独山县肉牛养殖基地建设项目可行性研究报告1

ON6APRIL,1992,WHENHEDIEDASARESULTOFANHIVINFECTIONTHATHEHADGOTFROMABLOODTRANSFUSIONNINEYEARSEARLIERWHENASIMOVWASTHREE,HEMOVEDWITHHISPARENTSANDHISONEYEAROLDSISTERTONEWYORKCITYTHEREHISPARENTSBOUGHTACANDYSTOREWHICHTHEYRANFORTHENEXT40ORSOYEARSATTHEAGEOFNINE,WHENHISMOTHERWASPREGNANTWITHHERTHIRDCHILD,ASIMOVSTARTEDWORKINGPARTTIMEINTHESTOREHEHELPEDOUTTHROUGHHISSCHOOLANDUNIVERSITYYEARSUNTIL1942,AYEARAFTERHEHADGAINEDAMASTERSDEGREEINCHEMISTRYIN1942HEJOINEDTHESTAFFOFTHEPHILADELPHIANAVYYARDASAJUNIORCHEMISTANDWORKEDTHEREFORTHREEYEARSIN1948HEGOTHISPHDINCHEMISTRYTHENEXTYEARHEBECAMEABIOCHEMISTRYTEACHERABOSTONUNIVERSITYSCHOOLOFMEDICINEIN1958HEGAVEUPTEACHINGTOBECOMEAFULLTIMEWRITERITWASWHENASIMOVWASELEVENYEARSOLDTHATHISTALENTFORWRITINGBECAMEOBVIOUSHEHADTOLDAFRIENDTWOCHAPTERSOFASTORYHEHADWRITTENTHEFRIENDTHOUGHTHEWASRETELLINGASTORYFROMABOOKTHISREALLYSURPRISEDASIMOVANDFROMTHATMOMENT,HESTARTEDTOTAKEHIMSELFSERIOUSLYASAWRITERASIMOVBEGANHAVINGSTORIESPUBLISHEDINSCIENCEFICTIONMAGAZINESIN1939IN1950HEPUBLISHEDHISFIRSTNOVELANDIN1953HISFIRSTSCIENCEBOOKTHROUGHOUTHISLIFE,ASIMOVRECEIVEDMANYAWARDS,BOTHFORHISSCIENCEFICTIONBOOKSANDHISSCIENCEBOOKSAMONGHISMOSTFAMOUSWORKSOFSCIENCEFICTION,ONEFORWHICHHEWONANAWARDWASTHEFOUNDATIONTRILOGY19511953,THREENOVELSABOUTTHEDEATHANDREBIRTHOFAGREATEMPIREINAGALAXYOFTHEFUTUREITWASLOOSELYBASEDONTHEFALLOFTHEROMANEMPIREBUTWASABOUTTHEFUTURETHESEBOOKSAREFAMOUSBECAUSEASIMOVINVENTEDATHEORETICALFRAMEWORKWHICHWASDESIGNEDTOSHOWHOWIDEASANDTHINKINGMAYDEVELOPINTHEFUTUREHEISALSOWELLKNOWNFORHISCOLLECTIONOFSHORTSTORIES,I,ROBOT1950,INWHICHHEDEVELOPEDASETOFTHREE“LAWS”FORROBOTSFOREXAMPLE,THEFIRSTLAWSTATESTHATAROBOTMUSTNOTINJUREHUMANBEINGSORALLOWTHEMTOBEINJUREDSOMEOFHISIDEASABOUTROBOTSLATERINFLUENCEDOTHERWRITERSANDEVENSCIENTISTSRESEARCHINGINTOARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCEASIMOVWASMARRIEDTWICEHEMARRIEDHISFIRSTWIFEIN1942ANDHADASONANDADAUGHTERTHEIRMARRIAGELASTED31YEARSSOONAFTERHISDIVORCEIN1973,ASIMOVMARRIEDAGAINBUTHEHADNOCHILDRENWITHHISSECONDWIFEUNIT3OLDTOMTHEKILLERWHALEIWAS16WHENIBEGANWORKINJUNE1902ATTHEWHALINGSTATIONIHADHEARDOFTHEKILLERSTHATEVERYYEARHELPEDWHALERSCATCHHUGEWHALESITHOUGHT,ATTHETIME,THATTHISWASJUSTASTORYBUTTHENIWITNESSEDITWITHMYWONEYESMANYTIMESONTHEAFTERNOONIARRIVEDATTHESTATION,ASIWASSORTINGOUTMYACCOMMODATION,IHEARDALOUDNOISECOMINGFROMTHEBAYWERANDOWNTOTHESHOREINTIMETOSEEANENORMOUSANIMALOPPOSITEUSTHROWINGITSELFOUTOFTHEWATERANDTHENCRASHINGDOWNAGAINITWASBLACKANDWHITEANDFISHSHAPEDBUTIKNEWITWASNTAFISH“THATSOLDTOM,THEKILLER,”ONEOFTHEWHALERSGEORGE,CALLEDOUTTOME“HESTELLINGUSTHERESAWHALEOUTTHEREFORUS”ANOTHERWHALERYELLEDOUT,“RUSHOORUSHOO”THISWASTHECALLTHATANNOUNCEDTHEREWASABOUTTOBEAWHALEHUNT“COMEON,CLANCYTOTHEBOAT,”GEORGESAIDASHERANAHEADOFMEIHADALREADYHEARDTHATGEORGEDIDNTLIKEBEINGKEPTWAITING,SOEVENTHOUGHIDIDNTHAVETHERIGHTCLOTHESON,IRACEDAFTERHIMWITHOUTPAUSINGWEJUMPEDINTOTHEBOATWITHTHEOTHERWHALERSANDHEADEDOUTINTOTHEBAYILOOKEDDOWNINTOTHEWATERANDCOULDSEEOLDTOMSWIMMINGBYTHEBOAT,SHOWINGUSTHEWAYAFEWMINUTESLATER,THEREWASNOTOM,SOGEORGESTARTEDBEATINGTHEWATERWITHHISOARANDTHEREWASTOM,CIRCLINGBACKTOTHEBOAT,LEADINGUSTOTHEHUNTAGAINUSINGATELESCOPEWECOULDSEETHATSOMETHINGWASHAPPENINGASWEDREWCLOSER,ICOULDSEEAWHALEBEINGATTACKEDBYAPACKOFABOUTSIXOTHERKILLERS“WHATRETHEYDOING”IASKEDGEORGE“WELL,ITSTEAMWORKTHEKILLERSOVERTHEREARETHROWINGTHEMSELVESONTOPOFTHEWHALESBLOWHOLETOSTOPITBREATHINGANDTHOSEOTHERSARESTOPPINGITDIVINGORFLEEINGOUTTOSEA,”GEORGETOLDME,POINTINGTOWARDSTHEHUNTANDJUSTATTHATMOMENT,THEMOSTEXTRAORDINARYTHINGHAPPENEDTHEKILLERSSTARTEDRACINGBETWEENOURBOATANDTHESHALEJUSTLIKEAPACKOFEXCITEDDOGSTHENTHEHARPOONWASREADYANDTHEMANINTHEBOWOFTHEBOATAIMEDITATTHEWHALEHELETITGOANDTHEHARPOONHITTHESPOTBEINGBADLYWOUNDED,THEWHALESOONDIEDWITHINAMOMENTORTWO,ITSBODYWASDRAGGEDSWIFTLYBYTHEKILLERSDOWNINTOTHEDEPTHSOFTHESEATHEMENSTARTEDTURNINGTHEBOATAROUNDTOGOHOME“WHATSHAPPENED”IASKED“HAVEWELOSTTHEWHALE”“OHNO,”JACKREPLIED“WELLRETURNTOMORROWTOBRINGINTHEBODYITWONTFLOATUPTOTHESURFACEFORAROUND24HOURS”“INTHEMEANTIME,OLDTOM,ANDTHEOTHERSAREHAVINGAGOODFEEDONITSLIPSANDTONGUE,”ADDEDRED,LAUGHINGALTHOUGHOLDTOMANDTHEOTHERKILLERSWEREFIERCEHUNTERS,THEYNEVERHARMEDORATTACKEDPEOPLEINFACT,THEYPROTECTEDTHEMTHEREWASONEDAYWHENWEWEREOUTINTHEBAYDURINGAHUNTANDJAMESWASWASHEDOFFTHEBOAT“MANOVERBOARDTURNTHEBOATAROUND”URGEDGEORGE,SHOUTINGLOUDLYTHESEAWASROUGHTHATDAYANDITWASDIFFICULTTOHANDLETHEBOATTHEWAVESWERECARRYINGJAMESFURTHERANDFURTHERAWAYFROMUSFROMJAMESSFACE,ICOULDSEEHEWASTERRIFIEDOFBEINGABANDONEDBYUSTHENSUDDENLYISAWASHARK“LOOK,THERESASHARKOUTTHERE,”ISCREAMED“DONTWORRY,OLDTOMWONTLETITNEAR,“REDREPLIEDITTOOKOVERHALFANHOURTOGETTHEBOATBACKTOJAMES,ANDWHENWEAPPROACHEDHIM,ISAWJAMESBEINGFIRMLYHELDUPINTHEWATERBYOLDTOMICOULDNTBELIEVEMYEYESTHEREWERESHOUTSOF“WELLDONE,OLDTOM”AND“THANKGOD”ASWEPULLEDJAMESBACKINTOTHEBOATANDTHENOLDTOMWASOFFANDBACKTOTHEHUNTWHERETHEOTHERKILLERSWERESTILLATTACKINGTHEWHALEANEWDIMENSIONOFLIFE19THJANUARYIMSITTINGINTHEWARMNIGHTAIRWITHACOLDDRINKINMYHANDANDREFLECTINGONTHEDAYADAYOFPUREMAGICIWENTSNORKELINGONTHEREEFOFFSHORETHISMORNINGANDITWASTHEMOSTFANTASTICTHINGIHAVEEVERDONESEEINGSUCHEXTRAORDINARYBEAUTY,ITHINKEVERYCELLINMYBODYWOKEUPITWASLIKEDISCOVERINGAWHOLENEWDIMENSIONOFLIFETHEFIRSTTHINGIBECOMEAWAREOFWASALLTHEVIVIDCOLORSSURROUNDINGMEPURPLES,REDS,ORANGES,YELLOWS,BLUESANDGREENSTHECORALSWEREFANTASTICTHEYWERESHAPEDLIKEFANS,PLATES,BRAINSLACE,MUSHROOMS,THEBRANCHESOFTREESANDTHEHORNSOFDEERANDALLKINDSOFSMALL,NEATANDELEGANTFISHWERESWIMMINGINANDAROUNDTHECORALSTHEFISHDIDNTSEEMTOMINDMESWIMMINGAMONGTHEMIESPECIALLYLOVEDTHELITTLEORANGEANDWHITEFISHTHATHIDINTHEWAVINGLONGTHINSEAWEEDANDIALSOLOVEDTHESMALLFISHTHATCLEANTHEBODIESOFLARGERFISHIEVENSAWTHEMGETINSIDETHEIRMOUTHSANDCLEANTHEIRTEETHITSEEMEDTHEREWASASURPRISEWAITINGFORMEAROUNDEVERYCORNERASIEXPLOREDSMALLCAVES,SHELVESANDNARROWPASSAGESWITHMYUNDERWATERFLASHLIGHTTHEYELLOWANDGREENPARROTFISHWASHANGINGUPSIDEDOWN,ANDSUCKINGTINYPLANTSOFFTHECORALWITHITSHARDBIRDLIKEMOUTHAYELLOWSPOTTEDREDSEASLUGWASSLIDINGBYABLUESEASTARALARGEWISELOOKINGTURTLEWASPASSINGSOCLOSETOMETHATICOULDHAVETOUCHEDITTHEREWEREOTHERCREATURESTHATIDIDNTWANTTOGETTOOCLOSETOANEELWITHITSSTRONGSHARPTEETH,WITHONLYITSHEADSHOWINGFROMAHOLE,WATCHINGFORATASTYFISHORMYTASTYTOEANDTHEGIANTCLAMHALFBURIEDINSOMECORALWAITINGFORSOMETHINGTOSWIMINBETWEENITSTHICKGREENLIPSTHENTHEREWERETWOGREYREEFSHARKS,EACHABOUTONEANDAHALFMETRESLONG,WHICHSUDDENLYAPPEAREDFROMBEHINDSOMECORALITOLDMYSELFTHEYWERENTDANGEROUSBUTTHATDIDNTSTOPMEFROMFEELINGSCAREDTODEATHFORAMOMENTTHEWATERWASQUITESHALLOWBUTWHERETHEREEFENDED,THEREWASASTEEPDROPTOTHESANDYOCEANFLOORITMARKEDABOUNDARYANDITHOUGHTIWASVERYBRAVEWHENISWAMOVERTHEEDGEOFTHEREEFANDHUNGTHERELOOKINGDOWNINTOTHEDEPTHSOFTHEOCEANMYHEARTWASBEATINGWILDLYIFELTVERYEXPOSEDINSUCHDEEPCLEARWATERWHATAWONDERFUL,LIMITLESSWORLDITWASDOWNTHEREANDWHATATINYSPOTIWASINTHISENORMOUSWORLDUNIT4ALETTERHOMEDEARROSEMARY,THANKSFORYOURLETTER,WHICHTOOKAFORTNIGHTTOARRIVEITWASWONDERFULTOHEARFROMYOUIKNOWYOUREDYINGTOHEARALLABOUTMYLIFEHERE,SOIVEINCLUDEDSOMEPHOTOSWHICHWILLHELPYOUPICTURETHEPLACESITALKABOUTYOUASKEDABOUTMYHIGHSCHOOLWELL,ITSON6APRIL,1992,WHENHEDIEDASARESULTOFANHIVINFECTIONTHATHEHADGOTFROMABLOODTRANSFUSIONNINEYEARSEARLIERWHENASIMOVWASTHREE,HEMOVEDWITHHISPARENTSANDHISONEYEAROLDSISTERTONEWYORKCITYTHEREHISPARENTSBOUGHTACANDYSTOREWHICHTHEYRANFORTHENEXT40ORSOYEARSATTHEAGEOFNINE,WHENHISMOTHERWASPREGNANTWITHHERTHIRDCHILD,ASIMOVSTARTEDWORKINGPARTTIMEINTHESTOREHEHELPEDOUTTHROUGHHISSCHOOLANDUNIVERSITYYEARSUNTIL1942,AYEARAFTERHEHADGAINEDAMASTERSDEGREEINCHEMISTRYIN1942HEJOINEDTHESTAFFOFTHEPHILADELPHIANAVYYARDASAJUNIORCHEMISTANDWORKEDTHEREFORTHREEYEARSIN1948HEGOTHISPHDINCHEMISTRYTHENEXTYEARHEBECAMEABIOCHEMISTRYTEACHERABOSTONUNIVERSITYSCHOOLOFMEDICINEIN1958HEGAVEUPTEACHINGTOBECOMEAFULLTIMEWRITERITWASWHENASIMOVWASELEVENYEARSOLDTHATHISTALENTFORWRITINGBECAMEOBVIOUSHEHADTOLDAFRIENDTWOCHAPTERSOFASTORYHEHADWRITTENTHEFRIENDTHOUGHTHEWASRETELLINGASTORYFROMABOOKTHISREALLYSURPRISEDASIMOVANDFROMTHATMOMENT,HESTARTEDTOTAKEHIMSELFSERIOUSLYASAWRITERASIMOVBEGANHAVINGSTORIESPUBLISHEDINSCIENCEFICTIONMAGAZINESIN1939IN1950HEPUBLISHEDHISFIRSTNOVELANDIN1953HISFIRSTSCIENCEBOOKTHROUGHOUTHISLIFE,ASIMOVRECEIVEDMANYAWARDS,BOTHFORHISSCIENCEFICTIONBOOKSANDHISSCIENCEBOOKSAMONGHISMOSTFAMOUSWORKSOFSCIENCEFICTION,ONEFORWHICHHEWONANAWARDWASTHEFOUNDATIONTRILOGY19511953,THREENOVELSABOUTTHEDEATHANDREBIRTHOFAGREATEMPIREINAGALAXYOFTHEFUTUREITWASLOOSELYBASEDONTHEFALLOFTHEROMANEMPIREBUTWASABOUTTHEFUTURETHESEBOOKSAREFAMOUSBECAUSEASIMOVINVENTEDATHEORETICALFRAMEWORKWHICHWASDESIGNEDTOSHOWHOWIDEASANDTHINKINGMAYDEVELOPINTHEFUTUREHEISALSOWELLKNOWNFORHISCOLLECTIONOFSHORTSTORIES,I,ROBOT1950,INWHICHHEDEVELOPEDASETOFTHREE“LAWS”FORROBOTSFOREXAMPLE,THEFIRSTLAWSTATESTHATAROBOTMUSTNOTINJUREHUMANBEINGSORALLOWTHEMTOBEINJUREDSOMEOFHISIDEASABOUTROBOTSLATERINFLUENCEDOTHERWRITERSANDEVENSCIENTISTSRESEARCHINGINTOARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCEASIMOVWASMARRIEDTWICEHEMARRIEDHISFIRSTWIFEIN1942ANDHADASONANDADAUGHTERTHEIRMARRIAGELASTED31YEARSSOONAFTERHISDIVORCEIN1973,ASIMOVMARRIEDAGAINBUTHEHADNOCHILDRENWITHHISSECONDWIFEUNIT3OLDTOMTHEKILLERWHALEIWAS16WHENIBEGANWORKINJUNE1902ATTHEWHALINGSTATIONIHADHEARDOFTHEKILLERSTHATEVERYYEARHELPEDWHALERSCATCHHUGEWHALESITHOUGHT,ATTHETIME,THATTHISWASJUSTASTORYBUTTHENIWITNESSEDITWITHMYWONEYESMANYTIMESONTHEAFTERNOONIARRIVEDATTHESTATION,ASIWASSORTINGOUTMYACCOMMODATION,IHEARDALOUDNOISECOMINGFROMTHEBAYWERANDOWNTOTHESHOREINTIMETOSEEANENORMOUSANIMALOPPOSITEUSTHROWINGITSELFOUTOFTHEWATERANDTHENCRASHINGDOWNAGAINITWASBLACKANDWHITEANDFISHSHAPEDBUTIKNEWITWASNTAFISH“THATSOLDTOM,THEKILLER,”ONEOFTHEWHALERSGEORGE,CALLEDOUTTOME“HESTELLINGUSTHERESAWHALEOUTTHEREFORUS”ANOTHERWHALERYELLEDOUT,“RUSHOORUSHOO”THISWASTHECALLTHATANNOUNCEDTHEREWASABOUTTOBEAWHALEHUNT“COMEON,CLANCYTOTHEBOAT,”GEORGESAIDASHERANAHEADOFMEIHADALREADYHEARDTHATGEORGEDIDNTLIKEBEINGKEPTWAITING,SOEVENTHOUGHIDIDNTHAVETHERIGHTCLOTHESON,IRACEDAFTERHIMWITHOUTPAUSINGWEJUMPEDINTOTHEBOATWITHTHEOTHERWHALERSANDHEADEDOUTINTOTHEBAYILOOKEDDOWNINTOTHEWATERANDCOULDSEEOLDTOMSWIMMINGBYTHEBOAT,SHOWINGUSTHEWAYAFEWMINUTESLATER,THEREWASNOTOM,SOGEORGESTARTEDBEATINGTHEWATERWITHHISOARANDTHEREWASTOM,CIRCLINGBACKTOTHEBOAT,LEADINGUSTOTHEHUNTAGAINUSINGATELESCOPEWECOULDSEETHATSOMETHINGWASHAPPENINGASWEDREWCLOSER,ICOULDSEEAWHALEBEINGATTACKEDBYAPACKOFABOUTSIXOTHERKILLERS“WHATRETHEYDOING”IASKEDGEORGE“WELL,ITSTEAMWORKTHEKILLERSOVERTHEREARETHROWINGTHEMSELVESONTOPOFTHEWHALESBLOWHOLETOSTOPITBREATHINGANDTHOSEOTHERSARESTOPPINGITDIVINGORFLEEINGOUTTOSEA,”GEORGETOLDME,POINTINGTOWARDSTHEHUNTANDJUSTATTHATMOMENT,THEMOSTEXTRAORDINARYTHINGHAPPENEDTHEKILLERSSTARTEDRACINGBETWEENOURBOATANDTHESHALEJUSTLIKEAPACKOFEXCITEDDOGSTHENTHEHARPOONWASREADYANDTHEMANINTHEBOWOFTHEBOATAIMEDITATTHEWHALEHELETITGOANDTHEHARPOONHITTHESPOTBEINGBADLYWOUNDED,THEWHALESOONDIEDWITHINAMOMENTORTWO,ITSBODYWASDRAGGEDSWIFTLYBYTHEKILLERSDOWNINTOTHEDEPTHSOFTHESEATHEMENSTARTEDTURNINGTHEBOATAROUNDTOGOHOME“WHATSHAPPENED”IASKED“HAVEWELOSTTHEWHALE”“OHNO,”JACKREPLIED“WELLRETURNTOMORROWTOBRINGINTHEBODYITWONTFLOATUPTOTHESURFACEFORAROUND24HOURS”“INTHEMEANTIME,OLDTOM,ANDTHEOTHERSAREHAVINGAGOODFEEDONITSLIPSANDTONGUE,”ADDEDRED,LAUGHINGALTHOUGHOLDTOMANDTHEOTHERKILLERSWEREFIERCEHUNTERS,THEYNEVERHARMEDORATTACKEDPEOPLEINFACT,THEYPROTECTEDTHEMTHEREWASONEDAYWHENWEWEREOUTINTHEBAYDURINGAHUNTANDJAMESWASWASHEDOFFTHEBOAT“MANOVERBOARDTURNTHEBOATAROUND”URGEDGEORGE,SHOUTINGLOUDLYTHESEAWASROUGHTHATDAYANDITWASDIFFICULTTOHANDLETHEBOATTHEWAVESWERECARRYINGJAMESFURTHERANDFURTHERAWAYFROMUSFROMJAMESSFACE,ICOULDSEEHEWASTERRIFIEDOFBEINGABANDONEDBYUSTHENSUDDENLYISAWASHARK“LOOK,THERESASHARKOUTTHERE,”ISCREAMED“DONTWORRY,OLDTOMWONTLETITNEAR,“REDREPLIEDITTOOKOVERHALFANHOURTOGETTHEBOATBACKTOJAMES,ANDWHENWEAPPROACHEDHIM,ISAWJAMESBEINGFIRMLYHELDUPINTHEWATERBYOLDTOMICOULDNTBELIEVEMYEYESTHEREWERESHOUTSOF“WELLDONE,OLDTOM”AND“THANKGOD”ASWEPULLEDJAMESBACKINTOTHEBOATANDTHENOLDTOMWASOFFANDBACKTOTHEHUNTWHERETHEOTHERKILLERSWERESTILLATTACKINGTHEWHALEANEWDIMENSIONOFLIFE19THJANUARYIMSITTINGINTHEWARMNIGHTAIRWITHACOLDDRINKINMYHANDANDREFLECTINGONTHEDAYADAYOFPUREMAGICIWENTSNORKELINGONTHEREEFOFFSHORETHISMORNINGANDITWASTHEMOSTFANTASTICTHINGIHAVEEVERDONESEEINGSUCHEXTRAORDINARYBEAUTY,ITHINKEVERYCELLINMYBODYWOKEUPITWASLIKEDISCOVERINGAWHOLENEWDIMENSIONOFLIFETHEFIRSTTHINGIBECOMEAWAREOFWASALLTHEVIVIDCOLORSSURROUNDINGMEPURPLES,REDS,ORANGES,YELLOWS,BLUESANDGREENSTHECORALSWEREFANTASTICTHEYWERESHAPEDLIKEFANS,PLATES,BRAINSLACE,MUSHROOMS,THEBRANCHESOFTREESANDTHEHORNSOFDEERANDALLKINDSOFSMALL,NEATANDELEGANTFISHWERESWIMMINGINANDAROUNDTHECORALSTHEFISHDIDNTSEEMTOMINDMESWIMMINGAMONGTHEMIESPECIALLYLOVEDTHELITTLEORANGEANDWHITEFISHTHATHIDINTHEWAVINGLONGTHINSEAWEEDANDIALSOLOVEDTHESMALLFISHTHATCLEANTHEBODIESOFLARGERFISHIEVENSAWTHEMGETINSIDETHEIRMOUTHSANDCLEANTHEIRTEETHITSEEMEDTHEREWASASURPRISEWAITINGFORMEAROUNDEVERYCORNERASIEXPLOREDSMALLCAVES,SHELVESANDNARROWPASSAGESWITHMYUNDERWATERFLASHLIGHTTHEYELLOWANDGREENPARROTFISHWASHANGINGUPSIDEDOWN,ANDSUCKINGTINYPLANTSOFFTHECORALWITHITSHARDBIRDLIKEMOUTHAYELLOWSPOTTEDREDSEASLUGWASSLIDINGBYABLUESEASTARALARGEWISELOOKINGTURTLEWASPASSINGSOCLOSETOMETHATICOULDHAVETOUCHEDITTHEREWEREOTHERCREATURESTHATIDIDNTWANTTOGETTOOCLOSETOANEELWITHITSSTRONGSHARPTEETH,WITHONLYITSHEADSHOWINGFROMAHOLE,WATCHINGFORATASTYFISHORMYTASTYTOEANDTHEGIANTCLAMHALFBURIEDINSOMECORALWAITINGFORSOMETHINGTOSWIMINBETWEENITSTHICKGREENLIPSTHENTHEREWERETWOGREYREEFSHARKS,EACHABOUTONEANDAHALFMETRESLONG,WHICHSUDDENLYAPPEAREDFROMBEHINDSOMECORALITOLDMYSELFTHEYWERENTDANGEROUSBUTTHATDIDNTSTOPMEFROMFEELINGSCAREDTODEATHFORAMOMENTTHEWATERWASQUITESHALLOWBUTWHERETHEREEFENDED,THEREWASASTEEPDROPTOTHESANDYOCEANFLOORITMARKEDABOUNDARYANDITHOUGHTIWASVERYBRAVEWHENISWAMOVERTHEEDGEOFTHEREEFANDHUNGTHERELOOKINGDOWNINTOTHEDEPTHSOFTHEOCEANMYHEARTWASBEATINGWILDLYIFELTVERYEXPOSEDINSUCHDEEPCLEARWATERWHATAWONDERFUL,LIMITLESSWORLDITWASDOWNTHEREANDWHATATINYSPOTIWASINTHISENORMOUSWORLDUNIT4ALETTERHOMEDEARROSEMARY,THANKSFORYOURLETTER,WHICHTOOKAFORTNIGHTTOARRIVEITWASWONDERFULTOHEARFROMYOUIKNOWYOUREDYINGTOHEARALLABOUTMYLIFEHERE,SOIVEINCLUDEDSOMEPHOTOSWHICHWILLHELPYOUPICTURETHEPLACESITALKABOUTYOUASKEDABOUTMYHIGHSCHOOLWELL,ITS1独山县肉牛养殖基地建设项目可行性研究报告项目主管独山县人民政府项目实施独山县康复有限公司项目申报独山县残疾人服务总社编制时间二00二年七月三日ON6APRIL,1992,WHENHEDIEDASARESULTOFANHIVINFECTIONTHATHEHADGOTFROMABLOODTRANSFUSIONNINEYEARSEARLIERWHENASIMOVWASTHREE,HEMOVEDWITHHISPARENTSANDHISONEYEAROLDSISTERTONEWYORKCITYTHEREHISPARENTSBOUGHTACANDYSTOREWHICHTHEYRANFORTHENEXT40ORSOYEARSATTHEAGEOFNINE,WHENHISMOTHERWASPREGNANTWITHHERTHIRDCHILD,ASIMOVSTARTEDWORKINGPARTTIMEINTHESTOREHEHELPEDOUTTHROUGHHISSCHOOLANDUNIVERSITYYEARSUNTIL1942,AYEARAFTERHEHADGAINEDAMASTERSDEGREEINCHEMISTRYIN1942HEJOINEDTHESTAFFOFTHEPHILADELPHIANAVYYARDASAJUNIORCHEMISTANDWORKEDTHEREFORTHREEYEARSIN1948HEGOTHISPHDINCHEMISTRYTHENEXTYEARHEBECAMEABIOCHEMISTRYTEACHERABOSTONUNIVERSITYSCHOOLOFMEDICINEIN1958HEGAVEUPTEACHINGTOBECOMEAFULLTIMEWRITERITWASWHENASIMOVWASELEVENYEARSOLDTHATHISTALENTFORWRITINGBECAMEOBVIOUSHEHADTOLDAFRIENDTWOCHAPTERSOFASTORYHEHADWRITTENTHEFRIENDTHOUGHTHEWASRETELLINGASTORYFROMABOOKTHISREALLYSURPRISEDASIMOVANDFROMTHATMOMENT,HESTARTEDTOTAKEHIMSELFSERIOUSLYASAWRITERASIMOVBEGANHAVINGSTORIESPUBLISHEDINSCIENCEFICTIONMAGAZINESIN1939IN1950HEPUBLISHEDHISFIRSTNOVELANDIN1953HISFIRSTSCIENCEBOOKTHROUGHOUTHISLIFE,ASIMOVRECEIVEDMANYAWARDS,BOTHFORHISSCIENCEFICTIONBOOKSANDHISSCIENCEBOOKSAMONGHISMOSTFAMOUSWORKSOFSCIENCEFICTION,ONEFORWHICHHEWONANAWARDWASTHEFOUNDATIONTRILOGY19511953,THREENOVELSABOUTTHEDEATHANDREBIRTHOFAGREATEMPIREINAGALAXYOFTHEFUTUREITWASLOOSELYBASEDONTHEFALLOFTHEROMANEMPIREBUTWASABOUTTHEFUTURETHESEBOOKSAREFAMOUSBECAUSEASIMOVINVENTEDATHEORETICALFRAMEWORKWHICHWASDESIGNEDTOSHOWHOWIDEASANDTHINKINGMAYDEVELOPINTHEFUTUREHEISALSOWELLKNOWNFORHISCOLLECTIONOFSHORTSTORIES,I,ROBOT1950,INWHICHHEDEVELOPEDASETOFTHREE“LAWS”FORROBOTSFOREXAMPLE,THEFIRSTLAWSTATESTHATAROBOTMUSTNOTINJUREHUMANBEINGSORALLOWTHEMTOBEINJUREDSOMEOFHISIDEASABOUTROBOTSLATERINFLUENCEDOTHERWRITERSANDEVENSCIENTISTSRESEARCHINGINTOARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCEASIMOVWASMARRIEDTWICEHEMARRIEDHISFIRSTWIFEIN1942ANDHADASONANDADAUGHTERTHEIRMARRIAGELASTED31YEARSSOONAFTERHISDIVORCEIN1973,ASIMOVMARRIEDAGAINBUTHEHADNOCHILDRENWITHHISSECONDWIFEUNIT3OLDTOMTHEKILLERWHALEIWAS16WHENIBEGANWORKINJUNE1902ATTHEWHALINGSTATIONIHADHEARDOFTHEKILLERSTHATEVERYYEARHELPEDWHALERSCATCHHUGEWHALESITHOUGHT,ATTHETIME,THATTHISWASJUSTASTORYBUTTHENIWITNESSEDITWITHMYWONEYESMANYTIMESONTHEAFTERNOONIARRIVEDATTHESTATION,ASIWASSORTINGOUTMYACCOMMODATION,IHEARDALOUDNOISECOMINGFROMTHEBAYWERANDOWNTOTHESHOREINTIMETOSEEANENORMOUSANIMALOPPOSITEUSTHROWINGITSELFOUTOFTHEWATERANDTHENCRASHINGDOWNAGAINITWASBLACKANDWHITEANDFISHSHAPEDBUTIKNEWITWASNTAFISH“THATSOLDTOM,THEKILLER,”ONEOFTHEWHALERSGEORGE,CALLEDOUTTOME“HESTELLINGUSTHERESAWHALEOUTTHEREFORUS”ANOTHERWHALERYELLEDOUT,“RUSHOORUSHOO”THISWASTHECALLTHATANNOUNCEDTHEREWASABOUTTOBEAWHALEHUNT“COMEON,CLANCYTOTHEBOAT,”GEORGESAIDASHERANAHEADOFMEIHADALREADYHEARDTHATGEORGEDIDNTLIKEBEINGKEPTWAITING,SOEVENTHOUGHIDIDNTHAVETHERIGHTCLOTHESON,IRACEDAFTERHIMWITHOUTPAUSINGWEJUMPEDINTOTHEBOATWITHTHEOTHERWHALERSANDHEADEDOUTINTOTHEBAYILOOKEDDOWNINTOTHEWATERANDCOULDSEEOLDTOMSWIMMINGBYTHEBOAT,SHOWINGUSTHEWAYAFEWMINUTESLATER,THEREWASNOTOM,SOGEORGESTARTEDBEATINGTHEWATERWITHHISOARANDTHEREWASTOM,CIRCLINGBACKTOTHEBOAT,LEADINGUSTOTHEHUNTAGAINUSINGATELESCOPEWECOULDSEETHATSOMETHINGWASHAPPENINGASWEDREWCLOSER,ICOULDSEEAWHALEBEINGATTACKEDBYAPACKOFABOUTSIXOTHERKILLERS“WHATRETHEYDOING”IASKEDGEORGE“WELL,ITSTEAMWORKTHEKILLERSOVERTHEREARETHROWINGTHEMSELVESONTOPOFTHEWHALESBLOWHOLETOSTOPITBREATHINGANDTHOSEOTHERSARESTOPPINGITDIVINGORFLEEINGOUTTOSEA,”GEORGETOLDME,POINTINGTOWARDSTHEHUNTANDJUSTATTHATMOMENT,THEMOSTEXTRAORDINARYTHINGHAPPENEDTHEKILLERSSTARTEDRACINGBETWEENOURBOATANDTHESHALEJUSTLIKEAPACKOFEXCITEDDOGSTHENTHEHARPOONWASREADYANDTHEMANINTHEBOWOFTHEBOATAIMEDITATTHEWHALEHELETITGOANDTHEHARPOONHITTHESPOTBEINGBADLYWOUNDED,THEWHALESOONDIEDWITHINAMOMENTORTWO,ITSBODYWASDRAGGEDSWIFTLYBYTHEKILLERSDOWNINTOTHEDEPTHSOFTHESEATHEMENSTARTEDTURNINGTHEBOATAROUNDTOGOHOME“WHATSHAPPENED”IASKED“HAVEWELOSTTHEWHALE”“OHNO,”JACKREPLIED“WELLRETURNTOMORROWTOBRINGINTHEBODYITWONTFLOATUPTOTHESURFACEFORAROUND24HOURS”“INTHEMEANTIME,OLDTOM,ANDTHEOTHERSAREHAVINGAGOODFEEDONITSLIPSANDTONGUE,”ADDEDRED,LAUGHINGALTHOUGHOLDTOMANDTHEOTHERKILLERSWEREFIERCEHUNTERS,