Heinlein, Robert A – Expanded Universe

Pinero shook his head sadly. “I am very sorry for you, my dear Luke. You

will die before tomorrow.”

“SCIENCE MEET ENDS IN RIOT”

“SAVANTS SAPS SAYS SEER”

“DEATH PUNCHES TIMECLOCK”

“SCRIBE DIES PER DOC’S DOPE”

“HOAX’ CLAIMS SCIENCE HEAD”

“… within twenty minutes of Pinero’s strange prediction, Timons was struck

by a falling sign while walking down Broadway toward the offices of the Daily Herald

where he was employed.

“Doctor Pinero declined to comment but confirmed the story that he had

predicted Timons’ death by means of his so-called chronovitameter. Chief of Police

Roy…”

Does the FUTURE worry You????????

Don’t waste money on fortune tellers –

Consult Doctor Hugo Pinero, Bio-Consultant

to help you plan for the future by

Page 7

infallible scientific methods.

No Hocus-Pocus. No “Spirit” Messages.

$10,000 Bond posted in forfeit to back

our predictions. Circular on request.

SANDS of TIME, Inc.

Majestic Bldg., Suite 700

(adv.)

– Legal Notice

To whom it may concern, greetings; I, John Cabot Winthrop III, of the firm

Winthrop, Winthrop, Ditmars & Winthrop, Attorneys-at-Law, do affirm that Hugo Pinero

of this city did hand to me ten thousand dollars in lawful money of the United

States, and instruct me to place it in escrow with a chartered bank of my selection

with escrow instructions as follows:.

The entire bond shall be forfeit, and shall forthwith be paid to the first

client of Hugo Pinero and/or Sands of Time, Inc. who shall exceed his life tenure as

predicted by Hugo Pinero by one per centurn, or to the estate of the first client

who shall fail of such predicted tenure in a like amount, whichever occurs first in

point of time.

I do further affirm that I have this day placed this bond in escrow with the

above related instructions with the Equitable-First National Bank of this city.

Subscribed–and sworn,

John Cabot Winthrop Ill

Subscribed and sworn to before me

this 2nd day of April, 1951.

Albert M. Swanson

Notary Public in and for this county and state

My commission expires June 17, 1951.

“Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Radio Audience, let’s go to Press! Flash! Hugo

Pinero, The Miracle Man from Nowhere, has made his thousandth death prediction

without a claimant for the reward he posted for anyone who catches him failing to

call the turn. With thirteen of his clients already dead it is mathematically

certain that – he has a private line to the main office of the Old Man with the

Scythe. That is one piece of news I don’t want to know before it happens. Your

Coast-to-Coast Correspondent will not be a client of Prophet Pinero. . .”

The judge’s watery baritone cut through the stale air of the courtroom.

“Please, Mr. Weeds, let us return to our muttons. This court granted your prayer for

a temporary restraining order, and now you ask that it be made permanent. In

rebuttal, Mr. Pinero claims that you have presented no cause and asks that the

injunction be lifted, and that I order your client to cease from attempts to

interfere with what Pinero describes as a simple – lawful business. As you are not

addressing a jury, please omit the rhetoric and tell me in plain language why I

should not grant his prayer.”

Mr. Weeds jerked his chin nervously, making his flabby Grey dewlap drag

across his high stiff collar, and resumed:

“May it please the honorable court, I represent the public-”

“Just a moment. I thought you were appearing for Amalgamated Life

Insurance.”

“I am, Your Honor, in a formal sense. In a wider sense I represent several

other major assurance, fiduciary, and financial institutions; their stockholders,

and policy holders, who constitute a majority of the citizenry. In addition we feel

that we protect the interests of the entire population; unorganized, inarticulate,

and otherwise unprotected.”

“I thought that I represented the public,” observed the judge dryly. “I am

afraid I must regard you as appearing for your client-of-record. But continue; what

is your thesis?”

The elderly barrister attempted to swallow his Adam’s apple, then began

again. “Your Honor, we contend that there are two separate reasons why this

injunction should be made permanent, and, further, that each reason is sufficient