"Ian Watson - Ahead" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watson Ian)

avail myself of the Jones legislation? The opportunity might not be
available in our own country for longer than a couple of years. The
population might drop to a sustainable level. A change of administration
might bring a change of heart. There could be rancour at the cost of
maintaining increasing numbers of frozen and unproductive heads.

Until then, though, we were in the Head Race with China and Japan and
India and other overpopulated nations. The previous deterrent to freezing
had been guillotined away. Now no one was compelled to wait for natural
death by cancer or car crash -- and thus risk their brain degenerating
during vital lost minutes.

Farewell, likewise, to the fear of senile dementia or Alzheimer's! The head
would be surgically removed swiftly in prime condition and frozen
immediately. This knowledge was immensely comforting to me. It was
also a little scary. I was among the earliest to register. Yet I must wait
almost a month till my appointment with the blade. A whole month! What
if I were murderously mugged before I could be decapitated? What if my
head was mashed to pulp?

Fortunately, I was part of a nationwide support group of like minds linked
by our PCs. To a fair extent our lobbying had finally resulted in the Jones
Law. Yes, ours; along with lobbying by ecologists concerned with the
welfare of the planet -- and also, I have to admit, pressure from certain
powerful right wing groups (but it's the outcome which counts).

So whilst awaiting decapitation (now a proud word!) there was quite a
sense of emotional and intellectual solidarity.

As regards storage or tagging of our heads, would a distinction be made
between idealists such as ourselves -- and those who were incurably ill or
who had despaired of their current lives -- and so-called Obligatories?

Initially, the Obligatories would be processed separately by the Justice or
Medical systems. Would storage be mixed or segregated? This remained
unclear. We had no wish to stir any suspicion of discrimination! Surely
there was a significant distinction between idealists and non-idealists. The
permission/identification form we all signed upon registering contained a
box reserved for our motive.

Reportedly, the majority of idealists would be withdrawing from the world
for altruistic, ecological reasons. Too many people on the planet for the


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Ahead! - a story by Ian Watson

health of the world! These volunteers would forgo their lives.

Enthusiasts such as myself nursed more personal motives, although I