Martian Time-Slip

by Philip K. Dick

stood by himself, thinking. Presently Doreen joined him. “That was dreadful news for you, wasn’t it?” she said, putting her arm around him. “Very bad,” Arnie said. “Worst I had in a long time. But I’ll be O.K.; I’m not scared of the co-op movement. Lewistown and the Water Workers were here first, and they’ll be here a lot longer. If I had gotten this project with the Steiner boy started sooner, it would have worked out differently, and I sure don’t blame Jack for that.” But inside him, in his heart, he thought, You were working against me, Jack. All the time. You were working with your father. From the start, too; from the day I hired you. He returned to the living room. At the tape transport, Jack stood morose and silent, fooling with the knobs. “Don’t take it hard,” Arnie said to him. “Thanks, Arnie,” Jack said. His eyes were dull. “I feel I’ve let you down.” “Not me,” Arnie assured him. “You haven’t let me down, Jack. Because nobody lets me down.” On the floor, Manfred Steiner pasted away, ignoring them all.