Heinlein, Robert A – Expanded Universe

ultrasound at extremely high frequency, it is highly directional; an acoustic

stethoscope is not.

“It generates a tight beam of ultrasound beyond the range of the human ear.

This beam strikes something and bounces back, causing interference beats in the

audible range. It behaves much like Doppler radar save that the radiation is

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ultrasound rather than electromagnetic. Thus it is a non invasive way to explore

inside the body without the dangers of x-ray . . . and is able to ‘see’ soft tissues

that x-ray can’t see.

“Both characteristics make it especially useful for protecting pregnant

mothers and unborn babies. I am not departing from the call; babies unborn and newly

born, and mothers at term must be classed as ‘temporarily but severely handicapped.’

“Doppler ultrasound was used on me before, during, and after surgery.

“After my convalescence I was again examined by computerized axial

tomography. No abnormalities– other than the new plate in my skull.

“This brain surgery is not itself a spinoff from space technology . . . but

note how repeatedly space spinoffs were used on me before, during, and after

surgery. This operation is very touchy; in the whole world only a handful of

surgical teams dare attempt it. Of the thousand-odd of these operations to date,

worldwide, Dr. Chater has performed more than 300. His mortality rate is far lower

than that of any other team anywhere.

This is a tribute to his skill but part of it comes from his attitude: he

always uses the latest, most sophisticated tools available.

“I was far gone; I needed every edge possible. Several things that tipped

the odds in my favor are spinoffs from space technology.

“Was it worthwhile? Yes, even if I had died at one of the four critical

points-because sinking into senility while one is still bright enough to realize

that one’s mental powers are steadily failing is a miserable, nogood way to live.

Early last year I was just smart enough to realize that I had nothing left to look

forward to, nothing whatever. This caused me to be quite willing to

‘Go-for-Broke’-get well or die.

“Did it work? I have been out of convalescence about one year, during which

I’ve caught up on two years of technical journals, resumed studying-I have long been

convinced that life-long learning helps to keep one young and happy. True or not,

both my wife and I do this. At present Tam reviewing symbolic logic, going on into

more advanced n-dimensional, non-Euclidean geometries, plus another subject quite

new to me: Chinese history.

“But I am working, too; I have completed writing a very long novel and am

about halfway through another book.

“I feel that I have proved one of two things: either I have fully

recovered.. . or a hole in the head is no handicap to a science-fiction author.

“I must note one spinoff especially important to the aged and the

handicapped: spiritual spinoff.

“‘Man does not live by bread alone.’ Any physician will tell you that the

most important factor in getting well is the will to live-contrariwise, a terminal

patient dies when he gives up the fight.

“I have been in death row three times. The unfailing support of my wife

sustained my will to live.. . so here I am. In addition I have believed firmly in

space

flight for the past sixty-odd years; this has been a permanent incentive to hang on,

hang on! My wife shares this; she decided years back to die on the Moon, not here in

the smog and the crowds. Now that I am well again I intend to hang in there, lead a

disciplined life, stay alive until we can buy commercial tickets to the Moon . . .

and spend our last days in low-gravity comfort in the Luna Hilton, six levels down

in Luna City.

“Foolishness? Everyone in this room is old enough to know by direct

experience that today’s foolishness is tomorrow’s wisdom. I can remember when ‘Get a

horse!’ was considered the height of wit. As may be, anything that gives one a

strong incentive to live can’t be entirely foolish.

“I get a flood of mail from my readers; a disproportionate part of it is