The Number of the Beast

PART ONE The Mandarin's Butterfly I "-- it is better to marry than to burn." -- Saul of Tarsus . . . 11 II "This Universe never did make sense --" . . . 16 III "-- Professor Moriarty isn't fooled --" . . . 20 IV Because two things equal to the same thing are never equal to each other. . . . 34 V "-- a wedding ring is not a ring in my nose --" . . . 39 VI Are men and women one race? . . . 42 VII "Avete, Alieni, nos morituri vos spernimus!" . . . 57 VIII "Let us all preserve our illusions --" . . . 66 IX Most males have an unhealthy tendency to obey laws. . . . 72 X " '-- and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon'!" . . . 86 XI "-- citizens must protect themselves. " . . . 95 XII "They might fumigate this planet and take it." . . . 103 XIII Being too close to a fireball can worry a man-- . . . 116 XIV "Quit worrying and enjoy the ride." . . . 124 XV "We'll hit so hard we'll hardly notice it." . . . 131 XVI -- a maiden knight, eager to break a lance -- . . . 133 XVII The world wobbled -- . . . 139 XVIII "-- the whole world is alive." . . . 152 PART TWO The Butterfly's Mandarin XIX Something is gained in translation -- . . . 163 XX -- right theory, wrong universe. . . . 169 XXI -- three seconds is a long time -- . . . 180 XXII " 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.' " . . . 192 XXIII "The farce is over." . . . 207 XXIV Captains aren't supposed to cry. . . . 217 XXV " -- leave bad enough alone!" . . . 231 XXVI The Keys to the City . . . 243 XXVII "Are you open to a bribe?" . . . 256 XXVIII "He's too fat." . . . 275 XXIX "-- we place no faith in princes." 283 XXX "Different physical laws, a different topology." 307 XXXI "-- the first ghosts ever to search for an obstetrician." . . . 319 XXXII " 'Where Cat is, is civilization.' " . . . 326 XXXIII " -- 'solipsism' is a buzz word." . . . 334 XXXIV " -- all my dreams do come true!" . . . 347 XXXV "It's A disturbing idea --" . . . 353 XXXVI "Pipe down and do your job." . . . 356 XXXVII The First Law of Biology . . . 363 XXXVIII " -- under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid --" . . . 369 PART THREE Death and Resurrection XXXIX Random Numbers . . . 383 XL "Is there a mathematician in the house?" . . . 383 XLI "A cat can be caught in almost any trap once --" . . . 404 XLII "You're a figment of imagination. " . . . 415 XLIII To Pull a Hat Out of a Rabbit -- . . . 422 XLIV " -- where do we get the corpse?" . . . 437 XLV A Stitch in Time . . . 449 XLVI "I'm gifted with second sight." . . . 454 XLVII "There are no tomorrows." . . . 461 L'Envoi XLVIII Rev. XXII: 13 . . . 481