HARPER

HIM, THE POOR IMBECILE THAT HE WAS, THOUGHT I WAS LAZY. HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT I HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE STELLAR DRIFT, THAT I WAS BEING PULVERIZED TO A BLACK EXTINCTION OUT THERE ON THE FARTHEST RIM OF THE UNIVERSE. HE THOUGHT IT WAS SHEER LAZINESS THAT KEPT ME RIVETED TO THE BED. HE FINALLY THREW A BUCKET OF WATER OVER ME: I SQUIRMED & SHIVERED A BIT, BUT I CONTINUED TO LIE THERE ON MY FERRO-CONCRETE BED. I WAS IMMOVABLE. I WAS A BURNED-OUT METEOR ADRIFT SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF VEGA.