in a short space of time with a consequent abrupt cessation of
metabolic processes; ice crystals, formed from body fluids, had
caused widespread laceration of cell membranes. In the course of
time most of the lighter substances had sublimed, mainly from the
outer layers, to leave behind a blackened, shriveled, natural kind
of mummy. The most seriously affected parts were the eyes, which,
composed for the most part of fluids, had collapsed completely,
leaving just a few flaky remnants in their sockets.
A major problem was the extreme fragility of the remains, which
made any attempt at detailed examination next to impossible.
Already the body had undergone some irreparable damage in the
course of being transported to Earth and in the removal of the
spacesuit; only the body’s being frozen solid during these
operations had prevented the situation from being even worse. That
was when somebody had thought of Felix Borlan at IDCC and an in-
strument being developed in England that could display the insides
of things. The result had been Caldwell’s visit to Portland.
Inside the first laboratory it was dark. Researchers were using
binocular microscopes to study sets of photographic transparencies
arranged on several glass-topped tables, illuminated from below.
Danchekker selected some plates from a pile and, motioning the
others to follow, made his way over to the far wall. He positioned
the first three of the plates on an eye-level viewing screen,
snapped on the screen light, and stepped back to join the expectant
semicircle. The plates were X-ray images showing the front and side
views of a skull. Five faces, thrown into sharp relief against the
darkness of the room behind, regarded the screen in solemn silence.
At last Danchekker moved a pace forward, at the same time half
turning toward them.
“I need not, I feel, tell you who this is.” His manner was somewhat
stiff and formal. “A skull, fully human in every detail-as far as
it is possible to ascertain by X rays, anyway.” Danchekker traced
along the line of the jaw with a ruler he had picked up from one of
the tables. “Note the formation of the teeth-on either side we see
two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molars. This
pattern was established quite early in the evolutionary line that
leads to our present day anthropoids, including, of course, man. It
distinguishes our common line of descent from other offshoots, such
as the New World monkeys with a count of two, one, three, three.”
“Hardly necessary here,” Hunt commented. “There’s nothing apelike
or monkeylike about that picture.”
“Quite so, Dr. Hunt,” Danchekker returned with a nod. “The reduced
canines, not interlocking with the upper set, and the particular
pattern of the cusps-these are distinctly human characteristics.
Note also the flatness of the lower face, the absence of any bony
brow ridges. . . high forehead and sharply angled jaw.
well-rounded braincase. These are all features of true man as we
know him today, features that derive directly from his earlier
ancestors. The significance of these details in this instance is
that they demonstrate an example of true man, not something that
merely bears a superficial resemblance to him.”
The professor took down the plates and momentarily flooded the room
with a blaze of light. A muttered profanity from one of the
scientists at the tables made him switch off the light hastily. He
picked up three more plates, set them up on the screen, and
switched on the light to reveal the side view of a torso, an arm,
and a foot.
“Again, the trunk shows no departure from the familiar human
pattern. Same rib structure. . . broad chest with well-developed
clavicles. . . normal pelvic arrangement. The foot is perhaps the
most specialized item in the human skeleton and is responsible for
man’s uniquely powerful stride and somewhat peculiar gait. If you
are familiar with human anatomy, you will find that this foot
resembles ours in every respect.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Hunt conceded, shaking his head.
“Nothing remarkable, then.”
“The most significant thing, Dr. Hunt, is that nothing is
remarkable.”
Danchekker switched off the screen and returned the plates to the
pile. Caldwell turned to Hunt as they began walking back toward the