Page 126 - BraveNewWorld

126 IDPH

mising young Alpha-Minus administrator at Mwanza-Mwanza was to die of
trypanosomiasis-the first case for over half a century. Sighing, Lenina went on
with her work.
An hour later, in the Changing Room, Fanny was energetically protesting. “But
it’s absurd to let yourself get into a state like this. Simply absurd,” she repeated.
“And what about? A man-one man.”
“But he’s the one I want.”

“As though there weren’t millions of other men in the world.”
“But I don’t want them.”
“How can you know till you’ve tried?”

“I have tried.”
“But how many?” asked Fanny, shrugging her shoulders contemptuously.
“One, two?”

“Dozens. But,” shaking her head, “it wasn’t any good,” she added.
“Well, you must persevere,” said Fanny sententiously. But it was obvious that
her confidence in her own prescriptions had been shaken. “Nothing can be
achieved without perseverance.”
“But meanwhile .”

“Don’t think of him.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Take soma, then.”

“I do.”
“Well, go on.”
“But in the intervals I still like him. I shall always like him.”
“Well, if that’s the case,” said Fanny, with decision, “why don’t you just go and
take him. Whether he wants it or no.”
“But if you knew how terribly queer he was!”
“All the more reason for taking a firm line.”

“It’s all very well to say that.”
“Don’t stand any nonsense. Act.” Fanny’s voice was a trumpet; she might have
been a Y.W.F.A. lecturer giving an evening talk to adolescent Beta- Minuses.
“Yes, act-at once. Do it now.”

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