As Long As You Wish

by John O'Keefe

Transcriber's Note: Transcriber's Note: This e-text was produced from Astounding Science Fiction, June, 1955. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

AS LONG AS YOU WISH

If, somehow, you get trapped in a circular time system . . . how long is the circumference of an infinitely retraced circle?

By JOHN O'KEEFE

Illustrated by van Dongen

The patient sat stiffly in the leather chair on the other side of the desk. Nervously he pressed a coin into the palm of one hand.

"Just start anywhere," I said, "and tell me all about it."

"As before?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, the coin clutched tightly in one hand. "I'm Charles J. Fisher, professor of Philosophy at Reiser College."

He looked at me quickly. "Or at least I was until recently." For a second his face was boyish. "Professor of Philosophy, that is."