Baldur had been much perturbed by the whole business. He had almost twisted his neck off trying to follow the motions of Waldo
He still postponed calling Grimes. He wanted to arrange for some selective local controls on the centrifuging of the reception room, in order to have a proper place in which to practice standing up. Then he had to get the hang of this walking business; it looked easy, but he didn’t know. Might be quite a trick to learn it
Thereafter he planned to teach Baldur to walk. He tried to get Baldur into the cuckoo-clock wheel, but the dog objected. He wiggled free and retreated to the farthest part of the room. No matter – when he had the beast in the reception room he would damn well have to learn to walk. Should have seen to it long ago. A big brute like that, and couldn’t walk! He visualized a framework into which the dog could be placed which would force him to stand erect. It was roughly equivalent to a baby’s toddler, but Waldo did not know that. He had never seen a baby’s toddler
‘Uncle Gus-
‘Oh, hello, Waldo. How you been?
‘Fine. Look, Uncle Gus, could you come up to Freehold -right away?
Grimes shook his head. ‘Sorry. My bus is in the shop.
‘Your bus is too slow anyhow. Take a taxi, or get somebody to drive you.
‘And have you insult ‘em when we get there? Huh-uh.
‘I’ll be sweet as sugar.
‘Well, Jimmie Stevens said something yesterday about wanting to see you.
Waldo grinned. ‘Get him. I’d like to see him.
‘I’ll try.
‘Call me back. Make it soon.
Waldo met them in the reception room, which he had left uncentrifuged. As soon as they came in he started his act. ‘My, I’m glad you’re here. Dr Stevens – could you fly me down to Earth rightaway? Something’s comeup.
‘Why – I suppose so.
‘Let’s go.
‘Wait a minute, Waldo. Jimmie’s not prepared to handle you the way you have to be handled.
‘I’ll have to chance it, Uncle Gus. This is urgent.
‘But-
‘No “buts”. Let’s leave at once.
They bustled Baldur into the ship and tied him down. Grimes saw to it that Waldo’s chair was tilted back in the best approximation of a deceleration rig. Waldo settled himself into it and closed his eyes to discourage questions. He sneaked a look and found Grimes grimly silent. Stevens made very nearly a record trip, but set them down quite gently on the parking flat ovcr Grimes’s home. Grimes touched Waldo’s arm. ‘How do you feel? I’ll get someone and we’ll get you inside. I want to get you to bed.
‘Can’t do that, Uncle Gus. Things to do. Give me your arm, will you?
‘Huh?’ But Waldo reached for the support requested and drew himself up
‘I’ll be all right now, I guess.’ He let go the physician’s arm and started for the door. ‘Will you untie Baldur?
‘Waldo!
He turned around, grinning happily. ‘Yes, Uncle Gus, it’s true. I’m not weak any more. I can walk.
Grimes took hold of the back of one of the seats and said shakily, ‘Waldo, I’m an old man. You ought not to do things like this to me.’ He wiped at his eyes
‘Yes,’ agreed Stevens, ‘it’s a damn dirty trick.
Waldo looked blankly from one face to the other. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said humbly. ‘I just wanted to surprise you.
‘It’s all right. Let’s go downside and have a drink. You can tell us about it then.
‘All right. Come on, Baldur.’ The dog got up and followed after his master. He had a very curious gait; Waldo’s trainer gadget had taught him to pace instead of trot
Waldo stayed with Grimes for days, gaining strength, gaining new reflex patterns, building up his flabby muscles. He had no setbacks; the myasthenia was gone. All he required was conditioning
Grimes had forgiven him at once for his unnecessarily abrupt and spectacular revelation of his cure, but Grimes had insisted that he take it easy and become fully readjusted before he undertook to venture out unescorted. It was a wise precaution. Even simple things were hazards to him. Stairs, for example. He could walk on the level, but going downstairs had to be learned. Going up was not so difficult