%!
%
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% ISSN 1053-8496
% Volume III, Issue 5
% December 1991
%
% quanta@andrew.cmu.edu
%
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1689 y(head.)1030 1740 y(\252Of)14 b(course)h(not.)27 b(I)14
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y(friend)f(of)g(ours.\272)1030 2643 y(\252Scarlett')n(s)h(real)g(busy)m
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2794 y(named)11 b(Babe)g(Ruth.\272)960 2918 y Fj(5)p eop
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2644 y(psychedelic)g(ef)o(fects)i(were)g(mild)e(compared)h(to)g(the)f(drugs)h
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2140 y(a)g(bed)f(a)g(few)h(doors)e(down)g(from)h(our)g(rooms.)14
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2918 y Fj(6)p eop
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y(past)j(\256ve)g(hours)g(and)g(was)h(due)f(to)g(change)h(watch)f(in)g
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b(assigned)h(to)f(monitor)f(the)i(Hardin)f(star)g(system.)20
b(Although)-82 1046 y(the)8 b(entire)h(sector)g(was)g(theoretically)e
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(no)h(risks)g(and)h(had)f(assigned)h(additional)d(ships)-82
1146 y(to)j(protect)g(individual)f(star)i(systems)g(within)e(the)i(blockade)g
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(\256c)i(while)f(remaining)g(undetected)h(her)o(-)-82 1295
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Fm(,)g(the)g(Navy)h(parlance)g(for)e(a)i(suspected,)-82 1646
y(but)d(unidenti\256ed)f(enemy)j(ship.)k(The)c(other)e(two)g(had)h(occurred)h
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(there)h(had)g(not)f(been)h(a)h(chance)g(to)e(prove)h(herself)-82
1795 y(from)k(the)g(command)h(chair)n(.)21 b(But)11 b(now)h(her)g(enthusiasm)
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b Fl(Gondor)14 b(3)h Fm(had)g(initially)d(appeared)-82 1895
y(as)g(a)g(middle)f(weight)g(Kalganian)g(raider)h(nearby)m(,)h(approaching)e
(at)g(a)-82 1945 y(speed)f(that)g(would)f(bring)g(it)h(close)g(to)g(the)g
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(the)g(very)g(worst)f(barrage)i(the)f(raider)g(could)f(bring)-82
2194 y(to)d(bear)n(.)19 b(Meanwhile,)13 b(the)e Fl(Chepachet)g
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b(Despite)14 b Fl(Gondor)f(3)p Fm(')n(s)-82 2345 y(velocity)m(,)7
b(clearly)g(discernible)g(from)g(the)g(Doppler)g(shift)f(in)h(its)g(ener)o
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b(passing)g(moment)g(made)g(the)g(smallest)-82 2545 y(size)14
b(ship)g(still)f(explainable)g(by)h(the)g(signal)g(lar)o(ger)g(and)g(lar)o
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2694 y(capacity)p Fh(:)d(:)g(:)e Fm(and)16 b(perhaps)g(would)e(even)i(out)f
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(penetrating)g(particles)h(generated)h(in)e(a)i(host)f(of)g(nuclear)g(re-)988
135 y(actions.)23 b(The)13 b(collapse)g(of)g(a)g(supernova,)h(the)e(deep)h
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(particles)d(in)h(profusion.)k(They)d(were)g(so)f(penetrating)988
284 y(that)16 b(they)f(could)g(escape)j(from)e(the)f(depths)h(of)f(a)i(star)f
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635 y(ent.)f(A)11 b(modi\256cation)f(of)g(the)h(detector)g(material)g(during)
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(appropriate)f(ener)o(gy)h(\256eld)988 735 y(was)10 b(applied,)f(had)h(a)g
(billion-fol)o(d)c(greater)k(cross-section)f(to)g(passing)988
785 y(neutrinos.)k(Detections)8 b(remained)g(mar)o(ginal)g(and)f(little)f
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934 y(power)j(plant)g(could)f(lie)h(undetected)g(and)g(yet)h(monitor)d(all)i
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1084 y(sure)i(to)e(thwart)h(it.)1030 1136 y(What)i(Lieutenant)f(Swerth)h
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(the)h(usual)g(scanners)h(which)e(were)i(quite)e(feasible,)i(such)988
1236 y(as)j(might)d(have)i(been)g(used)g(to)f(slip)g(past)h(the)f(blockade.)
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(searching)f(ship)g(into)f(seeing)h(nothing.)35 b(Those)18
b(coun-)988 1385 y(termeasures,)i(in)d(turn,)g(could)f(be)i(scrambled,)h(but)
d(again,)j(power)988 1435 y(limitations)14 b(made)i(it)f(possible)g(for)g
(only)g(the)g(lar)o(gest)h(starships)f(to)988 1485 y(carry)e(the)g
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(ship)988 1535 y(could)i(have)i(evaded)f(the)g(scrambling)f(\256elds)h(and)g
(with)f(its)g(stealth)988 1585 y(system,)d(passed)g(unnoticed)e(by)h(the)g
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b(all)h(of)g(the)g(Sagittarius)f(sector)988 1687 y(was)12 b(surrounded)d(by)i
(heavy)g(ships)f(set)h(in)f(positions)f(such)i(that)f(their)988
1737 y(scrambling)h(\256elds)f(would)g(have)h(a)h(25\045)e(overlap.)16
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(approaching)h(which)988 1889 y(should)8 b(not)h(have)h(been)g(and)f(it)g
(must)g(have)h(escaped)h(the)e(attention)f(of)988 1939 y(the)i(outer)g
(guards.)1030 1991 y(\252I)17 b(have)g(signal)f(resolution,\272)h(announced)g
(Lieutenant)f(Helgth.)988 2041 y(\252)p Fl(Gondor)10 b(3)g
Fm(is)g(no)g(longer)g(a)h(single)e(point)g(source.\272)1030
2093 y Fl(Good,)16 b Fm(thought)d(Swerth.)29 b Fl(That)14 b(mean')-5
b(s)15 b(it')-5 b(s)13 b(close)j(enough)e(for)988 2143 y(secondary)c(power)g
(sour)n(ces)g(to)f(be)h(detected,)g(making)f(it)f(quite)h(close.)988
2193 y(Pr)n(obably)h(a)g(heavier)g(rated)g(raider)f(instead)g(of)h(the)f
(middle)g(weight)g(I)988 2243 y(had)e(assumed.)14 b(The)7 b
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b(as-)988 2293 y(sumptions)i(rested)h(on)g(knowing)e(the)i(volume)f(of)h
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(probable)g(distance)i(at)f(the)g(time)g(of)f(\256rst)h(contact.)988
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2741 y(its)f(power)g(plant)f(initially)f(appeared.)1030 2794
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(continued)c(Helgth.)953 2918 y Fj(11)p eop
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136 y Fl(Bad,)13 b Fm(thought)d(Swerth,)j(her)g(sudden)f(hopes)g(dashed.)22
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b(the)h Fl(Chepachet)p Fm(,\272)h(she)g(commanded.)-41 287
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(sat)h(across)g(the)g(table)g(from)f(each)i(other)e(start-)-82
642 y(ing)k(down)h(each)i(other)r(')n(s)e(pieces.)23 b(John)12
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b(he)h(would)e(glance)i(at)g(the)f(empty)g(seats)h(next)f(to)g(himself)g(or)g
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941 y(ported)d(the)i(vapourization)e(of)h(the)h Fl(Chepachet)f
Fm(and)h(the)f(subsequent)-82 990 y(bombardment)h(of)h(Hardin')n(s)g(primary)
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1191 y(back)k(the)f(instinct)f(to)h(rise)h(and)g(go)f(to)g(the)h
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b(could)g(be)g(it,)h(sir)n(.\272)-82 1744 y(She)10 b(couldn')o(t)f(keep)i(a)g
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(military)f(convoys,)j(the)e(\256rst)g(having)-82 2544 y(re-established)c
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y(missing)e(clues)i(to)e(the)i(elusive)f(First)f(W)m(orld.)-41
2744 y(So)19 b(far)n(,)i(the)e(search)g(has)g(not)f(gone)g(well.)40
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184 y(in)14 b(detail.)25 b(The)15 b Fl(Nikaljuk)q Fm(')n(s)d(\256rst)i(stop)f
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b(The)15 b(planet)f(reported)g(in)f(an)i(acceptable)g(orbit)988
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1537 y(G)i(type)e(star)n(,)j(such)e(a)h(planet)f(would)f(be)h(uninhabitable.)
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1889 y(all)e(but)g(the)g(longest)g(ul)o(travi)o(olet)g(wavelengt)o(hs,)e(and)
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2138 y(this)g(planet.)1030 2192 y(Soon,)f(the)f Fl(Nikaljuk)f
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2242 y(a)16 b(detailed)g(map)g(of)f(the)h(planet')n(s)f(surface,)j(assisted)e
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2694 y(the)g(Navy)n(,)h Fm(thought)d(Captain)h(Huston.)24 b
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2794 y(that,)c(he)f(gripped)f(his)h(command)h(chair)f(harder)n(.)15
b Fl(Monsters,)8 b(all)f(right.)953 2918 y Fj(12)p eop
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y(Dr)n(.)f(Drucker)r(')n(s)g(family)g(and)h(over)g(\256ve)g(hundred)e
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b Fl(W)l(e)15 b(ought)e(to)g(dr)n(op)h(a)h(nova)f(bomb)-82
388 y(into)f(Kalgania')-5 b(s)12 b(sun)j(and)f(see)i(what)e(they)h(think)f
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(Captain)c(Huston)g(realized)i(that)e(it)g(had)h(been)-82 488
y(tried)11 b(and)i(failed)g(several)g(times,)h(and)e(even)i(that)e(would)f
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637 y(Throne.)21 b(Between)13 b(the)f(Kalgan)h(sector)f(and)h(all)f(its)f
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b(Geor)o(gia.)15 b(\252The)9 b(planet')n(s)f(primary)g(is)g(G2)g(with)f(the)h
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1244 y(\252Can)k(you)g(assess)h(the)f(probability)d(of)j(unusual)f(solar)h
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2055 y(\252Three)k(hours,)e(sir)n(,\272)h(answered)g(Norman)g(from)f(the)g
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y(\252Y)l(ou)h Fl(beauty!)p Fm(\272)15 b(exclaimed)c(Geor)o(gia.)-41
2436 y(\252Lieutenant,)16 b(you)d(are)i(on)f(the)g(bridge,\272)h(reprimanded)
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2590 y(what)d(we're)g(looking)f(for)n(.\272)-41 2644 y(\252W)m(e've)17
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eop
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2243 y(She)g(smiled,)h(a)g(mischievous)f(sparkle)g(entering)f(her)i
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eop
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(committee)g(of)g(the)g(worst)g(sort.)1034 2742 y Fc(3)1048
2754 y Fb(The)e(concept)f(of)h(Why)g(had)f(not)h(yet)g(been)f(invented,)h
(and)f(hence)g(many)g(important)988 2794 y(metaphysical)i(and)g
(philosophical)f(diatribes)i(were)g(unavailable)e(to)i(us.)953
2918 y Fj(29)p eop
bop -82 -160 a Fj(Quanta)1830 b(December)5 b(1991)-82 -15 y
Fl(a)15 b(cube,)j(as)e(we)g(had)f(never)h(seen)h(one)e(before.)31
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500 y(new)m(.)j(How)10 b(did)g(it)g(form?)17 b(What)11 b(made)h(it)e(form)g
(here?)18 b(As)11 b(we)g(were)-82 550 y(pondering)6 b(these)j(and)f(other)g
(questions,)g(another)g(object,)g(a)h(tetraroid)-82 600 y(crystal,)14
b(formed)g(right)e(before)i(our)f(eyes.)27 b(Nanos,)15 b(who)f(had)f(keen)-82
650 y(eyes,)i(reported)e(that)g(he)h(saw)g(countless)g(numbers)f(of)h
(protons)e(and)-82 700 y(electrons)e(coming)g(together)f(to)h(form)g(this)f
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b(really)i(ascertain)g(the)g(shapes)h(of)f(the)f(particles)h(around)f(us,)-82
916 y(even)15 b(to)g(Nanos)g(they)g(looked)f(just)h(like)f(points.)29
b(And)15 b(these)h(new)-82 966 y(objects)g(were)j(so)e(unlike)f(our)h
(nebulous)f(forms.)36 b(They)18 b(were)g(so)-82 1016 y(smooth,)10
b(so)g(perfect,)h(so)f(beautiful.)-41 1083 y(W)m(e)15 b(didn')o(t)e(have)i
(to)e(wait)h(long)g(before)g(more)h(forms)g(appeared,)-82 1133
y(mostly)i(cubes,)k(but)d(also)g(many)h(other)f(solids:)29
b(hexaphonigons,)-82 1182 y(fullerines,)10 b(rhododendrigons.)16
b(This)11 b(became)i(our)e(primary)f(source)-82 1232 y(of)j(entertainment,)i
(watching)e(the)h(objects)f(form,)i(or)f(counting)e(the)-82
1282 y(dif)o(ferent)d(types)g(of)h(objects,)g(or)g(pushing)e(like)h(objects)h
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b(was)g(more)g(exciting)f(and)g(enjoyable)-82 1382 y(than)d(anything)g(we)h
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1431 y(shape,)d(one)e(that)g(had)h(never)f(been)h(seen)h(before,)f(appear)g
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1581 y(was)d(Reis)f(who)g(was)h(most)f(fascinated)h(by)f(all)h(of)f(this.)14
b(Never)c(before)-82 1631 y(had)h(we)g(seen)h(him)f(without)d(an)k
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(obsessed)h(with)d(observing)g(all)h(the)g(newness)h(around)-82
1730 y(him.)-41 1797 y(W)m(e)f(were)g(all)e(more)i(than)f(satis\256ed)g(with)
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(something)f(to)h(do.)22 b(How)12 b(could)g(we)-82 1897 y(have)7
b(magined)g(the)f(danger)h(that)g(we)g(were)h(in?)13 b(W)m(e)7
b(didn')o(t)f(realize)h(our)-82 1947 y(predicament)k(until)e(it)h(was)i
(almost)f(too)f(late)h(for)f(us)h(to)f(do)h(anything.)-82 1997
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b(the)g(time)g(the)h(shapes)g(had)f(blocked)-82 2096 y(out)i(about)h(75\045)g
(of)h(the)f(outside)g(universe)g(from)h(out)e(view)i(\(not)e(that)-82
2146 y(there)15 b(was)h(anything)e(to)g(see,)k(just)d(a)h(uniform)e(glow)g
(of)h(photons\),)-82 2196 y(things)7 b(were)i(getting)f(very)g(cramped)i
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h(about)e(the)h(size)h(of)f(Nebraska)h(\(but)f(not)f(as)i(\257at\).)18
b(It)-82 2295 y(was)7 b(clear)g(that)g(soon)g(we)g(would)f(be)h(crushed)g(by)
f(all)g(of)g(th)o(e)h(opalescent)-82 2345 y(objects.)15 b(When)10
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2395 y(just)g(push)h(the)g(objects)g(away)h(from)f(us.)22 b(But)12
b(when)g(we)h(tried)e(to)h(do)-82 2445 y(this,)7 b(we)h(found)e(to)h(our)g
(dismay)g(that)g(the)g(shapes)h(slowly)e(drifted)g(back)-82
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h(created)g(a)g(rather)-82 2545 y(sizeable)k(gravitational)d(\256eld,)19
b(and)d(we)h(were)g(at)g(it')n(s)e(center)n(.)34 b(W)m(e)-82
2594 y(obviously)7 b(did)i(not)g(have)h(the)f(strength)g(to)g(accelerate)j
(the)d(objects)g(to)-82 2644 y(a)i(suf)o(\256cient)h(escape)h(velocity)d(to)h
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-15 y(Y)l(ou)c(might)g(wonder)g(where)g(our)g(problem)g(came)g(from.)14
b(There)6 b(was)988 35 y(plenty)h(of)g(room)g(in)g(th)o(e)g(universe)g
(before)g(th)o(e)g(shapes)g(began)g(forming,)988 85 y(why)15
b(was)h(there)g(a)g(problem)f(now?)30 b(W)m(e)16 b(also)f(wondered)h(this)e
(for)988 135 y(sometime.)h(The)8 b(shapes)g(formed)f(from)g(subatomic)g
(particles,)h(which)988 184 y(were)15 b(small,)g(so)e(if)g(a)h(million)e
(particles)i(came)h(together)e(to)g(form)g(a)988 234 y(rhumbahedron,)8
b(it)e(would)g(be)i(the)f(size)h(of)f(a)g(million)f(particles,)i(right?)988
284 y(This)13 b(is)h(what)f(we)g(naively)g(thought.)22 b(After)13
b(observing)f(enough)h(of)988 334 y(these)h(condensations,)f(we)g(were)h
(able)f(to)f(\256gure)h(out)f(exactly)h(what)988 384 y(happened.)25
b(Y)l(ou)13 b(would)g(agree)h(that)f(a)h(proton)e(is)h(very)h(small,)h(and)
988 433 y(an)g(electron)g(smaller)g(still,)g(just)e(a)j(speck!)29
b(But)13 b(when)i(they)g(come)988 483 y(together)7 b(to)h(form)f(an)i(atom,)g
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533 y(the)g(two)f(constituent)f(particles.)14 b(Even)8 b(though)e(the)i
(volume)f(inclosed)988 583 y(by)14 b(the)h(atom)f(is)g(enough)g(to)g(contain)
g(about)f(a)i(million)e(protons,)h(it)988 633 y(only)e(contains)g(one.)23
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682 y(is)i(in)g(an)g(orbit)f(far)h(\(by)g(these)g(standards\))g(from)g(the)g
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988 832 y(crystalline)e(shapes,)i(except)f(to)g(a)g(greater)g(extent.)14
b(So)7 b(although)g(there)988 882 y(was)i(basically)f(the)h(same)h(amount)e
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y(These)j(new)e(advances)i(in)e(our)g(knowledge)g(did)f(little)g(to)h
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b(W)m(e)15 b(still)f(had)i(no)f(way)h(of)f(dealing)988 1092
y(with)e(our)h(problem,)h(which)f(was)h(now)f(becoming)g(desperate.)28
b(W)m(e)988 1142 y(could)8 b(see)h(little)e(of)h(the)g(outside)f(universe,)i
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y(of)16 b(the)g(crystals)g(away)h(from)f(the)g(seven)g(of)g(us,)i(forming)d
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b(Still)6 b(more)j(and)f(more)h(of)f(the)g(shapes)h(formed)988
1342 y(around)h(us.)15 b(W)m(e)c(were)g(doomed.)1030 1403 y(It)d(was)i(in)e
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(to)988 1453 y(our)g(problems.)13 b(W)m(e)8 b(had)f(had)g(so)f(little)g
(genuine)g(intellectual)g(exercise)988 1502 y(in)j(our)g(existence)h(that)f
(those)g(of)g(you)g(who)g(have)h(been)f(paying)g(atten-)988
1552 y(tion)e(probably)g(thought)g(of)h(it)f(long)g(ago.)15
b(I)8 b(reached)i(out)d(and)i(grabbed)988 1602 y(two)f(cubes)i(and)f(smashed)
g(them)g(together)n(.)14 b(They)9 b(collided)f(in)g(a)h(\257ash)988
1652 y(of)g(photons)f(and)h(disassembled)h(into)e(their)g(constituent)g
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(their)g(carngormatic)g(prison.)1030 1763 y(If)j(our)g(problem)h(was)g(small)
g(particles)f(coming)h(together)f(to)g(form)988 1813 y(collections)f(of)g
(particles)g(that)g(\256lled)g(a)h(lar)o(ger)g(volume)f(than)g(the)g(sum)988
1863 y(of)f(the)h(original)d(particles,)j(surely)f(the)h(answer)g(was)g(to)f
(take)g(apart)h(the)988 1912 y(objects)h(into)f(their)h(component)g(forms.)
1030 1974 y(I)j(had)g(only)f(to)h(wordlessly)f(demonstrate)h(this)f(to)g(the)
h(others)g(for)988 2023 y(them)h(to)f(catch)h(onto)f(the)g(idea.)25
b(They)14 b(all)f(began)h(to)f(reach)i(for)e(the)988 2073 y(nearest)d
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b(him)h(to)f(get)h(him)f(to)g(join)g(in)g(our)g(ef)o(forts.)20
b(Finally)m(,)12 b(he)g(gave)g(in)988 2223 y(and)i(began)g(to)f(smash)h(the)g
(things)e(apart,)j(although)d(without)f(much)988 2273 y(enthusiasm.)1030
2334 y(After)h(we)i(all)f(had)g(begun)f(breaking)h(the)f(solids,)i(I)f(felt)f
(sure)h(that)988 2384 y(we)g(were)g(out)f(of)g(danger)n(,)h(but)f(I)g(had)g
(overlooked)f(two)h(facts.)22 b(One;)988 2433 y(after)13 b(we)f(smashed)h(a)g
(crystal,)g(its)e(component)h(parts)g(would)f(\257y)h(of)o(f)988
2483 y(and)f(condense)f(into)f(another)h(shape.)16 b(T)m(wo;)11
b(there)f(were)h(so)f(many)h(of)988 2533 y(the)f(shapes)i(that)d(we)i(could)f
(barely)g(keep)h(up)f(with)f(destroying)g(those)988 2583 y(newly)h(formed,)h
(much)f(less)h(any)f(of)g(the)g(multitude)f(around)h(us.)1030
2644 y(Existence)j(became)h(for)e(us)h(a)g(miserable)g(experience,)h(each)g
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12 b(Five)7 b(of)g(us)g(would)988 2744 y(be)k(awake)g(at)f(any)h(one)f(time,)
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g(needed)g(before,)i(never)e(having)f(had)h(to)f(physically)953
2918 y Fj(30)p eop
bop -82 -160 a Fj(Quanta)1830 b(December)5 b(1991)-82 -15 y
Fl(exert)12 b(ourselves.)21 b(The)13 b(routine)e(was)i(awful;)g(grab)f(the)g
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b(the)h(next)f(two.)27 b(And)14 b(then)g(the)-82 85 y(next)9
b(two.)-41 148 y(I)j(cannot)g(tell)g(you)f(how)h(long)f(our)h(misery)g(went)g
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(eternity)m(.)k(I)11 b(can)h(only)e(tell)g(you)g(that)-82 248
y(we)k(smashed)h(hundreds)f(of)g(thousands,)g(if)g(not)f(millions,)h(of)f
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b(It)12 b(seemed)j(like)d(we)i(were)-82 348 y(doomed)g(to)f(carry)i(out)e
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397 y(now)10 b(completely)g(cut)g(of)o(f)g(from)g(the)h(outside)e(universe,)i
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(an)g(egg.)31 b(And)15 b(we,)j(the)-82 497 y(helpless)10 b(chicks)g(that)g
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f(I)g(looked)f(up)g(from)h(the)g(two)g(tetrahedrons)-82 610
y(that)16 b(I)h(was)h(smashing)f(to)g(Reis,)i(and)e(what)g(I)g(saw)h
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(apart,)g(he)g(was)h(serenely)f(putting)-82 710 y(them)16 b(together)n(,)j
(oblivious)14 b(to)i(the)h(doom)f(around)g(him.)35 b(He)17
b(had)-82 760 y(stacked)c(two)g(cubes)h(on)f(top)g(of)g(a)h(agonadron)f(and)g
(had)g(smeared)i(a)-82 810 y(handful)7 b(of)i(mesons)g(around)f(it)g(for)g
(cohesion.)15 b(He)9 b(was)h(reaching)e(for)-82 859 y(a)h(rhombic)f
(dodecahedron)h(when)g(I)g(rushed)g(over)g(and)g(smacked)h(him)-82
909 y(across)f(the)g(face.)16 b(What)9 b(was)h(he)f(trying)f(to)g(do,)h(I)g
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b(reached)h(to)e(smash)i(his)f(design,)g(but)f(he,)i(being)e(the)h(wily)-82
1009 y(sort)d(that)g(he)g(was,)j(snatched)e(it)e(out)h(of)h(my)f(grasp)h(and)
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y(of)h(crystals)h(where)g(we)g(could)g(not)f(see)i(him.)k(I)11
b(instinctively)d(started)-82 1158 y(to)i(follow)f(him,)i(but)f(then)g(I)h
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1208 y(trying)e(to)h(get)h(him)g(to)g(work.)17 b(If)10 b(he)i(wants)f(to)f
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b(It)8 b(was)h(the)f(consensus)h(of)f(the)g(others)g(that)-82
1521 y(this)k(was)i(a)g(Good)e(Thing)h(T)m(o)g(Do,)i(but)d(my)h(cooler)h
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