Prelude to Foundation - Isaac Asimov [90]
"Maybe so, Hari, but I don't understand what you're saying."
"The pages aren't blank, they're covered with microprint. Here, give it back. If I press this little nubbin on the inner edge of the cover- Look!"
The page to which the book lay open was suddenly covered with lines of print that rolled slowly upward.
Seldon said, "You can adjust the rate of upward movement to match your reading speed by slightly twisting the nubbin one way or the other. When the lines of print reach their upward limit when you reach the bottom line, that is-they snap downward and turn off. You turn to the next page and continue."
"Where does the energy come from that does all this?"
"It has an enclosed microfusion battery that lasts the life of the book."
"Then when it runs down-"
"You discard the book, which you may be required to do even before it runs down, given wear and tear, and get another copy. You never replace the battery."
Dors took the Book a second time and looked at it from all sides. She said, "I must admit I never heard of a book like this."
"Nor I. The Galaxy, generally, has moved into visual technology so rapidly, it skipped over this possibility."
"This is visual."
"Yes, but not with the orthodox effects. This type of book has its advantages. It holds far more than an ordinary visual book does."
Dors said, "Where's the turn-on? -Ah, let me see if I can work it." She had opened to a page at random and set the lines of print marching upward. Then she said, "I'm afraid this won't do you any good, Hari. It's pre-Galactic. I don't mean the book. I mean the print . . . the language."
"Can you read it, Dors? As a historian-"
"As a historian, I'm used to dealing with archaic language-but within limits. This is far too ancient for me. I ran make out a few words here and there, but not enough to be useful."
"Good," said Seldon. "If it's really ancient, it will be useful."
"Not if you can't read it."
"I can read it," said Seldon. "It's bilingual. You don't suppose that Raindrop Forty-Three can read the ancient script, do you?"
"If she's educated properly, why not?"
"Because I suspect that women in Mycogen are not educated past household duties. Some of the more learned men can read this, but everyone else would need a translation to Galactic." He pushed another nubbin. "And this supplies it."
The lines of print changed to Galactic Standard.
"Delightful," said Dors in admiration.
"We could learn from these Mycogenians, but we don't."
"We haven't known about it."
"I can't believe that. I know about it now. And you know about it. There must be outsiders coming into Mycogen now and then, for commercial or political reasons, or there wouldn't be skincaps so ready for use. So every once in a while someone must have caught a glimpse of this sort of print-book and seen how it works, but it's probably dismissed as something curious but not worth further study, simply because it's Mycogenian."
"But is it worth study?"
"Of course. Everything is. Or should be. Hummin would probably point to this lack of concern about these books as a sign of degeneration in the Empire."
He lifted the Book and said with a gush of excitement, "But I am curious and I will read this and it may push me in the direction of psychohistory."
"I hope so," said Dors, "but if you take my advice, you'll sleep first and approach it fresh in the morning. You won't learn much if you nod over it."
Seldon hesitated, then said, "How maternal you are!"
"I'm watching over you."
"But I have a mother alive on Helicon. I would rather you were my friend."
"As for that, I have been your friend since first I met you."
She smiled at him and Seldon hesitated as though he were not certain as to the appropriate rejoinder. Finally he said, "Then I'll take your advice---as a friend-mnd sleep before reading."
He made as though to put the Book