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73 lines
2.4 KiB
Text
73 lines
2.4 KiB
Text
.LP
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.ce
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.ps 16
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.CW
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DESCENT OF MIND
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.R
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.ps 8
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.CW
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tags: 1985, albert_lunsford, ian_kenny, saito
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.R
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.LP
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.fp 1 R H
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.fp 2 I HI
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.fp 3 B HB
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.fp 4 BI HM
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.QP
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.ps 8
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Saito:
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I write to you with news of Albert's worsening condition.
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One moment he is digressing about Kant and the next he has picked up a
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kitchen appliance and is bashing himself in the face. I am
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increasingly frightened that he will do irreparable damage to himself.
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When I'm not around, he calls me almost every day. But I cannot answer
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his calls anymore\(emnot for any lack of sympathy, understand, but for
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time. After five minutes he forgets he's called and tries to call
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again. This can go on for hours. I think it matters very little
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whether I answer or not, as he won't remember either way. In spite of
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my fears for his safety, I really don't think my presence or my words
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mitigate the danger. When I do answer, speaking to him meaningfully is
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an occluded impossibility, as he rarely understands what I'm trying to
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say. He seems to be losing comprehension of even simple language. I
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now manage his percept from remote with an automated script. The
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program runs continuously, even when I am otherwise preoccupied. I
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check the log messages most mornings.
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I still visit him once a week and help him arrange his grocery
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deliveries, medications, and so on. He is no longer capable of caring
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for himself in essential matters. I have to put his hand on the
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pressure screen at the appropriate times. His notebooks have
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degenerated, devolved over time into page upon page of scratches,
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really nothing more than dots and dashes. I don't believe he is
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writing in Morse code. He doesn't even attempt to draw anymore. The
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systems in his apartment could take care of all his basic needs, but I
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am reluctant to cut off contact on account of his obvious loneliness.
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He has begun to confuse me with members of his family who are long
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dead.
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My understanding is that your work has taken a turn towards success,
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as of late, and that the advances you are making every day may be of
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some benefit to Albert. Things used make sense to him, Saito. To us.
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In spite of our earlier discussion on these matters, I must appeal to
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you yet again to reconsider your blunt rejection of his case. Surely
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you have some leeway in who you treat. Won't you please try to help
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him, if you are able.
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I implore you, Saito.
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Ian Kenny
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.LP
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.fp 1 R GA
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.fp 2 I GI
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.fp 3 B GM
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.fp 4 BI GMI
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.ps 10
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.ce
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END BOOK TWO
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