Mary was no longer in the room; whether she had left or had been ordered out by the Old Man I do not know and it did not seem to matter. The Old Man stepped up to me after I had been prepared, laid a hand on my arm, and said quietly, “Thanks, son.”
I did not bother to answer.
I did not see them handle the parasite as it took place behind my back. There was a rig which I had seen them bring in which appeared to be modified from the remote-handling gear used on radioactives; no doubt they used that. I was not interested enough to look, even if I had been able to turn my head far enough, which I couldn’t.
Once the ape barked and screamed and someone shouted, “Watch it!”
There was a dead silence as if everyone was holding his breath—then something moist touched the back of my neck and I fainted.
I came out of it with the same tingling energy I had experienced once before. I knew I was in a tight spot, but I was warily determined to think my way out of it. I was not afraid; I was contemptuous of those around me and sure that in the long run I could outwit them.
The Old Man said sharply, “Can you hear me?”
I answered, “Of course I can. Quit shouting.”
“Do you remember what we are here for?”
I said, “Naturally I remember. You want to ask some questions. What are you waiting for?”
“What are you?”
“Now that’s a silly question. Take a look at me. I’m six feet one, more muscle than brain, and I weigh—”
“Not you. You know to whom I am talking—you.”
“Guessing games?”
The Old Man waited a bit before replying, “It will do you no good to pretend that I don’t know what you are—”
“Ah, but you don’t.”
“Or, rather, that I don’t know that you are a parasite talking through the body of a man. You know that I have been studying you all the time you have been living on the body of that ape. I know things about you which give me an advantage over you. One—” He started ticking them off.
“You can be killed.
“Two, you can be hurt. You don’t like electric shock and you can’t stand the amount of heat even a man can stand.
“Three, you are helpless without your host. I could have you removed from this man and you would die.
“Four, you have no powers except those you borrow from your host—and your host is helpless. Try your bonds; then be sensible. You must cooperate—or die.”
I listened with half an ear; I had already been trying my bonds, neither hoping nor fearing, but finding them, as I expected, impossible to escape. This did not worry me; I had neither worries nor fears. I was oddly contented to be back with my master, to be free of troubles and tensions. My business was to serve and the future would take care of itself.
In the meantime I must be alert, ready to serve him.
One ankle strap seemed less tight than the other; possibly I might drag my foot through it. I checked on the arm clamps; perhaps if I relaxed my muscles completely—
But I made no effort to escape. An instruction came at once—or, I made a decision, for the words mean the same; I tell you there was no conflict between my master and me; we were one—instruction or decision, I knew it was not time to risk an escape. I ran my eyes around the room, trying to figure who was armed and who was not. It was my guess that only the Old Man was armed; that bettered the chances.
Somewhere, deep down, was that dull ache of guilt and despair never experienced by any but the servants of the masters—but I was much too busy with the problem at hand to be troubled by it.
“Well?” the Old Man went on. “Do you answer my questions, or do I punish you?”
“What questions?” I asked. “Up to now, you’ve been talking nonsense.”
The Old Man turned to one of the technicians. “Give me the tickler.”