Deana ea lin of Electric Sheep? » aan. OXFORD BOOKWORMSDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? F SoMa on erat al Soe Scene oe Cn a Clea) Eta eia Cu eaeul hc Cte Cee eee ) real animals have died. Most people SCO enemies iat Like Rick Deckard - android killer for the police and owner OE Tenet cao a ROLL ALL} Pre Ue ek Meet em a machines, but they look and sound and think like humans ~ COE ete imac RCT BURT al la RRR Lael Me) 1 ~ Ee Pray Sea Uo ue eae Coma Rec ete cad Beery SOLO CL LO ac ae aR aU Te] QXEORD ENGLISH ISBN 9-479220-6 ll SMa ue eset i 9 "780194 A ATAnAelel Reel (ole OXFORD BOOKWORMS xiDO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELEGTRIGISHER PR? Rick Deckard is an android killer. He works for the police in San Francisco, where the deadly radioactive dust from World War Terminus still covers the city likea grey cloud, blocking out the sun. Nearly all the animals in the world have died, and most people have emigrated to Mars, where the government gives them androids to work as servants. But some androids escape and return, illegally, to Earth. There are six escaped androids on Rick’s list. He must search for them through the dusty, half-deserted city, use tests to identify them as non-human, then shoot them down with his laser gun. He earns a thousand dollars for each killing. Perhaps, he thinks, he’ll soon be able to buy a real living animal with his earnings, instead of the electric sheep he owns now. But these are Nexus-6 androids. They breathe, move, look, sound like humans; they have ten million electrical connections in their brains and think faster than many people. They’re intelligent, dangerous, and hard to kill. Rick Deckard will earn every cent of his six thousand dollars. If he lives.OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY Fantasy & Horror Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Stage 5 (1800 headwords) Series Editor: Jennifer Bassett Founder Editor: Tricia Hedge Activities Editors: Jennifer Bassett and Christine LindopPHILIP K. DICK Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Retold by Andy Hopkins and Joc Potter — OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESSOREORD = "rig nar es ean pete set ren act tana sy mo “Sees ened rast ey ne Ectapeaftton tease ese Sperm "= vey hes daca yen ce nts See CONTENTS. “The challenge Seatle Neighbours ‘The chase begins Onerial New arrivals Acallforkelp Surprises Lasehutles Jourmey’send ACTIVITIES: Before Reading While Reading AcTIVITHES: After Reading n » 3 56 6s 7” 8 951 The challenge Rick Deckard woke up to the sound of the alarm from the mood machine beside his bed. He got up and stretched. In her own bed, his wife Iran opened her sad, grey eyes, frowned, and then shut them again. ‘Your mood machine is on too weak,’ he said to her. ‘If I turn it up for you, you'll be awake and...” ‘Don’t touch my mood settings.’ Her voice was sharp and bitter. ‘I don’t want to be awake.’ He sat down on her bed, bent over her and explained softly, ‘At a high enough setting, you'll be glad you’re awake; that’s the whole point.’ He touched her shoulder gently — his setting had been high and he was in a good mood. ‘Get that policeman’s hand away from me,’ Iran said. ‘Tm not a policeman.’ He felt cross, although he hadn’t dialled the mood machine for crossness. ‘You’re worse than a policeman,’ his wife said, her eyes still shut. ‘You’re a murderer working for the police.’ ‘I’ve never killed a human being in my life.’ He was really angry now. ‘Only those poor androids.” “You've always been happy to spend the money I earn.’ He stood up and walked across the room to his mood machine. fDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? slostead of saving,’ he added, “so we can buy a real sheep in place of that fake electric one upstairs.” He wondered whether fo dial for a happier mood or for an angrier one that would allow him to win the argument. “Hf you dal for more anges," Iran said, eyes open and watching ‘then Il dial the same. We'll have the biggest fight that we've ever had. Just try me.” She got up quickly and moved towards her own mow! machine. Rick gave in, ‘What's on your time asked, dialling his oven to check it lists sixchour depression,” Iran sad ‘What? Why did you timetable that?" It defeated the whole purpose of the mood machine. T didn’t even know there was ‘setting for depression,’ he said miserably. “Las watching Buster Friendly on television one afternoon,” Ian said. "During the advertisements I turned off the sound for a minute, and 1 heard his building “The empty apartments.” Rick understood immediately. Sometimes he heard them at night. But their building was ‘actually half-full, Others, in areas that before the war were called the suburbs, were now completely empty. He had heard this, anyway; he did not want ro experience it directly. {was ina 382 mood at the time, Iran went on, 's0 [heard the emptiness but I didn't fel it. At first {was grateful chat 1 Inada mow! machine, But then I realized that it was unhealthy not to react to the absence of life. So 1 found a setting for pression and I put it on my timetable for tice a month. 1 fean spend that time ehinking about life here on Earth, now that anybody with any intelligence has emigrated. That's reasonable, don't you think?” he for today?” he The challenge Bur in thar kind of mood it's diffcule to dial something clfferent. You'll just stay depressed.” “T put a 481 on the timetable for six hours later” Iran explained. “New hope, awareness of know 481, he said. He had dialled it many times. He took his wife's hands. ‘Listen. Caneel the depression. I's dangerous. I must go soon, bur come into the other room now and watch some television with me. “hate watching television before breakfast.” “Dial 888," Rick said, as he went into the living-room and turned the television on. “Then you'll want to watch He turned up the sound and che voice of Buster Friendly filled the room. Iran came in and turned it off again. “OK, Fl dial” she said. ‘Any mood you want, What difference docs it make?” “TI dial for both of ws,’ Rick said. In the bedroom he dialled 594 for her (happy awareness of her husband's greater common sense) and for himself fresh and busineslike interest in his ob. After a quick breakfast, Rick pur on his protective clothing and hurried up co the roof garden. His electric sheep was chewing calmly, just ike a normal sheep in a field of rss ‘The neighbours, of course, never asked if i was a fake. The question ‘Is your sheep real" would be even ruder than ‘Ate those your own teeth? “The morning sky was grey with radioactive dust and he could smell death in the ai. But it was not so bad now. People like him who had lived through World War Terminus were the strong ones. The dust continued to have its effects ‘om their minds and their bodies, but police hospital rests showed 3Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? that Rick was a “regular — he could still have children. If you failed the test, you became a ‘special’, and every day new specials were created from regulars by the dust. “Emigrate how! the government advertisements ordered. But I can't tmigeate, Rick said co bimself, because of my job. Bill Barbour, the owner of the next garden, greeted him. Barbour was checking his hors. “Fl have two soon,” he said, he contro os, and pened it The challenge ‘Can I buy the baby from you? Rick asked quickly. He hated ow We fake animal but followers of Mercerism, the official religion, had to have one if they coulda’t afford a teal animal ‘Sorry. They're Percherons. I want to keep them both Rick reached into his pocket and took out b bent copy of Sidney's, theofficial guide to all animal prises. He found the page for horses can buy a young Percheron horse from Sydney's for five thousand dollars’ he said aloud. 'No, you can't’ Barhour sid, “Look again, That woul! be the price if they but they haven’ 1 could pay you five hundred dollars a month for ten months,” Rick suggested, Sorry, Deckard, were hundreds ofthe Canada for this one and drive her back myself so that she Barbour replied, ‘Before the war there Percherons, bur now... had to fy t0 wasn’t stolen. Then I had to pay a fortune forthe frozen eps, to produce the baby. But if you have two horses and I haven't got one, that’s against the whole idea of Mercerism” ‘You have your sheep. There ate about fifty Families in this, building ~ one for every three apartments ~ and every family has an animal. Even Ed Smith has a cat, although nobody's Rick bent down and searched in the thick, white wool of his sheep. He found the hidden door of the control box, and ‘opened it ‘Look,’ he sad to Barbour. ‘Do you understand now why L want thae horse so badly care about this sheep, hut i's notDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheet? the same, Pm always afraid thar someone inthe building will notice when it breaks down, The repair man is very careful and deesses in white ike an animal doctor, but... You know ‘what people ae lke if you're not looking after areal animal e's not a still fel like a eriminal” Barbour stared at the controls and then looked at Rick sympathetically. ‘Tm really sorry,’ he said. “Why don't you touy a cat? They're cheap.” want a large animal,’ Rick answered. Thad a real sheep ‘once, but it died” I he killed five androids, he thought, he ‘would get a thousand dollars for each on top of his normal salary, But there were too many android killers around. Ihave to yet to work,’ he told his neighbour. His mind was now on his job, on the day ahead. ‘On his way t0 work, Rick, like so many other people, stopped outside one of San Francisco's larger pt shops. In the centte ofthe long shop window stood an ostrich in a heated plastic cage. It was, Rick knew, the only ostrich on the West Coast. He spent a few minutes staring atthe price, and as a result he was late arriving for work atthe police station. While he was unlocking his office door, his boss, Police Inspector Harry Bryant, appeared at his side “J want to see you at nine thiety in Dave Holden’s ofc,’ Inspector Bryant rold him. ‘Holden,’ he added, “is in Mout Zion Hospital. Half his backbone was blown away by a laser fun. It'll be a month, at last, before they can ft him with a new plastic one." ‘Whar happened?” Rick asked, shocked. Holden had been fine the day before. Bryant repeated, and walked away: ime now, but ‘ ‘The challenge Rick entered his own office. Holden was one of the best. His attacker mast have been one of the new super-intelligent androids with the Nexus6 brain. Most police forces were protesting about them, in Russia as well as across America. “The company that had developed the Newus-6 was difficult to ‘control, though, because its main factory was onthe planet Mars Rick rook a large brown envelope from his desk drawer then looked at the time. Ie was still only nine iteen and the ‘ostrich in the shop window was still fresh in his mind. He Picked up the phone “Happy Dog Pet Shop,’ a voice answered and a tiny happy face slowly appeared on the video screen. Rick could hear the sounds of animals in che backgeound, “The ostrich in your window,’ Rick said, playing with a pen on his desk, “How much wovld the fist payment be?” “Let's see..." the animal salesman said. “One thied of the full price. Then you pay the rest over thirty months at “Take two thousand off the price, and I'l pay cash,’ Rick said. With Dave Holden out of action, he could earn 3 lt in the next month, “Sir, the price i already low,’ the salesman told him. "Check your Sydney's.” Rick pulled it out of his pocket again and found the page for ostriches “Male, excellent condition,’ the salesman continued. “Thirty thousand dollars. Now, about chat frst payment “Tl think abou it,’ Rick said, and call you back." He started to hang up. “Your name, si? the salesman asked quickly. “Frank Merriwell Rick told him, and invented an address, 7Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep The challenge All that money, he thought, as he hung wp. But some people have enough to buy them, He dalled the number of the fale animal shop where he had bought his sheep. “Dr MeRac.” The figure of the man himself appeared more slowly This is Deckard, How much isan electric ostich?™ “Oh, I think we could make you one for under eight hundred dollars. How soon do you wane it? We IL alk you later’ said Rick. “Goodbye.” He put the phone down, fling depressed. His eyes fll on the brown envelope in front of him and he looked through it tani he found what he wanted: all the most recent informa fn the Nexus. ‘The figures we c extraordinary. The Nexus had a choice of tem milion separate electrical pathways in its brain ess than ‘second these androids could react in one of atleast fourteen Giferene ways. They were more ineligen than some classes of Thurman specials, so no intelligence test would trap them. The ‘only hope of recognizing them was by using the Voigt-Kampft Empathy Test only humans were capable of fecling empathy ‘with other life forms. Rick, nd other followers of Metcerism, had no problem experiencing the felingsof ether living creatures, Humanlike androids didnot have this quality. They stood alone so they were considered killers. Rick and his colleagues could [ull chem without breaking the laws of Metcrism, Te was already nine titty. Rick quickly put the papers back inthe envelope and hurried to Holden's room. Inspector Bryant was already in there using the videophone. “J sce you've brought the information on the Nexus, Bryant said, putting the phone down as Rick entered ‘Yes, L thought it must he them,’ Rick answered. “How ‘many androids are involved and how far did Dave get? “There were eight to start with; Bryant said, checking. Holden's notes, which were on the desk in front of him, ‘Dave killed the fist 160." “And the others are herein Northern California? “Dave thinks so. That was him on the phone.” “1m ready to take Dave's place,’ Rick offered. Bryant thought for a moment. Dave used the Voigt-Kamplf Test on those he suspected ‘You realize that the test was not prepared specially for the Newus-6? No test has been.” He paused. ‘Dave thinks is accurate. Maybe i is. But before you look forthe other ix, "want you to fly to the Rosen Corporation in Seatle and tak with the people who made them.” “And test the new androids?” “Yes. 'm going to phone the company now and discus the possibilty of including several humans inthe tess. You wont know which ones they are.” Bryant suddenly pointed his finger xt Rick, His face was serious. “This i a very responsible job, Dave has a lot of expetience behind him” “So have I Rick sai "Your jobs usually come through Dave. He chooses them carefully. But now you've got six that he intended to all Ihimself, and one of them shot him frst. Max Polokov. That's what it calls itself. I Dave was righ, of course — his list of names is only as accurate as the Voigt-Kampff Test itself. And so far the rst has only heen given to the fist three, the two Dave killed and then Polokov. Dave was giving the test when Polokow lasered him.Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? “Then Dave was tight, said Rick “Go to Seale Bryant ordered. “Take a station car.” Rick stood up. “Can I take Dave's notes with me?” he asked. read them on the way.” “Lets wait until you've tried that test,’ Bryant said. His voice was mot encouraging, Rick noted uneasily. He stood up, fel miserable. But Dave's sudden disappearance from work meant he could carn six thousand dollars if he killed all six androids, He should be pleased. He breathed deeply for a moment and then turned his mind to Seattle. Seattle ‘When Rick landed the police hovercar on the roof of the Rosen Corporation Building, young woman was waiting for hh there. She was a thin woman with black haie and she was wearing thick glasses to protect herself from the dus. She did not look happy to sce him. “Y'm Rachael Rosen,” she sid, holding out her hand. “1 ‘guess you're Mr Deckard.” “This wasn't my idea,’ he answered “Yes, Inspector Bryant cold us tha. But you're hee for the ‘San Francisco police, and the police never believe that we'ee working to help the public. “Androids can be useful one moment and dangerous the next. They're nota problem for us as long as they serve their true purpose,’ Rick said. ‘But when they're considered dangerous, its your job to kill them, init, Mr Deckard? said Rachael Rosen coldly. Have you chosen the group for me? Rick asked. He had no wish to discuss his job with the woman. ‘Ta like to He stopped as he noticed the animals behind her. He had ‘never seen so many in one place. The cages were guarded by mn in company uniforms with machine guns, and the men's eyes were watching Rick carefully. He checked his Sydney'sDo Androids Dream of lectri Sheep? Seatile side, Some of those animals did not even have a price. The fowl, for example. He stared at che bird, then realized that the sil was speaking again. ‘We don’t buy from Sydney's oF any animal dealer,’ she was saying, “We buy’ from private individuals. That's why the prices we pay aren’ listed.” Rick just stood there in silence, He remembered the time, inhi childhood, when animal afer animal stared disappearing from the Earth for ever. He thought too about his own need fora real animal, An electric sheep was nothing ~ nothing at All Ie hal no feelings and dil not even know that he existed For the first time Rick realized that animals were actually very similar to androids "What kind of animal do you have? Rachael's voice seemed long, way away, “A sheep,’ he answered slowly. “Well, then you should be happy.” Td love to own an owl’ He many ways electric am happys he said. “B pointed atthe bied in font of him. T always wanted one, even before they all died... All except yours, that i’ He turned away. ‘Td like to do the tests now. Can we go downstairs? “L expest Uncle Eldon has arranged everything by now, Rachael replied without expression, She turned her back and walked towards the door. Rick followed her, surprised that the large corporation was in facta family busines. ‘Why don't you like me?" he asked Rachael while they travelled down together tothe lower floors. “Hf your test doesn’t work, well have to take all Nexus-6 types off the marke.” Her black eyes were fierce now as she frowned at him. “Just because you police arent able todo the 2 simple job of recognizing che tiny number that get out of| control. {An older man was waiting for them downstairs. He had a ‘worried expression on his face "T'm Eldon Rosen, he explained ro Rick. They shook hands “This is very short notice, but we've done the best we can.” Rick became more confident. They're afraid of me, he realized. | can probably stop them producing the Nexus, and that could have a serious effect on the furure of the corporation The Rosens led him into a small room full of beautiful furniture. He sat down next ro an expensive-looking coffce table and took out his Voigt-Kampff instruments. “You can send in the first teste,” he informed Eldon Rosen, who was Tooking more and more anxious. “What do those instruments measure?” Rachael asked. They measure tiny movements in the eye muscles and under the skin of the face when people are shocked by something that's said to them Ie doesn’t master what people actully say = i's the physical reactions thar they can't conteol which ate £ Rachel ordered "Why? Rick asked, puzzled. "We chose her as a teste,” Eldon Rosen answered. “She ‘may bean android, We're hoping you can tell’ He lit a cigarette and sat down co watch Rick attached wires to Rachael's face and shone a thin white light into her let eye. Then he sat in front of his 'm going to talk about a number of situations,’ he told BDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? An android reaction, 4 Seattle Rachael She seemed calm, ‘I wane you to tell me how you feel about each one as quickly as possible.” Rick chose question thece. Right. You are given a leather wallet on your birthday “The needles on his instruments immediately moved up past the green and into the red, then down again. T wouldn't accept ity’ Rachael ssid. “And Td report the person who gave it to me co the police. ‘Rick made notes and then continued. “You havea litle boy and he shows you his insect collection, including his killing bottle. 1Pd take him to the doctor.’ Rachael's voice was low but confident. The needles inoved again, but not so far. He made another note. “In a magazine you sce a full-page colour picture of a gle, ‘wearing no clothes.” Rick paused. Are you testing whether I'm ar android or whether I like women?” Rachael asked sharply. The needles did not move He continued: “Your hu and likes the picture.” Stil no reaction. “The gir’ he added, i ying on a large and beautiful sheep carpet.’ Nothing. An android rea ler mind is the pieture on this time the needles moved ' woulda’t let him,’ Racha said ‘OK,’ Rick answered, ‘Now, you're eading a hook writen in the old days before the wae. The characters hecome hungry hang and go to a seafood restaurant. One of them orders and they all watch while the cook drops the lobster, alive ino boiling water “Oh Rachael sai. “That's awful! Did they rally do chat?” 5Do Androids Dream of lectre Sheep? A correct spoken reaction, but the needles did not move. Rick asked a few mote questions to check that he was right. *You'rean android he told her or it. He rurned to Ellon Rosen, who was look aren't 1” he asked, There was no answer, Look," he sad, ‘we both ‘he's not an andeoid,’ Rosen sai “Tdon’t belive it? “Why would he lie? Rachael said to Rick fiercely. ‘empathy test the and lived there for angey a8 well as anxious, ‘Tm right, this test to work” “Lean explain why my niece failed you oldn fourteen of her eighteen yeats. All she knew about Farth came from the nine other people on the ship, and from cassettes.” “Outside this building, you would kill me,’ Rachael said co Rick ‘Tve known that since Larived on Earth." “Wh results showed a human as an android?” “To stop the resting,’ Rick replied, packing his instruments away again, “The test has failed.” Bryant was right, he thought. [could have killed am innocent person using this test. "The problem,’ he went on, “i that you continue to make androids sa, “She was born on a spaces were your orders.” Eklon Rosen asked, ‘if your test that are more and more like humans, so now “We only make what people sho emigrate want,” Eldon Rosen said. “If we don't make them, other companies will ‘Your Voigt Kampf tese ws a failure before we produced the Nexus-6 android. You've probably killed other people with ice here. The underdeveloped empathy reactions, like my police are the ones with the problem, not us. “So nov Fl never be able to test a Nexus" Rick realized. “The test i useless. Seattle “Thav's right, Me Deckard,” Rachael Rosen agreed. Then she smiled. "And if you can't use the test, you can't find the androids, or kill chem, or earn your money.” “Your boss, Inspector Bryant,’ Eldon Rosen said, ‘won't understand why you It us defeat your test before it began. But don't worry, Mr Deckaed. 'm sure that together we can find a way for you eo continue to do your work.” “Would you relly lke to own an ow Rachael asked Rick “I dow’t think Pl ever have oney’ Rick replied, but he knew what she meant, He was starting to realize the kind of business that the Rosen Corporation wanted to do with him, *You almost own an owl, Rachael continued. "You ean. have it, But if it ever has any babies, theyll be outs. Take half an hou eo think about i She and Eldon Rosen moved rowards the door. ‘You've trapped me,” Rick said angily. They stopped and looked back at him. "You know tha my job depends on being able to use the Voigt-Kampff test, and you know thar I want your owl” “Your owl, de decided then?™ 1k, Rick thought. She's calling the ov it, not her. ‘I want, he std, ‘to ask you one more question. Sit down again.” Rachael looked at her uncle and then returned to her set. Rick put his black leather hag on the table, took out his instruments, and attached che wites to Rachael's face. ‘Do you like my hag? he asked her, as he searched for his {question papers inside it. replied Rachacl. “e's all yours. Have you "Yes, yes, she answered, without interest 's made from the skin of human babies,” Rick explained. ieDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? “There was a pause, and then the needles moved violently. Too late, There should have been no reaetion time. "Thanks, Miss Rosen,’ he said, and pur everything away again. ‘Thats all” "You're leaving?” Rachael asked. “Yes; he said. “You're an andeoid, and the rest works. Does she know?" he asked Eldon Rosen, who was looking very ‘unhappy. Sometimes androids didn’t know, because false memories were programmed into their brains. "No, But I think towards the end, when you asked for another try, she had a good idea. Dido't you?" he asked the sirl, *Yes,' Rachael answered. Her voice was expressionless. ‘Don’t be afraid of him,’ Eklon Rosen told her. "You belong. to the Rosen Corporation and the police can't touch you.” “He's right’ Rick said. ‘Tm not going to kill you, Miss Rosen. Good day.’ He started towards the door and then paused. To the ewo of them he said, Is the owl real?" “No, it's false, Ekdon Rosen answered. “There are no owls. Rick lefe the room and closed the door behind him. So thats how these people succeed in busines, he said to himself. But Rachael must be a Nexus6, I've seen one for the fist time. The test nealy filed — and its the only way that we hhave to rap chem. The Rosen Corporation certainly tris hard to protect its androids, And I have co find six more of them. He would eam his money. Every cent. If he lived S Neighbours: Ina great empty apartment building far from the centre of San Francisco a single television played. Before World War Terminus the building had been well looked after, but now the owner ofthese and other apartments had died or emigrated to other planets. There were few people left ro miss them, Nobody really remembered why the war had started or who, if anyone, had won, The radioactive dust thar covered the Earth had come from no country and nobody had planned it. After the war the animals had died, the sun had stopped shining, and most people were encouraged 10 emigrate. Under United Nations lav each person who left was given an android to work for them. Ie became easy to go and very difficult to stay, The few thousands who remained moved ino areas where they could live together and see each other. There were only 2 few oda individuals who stayed alone in the suburbs. John Isidore, listening to the television as he shaved, was one of these. Let's hear from Mrs Maggie Klugman,’ the television presenter was saying, ‘She emigrated to Mars a short time ago, Mrs Klugman, how does your exciting life in New New York compare with the diffcukies of your previous life on Earth?”Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Neighbours ‘There was a pause, and then tired middle-aged voice said, “Oh, i's wonderfal to have an android that you can depend ‘on. And before we left, my hushand and I were always worried that we might become specials, Now our worries have gone for ever. For me too, John Isidore thought, and 1 didn't have to ‘emigrate, He had been a special now for over a year. Since he had failed even a basic intelligence tes, the poplar name for him and others like him was ‘chickenhead’. But he survived He had.a job deiving a teuc fora false-animal repair company, and Me Sloat, his boss, accepted him as 3 human being, There were chickenheads who were much more stupid chan Isidore "So your husband was never confident,” cor presente, ‘that his protective clothing would Isidore had finished shaving, and turned the television off Silence, It eame from the walls the floor, the ceiling, and from all the machines in the apartment that had stopped working years hefore. He experienced the silence with his eyes as well as his ears It almost felt alive. Did other people fel this emptiness, oF only specials ike himself? He wanted to ask someone, but there was nobody £0 ask, There were a thousand apartments in the building, ll ‘uninhabited and slowly falling down. In the end they would bbe buried under the dust. But chen, of course, he would be dead too. He should turn the television on again, but i frightened hhim. The programmes were for regulars and only reminded hhim that he, a special, could not emigrate if he wanted to ‘Why listen co tha? he thought crossly. I hope there's a war up there too, and everyone who's emigrated becomes a special inued the 20 Right, he thought; time for work. He opened the door and, looked out into the wnlit hall. Once again, he felt che emptiness of the rest of the building. He was not ready to climb up to the empty roof where he had no animal. He closed the door again and crossed the room to his black empathy box. He ed it on, held the two handles and breathed deeply. The light came on and a picture began to form on the screen “There on a dry, brown hillside under a dark sunless sky was an old man in thin, loose clothes and no shoes. The man, Wilbur Mercer, was walking slowly up he hill and, as he held the handles, John Isidore found himself entering the picture. His own feet now walked across the stones, He fel the familiar roughness under his feet and smelled the bitter air of the sky ~ not the Earth's sky, bur the sky of some distant place. A place that he could always reach through the empathy box. Like everyone else tho at this moment was holding the handles, he was one with Wilbur Mercer and with all those ‘other people on Earth and on other planets. Together they concentrated on the hill, the need to climb. It was impossible 10 sce the end, but one day it would come ‘A rock, thrown at him ~ Wilbur Mercer, the others ~ hie his arm. He felt the pain. Another rock lew past, missing him, Who was it? He turned to look, but could not see his attackers. As they always di, they had followed him up the hill. He stood, ested, and eubbed the cut on his arm. Why am up here alone like this with my pain, he thought. Then, inside himself, e could hear the others. They felt che pain too and they walked with him. He was not alone ‘Once, he remembered, life had been different. Childhood had been nic; he had loved all ife, especially the animals. He amsl and every Ing thing 2 Neighbours had in fact been able fora time to bring dead animals back to life. ‘Then the killers came and arrested him in his sixteenth year, They suid it was now against the law 10 make dead creatures live again. They attacked his brain with something tadioactive and he dropped into a different world full of dead animals and bones. He became part of those dead animals and could not escape until they all started co geow again. In the end it happened and, together, they all began to climb, Then he was walking alone, but the others were there somewhere, He could fel them. Isidore stood holding the ewo handles, experiencing himself and every living thing. Then he let go. Ie had to end, as always, and anyway his arm was hurting. He went slowly to the bathroom to wash the cut. Some people, especialy older peopl; sled when they were hit by the rocks. In the city centre there were doctors that you could call, but not out in che suburbs. He dried his arm and heard, far away, the sound of a television, Ie's someone ese in the building, he thought, unable 10 believe it, Two or three levels below, in one of the other apartments, Now I'm not alone here, What do you do when 2 ‘new neighbour moves in? Go and borrow something? He could not remember. People moved away, people emigrated, but nobody ever moved in, You take them something, he decided. Like a cup of milk or maybe an egg —or, to be stictly correct, what peopl now ate instead of mil and eggs. In his fidge he foun a small piece of false butter. His heart was beating fast as he let his apartment and followed the sound. I mustn't show that I'm a chickenhead, hae thought, If he knows I'm a chickenhead, he won't talk to ime, Is always the same, Isidore hurried along. the hall 2Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheet? Walking down the dusty stairs, Isidore recognized the sr voice of Buster Friendly on the television. “an the dust will be particulary bad in the middle of the day, s0 if you're thinking of going out, wait until the fay afternoon. And speaking of waiting, i's now only ten hours ‘uni that big piece of news, my special report. Tell your frends to watch! I's something chat will realy surprise you As Isidore knocked on the apartment door, the television \ fel the presence of life behind the closed F someone who did not wane to see him. fell silent. He co door, and the fe “Hey, he called. “I live upstairs. U he He waited and listened. No sound and no movement 1 std. “My name's IHR. Isidore and 1 work for the animal doctor Mr Hannibal Sloat. I have a responsible job.” ‘The door opened a litle and he saw a gitl. She looked frightened, ill and very weak. She tried to smile *You thought this building was empty,’ he said ashe realize “Yes, the giel whispered. “But Isidore std, ‘it's good to have neighbours. I didn’t have any until you came.” Let's meet." brought you some butter, “You're the only ane here except me?” She seemed ess shy now. He saw that she had a nice figure and prety eyes. Behind her in the room were open suitcases; there were chings all over the flor “Lm your only neighbour, Isidore said. ‘And I won't bother you’ He felt sad. She was confused, he knew, and she didn't seem ¢o understand about the butter. ‘Good old Buster” he Said, trying to make conversation, “You like his? I watch him every morning and then again after work until 1 goto bed. Or 4 Neighbours | did until my celevsion broke. Now I can only get one station, “Who ..? the gel began and then stopped and bit her lip “Buster Friendly,” he explained. It was add that she didn't, know about him. “Where have you come here from?" he asked curiously t's not important,’ she said quickly. She looked at him refully and seemed to like what she saw. ‘Td lke to talk to you,’ she continued, “but later, when I've organized the apartment. Not nov.” “Why not now?" He did not understand. Everything aboot her was strange to him. Maybe ve heen living here alone too long, he thought. I really am a chickenbead. I can look in the ‘other apartments and find you some furniture,” he offered ldo it, the girl said. ‘Alone. "You want to go into those empty apartments alone? He could not believe i ‘Why not?” Again, she looked uncomfortable; she knew thar she had said something wrong. “The whole building is ful of rubbish chat people left when they died or emigrated. As you sleep, the rubbish grows and grows. “1 see, said the giel unceraily. “In the end i will be everywhere, We can'e win, “Why nor” she asked. "Nobody can wi. against eubbishy’ he answered, “fn my apartment the situation is under control, bu if | die or go away, the eubbish will cover it again, The whole world is moving that way. Except, of course, forthe climb of Wilbur Mercer. “The aie eyed him. “I don'e see the connection.”Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? That's what Mercerism is all about’ he said, surprised. Don’t you have an empathy box?” ‘After a pause, the girl said carefully,“ didn’ bring mine with me, I thought there'd be one here.” sso personal! I “hur an empathy bos,’ he cried, a par of yourself I's the way you touch other human beings so that ‘you're not alone. Bt you know that. Everyone knows that. Mercer even lets people like me ..° He topped, but it was too late, He saw the expression of dislike on her face. She knew. ‘Lalmost passed the intelligence test’ he said in a low voice. I'm not very special, not ike some people. But Mercer doesn't cate about that, “To me, tha’s a problem with Mercerism,’ the girl said clearly. “T guess Fl go back upstairs” he said, rurming away from hae. The butter was melting in his hand. “The girl watched him go and then called, ‘Wait! He turned back towards her, “Why?” he asked “Pl need your help with the furniture, What time do you tet home from work? You can help me then.” “Did you get my name” he said eagerly. “John Isidore, and work for...” some person with the unlikely name of Hannibal Sloat, who is probably only real in your mind.” She looked ‘at him coldly. "My name is Pris Stratton. You can call me Pris” She thought for a moment. ‘No, call me Miss Stratton, Because we dont really know each other. At last, | don’t know you.’ She shut the door and he found himself alone in the hall, Tl make dinner for both of us this evening, Isidore decided Neighbours as he walked back to his apartment. Maybe shell change her rind and let me call her Pris, She's strange, he thought, while he put on his white work Uniform; he was going to be late, but that didn’t matter. She's never heard of Buster Friendly, and that’s impossible, Buster's ‘the most important person alive -exeept Wilbur Mercer, but Mercer isn't a human being, She may need help. Can I help her? he asked himself. special, a chickenhead: what do 1 know? I can't marry and I can’t emigeate and in the end the «dust will kill me. [have nothing to offer. He went up t0 the roof and climbed into his old hovercar. An hour later he collected an electric eat which was not working propery, and drove it in his truck towards the Van [Ness Pet Hospital. The eat was making al the right noises for sick animal; it almost seemed ‘Wow, Isidore said to himself, e's ina bad way. He stopped the truck on a roof and searched the animal for its control box. He could not find it, and while he was looking the cat stopped moving. The owner hasn't been looking after it properly, Isidore thought. Ill he expensive to repait it now. He continued his fight back to the repair shop. For company, he tuned on the radio and listened to Buster Friendly. Like the television programme, Buster's radio broadcast was on twenty-three hours a day. He was interviewing one of those beautiful women who did not sing ‘or act; they were famous only as guests of Buster Friendly How did Buster manage to make both his television and radio Progeammes? Isidore wondered. And how did the women always find something new to say? ‘One thing about Buster worried Isidore. He sometimes made vDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? fan of empathy boxes. He was doing it now. “And if Fm going up the side of a mountain,’ he was saying to his guest, “I want a couple of bottles of beer with me!” John Isidore fle angry. Why did Buster's remarks not worry other people? Even the United Nations supported his broadcast Maybe Buster is jealous of Wilbue Mercer, Isidore thought. Perhaps they're competing. But for what? ‘ded, Pl have to rll Hannibal Slat. ‘Our minds, Isidore de Ask him if t's tre; hell, Isidore parked his truck on the roof of the hospital and J the cat downstairs to Hannibal Sloat’s office. Mr Sloat ‘was not a special but was too old to emigeate. The dust had made his face prey and he walked with great difficulty. He never cleaned his glasses, s0 he saw the world through a thick coat of dust “what do you have there? Mr Sloat asked. ‘A cat with an electrical problem.” Mr Sloat rook the cat from him. Isidore continued, shink fendly and Mercerism are fighting for control of Buster “Hf so Sloat answered, examining the eat, "Buster’s winning” He's winning nov Isidore said, but he'll lose in the end ‘Mer Sloat lifted his head. Why?” “Tecause Wilbur Mercer is for ever. He never dies. At the top of the hill hes wounded and falls, bur he always rises again, And we tise with him’ Isidore fele good, He did not ly speak to Mr Sloat so easily. Sloat said “Bustr i ike Mercer. He won't ever di. “That can't be right. He's a man." 2% Neighbours “I don’t know,’ Sloat said. ‘Bur i's true. They've never admitted i, of course... This at isn’t false [knew that one dlay this would happen. And i's dead.” He stared at the cat's hody and shook his head. “Another living creatute i dead, chickenhead. Dida't you notice the difference ‘Mr Sloat had never called him chickenead before. Not to his face "T ththoughe,’ Isidore managed to say, St was a really ood job. I mean it seemed alive, and... “Another dead animal,’ Mr Stoat repeated sadly ‘Mercer sas,” Isidore reminded him, “that all life ‘We all climb with him, di, “Tel that to the owner of the cat,’ Mr Sloa said. ‘Phone him now." “You mean Ihave to? Isidore asked. His heart stopped. He hated videophones. "You always make the calls. 'm ugly, dry and grey [feel sick. I think I'm going to die, “Do it, chickenhead, or lose your job” Sloat said angel “I d-don'r lke the n-name chickenhead. The d-dust has an effect on all of us, n-not just me.’ [can't make the call, he thought, and chen he remembered. The owner of the cat was at work; he had seen him leave the apartment." g-guess Le call he said as he looked for the number He dialled, and a woman's face appe "Yes? she sai, “Mes Pilsen? Isidore asked, shaking ith f talk to you about your e<-c-cat, It died.” “Oh, no, cried the woman, ‘We'll get you another one,’ Isidore heacd himself saying. “Tell us what you'd like red om the screen, 2»Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? “Horace is dead” Mrs Pilken said. “There's only one eat lke Horace. When he was little, Isidore had an ides. “Would you like an electric copy of Horace” he asked. “An exact copy?” “Oh, what are you saying? Mrs Pilsen cried. "But yes, you're right, We won't rll my husband. He needa’e know anything. Mr Sloat took the phone from Isidore. “Are you sure, madam? he asked. “The neighbours won't notice, but the owner always does, When you get near a false animal, "My hushand never really went near Horace because he was afraid of losing him. {looked after ie. U chink L would like a false animal. 1 don't think my husband could survive “That's why, when he was il, we waited so Tong before we called you. Too lang... . L knew thar before ‘yur phoned. How long wil i rake? “Ten days. Well deliver it while your hushand’s at work.” Mr Sloat said goodbye and hung up. He looked at Isidore. "Not had, he said. ‘Perhaps you're not so stupid really.” “rl take the cat tobe measured and photographed,” Isidore sid, He Felt very, very happy. Horace’s dea 4 The chase begins Rick Deckard parked his police hoverear on the station roof and went down to Inspector Beyant’s offi. “That was quick’ his boss said, putting his papers down. “The tip was a succes” He was tired, Rick realized, and the job ahead of him would he hard. “Hows Dave? he asked. “Vd Tike «0 talk to him before I go after the frst of the androids” *You must find Polokow first. The one who shor Dave, Bryant said. “He knows we're looking for him.” “Before I speak co Dave?” Iiryane reached for a sheet of paper. job with the city asa rubbish collector.” “Don'e only specials do that kind of work?™ “Polokow is pretending to be a special a chickenhead. That's what gave Dave problems, Polokow’s a very goo actor. At you sure about the Voigt-Kampff test now? You're certain, after Seattle, that.” “L am,’ Rick said shorly. He did nor explain, OK," said Bryant. ‘But we can’t afford a single mistake.” 1 already found my frst Newus-6," Rick told him. ‘And. Dave found two. Three if you count Polokov. ll ill Polokow today, and then maybe tonight of tomorrow talk to Dave. He olokov has taken 3 auDo Androids Drea of Electric Sheep? The chase begins took the sheet with the information about Polokov from Bryant. “One more thing, sad Bryant. °A Russian policeman is on hs way here. Ua a call from him while you were in Sandor Kadalyi, his “Whar does he want “The R “They want their man with you to watch ~ and ro help, if he can, I ageced, You won't have to share the money, though, Bryant added, noticing, Rick's expression Rick studied the description of Polokov and noted his address and place of work “Do you want to wait for the Russian before you go after the android? Bryant asked. “He's coming by Aeroflot rocket and it lands soon.” ian ate also interested in the new Nexus types. “1 work alone,’ Rick answered shortly, ‘TH stare now and Kadalyi can find me.” ‘OK. And after Polokov, the next android is a Miss Luba Lf, Here's the shoct on her Rick lef Bryant’ office and returned to his hoverear. Here | come, Polokoy, he thought, and he ran his fingers over his laser gun, His frst stop sas the company’ where Polokoy worked. It was a large, modern building ~ you could become very rich these days by collecting rubbish. An offical there checked the rimetables Polokov should be at work," he said, after he had looked through them for a moment. He made a eal to someone in the building, and then turned hack to Rick. Polokow didn come to work this morning. No explanation. What's he done, officer” 2 “IE he comes in,” Rick said, “don't ell him I was asking about him, Do you understand? “OF course I understa know a little about police work, [Next Rick flew to Polokov’s apartment building. Bryant and Holden waited too long, he thought to himself, 1 should hhave looked for him lastnight as soon as Dave was hit Tt.was a dark, dirty building. He found Polokoy's floor and. used his police torch to look again at his information sheet. ‘The Voigt-Kampff test had been given to Poloko, so Rick could forget that part and kill him on sight From out here, he decided. He took out his mood weapon, protected himself carefully and turned it on. The weapon sent ‘out electrical waves tha prevented everyone in the area, human beings and androids, from moving even a finger. He used a special key to open the apartment door and walked in with his torch in his hand No Polokov. Only broken furniture and dust; nothing personal at al. I knew it, Rick suid to himself, He's probably left San Francisco. Someone else is going to earn those thousand dollars now. So... on to Luba La, I the official answered coldly.‘ do Back on the roof in his hovercar, he reported by phone to Inspector Bryant Polokov has escaped. Do you want m atthe field before I look for Luba Lut? "He's already here. His rocket arrived early” Bryant said, “Justa moment” There was a pause. “Hell go and meet you where you are." While he waited, Rick read about Luba Luft. She was an ‘opera singer working forthe San Francisco Opera Company’ to pick up Kadalyi now. Si 8Do Androids Drew of Electric Sheep She had told the company she was from Germany. She must havea good voice to make connections so fast he ehought. 1 pretend to be an opera lover. We can talk about music while [prepare the test instruments The ear phone rang. Rick answered, and Rachael Rosen's face appeared. "Hello, Officer Deckand’ Her voice was friendly Are you busy or can I talk to you? have a litle time ‘We've been discussing your situation here a the corporation. Since we know the Nexus-6 types well, we think one of us should help you trap them, How? By coming with you. You'll have more success if another Nexus-6 contacts them.” as "Yes Her expression was serious, ‘Pee got too much help already. think about it and call you.’ At some distant furure time, he hought. Probably never "You won't call me,’ Rachael said. “We fecl we should help because of — you know. What we did. 'No, thank you.” Rick stared to puc the phone down, ‘Without me,” Rachael said, “one of them will kill you before you ean kill i ‘Goodbye,’ Rick said and hung wp. An android offering him her help! What kind of world was this? A hovercar taxi landed on the roof. A man witha red face in his micites and wearing « big Russian coat climbed out He smiled at Rick and walked across his car asthe taxi left “Mr Deckasd?* the man said, with a strong, accent, “Tm Sandor Kadalyi” He opened the door to Rick's car and got in ase begins beside him. They shook hanus and Rick noticed that he cai a strange kind of laser gun Kadalyis eyes followed his. “This? Kadalyi asked, showing it to him. “Interesting, is'e iF got it on Mars. Try i Rick pointed it out of the window and fied. Nothing You nced this,” Kadalyi said, laughing, and opened his, hand. The was a small piece of metal init. "You fire with 3eo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The chase begins this, and it docsn’t matter what the gum is aimed at” ‘You're not a Russian policeman, you're Polokov,” Rick suddenly realized, With his foot he touched the emerge button on the floor of his ear. ,? Kadalyi-Polokov said angrily ‘ve got equipment in this cat” Rick said, “that breaks up the laser beam and spreads it out ito ordinary light. “Then Pl have to break your neck’ the android replied and threw himself ae Ric {As the android's hands held his throat, Rick fred an old- style gun from its place under his arm. ‘The bullet hit the android in the head and the andeoid’s brain box burst. ‘The Noxus-6 controls blew into pieces which fell on Rick. He shook them off and, shakily, reached for the ear phone “Tell Bryant that I got Polokov,’ he sai to the officer who answered, “Hell understand.” He breathed deeply. Ie almost killed me, he thought. Slowly his heart returned to its normal speed, but he was still shaking. A thousand dollars, he thought. And I reacted faster than Dave. OF course his experience prepared me, Dave had no warning. Rick lita cigarette, then picked up the phone again at rang his home number. He saw his wife's miserable face in front of him. ‘Oh hello, Rick.” "What happened tothe 594 mood that I dialled for you? “Trealled. What do you want? Pm so tired and Ihave no hope, none a all. Our marsiage is terible, and you'll be killed hy one of those androids, and “My laser's no fin “Listen he said impatiently. Pm i ‘of android that nobody can trap except me. I've killed one, so cestigating a new kind 6 that’s a good start, Do you know what we're going to have whe I finish?" “Yes, Iran answered. Her eyes were dull and expressionless “L haven't told you yet!” He could sce that she was too depressed to listen to him. “Tl see you tonight,’ he finished bitterly, and hung up. Why do 1 risk my life? he asked himself. She doesn't care about ostriches, We should go our ‘own ways, Most androids have a steonger wish to live than my wife He thought about Rachael Rosen again, Maybe I could use her if she doesn’t want any of the money. He started his hovercar and set out for the opera house. He wondered now about Rachaek some androids seemed very pretty. It was a strange feeling, reacting to machine like that, She's too thi, he decided. Like a child. How old is Luba Luft? He looked in| his notes for her “age”. Twenty-eight ~ i appearance. Tl try one more android hefore I ask Rachael for help, Rick decided. If Miss Luft is really haed ~ but I think Polokov was probably the hardest, The others don’t know 1 ming for thom, Ashe landed on the roof ofthe opera house, he was singing loudly. He had no mood machine inthe ea, but he was happy And ready The singers were rehearsing when he sat down ithe main hall. He recognized the music immediately, hecause he loved Mozart Ietook longer, though, before he recogaized the wom in front of him as Luba Luft, His third Nexus-6 android. She sang, and her voice was fantastic, one of the best that he had ever heard. The Rosen Corporation buile her well, he admitted to himself. Bur then the bette she sings, the more I'm needed yDo Androids Dream of Electr Sheep? The chase begins “There was no problem high, “The practice ended, Rick followed the last singers to the 7. And when you can catch tha, well change the design again. Inthe end there'll bean android cha you can't find. Now take off your coat.” “Why? “So we can go to bed” He realized how frightened he was of his final challenge; of te leader. “Tean’e go without you now, he told Rachael. He was walking round the room, ‘T can't even leave here. Polokov he eyes of woman, the bed, and they drank 8 came after me; Gatland more of less came after me. *You think Roy Baty is looking for you too? Come here” aDo Androtde Dream of Electric Sheep? The drink had obviously had an effect, because she was smiling at him. He walked slowly to the bed and undressed het. "How docs it feel to be born? she asked, “We're not born and we don't grow up.” She rolled on to he side and laughed. ‘m not alive! You're not going to bed with a woman, Don’t be disappointed, OK? Have you ever made love to an andeoid before? No, he sad, taking off his shite and tie, “They tll me it's almost the same if you don’t think too ‘much about it, And if you do think about it, you can't continue.” He kissed her shoulder “Tove you,’ Rachael cold him. “If [entered a room and: found a sofa covered in your skin, Pd score very high on the Voigt-Kampif rst Some ime tonight, he chought as he turned off the bedside light, I will kill Nexus-6 which looks just lke this girl. Good fod, he thoughe; I'm taking Phil Resch’s advice, Go to bed ‘with her fest, he remembered. Then kill her. “Tean’t doit’ he said and moved off the bed. wish you could,” Rachael said, Her voice was warm. “Not because of you, Because of to do to her” “We're not che same. I don’ care ahout Pris Stratton, Listen ‘Come to bed with me and Fl kill Serato “Thank you’ he said gratefully. Would Rachael really do. it? Te scemed that an android could in fact kill another android. "Now ger into ed!" Rachael ordered He gor into be. fs Stratton; what I have A cal for help Afterwards they enjoyed the luxury of coffee brought up by room service, Then Rachael satin the bath and sang. "You made a good deal with me,’ she called. “You knew that we androids can’t control our felings. You ook advantage fof me,’ She seemed as human as any woman that Rick had ever known, ‘Do we really have to kill those androids tonight?” “Yes, he answered. Two for me, he thought, and one for ‘Rachael came out of the bathroom wrapped ina large white rowel "Tye been in existence for two years now,’ she said. How much longer do you think I've gor? He hesitated. "Abou ewo more years. I'm sorry.” She dried herself. "No~I'm sorry I said anything. Anyway, it stops humans running off and living with androids.” ‘They dressed and travelled together up to the roof field. “Then they headed towards the subuebs of San Francisco. “My goat is probably asleep by nov,’ Rick said. ‘Or maybe fe doesn't slop at night. [don’t know. “What kind of wife do you have? Rick did not answer. “Do you. ..2 She hesitated. “iF you weren’t an android,’ Rick rod her, if could mary you by law, I would.” You look so sad. He stretched out his hand and touched her face. *You'ee not going to be able to kill androids any more’ she went on calmly. ‘So don't look sad. Please He stared at her. “No android killer has ever gone on after being with me, 7sRachael suid. “Except one, Phil Resch. And he’s crazy. see" said Rick. His whole body was frozen in his seat, He hhad no feeling in any part of i. But now you're going co meet a wonderful man,” Rachael continued, “Roy Baty, he sad. ‘Do you know all of them? 1 knew all of them, when they sill existed, I know three now. We tied to stop you this morning when I rang you, but then we had to wait ‘Until I broke down and called you. ‘Luba Luft and were very good friends. What did y think of her? Did you like her? liked her” But you killed her Pil Resch killed her. Ah, we dide't know that, Only that she had been killed We thought by you. So everything that happened atthe hotel was just a How many times have you done this? Rick asked. don’t remember, Seven or eight times, Nine. Is a useful weapon.” The idea is very old-fashioned’ Rick sc stared landing the hovercar.‘'m going to kill you now. And then Tl go on alone and kill the others, ‘You can't do that,’ she said nervously. “1 elong to the corporation. I didn't escape from Mars.” “Bute reminded her, “if 1 can kill yu, I can kill hem, The life force was Ieaving her. He had scen it before with androids. Calm, mechanical acceptance, where a human, desperate to survive, would fight on tothe end A call fr help ‘Will you do it carefully? she asked quietly. ‘So that it doesn't hur? He landed the car and rook out his laser gun. Ar the bottom of my head,’ Rachael sai, from him and pointing to the back of her neck. “Here. Please. He stared at he, then he pot the gun away and a moment later they took off again, He Hew back towards the Se Francis Hotel, where she had lefe her car. “Thank you for not killing me," Rachael saidDo Androids Dream of Electric Shee ‘Well, you've only got two years and I've gor fifty,” Rick replied “You're the same as the others” Rachael sounded more confident now. *You all get angry and talk about killing me. T'm right, you know. You won't be able to kill the others, So 10 home to your goat. You love that goat more than me. ‘More than you love yous wife, probably.” She laughed. He did not answer. They continued in silence for a while and then Rachael found the ear radio and turned it on, No, Rick said. ‘Don't you want to listen to Buster Frinly and his rienlly friends? I's almost time for his great piece of news. Did you know about that? He's been talking about it for Rick turned the radio off. Rachael turned it om again.“ want to listen. This is important, what Buster Friendly has to say on his show tonight.” ‘She sa back in er seat as Busters voice looed the speakers fonce again. She had beaten him, Surprises ithe rest of my things up here, Pris ordered J.R. Isidore. want my television so we can hear Buster's news “Yes, Irmgard agreed, brigh-eyed. ‘We need the television; we've een seating long time for tonight and i'l be starting Alone, Isidore walked down the dark, empty hall to the stairs. He was stil bursting with happiness, with a sense of boeing useful forthe frst time in his dll life. Others depend on | ‘me now, he thought as he stepped through the dirt on the stairs tothe floor below. And il be nice to sce Buster Friendly fn television again, instead of just listening to him on the truck radio, It is tonight, he realized, that Buster has promise {to surprise us. So because of Pris and Roy and Irmgard I shal wate what is probably the most important news broadcast, for yeas. Life, for JR. Isidore, had certainly got beter. He entered the apartment that Pris had been living in and Picked up the television. The silence was starting to worry him, and his arms felt weak, You have to be with people, he thought. Before they came here, I could stand it, being alone in the building, But now it's changed. [need them. Thank god they stayed,Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Surprises He decided to carry the television up fist and then return for the bags and clothes. When he teached his own living oom, he put the television down on a table. “The picture's good in this building,” he said, breathing hard. “When I used to get Buster “Just rurn it on and stop talking,” Roy said He did so, then hurried to the door. “One more trp,’ he told them, "Fine, Pris answered, her eyes om the television. | chink, Isidore thought as he went downstairs again, they're using me. But he didn’t care. They're good friends to have, he sid to himself. On a step below him, something moved in the dust. He stopped immediately and took out « plastic medicine bottle which, like everyone else he caried with him at all times for this purpose. A spider, and it was alive, He carefully guided ic imo the bortle and put che lid on. There were tiny breathing holes in the top. He ran back upstairs + yes srs the time is now: This is Buster Friendly, who hopes you'e all ready to share the discovery which 've made and which top investigators have checked for me. Ho, bo, this John Isidore said, “I found a spider” The three androids gave him a quick look, attention from the television for a moment Let's see it,” Pris sai, She held out her hand. Don't talk while Busters on, said Roy Baty Pee never seen a spider,’ Pris sad, the bottle cupped in her hand. ‘AII those legs. Why dos it nocd so many legs, JR?” “Thats the way spiders ate,’ Isidore replied.“ ing thie %0 Standing up, Pris said, ‘Do you know what I think, JR? T think ie doesn’t need all those ees.” “Eight? said Irmgard. “Maybe four are enough, Cut four off and see.” She took a pair of scissors out of her bag and passed them t0 Pris, UR. Isidore experienced a strange sense of terror. CCareyng the meslcine bottle to the kitchen, Pris sat down, took the id off the bore, and knocked the spider out onto Isidore’s breakfast table. ‘Ie probably won't he able to run as fas, she said, "but there's nothing for it to eat around here. Tell die anyway.” She reached forthe scissors. "Please Isidore said, Pris looked up at him. “Is it worth something? ‘Don't hurt it,’ he begged. With the scissors, Pris cutoff one ofthe spiders legs. In the living room, Buster Friendly sad, "Look a this picture. This the sky chat you normally sce on the screens af your empathy boxes. Now Earl Parameter, one of my investigators, will explain our world shaking discovery co you.” Pris cutoff another leg, holding the spider with the ede of hee hand. She was smiling “When the video pieres are made lager, the investigator continued, “we can see that the grey sky against which Mercer moves is not real." “You're missing ity lemgard called anxiously to Pris. She rushed to the kitchen door to see what Pris was doing. “Oh, do that afterwards, she said, “this isso important. that everything we believed “Be quiet Roy Baty said. is true, Iemgard finished. proves aDo Androids Drea of Electric Sheep? Surprises ‘The television broadcast continued. “We can see here that Jy painted, and the dry ground is false. I is quite possible that the stones are made of soft plastic and do not in fact hurt” In other words, Buster Friendly said, ‘Wilbur Mercer is so in pin at al. “We managed, Mr Friendly the investigator told him, using thousands of photographs, to find a very old man called Al Jarry, who sed to actin films before che war. We went this hhome in East Harmony, Virginia, and he told us chat he did ‘once make a number of short fitcen-minute video films for an cemployer that he never met. The rocks they threw at him were in fact plastic, the blood was paint, and che only pain that Mr Jarry experienced was a whole day without whisky.” ‘The investigator laughed. “AI Jarry,’ Buster Friendly said as his face reappeared. ‘Al Jarry made a few dll lms and did not know who they were for. People have said chat Wilbur Mercer is not a human boing, dha hes something much greater, perhaps from another planet. Well, in a sense they are correct. Wilbur Mercer is not Jhuman, doesnot in fact exist. The world in which he climbs is a cheap, Hollywood setting which disappeated into the dust years ago. And who, then, started this joke?” “We may never know,’ Irmgard whispered. "We may never know,” Buster continued, “But we do know that Mercerism is nothing more than an invention. Yes, Mercer isa fake. “L think we know," Roy Baty said. “Merce “Bue think about this” Buster Friendly was still talking the moon is abvio 2 “Ask yourself what Mercerism does, Well, if we're to believe those who practise it, Mercerism brings men and women on every planet together. And how is this done? By the so-called voice of Mercer’, a...” °No, said Irmgard angrily, walking wp to Isidore, it's a way of proving that humans ean do something we can, isn't it? Because without your Mereerism, we only have your word ‘thac you feel chs empathy, this shared group thing. How's the spider? She bent over Pris” shoulder. “Four gone,’ Pris replied. She pushed the spider. "He won't move. But he ean." Roy Baty appeared in the doorway. 1 it and almost every human heard him. Mercerism is meaningless” He looked curiously at the spider. “Te won't walk” Irmgard told him. “Lean make it walk." Roy took out some matches and lit fone; he held it near the spider until at lst it moved slowly away “Teas right,’ Irmgard said. “Te can walk on four legs. She looked up at Isidore. ‘What anything. We'll pay you what... that Sydney's guide says ‘worth. Don't look so unhappy. Isn't that interesting, what they discovered about Mercer? Hey, answer me.’ She pushed hin anxiously “He's upset,’ Pris sad, “because he has an empathy box in the other room. Do you use it, LR? “OF course he uses it. They all do ~ or did. Maybe now they'll stare wondering.” Roy smiled. “This won't end it Pris said. “But now there are a lor of unhappy human beings.’ To Isidore she said: ‘We've waited s done. Buster said the matter? You won't lose 8Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Surprises for months. We knew this was coming,” She hesitated, then said, ‘Well, why not. Buster is one of us.” “Am android,” lemgaed explained. "And nobody knows. No humans, I mean. ris, with che scissors, cut another ly off the spider. Suddenly John Isidore pushed her away and lifted the creature from the table. He carrie ito the tap, tured the water on, and drowned it His mind, his hopes, drowned too. As quickly as the spider. “He's really upset Irmgard ssid nervously. ‘Don't look like that, JR. And why don't you say anything? To Pris and het husband, she said, “He hasn’e spoken since we turned the television on." “Wes ot the television, Isidore? Hell heal ight,” ino the other room to turn the television of ‘Looking at Isidore with amusement, Roy Baty said I's all finished now. Merserism, I mean.” He picked up the dead spider. “Mayle this was the last spider,’ he added thoughefully “The las living spider on Earth. In chat ease it's finished for spiders too." 1+ don't fel well Isidore said. He took a cup out of a kitchen cupboard and stood holding it for a while ~ he didn’t know for how long. “Is the sky behind Mereer really just painted? he suddenly asked Roy. *You saw the lines from the painsbrush on the televiso “Mercerism isn't finshed Isidore sad, There was something ‘wrong with these androids, very wrong. The spider, he thought. Maybe it was the lst spider on earth, as Roy Baty said. And ‘he spider is gone; Mercer s gone. He saw the dust spreading and the rubbish covering the empty buildings, the end of ‘verything. He heard the cuphoards in is kichen breaking and falling, and he fle the ground under his feet begin to He touched the wall, and his hand wene through it He sat low, and the legs of che chair bent. The ep in is hand was in ie pieces “Whats he doing? lemgards voice came to him. “He's breaking everything, Ire, toy” “Ym not doing’ he sid. He walked slowly it che ving room, tobe alone, and looked around. 1s al ol, he thought, andes being destroyed. He sa pecs of animals rey bones, under his shoes. es happening to me again, he eelzed. ll be down here a Tang time Like before. “The wind blew, and more bones broke. I wish I could remember how to climb up from here, he chought. Looking up, he could sce ning to hold onto. Mercer, he sid, where ave you now? I'm doven her, but this ime you're not here with me. Something crossed his foot. He bent doven ana looked or it ~ and found i because if moved so slowly. The spider, walking on ts remaining legs he picked i up and held ein his hands. The spider is alive, he realized Meret must be “The wind blew again and broke the hones, hut he fel the presence of Meret. Come her, he said to Merce. “Merce! Suuenly the face ofthe ol man asin fone of hi expression om his fac. the sky painted?” from the brash? and as he walked he fele chem breakin calm idore asked. ‘Are there realy lines 8sDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Yes) Mercer said “Lan’t soe them, “You are too near,’ Mercer answered. “You have 10 be a Jong way away ike the androids. They se things more clay ns all teue, you know, what they said” “Including about the whisky?” e was all ruc. They will have trouble understanding why nothings changed. Because you're still here and I'm still here. [ifed you from the bones just now, and I will continue to lft ‘you until you want eo stop. But you will have to stop searching for me, because I will never stop searching for you.’ “I didn’ like that, about the whisky.” “Thats because you are a very good person, I'm not, 1 clon't judge ~ not even myself” Mercer held out his hand. "Before forget, [have something that belongs to you.’ On his hand rested the spider, bur wich al its eight legs. “Thank you. Isidore accepeed the spider. He started to say something else, bur then the alarm rang, “Theresa killer in the building! Roy Baty shouted. “Turn the lights off. Get Isidore away from thar empathy box; he has to be ready atthe door. Move hie!” ‘Looking dove, Isidore saw his hands on the handles of the empathy box. The lights went out, and he heard Iemgatd's voice in his ear “Listen, J. she whispered. Anger and fear suddenly made hae laok ugly. "You have to go to the door, when he knocks ~ ‘fhe knocks. You must show him your identification and tell |hithis is your apartment and nobody else is here” Pris, on the other side of him now, whispered in his other car. ‘Don't let him in, J. Say anything; do anything to stop 86 Surprises him. Do you understand what he would do ro us if he found ‘Moving aveay from them, Isidore made his way through the dark to the door. He stood there and listened. He could ‘sense the hall outside, as he always sensed it: pry and fees, "Can you hear anything?" Roy Bary hent neat him, and Isidore could smell his fear. Step outside and have a look." Isidore opened the door. He was sill holding the spider Which Mercer ad given him. Was tthe same spider that Pris had cut with her scissors? Probably not. He would never know, Bu at last it was ave. He walked tothe end ofthe all and clown the stairs, and stepped into the garden. Most of the plants had died, and the broken paths were covered with dus, but it fle good to feel the familiar ground under his feet. He found a small area of half-dead grass and pur the spider careflly down on i. Then he stood up again,Last battles: “The ight ofa torch shone on the grass. Now Isidore coull see the spider resting om a leaf, So it was all ight now. “What did you do? asked the man holding the tor “I pur down a spider’ Isidore answered, wondering why the man did nor se it. So i could escape.” “Why don’t you take it wp to your apartment and put tia a bottle? The price in Sydneys for a spider is a hundred and ten dollars” “TEL took i hack there, she'd ent its legs off again. One by ‘one, ta see what it would do,” “Androids do that,’ the man said. He took a card from his pocket and showed i to Isidore. work forthe San Francisco Police Deckard. Rick Deckard.” He put the card away again. “They're up there now? The ehre of them?" “Actually” Isidore said, ‘'m looking after them. Two are ‘women, They're the last ones of the groups the others are dead. brought Pris's television up from her apartment and ‘pt it in sine, so that they could watch Buster Friendly. Buster proved that Mercer doesn't exist Isidore was excited that he knew something important ~ news that the killer obviously hadn't heard. "Let's go up there’ Deckard said, He pointed his laser gun Last bates at Isidore; then, a moment later, he put it away again. “You're 2 special, aren't you? he said. “A chickenbead.” "But T have a job, Idrive a track for...” He hesitated, forgetting the name. *... for pet hospital. The Van Ness Pet Hospital. Owned b-b-by Hannibal Sloat. Deckard said, “Will you take me up there and show me which apartment they're in? You can save me a lot of time ~ there are more than a thousand apartments.’ He sounded exhausted “IF you kill them, you won't be able to become one with Mercer again, Isidore told him. “You won't take me up? Tell me which flor? Noy’ said Isidore "By law, - . ” Deckard began. Then he stopped. ‘Good night," he said, and walked away towards the building, following the path with his corchlight. Inside the building, Rick turned off his torch and made his way slowly along the hall. The chickenhead knew they were androids hefore I told him, he thought. But he docso’t understand. On the other hand, who does? Do I? Did 1? And ‘one of them wil lok exactly like Rachael, he reminded himself Maybe the special has been living with her. [wonder how he ik i. He had brought his listening equipment from the car In the silence ofthe hall, it showed no sounds, Not on this toor He changed the controls to a vertical reading. Upst noted, He climbed the stairs to the next floor, A figure was wating in the shadows. “IF you move, I kill you,’ Rick said. The male one. The laser gun fle heavy in his hand. He tried to lif it but couldn %Do Androide Drea of Electr Seep? “Ym not an android, the figure said. “My name is Mercer. {inhabit chis building because of Me Isidore. The special who had the spider ~ you spoke to him outside. ‘Am I outside Mercerism now? Rick asked. ‘As the chickenhead said? Because of what 'm going to do in the next few minutes? Mercer answered, “Mr Isidore spoke for himself, not for ‘me, What you are doing has to be done." He pointed at the stairs behind Rick, “came to tell you that one of them is Fbchind you and below, nos Ihard ane of the theee, and you must kill it Deskasd. On the steps.” Rick turned and dropped to is knees, There was a woman, and he knew her. He lowered his laser gun. Rachael” he said. Had she followed him in her own hhovercar? Why? “Go back to Seattle,’ he told her, ‘Leave me some.” And then he saw that ie was not Rachael “Come here, my dear,’ the android ssid, holding out its arms. The clothes, he thought, ate wrong. But the eyes, the same eyes. And there are more like this, each with its own rname, but all Rachael Rosens. He fired at her as her eyes hegged him nor to. The android by towards him; he covered his fae. The hard one of the three, Mercer had said, He looked in the shadows, searching for Merce, but the old man had gone. They can follow me with Rachael Rosens until I ic, he though, or until they invent a the apartment. Ie will be the frst. Quick, Mr st and parts of ic flew Nexus-7 ype. And now the other wo. Mercer protected me, he realized Offered help. And now I can do the rest. The Batys will be hha, hut they won't be ike ths. Somewhere in the building ” Lat battles the Batys waited and knew. Probably, ac this pon, they were afraid, Rachael ~ oF Pris Stratton ~ was their best weapon, and without Mercer it would have worked He took out his equipment again and hurried down the hall Here. He had found the apartment. He knocked on the oor. [A man’s voice answered. “Who isi “This is Mr Isidore,” Rick said, ‘Let me in because I'm looking after you and two of you are women, We're not opening the door,’ said a woman's voice. “L wane to watch Buster Friendly on Pris's television,’ Rick calle, ‘I charive a tuck for the Van Ness Pet Hospital” he added. "Would you p-p-please open the d-d-door.” He waited and the door opened. There were two shapes in the dark apartment. “The smaller shape, the woman, said, "You have to do the “Ts to late” Rick told her. The taller figure tried to shut the door and turn on some said. “Ihave to come in.” He moved quickly to one sie as Roy Baty ire at him. "You shouldn't have done shat, Rick shouted “T-can now kill you without the test.” Roy Baty fired again, mised, and ran into another room, ‘Why didn’ Pris wet you?” Mrs Baty asked “There is no Pris’ he told her. “Only hundreds of Racha Rosen.’ He saw the gun in her hands hee husband must have passed it to her as he ran eo the back. ‘Tm sorry, Mes Baty? Rick said, and shot he. Roy Baty, in the shadows, screamed. “OK, you loved her,’ Rick said. “And I loved Rachael. And lectrical equipment 0the special loved the other Rachael.” He shot Roy Baty. The big man’s body fell onto the kitchen table. Plates and glasses flew in all directions. Then the body ht the ground. I got the finished and 1 o back home to Iran and the goat. And well finally have last one, Rick thought. Six today. And now i wt battles He sat down on the sofa. After a few minutes the special, Mr Isidore, appeared in the doorway Don’t look,’ Rick sad I saw her on the stats. Pris," The special was crying Don’t et upset, Rick said. He stood up slowly. “Where's your phone? The special said nothing, so Rick searched for it himself When he found i, he dialled Harry Bryant's office ‘Good,’ Bryant said, after he had been told the news. “Well, io and get some rest, Well send a car for the bodies Rick hung up. ‘Androids are stupid,’ he told the special angrily. Roy Baty thought I was you. The police will clean all this, Why don't you stay in another apartment until they've finished? Tm leaving this b-b-building,”Isido to live nearer the centre where there are m-m-more people. 1 think there's an empty apartment in my building,’ Rick said T don't w-w-want to live near you! ‘Go outside or upstairs’ Rick said. "Don't stay in here The special hesitated. A number of diferent expressions crossed his face and then, uening, he left che apartment. Rick was alone again ‘What a job! Rick thought, As Mercer says, it's my job to do wrong. Everything 've done has been wrong, from start finish, Bue now i's vime to go home. Perhaps there I can10 Journey's end Iran met Rick on the roof of their apartment building. She Jooked at him in a strange, crazy ways in all his years with her, he had never seen her like this. He put his arms her ‘W's finished nov" he said quietly. ‘ve been thinking thar maybe Bryant ean ind me another job his wife ssid. L have to tll you something, I'm sorry. The goat's dead. For some reason it didnot surprise hms it only made him feel worse.‘ think there's something in the agrecment,” he sd, “Ei gets sick within ninety days, the dealer “Ie dide't get sick. Someone Iran stopped and covered her eyes fora moment Someone came here and pushed it off the rook.” ‘Did you see who did it “T saw her very clears’ Iran said, ‘Barbour was still up haere with his horse, He came to find me and we called the police, but when they arrived it was 100 late. The animal was dead and she'd left A small younglooking girl with dark hair and large black eyes, very thin. She didn’t try to ide ~ she didn’t seem to care if we saw her” "Noy she di’ care, Rick agree. Rachael probably wanted you to see her, sod know who did it He kissed her. “Have you been waiting here all his cn “Only for hal an hour. That's when it happened — half an hour ago.” Iran gently rewmned the kiss “I's so awful. So meaningless.” ‘Rick opened his car door and got in behind the wheel. She had what seemed to her a reason,’ he said. An android reason, he though. “Where are you going? Won't you come downstairs and he with me? There was shocking news on Friendly said that Mercer was @ fake, What do you think, Rick? Could ie be tue?” "Everything is tue,’ he replied. “Everything that anybody has thought.” He started the eat Will you be allright?" the all ight,” he said. mn going to die, he though “That's trae too. He waved to Iran and drove up into the sk. ‘Once, Rick thought, you could see the sars. Bur now it’s only dust. Nobody has seen asta for years —at least not from Earth, Maybe P'l go to place where I can sce stars, he ss te himself. He turned the caraway from San Francisco towards the uninhabited areas to the north, Towards a place where n0 living thing ever went, ness i felt that the end had come In the early morning light, the land below him seemed to € for ever, ey and covered in stones and rubbish (Once, he reminded himself, plants grew and animals lived here. I'm exhausted, he thought; I shouldn't be lying, He landed the hovercar at the bottom of a rocky ill ‘What would Dave Holden say about me now? Six andevids {in twenty-four hours. I oughe to call him. He picked up the clvision; BusterDo Am oids Dream of Electric Sheep? car phone and dialled, “Mount Zion Hospital?” he checked “You have a patient called Dave Holden. Is he well enough for ime to talk to him? e's police busines.” ‘Justa moment, sir... No, sit. Dr Costa does nor feel that Me Holden should take any calls for atleast “OK, Rick said, and hung up. Dave's condition is really serious, he thought. L wonder why Bryant did’ tll me. Because Iwas moving too fas, he decided. Bryant was eight not to let me know. 1 was cold in the car now, so Rick opened the door and stepped out. He was hit by a terrible-smelling wind, and he rubbed his hands, trying to keep warm, Dave would have understood, he knew . . even the other part, which I don't think even Mercer understands, For Mercer everything i ea, because he accepts everything. But what I've dane I cant accept se become unnatural to myself He walked on up the hillside, more slowly with every step. “Too tired, he though, t0 climb. He stopped for a moment His whole body ached. He was angry, hating himself. Then, alone om the hill he began to climb again Te was hot now. Obviously time had passed. And he was hungeys god knows how long it was since he last ate. Defeat, that was what he felt I've boon defeated in some way. By killing the androids? By Rachael's murder of my goat? He did not know. Suddenly he fell on the stones, and at that moment 4 plastic tock ~ hit him, The pan was greater than he ad ever experience “Mercer! he ered. In front of him, he could sce a figure. “Wilbur Mercer! Is that you?” My god, he realized, it’s my own shadow. I have to get away, down off this hill. He ran the first rock ~ and it was no 9% Journey'semd back down again. Once he fll, and clouds of dust rose from the ground. He hurried on until he saw his ea, then jumped Mle, Who threw the rock at me? he wondered. Nobody. But why docs it worry me? I've experienced all this before, the empathy box. Because, he realized, this time I was lone He looked at his watch. Nine-thirty. He dialed the police station, ‘Give me Inspector Bryan,” he sad “Inspector Bryant is no in his office, Mr Deckard,’ an oficer answered. “Let me speak to his secretary, then.” ‘The secretary's face appeared on the screen. ‘Oh, Mr Deckard, Inspector Bryant has heen trying to find you. Congratulations on killing all those androids. Oh, and Mr Deckard, your wife phoned. She wants to know if you're al right. Are you?” He said nothing. "Maybe you should call her. She's at home, waiting to hear from you, Mr Deckard, you look awful. So tired. And you bleeding He lifted his hand and fele the blood. *You look,’ the scretary went on, Lam, he said. ‘'m Wilbur Mercer him, and I've lost myself, I'm somewhere up in the state of Oregon.” “Gomi back to San Francisco, Me Deckard, where there are people. Aren't you al alone up there?” “Tm alone, he agreed, ‘but P've become Mercer. Not the "way you experience it when you hold the handles of an empathy ike Wilbur Mercer’ ‘ve hesome one with bbox. Then you're with Mercer. lm not with anyone.Do Androids Dr They're saying now thar Mercer's a fake Mercer isnt a fake, he tld her, ‘unless reality isa fake, I'm afraid, he thought, that I can't stop being, Mercer, Will L have to climb that hill for ever? "Good-bye," he said T need bed rest, he told himself, The last time I was in hed was with Rachael Rosen. Sleeping with an android ~ against the law, here and om the other planets. She must be in Seattle how with the other Rosens, humans and androids, | had i sill be alive. That's when made a wrong decision, Well, she was cortect about one killed her last night, my goat wo But theyll dead Journey'send thing; the expe she expected. A much worse way, he decided, ence did change me, But not inthe way that But I don't really care now. Not after what happened to me up there on she hill IFI'm Mercer he thought, I can never di, not in ten thousand yeats. He picked up the phone to cal his wife. And froze He put the phone dosen again an stared at the place where something had moved. An animal, he said to himself. 1 what itis, he realized, from he old nature fils they show on television. Bur they’ all dead. He quickly pulled out his Sydney's guide and turned the pages #0 TOAD. There were ‘no toads in existence A box, He looked inthe back of the ear and found one full cof tools. He emptied it quickly and walked towards the toad Ik was yellowish-brown, the same colour as the dust. If it hhadu’t moved, he wouldn't have noticed it. Whae happens if‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Journey’ end you find the only animal of its kind? He ered to remember. You got some kind of prize from the United Nations, and a lot of money, he thought. This can't be true. Perhaps i's the effect ofthe radioactive dust. I'm a special now. I's ke Isidore finding the spider. Did Mercer arrange this? But I'm Mercer. 1 arranged it, [found the road because I sce through Mercer's eyes He carefully brushed the ditt off the toad and lifted it into the box. He shut the box and carvied it to the cat. This is what Mercer sees, he thought; life in the dust. And now that 'e seen through Mercer's eyes once, I probably won'e stop. Wait until Iran hears about this. He gor back into the car, put the box on the passenger seat, and started to dial, Then pase ell be a surprise for her, he decided. He set out for San Francisco, seven hundred miles to the south ‘Back in the apartment, lean was sting beside her mood machine, But she fele too miserable andl to dial a new mood, I Rick were here, she thought, he'd dial for me. 1 wonder where he is... and if he'll come back. “There was a knock at the door. Rick! She jumped up and opened the door wide. “Hello! he sai. There was blood on his face and dase in his cloches, bur is eyes shone like the eyes of a small boy “I's nice to sce you,” she said. “Ihave something.” He held a box, but did not put it down as he came in. I's something so valuable to him, she thought, that he wanes to keep it in his arms. She said, ‘Pll make you a cup of coffe.” ‘While she made it, he sat down, and the bright expression remained on his face. Something had happened since she last 100 saw him, and he held in that box everything chat had happened, ‘Tm going to sleep, he told her. ‘All day I need to rest.” He put the box on the table and, because she wanted him to, rank his coffe, "What do you have in the box, Rick?” “A toad “Can I see i He opened the box. For some reason she felt afraid “Willie bite She picked it up gently. “No, toads don’e have teeth, [found it in Oregon, in the desert where everything else had died.’ He reached to take it back, but she had discovered something, She shoved him the tiny control box near the toad’s stomach, “Oh. Yes, se,’ he said sadly. He looked at the false animal without quite understanding. ‘I wonder how it gor vo Oregon. Somebody must have put it there.” "Perhaps I shouldn't have showed you. She to “Noy Rick said, ‘Tm glad to know. Or 1A prefer to know? hed his “Do you want to use the mood machine? Iran asked. ‘To feel better” “Tl be OK.’ He shook his head. “The spider that Mercer szave the chickenhead, Isidore; it was probably fase too. But it doesn't matter. These electrical things hav lives too, although they're poorer than ours. He looked at her, sil confused. “e's finished, isn’ i “Tes finished”Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ‘What a job’ Rick sai. “After T' started, I couldn't stop. ‘Then after I'd finished, I couldn't stop because there would be nothing lef i I did stop. You were right this morning when you said I was worse than a policeman.” “T don’ feel that now,” she said, “Tm just so happy to have you back here where you belong.” She kissed him and that seemed to please him. His eyes shone again, inthe way they Aid before she fo You must have heard all about it from Bryant,’ he said "Do you think I did wrong? What I did today?" ‘No! “Mercer said it was wrong but 1 should do it anyway, Sometimes i's better 10 do something wrong than right.” “When the killers found Mercer in his sixteenth year, Iran J the controls for the toad. said, “they told him that he couldn’ bring things to life again So now he can only move along with life, going where it goes, to death, And the killers throw the rocks; theyre still chasing him. And all of us. Did one of them cut your face, where its beeing?” “Yes, he said weakly. Will you go to hed now if | dial 670 on your mood machine for you? “Whar does that bring? Peace. He stood up painfully and walked slowly to the bedroom, ‘OK, he agreed, peace." He lay onthe bed, and dust ell on to the sheets from his hair and clothes She dida’e need to turn on the mood machine, Iran realize (On the bed Rick, a She stayed with him for a while and then returned to the cra moment, sept 102 Journey's end kitchen and sat down, Next to her on the table, the electric toad as moving in its box. What did it eat? False flies, she dscided ‘She Tooked inthe telephone book and rang a number. When the sales assistant answered, she ordered some fics “Will you deliver them here? she asked. *My husband's asleep and I don’t want to leave my apattment. “Of course, the assistant said, “What kind of animal are the fics for?" “A toad? ‘Well, fora toad I suggest you also buy a small pool, And four service team will check the animal regularly, if you lke. “Toads sometimes develop problems with their tongues if thee fed regularly.” “Fine Ian said, T want it to work perfectly, My husband is very fond of it’ She gave her address and hung up. Feeling better, she made herself another cup of hot, black coffee.GLOSSARY admit co confess: to agree, often unwilling, that somethingistrve android a robot (a complicated eletronic machine) that looks ikea real person bbeam line of ight shining from something brain the part ofthe body inside the head that control thought, memory, and feeling corporation a larg business organization eal a business arrangement eer a large wil animal that eats gras leaves, ete and ean run ‘vicky Aepression a mood of reat unhappiness emigrate 10 leave your countey and goto livein another one empathy the experienc of feling what another person is feeling exis tolive fake (ad) not ecal familie well nown;often seen or heard form(o) wo makeinno. parcularshape ‘goat an animal with rough haiand a small beard that gives nil Ihovercar acarthat es chrough the ai idemification proof of someone's eal name laser a machine hae produces narrow, very strongeam of light lobster sea animal with long body and eight less rind (n) the ability tobe aware of ching, and to think ano fel nervous aftaid anxious, not confident ‘old-style ofatypethatis noe modern ‘opera musical playin which most ofthe words aresung. ‘ostrich Targe bird chat cam eun fast but cannot fy ‘owl a bird with large eyes that lies and hunts at night 104 Glossary physical oforabour thebody planet large hody in space (eg the Earth) shat moves around a star suchas che sun protect to keep somcone or something safe rom harm, radioactive sending ou powerful and dangerous hams that are produced when atoms are broken up eactto to change orbehavein a particular way aya result of something happening ‘cheatse to practise songs apy, ets before doing in public religion oncof he waysof believing ina supernatural power (¢ god or gods) sercen the partof a television, compute, te-on which pceures and words appear space che nivers beyond thea suerounding the Earth, in which allther planets and starsexist spider an insect with eight legs that catches ies sire sal grey or brown animal tha lives in tees and eats jury syst an organized way of doing something toad small animal lke fog, that ives in water and on land ‘ruck a lorry tinite to join and act together vote (1) toshow your choice heeween diferent people or courses ‘faction wave n) the movement or process by which ight eat, sound, ste. arecarried © Tong, thin pice of metalDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES Before Reading 1 This story as a rather mysterious tele. What do you think tells ‘you about the story? Think of possible answers to these questions. 1 Whatisan android? 2 How can you ell he diference between an andeoid and 3 human? 3. Can androids dream? Why, or why nor? 4 Why are there electric sheep in this story? 5. Does the story take place on Earth or on another planet? Read the story introduction on the rs page, and the ack cover. How would you change your answers tothe above questions now? 2 Read the tory introduction and theback cover agin, What do you think is going to happen in the story? Ciel Y (Yes) or N (No) for cach ofthese possibilities. 1 Rick Deckard will have difficly telling the difference between the androids and other humans. Y/N 2 Hewill scceed in killingall sx androids. YIN 3 Hewillearn enough money to buy himself ral iving animal, instead ofhis electric sheep, Y/N 4 He will fc ikea murderer becomte sympathetic towards the anndeoids, an let them escape. YIN 5. Hewill give uphisjob and move to Mars, taking one ofthe androids ashisservan. YIN 6 “Theandrois will think faster chan him, kill im, and takeover San Francisco. YIN 108 ACTIVITIES, While Reading Read Chapters 1 and 2, Whois speaking, and to whom? Who or what are they talking about? ‘You'eea murderer working forthe police.” "snot a crime now, but Isl feel like criminal.” ale excellentconditon. Thety thousand dolla.” “Dave thinks t's accurate. Maybe itis.” “We're hoping you can tell” “Wsall yours. Have you decided then? Does she know?” Before you read Chapeer3, what do you think willhappen next? 1 Will he Voigr-Kampif test help Rick to trap the androids? 2 Will Rachael Rosen work with or against Rick in fure? Read Chapters 3 and 4, and answer these questions. 1 Why were there wo few people left in an Francisco? 2 Why couldn’ John Isidore emigrate to Mars? 5 How did he el when he sed hisempathy hox? 4 Wha dd hetake as present for his new neighbour, and what wasstrange about her? ‘Why did Rick refuse Rachael's offer of help? ‘Why did Max Polokow pretend to hea Russian policeman? ‘What appeared to be wrong with Rick's mariage? How did Luba Le trap Rick? 109acrwmes: While Reading Before you read Chapter 5, cam you guess the answers to these questions? 1 Which police station i real, the one on Mission Steet or the ‘onc on Lomb Street? Or ae they both rea? 2 Is Rick really anand, with programmed false memory? rate Luba Lufeand he police officer androids? Read Chapters Sand 6 Choose the best qucstion-word fr these questions, and then answer them, How! What! Who 1 id Riek persuade Garland nor to shoot him? 2 usually happened when an android with false memory learned the truth about himsll? killed Garland, and why? id Resch ty to prove that he was not an andeoid? id Luba Lafe know Rick was not an android? were the tw female androids Rick fle empathy for? «+s were the names of the eight androids who came to Each. rou fom Mars? 8 did Isidore feel about Pris, Roy and lrmgatd, when he realized they were androids? Before you read Chaptess 7 and 8, try to guess what happens next ‘Choose some ofthese idea. 1 Rick sks Rachael Rosen fr help, ashe agrees to elp him, 2 Rick resto kill Rachael but finds heis unable, 3. Rick can‘ find thelas three android, and gives up. 4 Isidore realizes the androids arc using him, but docs 5 Isidore ells the polie where the androids are hiding uo 0 While Reading Read Chapters 7 and 8. Are these sentences tr (1) or false (F)? Rewrite the false sentences withthe correct information, Rick bough the goat co giver his wife: Iran believed in Mercrism more stony than Rick dd Rick killed all he Nexus-6 androids, the Rosen Corporation would gout of business. 4. Rachael slep with Rick hecause she loved him, 5 Buster Friendly proved that Wilbur Mercer was being from another planet. 6 Isidore was horrified by the androids crac tothe spider. Before you read tothe end can you guess the answers to these questions? 1 Will sidorehelp the androids escape, or help Rick kill hem? 2 Will Rick find theandeois andl hem, wil they kill him? 3 Is Wilbue Mercer real, or does he ust exist in people's minds? 44 Wha wll happen to Rick and lan? ‘Read Chapters 9 and 10, and answer these questions. ‘Who warned Rick to watch out for Pris Stratton? ‘Why did the Bays let Rick int the apartment? ‘Why did’ sore want olive near Rick? How did Rick fee about his day's work? Who killed Rick's goat, nd why? ‘Why did Rick ly 1 the Oregon desert, and what happened 10 him there? 7 Wha did Rick think his wrong decision’ had heen? | How did ran feel about Rick nthe end? mACTIVITIES After Reading | Match the names ofthese characters tothe pieces of information in the lise below. Then select the androids, and w description of cach one, adding any other information that you thinks important. ea short Buster Friendly Phil Resch Pris Stration Job Isidore HanmibalSloat Roy Baty Iran Deckard Max Polokov Rachael Rosen Luba Luft Bill Barbour human /an andro a euck driver/Rick’s wife /aspecal/an ‘opera singer owned a squire leader ofthe androids /Rick’s neighbour looked like Rachael Rosen owner of a pet hospital / 4 rubbish collector /beautiful voice voted to kill Isidore stayed athome all day / worked for the Rosen Corporation couldn't ‘migrate/ owned ahorse/a Russian policeman /slepe with Rick Deckard killed hy Rick Deckard / ct off the sper’ legs the las to he killed / worked forthe Mision Street police /a elevsion| presenter Isidore's boss /shot by Phil Resch killed Rick's goat made fan of empathy boxes /often depressed 2 Inthestory the author describes things that we are not familie with, ‘but which exstinhis vision of thefatre. What ar thes things and ‘what part id they playin the story? + Sydney's catalogue + The Voigt-Kampf test + A mood machine + Amempathy box _Do you think any ofthese items might bein regular use in the year 20202 Iso, which ones? Explain why you think m2 activins: After Reading 5 Itwasprobably Rachael who told Roy Baty about the deaths ofthe ‘other androids (seepage) Hereistheir videophone conversation. ‘Complete Rachael's side ofthe conversation. Racist: Roy, you'te got to take care. There ar only three of you left now, Rov: 'd heatd that Anders and Gitchel were dead, But thought Polokow had shot the kller—what washis name? Race Ror: So who sthis other killer? Do you know him? Raa Ro: Why dhe give you the V-K rest? You haven’ escaped fom ‘Mars, You belong the Corporation. Racist Rov: see. And what happened to Polokov? Racha Roy: Why didn’t Luba phone Garland for help? Raciat: Roy: So Garland and Luba are both dead. In that cae, think lemgard and Thad beter move Racist Rov: Wellgo and join Pris, Raou Roo Yes she sent ws ead. She's in some empty apartment bodng in che suburbs Listen is this Deckard kel to gst in ‘ouch with you again? Racha Rov: Well fhe docs call you and ask forhelp, you know what ;chim somethingelseo think about! 113acrwinis: After Reading 4 Deckard probably wrotea final eepot om the sx killings to give to Inspector Bryant Here i his report. Put the sentences inthe right ‘order and join chem together, using the linking words, to make a paragraph of seven sentence. Start with number. after and before ut before but while so that when! where Fwhich who 1 they were hiding 2. Atthe mysterious police station on Mission Street, as imerviewed by Garland, the third android on the list, 3 _teould stop him 4 Laer that evening heard from Bryant searching Polokov’s apartment, 6 —_Ishoc him, 7 ___was shot at his desk by Pil Resch, an android killer, 8 __heshowed me his gun, 9 After that Resch and I went to Find Luba Luft again, 10 ___ the ase theee androids were in an empey apartment building the suburbs. 11 ___ annoyed Resch and he shot her 12 Then visited the singer, Luba Luft, 13 managed to kill one of them, Pris Stratton, on the tits 1 could finish giving he the Voie Kamp est 15 met the Russian, Sandor Kadalyi,on the tof ofthe building. 16 __weweretakingher down nthe if, she sad something 17 she called the police and was ateested 18 __ shot the last wo, Irmgard and Roy Baty, inthe apartment 19 realize that he was in fact Max Polokow, 4 acti: After Reading 5" Herein 22nd-century historians view of Earth as described inthe sory. Choose one suitable word 0 fill each gp. Early in che went fist___ Fart lay und deadly, radioactive, which lacked ou the. The world governmenthad____most healthy peopleto__to Mars, but ‘specials’, _who had fled the_tests, were notallowed emigrate orto have ___. Mercer was the ofcal which provided, through empathy 1 doud of. experiences that people could and sofeel es. Followers of Mercerim were roownancare an animal, bueas___animals were ‘areand___expensive people often bought electric ones instead and___chat they wort: earth ever did become ike his, would you choose to emigrate {fo Mars? Why, or why not? 6 The Voigt-Kampff test was designed to tell a human from an android. Look atthe questions used by Rick when testing Rachael ‘Rosen and Luba Luft (sce pages 15-17, 39-40) Imagine there are dangerous Nexus androids in today’s world, ands your jb to trap them, What questions would your empathy test consis of? 7 What did you think f the ending? Discuss these questions. 1 Isthere any sign oFhope at the end? If so, what sit? 2 What do you eemember most ar the end the fake ton or Iran's changed behaviour towards Rick? What does that sugges? 3, The film, Blade Runner, ends with Rick (who is divorced) and Rachael Rosen deciding to spend whatever s left of ‘ther lives together. Do you prefer that ending, o the one the book? Explain why.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philp Kindred Dick wasbornin Chicagoin 1928, but lived most ‘of his life in California. From 1952 ro his death in 1982, he published thirty-six novels a five collestions of short stories, And his science-ftion writing is sill hogely popular, He had a painful emotional life starting with the death of his twin sister forty-one days after bith, and continuing through several bad marriages, 10 long period of drug addiction. rurning-point «ame in Canada in 1972. He red to kil himself, but stopped in «ime, and then began working with teenagers to help them give up drugs. This eventually brought him out of his depression. ‘Much ofhis personal experience appearsin his writing, Ashe said, ‘Tam, by profession, a science fition writer. I deal in fancasy. My life is fantasy." He was constantly exploring how farhumanideas of ie, deat dark, uncaring world and spoke ofthe need for people who were human to reinforce other people's humanness.0 rebel against an inhuman or android society.” His best-known tiles include The Mam in the High Castle (1962), Martian Time-Slip (1964), A Scanner Darkly (1977) and ‘of course, Do Androids Dreamt of Electric Sheep? (1968). The famous 1982 film Blade Ruoyner was based on this novel Seti Los Angeles instead of San Francisco, the film concentrates on the hunting and killing of the androids by the tough polieman known as Blade Runner (played by Harrison Ford). It is a ‘powerful film, now regarded as classic, but the novel is more complex, taking the reader through the dark places of the ‘human mind and tuening reality inside out, religion and love could suevivein 16 OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY Clases» Crime & Mystery + Factfile + Fata & Horton ‘hom interest» Panis» Thre & Adventure Tru Stories * World Stories “Thee soon nar provides enjoyable reading Engi with ide ange clase axl mode Son, ns Bana plays eines ‘nal an pod texts sven carefully rad ngage ges, whch {ake lamers from Beginner to ara ee. An oneview is gen on the All cage 1 tle ar valle at ado recordings, a wl toner chy theres from Sater oSeage 6 All Sarr and many tesa Stage tot ae specialy recommen for youn learners Every Bookworm ilsrated, and Starters and Fates have fl colour luseatons. “The enon sooo una abo offers extensive support. Each book -omtinainodoction tthe ory notes abou the ahora loss, tnd actives. Additional resources inca tes and workabees, ad "ewer for thee and forthe acs inthe books. There adic on | ‘ning case Wary, asing adoring, a he many way of ing (Oxford Bookworms in reading programmes, Rewurce material ae viable onthe website “rw aup.com/bookwoens> “The Oxford Baokiorms Colleton i wei for vane learners I come volues of shor store bywel-known authors bh clasic and modern, Tens arena abeidpd or alae in anyway, but carey eee tobe acco the advanced stent ‘You can indi a fal ist ks in she Oxford Bootwors Lbrary| Catalog and Oxford Eng Langage Teaching Catalogs ano the ‘wchate

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