that thing.
It was decided before then, said Cornelius. As a matter of fact, that hulk in there on the operating table no longer has a mind. I know. I was there. He shuddered a little. A stiff shot of tranquilizer was all that held nightmare away from him. Later he would have to have that memory exorcised.
The doctor took a long drag of smoke, held it in his lungs a moment, and exhaled gustily. I guess this winds up the project, he said. Well never get another esman.
Ill say we wont. Vikens tone sounded rusty. Im going to smash that devils engine myself.
Hold on a minute! exclaimed Cornelius. Dont you understand? This isnt the end. Its the beginning!
Id better get back, said the doctor. He stubbed out his cigarette and went through the door. It closed behind him with a deathlike quietness.
What do you mean? Viken said it as if erecting a barrier.
Wont you understand? roared Cornelius. Joe has all Angleseys habits, thoughts, memories, prejudices, interests. Oh, yes, the
different body and the different environmentthey do cause some changes, but no more than any man might undergo on Earth. If you were suddenly cured of a wasting disease, wouldnt you maybe get a little boisterous and rough? There is nothing abnormal in it. Nor is it abnormal to want to stay healthyno? Do you see?
Viken sat down. He spent a while without speaking.
Then, enormously slow and careful: Do you mean Joe is Ed?
Or Ed is Joe. Whatever you like. He calls himself Joe now, I thinkas a symbol of freedombut he is still himself. What is the ego but continuity of existence?
He himself did not fully understand this. He only knewhe told me, and I should have believed himthat on Jupiter he was strong and happy. Why did the K tube oscillate? A hysterical symptom! Angleseys subconscious was not afraid to stay on Jupiterit was afraid to come back!
And then, today, I listened in. By now, his whole self was focused on Joe. That is, the primary source of libido was Joes virile body, not Angleseys sick one. This meant a different pattern of impulses not too alien to pass the filters, but alien enough to set up interference. So he felt my presence. And he saw the truth, just as I did.
Do you know the last emotion I felt as Joe threw me out of his mind? Not anger any more. He plays rough, him, but all he had room to feel was joy.
I knew how strong a personality Anglesey has! Whatever made me think an overgrown child brain like Joes could override it? In there, the dOctorsbah! Theyre trying to salvage a hulk which has been shed because it is useless!
Cornelius stopped. His throat was quite raw from talking. He paced the floor, rolled cigar smoke around his mouth but did not draw it any farther in.
When a few minutes had passed, Viken said cautiously, All right. You should knowas you said, you were there. But what do we do now? How do we get in touch with Ed? Will he even be interested in contacting us?
Oh, yes, of course, said Cornelius. He is still himself, remember. Now that he has none of the cripples frustrations, he should be more amiable. When the novelty of his new friends wears off, he will want someone who can talk to him as an equal.
And precisely who will operate another pseudo? asked Viken
sarcastically. Im quite happy with this skinny frame of mine, thank you!
Was Anglesey the only hopeless cripple on Earth? asked Cornelius quietly.
Viken gaped at him.
And there are aging men, too, went on the psionicist, half to himself. Someday, my friend, when you and I feel the years close in, and so much we would like to learnmaybe we too would enjoy an extra lifetime in a Jovian body. He nodded at his cigar. A hard, lusty, stormy kind of life, granteddangerous, brawling, violentbut life as no human, perhaps, has lived it since the days of Elizabeth the First. Oh, yes, there will be small trouble finding Jovians.
He turned his head as the surgeon came out again.