_It is rumored that technology might eliminate many useless items from our regulated life of the future--including good, old-fashioned sex. However, let's kibitz for a moment ... _ FIELD TRIP By Gene Hunter Kial was disgusted with the slow, cumbersome train. He disliked usingthis uncomfortable means of travel, but since he wanted to learn moreabout these strange creatures who were his ancestors, he had decided totry to become used to their ways. He was lonely in this strange, backward age and when he unexpectedly sawanother being like himself in the same coach, he hastened to make hispresence known. He introduced himself and asked politely: "When are _you_ from?" "8000, " the other replied. "Name's Broyk, from VII Galaxy. " "I'm from out XIX way myself, " Kial said. "Just a country boy. But8000--that's only a period ahead of my own time. Maybe you could tellme ... " "Ah, ah!" the other admonished. "Remember the First Law of Thek!" "Oh, Center, " Kial grumbled. "I know: 'One may not divulge anyscientific, technical or social information to anyone from his own pastwhom he may meet at an equidistant point in a Thek-travel. ' I forgot. " "Bad, " Broyk said. Then he added, almost jokingly: "You wouldn't want tobe marooned in this dismal era, would you?" Kial shuddered. "Of course not. But the Laws seem so ridiculous. " "Not a bit, " Broyk said, warming up to the subject. "It's very simple, really. Same principle that doesn't allow anyone to Thek-travel into thefuture. "Look. I'm from 8000. Say that I went into 12, 000, where I memorized asmuch information as I could on some subject such as medicine. So Ireturn to 8000, retaining all such knowledge in my mind that's beenlearned in four periods. Therefore, I'd have knowledge that wasn'tdreamed of in my own time, but was discovered sometime during the nextfour periods. But then it couldn't be discovered, because I'd broughtit back to 8000 and--well, I'm no Logician, but you see my point. " "Oh, it's reasonable, I suppose, " Kial admitted. "I realize the Laws arereally for our own good. By the way--I'm here on a field trip to gathermaterial for my thesis on Advanced Therapeutical Psychology and itsdevelopment since the Twentieth Century. What phase of this era are youhere to study?" "I--I'm afraid I couldn't tell you that, " Broyk said. "It's of rather asecret nature and ... " "You mean we might violate a Law and be stuck here for good--is thatit?" "Yes--in a way. " Frightened, Kial let the matter drop. His gaze wandered through thecoach, examining the other passengers with interest. As time-travelersfrom a different space-time plane from their 20th Century ancestors, heand Broyk were naturally invisible to their fellow travelers. Two pompous old gentlemen were lighting cigars and Kial was about toremark on the habit of smoking when he noticed an even more remarkablephenomenon. A few seats ahead of them sat a good-looking young couple, oblivious to others about them. "Look!" Kial cried excitedly. "Lovers! Honeymooners! I've read aboutsuch things! Isn't it disgusting?" "Oh, I don't know, " Broyk said, a little wistfully. "I sometimes thinkit was a mistake for Center to do away with sex. It must have beeninteresting. " "Atavist!" Kial snapped in horror. Had his people's emotional make-up provided for blushing, Kial wouldundoubtedly have turned beet-red. Broyk's words had caused him acuteembarrassment. * * * * * As he sat reflecting upon his strange companion, he suddenly began tofeel a sensation he had often heard about but never before hadexperienced. Terror and dismay filled him as he sought to throw off theprobing finger that was penetrating his mind. He looked at Broyk. There was the faintest notion of a smile on theother's face as he said: "Yes, Kial--I am a Telepath. " Kial's mind reeled. He felt himself on the brink of some gigantic abyssand then, as suddenly as it had come, the searching sensation fadedaway. "Since you are unable to enter my mind, " Broyk said calmly, "it's onlyfair that I tell you about myself. You were right--I'm an atavist. Evenin period 8000, such things can happen. Always such creatures aredestroyed after their first psychotests, but my case was different. The Controller who bred me was only a dabbler in such things. Iwas a failure, but he took a fancy to me. I was allowed to maturesecretly--few people knew of my existence. When I reached my majority mypresence became dangerous and I was sent back into time to try and findthe proper place for myself. And I think I've found it--here!" Kial was a very amazed young man. "But such a barbarous age, " hecomplained. "Sex and atom bombs and everything ... " "Remember, " Broyk smiled, "these people are the forebears of thegeniuses who created Center and the Galactic Empire. They'll survive, despite their barbarism. The existence of Center is proof. " "It's rather horrible to contemplate, " Kial said thoughtfully, calmernow, "and yet, this might really be a great age. In a way I almost envyyou. " "Of course you do, " Broyk said. "You have certain tendencies--theybother you, although you manage to hide them well. I discovered themwhen I took the liberty of telepathing you. Artificial Genetics isn'tperfect, even in our time--perhaps because we originally sprang fromman. Perhaps we'll never be quite perfect, because of that, even afterthousands of periods of breeding. " Kial took another look at the loving young couple. "It--it might be fun, after all. " Broyk laughed. "You needn't envy me at all, you know. " Kial frowned. "I'm telling you about myself, " Broyk went on, "I have also told you ofa specific condition existing a period ahead of your own time. Rememberthe First Law?" "Center!" "We're marooned in the Twentieth Century. You have to accept it. " "But what will we _do_?" Kial's mind was reeling again. "Since we've already broken the First Law, " Broyk said, "we may just aswell break the Second: 'No Thek-traveler may enter the body of a nativeof a foreign space-time ... '" * * * * * The young lovers kissed again and this time there seemed to be an addedzest, even to their passionate embrace. THE END Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_ May 1953. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U. S. Copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.