The Infinite Matrix | Michael Swanwick & Francisco Goya | The Sleep Of

Reason 72

07.31.03

the sleep of reason

by Michael Swanwick

with illustrations by

Francisco JosÉ de Goya y Lucientes

Click image to enlarge

Digital image © copyright

Davison Art Center,

Wesleyan University

DAC permission required

for any other use.

72. [Plate 41]

Prick and Posterity

In his old age, Prick became concerned with how he would be judged by

History. His record was, it had to be admitted, a little murky. He'd had

a good education, but learned from it nary a thing. He'd made a fortune

as a businessman, but the process by which millions had flowed into his

pockets even as his businesses went bankrupt scarce bore looking into.

His record as a warrior was impeccable, for he had never been so foolish

as to go anywhere near conflict, and so had avoided any chance of proving

himself a coward. He seemed to remember being President of the United

States, but not what it entailed. Mostly he'd just done what people had

told him to do, and trusted that there was some point to it.

Now, with mortality hard upon him, Prick decided to burnish his legacy.

He hired the foremost portrait painter of his age, a clever monkey with

sensitive eyes, who said, "What do you want to look like?"

"Bring out the inner me," Prick said confidently.

like swanwick?

like goya?

so do we.

keep 'em sparring!

send money.

More options on the Contributions page.

T H A N K S !

"Hmmm - and your second choice?"

After some consultation it was decided that the portrait should combine

Prick's fierce determination with his gentleness, insight, and profound

wisdom. It should be the portrait of a scholar, a priest, a lawmaker, a

defender of the weak, and a scourge of the oppressor - all of those

things, essentially, that Prick had meant to get around to being, but

never had.

When the portrait was done, the artist whipped it around with a flourish.

"Voila!" he cried.

Prick stared. After a time, tears filled his eyes. He wept at the perfect

image of his own magnificence. "Oh," he whispered, "if only such a man

were alive today!"

The ape threw an arm about his shoulder. "Amen, brother," he fervently

said.

It's been years, and Prick hasn't died yet. Feeble he may be, and

incontinent too, but these things bother his caretakers more than they do

him. Ten years ago, all the world expected him to die at any minute, and

with the passage of a decade the world is still waiting. He receives the

very best of medical care, and his legendary luck continues unabated. For

all anybody knows, he may never die. He may very well live forever.

It is astonishing how well the Pricks of this world make out.

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This is the 72nd of 80 stories by Michael Swanwick written to accompany

Francisco Goya's Los Caprichos. For a listing of the most recently

available stories, go to The Sleep of Reason.

Eileen K. Gunn.

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