RANDALL awoke in bed, wondering how he had overcome Limpy\u2019s shrewdness and knowledge of his customer\u2019s finances. He had all the inward agonies of a hangover. Then he remembered the Air Cop and the two doctors. He sat up quickly, then held his head in his hands and regretted his hasty movement.<\/p>\n
He stared down at the cover of the bed. It was heavily brocaded. He felt of it. It was yellow, and had a metallic feel. And though he had seen little of the metal of late and was consequently a poor judge, he bet himself that it was gold.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you feeling better?\u201d asked a soft, feminine voice.<\/p>\n
Randall looked to the source of the words and for a moment the world seemed to consist of clear gray eyes. . . . Then he saw the rest\u2014an evenly featured young face with a few freckles on the nose, dark hair, and all set off to the very best advantage by a nurse\u2019s uniform. She was approaching, coming across the huge room to his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch better,\u201d he agreed, staring.<\/p>\n
She flushed, then said coldly, \u201cDon\u2019t let it get you down. As a rule, patients fall for their nurses, and usually regret it afterward. It is propinquity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so. . . . It\u2019s you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned away, muttering something about \u201c\u2014fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnspoiled, you mean,\u201d he corrected. \u201cWell, how about getting me some clothes so I won\u2019t feel so d\u2014darned helpless.\u201d Then he remembered Dr. Brophy\u2019s operation and added, \u201cAnd I\u2019d like to have a mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n
She brought him a hand mirror. He took it and waited for her to speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, no clothes,\u201d she said. \u201cPatients stay in bed better when they know they will be nearly nude if they get up. It makes it much easier to handle them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Randall grunted and deferred the argument to look at himself. The face he saw wasn\u2019t his own! For the first time since that fight in Sydney his nose was straight. His reflection had blue eyes instead of brown, the forehead was higher, and the eyes set deeper.<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cA big improvement, don\u2019t you think?\u201d asked a third person.<\/p>\n
Randall looked up to meet Brophy\u2019s eyes. He waited without answering.<\/p>\n
Brophy motioned the girl to leave, and when she had, he faced Randall. His eyes were hard and unemotional, as was his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what you face,\u201d he stated calmly. \u201cThe Air Chief will take your body, and your brain will be destroyed. And don\u2019t think that it can\u2019t <\/i>happen. I have done it twice for the Air Chief, myself.\u201d He halted and seemed to be waiting for some comment from Randall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, admitting that,\u201d Randall prompted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might escape that by cooperating with us. You might not only escape that, but be the richest and most powerful man in the world, subject only to a three-man board.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are \u2018us\u2019 and this three-man board?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are the scientific men of Yss. In this one giant city we have over a fifth of the scientists and research workers of the world. As soon as an outsider reaches prominence, he is brought here to work. We have made great advances, far beyond what the world at large suspects, but we work under rigid supervision. We are forbidden to investigate certain things, told to do others; we are only the laboratory assistants of the Air Chief. He controls everything. A hundred times we have been ordered to cease experimenting along a certain line, and for no visible reason.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t see what all this has to do with me,\u201d said Randall.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust this!\u2014you, instead, will become the ruler, under our control. There will be a brain destroyed, but a brain is not a very personalized bit of matter as far as appearance goes\u2014not as far as ordinary acquaintance goes, anyway. His <\/i>brain and not yours will die.\u201d<\/p>\n
Randall locked his fingers in back of his head and settled himself comfortably. \u201cThis sounds a lot more interesting,\u201d he judged. \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Brophy smiled. \u201cThat\u2019s all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that why you changed my eyes and face?\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Dr. Brophy said. \u201cWe did that at the Air Chief\u2019s orders. The transplantation is always a great shock and he thought to lighten it as much as possible. Also, there are many memory-blanks after the operation, and his retinue\u2019s knowledge of that and our help, will make the switch possible. Are you going to help?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, how did you change me this way? It\u2019s far better than plastic surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut most of the change was plastic surgery, then we healed the wounds and added flesh to your face by using a variant of mitogenetic rays that can be screened by silver salts. We photographed the Air Chief many times, made a composite negative that was lightest where your face was leaner than his, then screened the rays with that negative. The Gen-Rays, acting on the cells of your body, stimulated growth. You were chosen because your skeletal structure corresponded. Coloring your eyes was simply by the old tattooing method. Is that all?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d said Randall sharply. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you simply transfer your own brain, or the one of someone you trust, to my body. And don\u2019t tell me you trust me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t, but we are forced to seek your aid,\u201d said Dr. Brophy coldly. \u201cSkeletal structures differ, and your cranium will hold your brain, or the Air Chief\u2019s\u2014not ours. You were selected after we had searched thousands of records. The Air Chief supervised that work personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe seems to have his fingers in everything,\u201d Randall commented dryly. He thought quickly. When he looked up, his eyes and mouth were hard. \u201cI\u2019m with you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d the doctor returned. \u201cI have scheduled the operation for ten o\u2019clock\u2014that is two hours from now. Rest quietly until then. I\u2019ll have to put you under, and create the appearances of the operation having been completed, so you will need your strength.\u201d He turned and left.<\/p>\n
THE girl came back almost immediately. But she seemed to have changed greatly. Her face was set firmly with determination as she approached Randall. Then he saw that she had<\/p>\n
a tiny pistol in her hand, and that it pointed directly at him. His hair moved as though a chill wind had blown suddenly on the back of his neck.<\/p>\n
He looked at her face, saw that she was steeling herself to do something that was unpleasant to her\u2014and, he suspected, even more unpleasant to him. If he could make her smile. . . .<\/p>\n
\u201cGosh! Trouble sure loves me!\u201d he mourned, searching her face anxiously for some response. There was none. \u201cI always thought I\u2019d be safe if I stayed in bed,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
She was only a few feet away. The bore of the tiny pistol looked like a rocket jet to Randall. He felt a chilly perspiration beading his forehead. Something like this would happen when he had just found out that the world was his oyster!<\/p>\n
Her lips trembled, and his spirits soared with sudden hope, only to be dashed abruptly as her finger tightened on the trigger. She was close enough so that he could have reached the gun, but he knew that he couldn\u2019t wrench it away from her before she pulled the trigger. And though the pistol was small, he was well aware of the destructive explosiveness of the tiny bullets. Sponges would be in order for him afterward. God! If only he could make her smile! . . . Or even talk!<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you going to shoot me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t <\/i>let you live!\u201d she said huskily, revealing the strain she felt. \u201cI can\u2019t! A Science Board would be worse than the Air Chief. And if you die, maybe the Air Chief will die before they can find another body for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou talk like an Irredentist,\u201d he accused quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am <\/i>an Irredentist,\u201d she said proudly. \u201cAnd this is a chance to free the world\u2014a chance that may never come again. You must <\/i>die!\u201d Her finger tightened on the trigger again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait a minute!\u201d he almost shouted. \u201cWait a minute! Don\u2019t be unreasonable\u2014I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean I don\u2019t give a damn for politics\u2014of any kind. It seems to be a pretty rough business the way you folks play it. All I care for is a good rocketship,<\/p>\n
and paydays. Now, you tell me what\u2019s on your mind and I\u2019ll see if we can\u2019t two-time those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated, then shook her head. \u201cNo. We couldn\u2019t trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n
HE WAS tensing his arm for the hopeless snatching at the weapon, when there was a sound at the door. The girl half-turned. Randall reached out quickly and twisted the pistol out of her hand, then turned to the door.<\/p>\n
Dr. Torvald was standing in the doorway, staring at them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must <\/i>come in,\u201d said Randall with mocking politeness, and reinforced the invitation by leveling the pistol at the doctor.<\/p>\n
Dr. Torvald saw the point and came in meekly. Randall sized him up carefully, then turned to the girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou go to the window and watch the street,\u201d he ordered. \u201cAnd you,\u201d he continued, turning to Dr. Torvald, \u201cget out of those clothes and I\u2019ll lend you a sheet.\u201d<\/p>\n
The girl faced the doctor. She was close to crying. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, doctor. It\u2019s my fault. I couldn\u2019t kill him!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a surprise to me,\u201d Randall snorted. \u201cI\u2019d have sworn your intentions were the worst.\u201d Then he frowned and looked from one to the other. \u201cSay, are you an Irredentist, too?\u201d he asked the doctor.<\/p>\n
Neither of them said anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see you are,\u201d Randall growled. \u201cWell, get over to that window, anyway! And you take those clothes off, and take them off fast!\u201d<\/p>\n
A few moments later he faced the pair, fully dressed. He smiled. Dr. Torvald was much less impressive with a sheet for a toga.<\/p>\n
Dr. Torvald became even more dignified. \u201cWhat<\/p>\n
do you plan to do?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I think I\u2019ll look up Brophy first. He was going to do the right thing by me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny guard will take you to him,\u201d sneered<\/p>\n
Torvald. \u201cHe was arrested only a few minutes ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Randall\u2019s eyes widened with surprise, then narrowed. \u201cWell, maybe I\u2019ll stumble over a rocketship, then,\u201d he said, knowing he could hardly<\/p>\n
just run into one. The building was filthy with the Air Chief\u2019s personal guards.<\/p>\n
He looked at the girl. She had been silent since returning from the window. She avoided his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatricia Holden,\u201d she replied in a muffled voice.<\/p>\n
He leveled the pistol at Dr. Torvald, then swept her to him with his left arm, kissed her. He released her as the doctor started forward. The doctor halted quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot very satisfactory,\u201d Randall said to the girl. \u201cBut it\u2019ll have to do. I may not be seeing you again.\u201d<\/p>\n
He started toward the door, but she halted him.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you love me?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
He looked at her in amused surprise, and smiled. \u201cI could learn,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen help us! Please! I\u2019ll do anything you ask. I\u2019ll marry you, if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stared down at her, found her eyes unwavering. He tried to read her purpose, but couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve forgotten that Brophy has been arrested. The only way I could help you is to die\u2014 messily. And I\u2019m not in the mood. And another thing\u2014I like to do my own chasing. It\u2019s kind of disconcerting to have a woman snap back at me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She flushed, and he went on to the door. He halted, listened, then turned to ask:<\/p>\n
\u201cAny guards out here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Torvald said, \u201cYes,\u201d and the girl shook her head<\/p>\n
\u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou ought to get together,\u201d Randall criticized.<\/p>\n
He opened the door, holding the gun ready in his pocket where it would be unnoticeable\u2014unless he had to use it. But the girl had told the truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Pat,\u201d he called back. \u201cAnd, so long!<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll be seeing you later\u2014maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RANDALL awoke in bed, wondering how he had overcome Limpy\u2019s shrewdness and knowledge of his customer\u2019s finances. He had all the inward agonies of a hangover. Then he remembered the Air Cop and the two doctors. He sat up quickly, then held his head in his hands and regretted his hasty movement. He stared down…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pulp-classics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}