The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost Kafoozalum, by Pauline Ashwell

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Title: The Lost Kafoozalum

Author: Pauline Ashwell

Illustrator: Schoenherr

Release Date: November 8, 2009 [EBook #30427]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST KAFOOZALUM ***

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction October 1960.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright
on this publication was renewed.

THE LOST KAFOOZALUM

by PAULINE ASHWELL

Illustrated by Schoenherr

_One of the beautiful things about a delusion is that no
matter how mad someone gets at it ... he can't do it any
harm. Therefore a delusion can be a fine thing for prodding
angry belligerents...._

* * * * *

I remember some bad times, most of them back home on Excenus 23; the
worst was when Dad fell under the reaping machine but there was also
the one when I got lost twenty miles from home with a dud radio, at
the age of twelve; and the one when Uncle Charlie caught me practicing
emergency turns in a helicar round the main weather-maker; and the one
on Figuerra being chased by a cyber-crane; and the time when Dad
decided to send me to Earth to do my Education.

This time is bad in a different way, with no sharp edges but a kind of
a desolation.

Most people I know are feeling bad just now, because at Russett
College we finished our Final Examination five days ago and Results
are not due for a two weeks.

My friend B Laydon says this is yet another Test anyone still sane at
the end being proved tough enough to break a molar on; she says also
The worst part is in bed remembering all the things she could have
written and did not; The second worst is also in bed picturing how to
explain to her parents when they get back to Earth that _someone_ has
to come bottom and in a group