira said weakly, gazing down into her cup of coffee. Her crankiness would depend on how much caffeine she had already swallowed. But the remains of his feelings for Mira softened his reluctance to talk. “Well, what is it?” he asked. As usual, she hesitated before answering. “Its Augie. Can you come over?” “What is it?” he asked sternly, knowing that his manner would not stop her from insisting. “Youll have to see. Dont waste time.” She sounded authoritative now, so he knew the matter was serious, if only in her head. At least he wouldnt have to dress much for her. She had seen what there was of him in all his guises, but for a moment he thought he might dress up a little, if only to cheer the limp figure who sat at the tiny table on the screen. He was glad that he had taken the call in his