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    Second Variety
    Second Variety
    Second Variety
    Ebook68 pages54 minutes

    Second Variety

    By Philip K. Dick

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    About this ebook

    In the aftermath of a devastating nuclear war between the United Nations and the Soviet Union, sophisticated robotsnicknamed “claws”are created to destroy what remains of human life. Left to their own devices, however, the claws develop robots of their own. II-V, the second variety, remains unknown to the few humans left on Earth. Or does it?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJovian Press
    Release dateNov 6, 2016
    ISBN9781537806730
    Author

    Philip K. Dick

    Over a writing career that spanned three decades, PHILIP K. DICK (1928–1982) published 36 science fiction novels and 121 short stories in which he explored the essence of what makes man human and the dangers of centralized power. Toward the end of his life, his work turned to deeply personal, metaphysical questions concerning the nature of God. Eleven novels and short stories have been adapted to film, notably Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly, as well as television's The Man in the High Castle. The recipient of critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career, including the Hugo and John W. Campbell awards, Dick was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2005, and between 2007 and 2009, the Library of America published a selection of his novels in three volumes. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages.

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      Book preview

      Second Variety - Philip K. Dick

      SECOND VARIETY

      Philip K. Dick

      JOVIAN PRESS

      Thank you for reading. If you enjoy this book, please leave a review.

      All rights reserved. Aside from brief quotations for media coverage and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without the author’s permission. Thank you for supporting authors and a diverse, creative culture by purchasing this book and complying with copyright laws.

      Copyright © 2016 by Philip K. Dick

      Published by Jovian Press

      Interior design by Pronoun

      Distribution by Pronoun

      ISBN: 9781537806730

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      SECOND VARIETY

      SECOND VARIETY

      ~

      THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER MADE HIS way nervously up the ragged side of the hill, holding his gun ready. He glanced around him, licking his dry lips, his face set. From time to time he reached up a gloved hand and wiped perspiration from his neck, pushing down his coat collar.

      Eric turned to Corporal Leone. Want him? Or can I have him? He adjusted the view sight so the Russian’s features squarely filled the glass, the lines cutting across his hard, somber features.

      Leone considered. The Russian was close, moving rapidly, almost running. Don’t fire. Wait. Leone tensed. I don’t think we’re needed.

      The Russian increased his pace, kicking ash and piles of debris out of his way. He reached the top of the hill and stopped, panting, staring around him. The sky was overcast, drifting clouds of gray particles. Bare trunks of trees jutted up occasionally; the ground was level and bare, rubble-strewn, with the ruins of buildings standing out here and there like yellowing skulls.

      The Russian was uneasy. He knew something was wrong. He started down the hill. Now he was only a few paces from the bunker. Eric was getting fidgety. He played with his pistol, glancing at Leone.

      Don’t worry, Leone said. He won’t get here. They’ll take care of him.

      Are you sure? He’s got damn far.

      They hang around close to the bunker. He’s getting into the bad part. Get set!

      The Russian began to hurry, sliding down the hill, his boots sinking into the heaps of gray ash, trying to keep his gun up. He stopped for a moment, lifting his fieldglasses to his face.

      He’s looking right at us, Eric said.

      The Russian came on. They could see his eyes, like two blue stones. His mouth was open a little. He needed a shave; his chin was stubbled. On one bony cheek was a square of tape, showing blue at the edge. A fungoid spot. His coat was muddy and torn. One glove was missing. As he ran his belt counter bounced up and down against him.

      Leone touched Eric’s arm. Here one comes.

      Across the ground something small and metallic came, flashing in the dull sunlight of mid-day. A metal sphere. It raced up the hill after the Russian, its treads flying. It was small, one of the baby ones. Its claws were out, two razor projections spinning in a blur of white steel. The Russian heard it. He turned instantly, firing. The sphere dissolved into particles. But already a second had emerged and was following the first. The Russian fired again.

      A third sphere leaped up the Russian’s leg, clicking and whirring. It jumped to the shoulder. The spinning blades disappeared into the Russian’s throat.

      Eric relaxed. Well, that’s that. God, those damn things give me the creeps. Sometimes I think we were better off before.

      If we hadn’t invented them, they would have. Leone lit a cigarette shakily. I wonder why a Russian would come all this way alone. I didn’t see anyone covering him.

      Lt. Scott came slipping up the tunnel, into the bunker. What happened? Something entered the screen.

      An Ivan.

      Just one?

      Eric brought the view screen around. Scott peered into it. Now there were numerous metal spheres crawling over the prostrate body, dull metal globes clicking and whirring, sawing up the Russian into small parts to be carried away.

      What a lot of claws, Scott murmured.

      They come like flies. Not much game for them any more.

      Scott pushed the sight away, disgusted. Like flies. I wonder why he was out there. They know we have claws all around.

      A larger robot had joined the smaller spheres. It was directing operations, a long blunt tube with projecting eyepieces. There was not much left of the soldier. What remained was being brought down the hillside by the host of claws.

      Sir, Leone said. "If it’s all right,

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