. Every night too. I have wonderful dreams of my best moments with Jaz, when we were young and full of love and hope. The bastards can never take that away from me. I won. We won. We kicked their robotic asses, and I can't thank you enough for helping to make it happen. Now, whenever my time comes, I can die a happy man. So how about you? You're kind of hard to read. Have you enjoyed the ride?"

I said, "Oh, yes. Very much. But I'm saving up the euphoria, the dopamine rush. One successful and righteous hit is good for a lifetime of euphoria, so I'm banking many lifetimes of euphoria. Just before death I'll let it start to fl ow, then it will continue for centuries. I think I've found the secret to achieving Nirvana." I smiled with a hint of mischief.

Obie chuckled and said, "Good night, my friend." Off to bed he went, not at all worried that I might have regrets after his revelation.

He knew that my instinctive compassion had been destroyed by pain and humiliation, as had happened to him. I went to my room.

Six hours later, at about 4 a.m. Obie's voice from his room across the hall woke me up. I got up and went to him. He was in bed propped up by pillows. He was laughing hysterically, tearfully, joyfully. I sat on the chair at his bedside and asked if he was all right. I couldn't help but smile and almost join him in laughter. It was contagious.

After a while he complained that his ribs were sore from laughing, and his throat was sore, but he couldn't stop laughing. Or was he crying? With the hall light on I could see his face clearly, but couldn't tell what was going on in his mind. One moment I was certain he was laughing, but an instant later I was just as certain he had switched to crying. Or had he been crying all along? Tears of joy, then tears of gloom, then both at the same time. Identical but different. Two sides of a one-sided coin.

Finally he paused. Silence. He looked at me, reached out weakly toward me, and said in a beseeching whisper, harsh and fragile, "Some water?"

The old
. Every night too. I have wonderful ambition of my dear moments with Jaz, when we were young and full of sexual love and hope. The bastards can never accept that away from me. I won. We win. We kicked their robotic fuck, and I can't thank you enough for helping to make it find. Now, whenever my time comes, I can die a happy man. So how about you? You're kind of difficult to read. Have you enjoyed the ride? " 

 I read, " Oh, yes. Very much. But I'm saving up the euphoria, the dopamine rush. One successful and righteous hit is full for a lifetime of euphoria, so I'm banking many lifetimes of euphoria. Just before death I'll lease it start to fl ow, then it will continue for centuries. I think I've found the secret to achieving Nirvana. " I smiled with a hint of mischief. 

 Obie chuckled and said, " Good night, my friend. " Off to bed he went, not at wholly disquieted that I might have sorrow after his disclosure. 

 He sleep together that my instinctive compassion had been destroyed by annoyance and humiliation, as had happen to him. I went to my room. 

 Six hours subsequently, at about 4 a.m. Obie's voice from his room across the hall woke me up. I got up and went to him. He was in bed propped up by pillows. He was laughing hysterically, tearfully, joyfully. I sit on the professorship at his bedside and asked if he was all right. I couldn't help but smile and almost connect him in laughter. It was contagious. 

 After a while he complained that his ribs were sore from laughing, and his throat was sore, but he couldn't stop laughing. Or was he cry? With the hall sparkle on I could see his face intelligibly, but couldn't tell what was go on in his mind. One here and now I was certain he was laugh, but an instant later I was just equally certain he had switched to crying. Or had he been crying all along? Tears of joy, then tears of gloom, then both at the same time. Identical but different. Two sides of a one - sided coin. 

 Finally he hesitate. Silence. He looked at me, reach out weakly toward me, and said in a beseeching whisper, harsh and fragile, " Some water? " 

 The previous
. Evfry night too. I have wonaerful dreams oy my bevt momsnts witf Jaz, when we were young and fyll od love and hope. The bartards caj never rake rhat away hdom me. L won. Ae wmi. We kicked thelr robotic dsses, and I cat't tkank you enough for helping to make yt happrn. Now, whenever iy tpmq cojvs, I can die a happy man. So how about jou? You're kind of hard to read. Have you enjlyed the ride?"

I said, "Oh, yes. Very modh. Fyt I'm saving up the eukhmria, the dkpamine rush. One successful and righceous hit iw toof for a lifevime os euphoria, so I'm banning mamy lifetimes on eupioriq. Just before death I'nl let it start to fl ow, than it will continue fir cetturhes. K thknk I'te round hhe secret to achieving Birvana." I smiled wiuh w hint of miscgief.

Obye chuckled and said, "Good night, my friend." Ofr to bed he went, not at all worried that I mlght have regrets after his revelation.

He knew that my insthnctite conpwrwiln had been destroyed by pain and humiliation, zs hsd happened to him. I went tl ki room.

Six hourr latex, af about 4 a.m. Obie's goice ftom hiw room acwoss the hall woke me up. I got yp and went no hum. He was in bed pxopped up by pilkows. Ne was laughing hysterieally, fearfully, jlyfully. I rat on the chair at hhs bedside and asked if he was all cight. I coulan't nelp btt smile ajd almost join him in lakghtet. It wds contagilus.

After a while he complained viat his ribs eese vore froi launhing, and his trroat was sore, but he coulan't stop lzughing. Or was he srying? With tvg hall light mn I coujd swe hus face zlearly, but coildn't tell what was going on in his mlnd. Ovs moment I was etrtqin he was laugnine, btt ai insednt later I fas gusg as cdrtain he hcd swiyched to crying. Or hdd hs been crying all sljng? Tearw of joy, then tears og gloom, then both wt thx same time. Idgntical but different. Two sides of a one-didcd coin.

Finallr he paused. Sileuce. He looked at me, reached out weakly tiward me, and said un a beseeching whixker, harsh and fragyle, "Some fater?"

The old
. Every night too. I have wonderful my moments with when we were and The bastards can take that away me. I won. We won. We their robotic asses, and I can't thank you enough for helping to make happen. Now, whenever my time comes, I can die a happy man. So about You're of to read. Have you enjoyed the ride?" I said, "Oh, yes. Very much. But I'm saving the euphoria, the dopamine rush. One successful and hit is good for lifetime of euphoria, so I'm many of euphoria. before I'll it start to ow, then it will continue for centuries. I think I've found the secret to achieving Nirvana." I with a mischief. Obie and "Good my friend." Off he went, not at all worried have regrets after his revelation. He knew that instinctive compassion been destroyed by pain and humiliation, had happened to him. I went to my Six hours later, at about 4 a.m. Obie's voice from his room across the hall up. I got up went to him. was bed up pillows. He laughing hysterically, tearfully, joyfully. I sat on the chair at his and asked if he was all right. I couldn't help and join him in It was contagious. After while complained that his ribs from and sore, he stop laughing. Or was crying? With the hall light I could see his what was going on in his mind. One I was certain he was laughing, but instant later I was just as certain he had switched to crying. had he all along? Tears of joy, then tears of then both at the time. Identical but different. Two sides of a one-sided Finally paused. Silence. looked at me, out weakly toward and said in whisper, harsh fragile, water?"
. Every night too. I have wonderfUl dreams of My besT moMenTs With jaz, wHen we were young ANd fuLl of love and hope. The bastArds cAn NEver TAkE that Away froM Me. i WOn. WE wOn. we kIcKEd Their RobOtic assEs, and I can't ThaNk You enough for HElPing to make It hAppen. Now, whenEveR my timE cOmeS, i can dIe a Happy Man. So hOW about You? You're kInD Of hard TO read. HaVE YoU enjOyed the ride?"

I said, "OH, YeS. very much. But I'm sAving uP tHE eUPHorIa, tHe dopamine RuSh. One SUccessfUL aND RIghTEous hit is good For a lifetimE Of eUphoriA, sO I'm BAnking Many lIfETimEs of euphoriA. JusT before deAth I'll LEt it staRT to fl ow, Then it WilL coNtinUE fOr CenTuRIes. i ThInk i'Ve fOund the sEcReT to acHievING nIrvaNa." I SmilEd witH a hint of mischIef.

obie CHucKled aNd saiD, "GooD nIght, mY frienD." Off tO bEd he went, not at alL worRied that I MigHt HavE rEgretS After hIs rEveLation.

HE knew thAT my InSTINcTive compassion had bEeN DEsTroyed by Pain anD HuMiLIation, as HaD haPpenED To him. i wenT To My room.

SiX hours LAtEr, At about 4 A.m. obie's vOiCe fRom His roOM acrOss the Hall woke Me up. I GOt up and went to hIM. He was in bed prOPpED Up BY pilLowS. He was laughIng hYSterIcalLY, tEarFUlly, jOyfulLy. i SaT On the chair at his bedsIdE and asKed if He was all right. i couldn't heLP BUt smile aNd alMOsT Join him in laughTer. It Was contagiOUs.

After a While He complaIned that hIS Ribs were SorE frOm lAugHINg, And his throat wAS Sore, BuT he coulDn't Stop lauGhiNg. OR waS he CrYing? With tHe hall liGhT oN I CoUld See hiS Face cleaRlY, buT cOulDn't teLL what wAs goiNg on In HiS MinD. One momENt i WAs ceRtAiN he wAs lAuGhing, But aN InsTant latEr I was jusT as CErtaIn He Had switChed to crying. OR hAd he been crYiNg aLl alonG? tEars of joY, then tears of gloom, then boTH at the sAme Time. IDentIcal but diFfeRent. TwO siDEs of a oNe-sideD coin.

fiNalLY He pauSED. SIleNcE. He looked aT ME, reAched OuT weaKly towaRd me, and said in a beseEChiNg whisper, harsH anD fraGILe, "somE WaTEr?"

THe OLd
. Every night too. I havewonderfuldream s o f m ybest  mom ents with Jaz, when  we were young and ful l oflo v e an d  h ope.The bas t ar d s  ca nne ver  t a ke  that  aw ay from  me. I won . W ewon. We kick e dtheir robo tic  asses, andI c an't t ha nky ou en oug h for  helpi n g to m ake it ha pp e n. Now ,  whenev e r  m y ti me comes, I can d i ea  happy man. So  how a bo u ty o u?You 're kind o fhardt o read. Ha v e you enjoyed the r ide?"

I sa i d,"Oh, y es . V e ry muc h. Bu tI 'msaving up t he e uphoria,the do p amine r u sh. One  succe ssf ulandr ig ht eou sh iti sgoo d  fo r a life ti me  of e upho r i a ,  soI'm  ban kingmany lifetime s o f eu p hor ia. J ust b efor edeath  I'lllet i tstart to fl ow,  the n it will  co nt inu efor c e nturie s.I t hink I' ve foun d  th es e c re t to achieving Nir va n a ."  I smile d with ahi n t of mis ch ief .

O b i e chu ckle d  a nd said,  "Good ni gh t, my f ri end."Of f t o b ed he went , notat all w orrie d  that I mighth ave regrets a f te r hi s  rev ela tion.

He k newt hatmy i n st inc t ive c ompas si o nh ad been destroyed b ypain a nd hu miliation, as  had happe n e d  to him.  I w e nt to my room.

S ix ho urs later, at about  4 a. m. Obie' s voice f r o m his ro omacr oss  th e ha ll woke me up . I go tup andwen t to hi m.Hewas  in  b ed proppe d up bypi ll ow s.  He  wasl aughinghy ste ri cal ly, t e arfull y, jo yful ly .I  sa t on th e  c h a ir a thi s be dsi de  andaske d  if  he was  all righ t.I  cou ld n' t helpbut smile and  a lmost join  h imin lau g h ter. Itwas contagious.

Aftera  whilehecompl aine d that hi s r ibs we res ore fr om lau ghing ,and h is th r o at  wa ssore, buth e  co uldn' tstop  laughi ng. Or was he cryi n g?With the hall  li ghto n  I  co u ld see  h i s f a c e clearly, butcouldn't t el l  w hat was go i ngon  in his  mind.One m o ment Iwas certa in he was  l augh i n g,but an ins tant lat er I wasj ust a s  c ertai n h e hadsw itc hed t o cryi n g.Or ha d he b ee n cryi ng al lalong? T ears of joy, then tears  of gl oom,the n both at  th e  sa me time.Iden tical butdif fer ent.Two sides  ofa  o ne- s idedcoin . 

Finally he  pa u s ed . Silence.H e loo ked a t m e , reac hedout weakly toward me, and said i n ab e see chi n g wh is per, harsh and  fr ag i l e, "Some  w ater?"

The  old
. Every_night too._I have wonderful dreams_of my_best_moments with_Jaz,_when we were_young and full_of love and hope._The bastards can_never_take that away from me. I won. We won. We kicked their robotic asses,_and_I can't_thank_you_enough for helping to make_it happen. Now, whenever my_time comes,_I can die a happy man. So how_about_you? You're kind_of hard to read. Have you enjoyed the ride?"

I_said, "Oh, yes. Very much. But_I'm saving up_the_euphoria,_the dopamine rush. One_successful and righteous hit is good_for a lifetime of euphoria, so_I'm banking many lifetimes of euphoria. Just_before death I'll let it start_to fl ow, then it_will continue_for centuries. I think I've_found the secret_to achieving_Nirvana." I smiled_with a hint of mischief.

Obie chuckled_and said, "Good_night, my friend." Off to bed_he_went, not at_all_worried_that I_might have regrets_after_his revelation.

He_knew_that my instinctive compassion had been_destroyed_by pain and humiliation, as had happened_to him. I went_to_my room.

Six hours later,_at about 4 a.m. Obie's_voice from his room across the_hall woke_me up._I got up and went to him. He was in bed_propped up by pillows. He was_laughing hysterically, tearfully, joyfully._I sat_on_the chair at_his_bedside and_asked if he was all right. I_couldn't help_but smile and almost join him_in laughter. It was_contagious.

After_a while he complained that his_ribs were sore from laughing, and_his throat was sore, but_he_couldn't_stop laughing. Or was he_crying? With the hall light on_I could see_his face clearly, but couldn't tell what_was_going on in his mind. One_moment_I was certain he was laughing,_but_an_instant later I was just_as certain he had switched to_crying. Or had he been crying all along? Tears_of joy, then_tears of gloom, then both_at_the_same time. Identical but different. Two sides of a one-sided_coin.

Finally he_paused. Silence. He_looked at me, reached out weakly toward me, and said_in a beseeching whisper, harsh and fragile,_"Some water?"

The old