I Will Fear No Evil Part 7

"Aye-gah-aye-hay-dih!"

"Slowly, slowly. You're having to learn to talk all over again, like a baby. That same remark now-but slowly and carefully."

"By . . . G.o.d G.o.d . . . I . . . . . . I . . . made made . . . it!" . . . it!"

"You surely did. The first man in history to have his brain moved into a new body-and lived through it. And you will go on living. This is a fine body. Healthy."

"But . can't . peal-feel-a d.a.m.n . . thing thing . from . chin . down." . from . chin . down."

"Lucky you," said the Doctor. "Because we've got you restrained all over against the day-soon, I hope"-but never, more likely, he added to himself-"when you will start feeling your entire new body. When that day comes, you may jerk uncontrollably-if we didn't have you restrained. Then you'll have to go to work and learn to control your body. Like a new baby. Practice. Possibly long and tedious practice."

"How . . . long?"

"I don't know. Dr. Boyle's chimps made it rather quickly, I understand. But it might take you as long as it takes a baby to learn to walk. But why worry about that now? You're got a new body, good for many, many years-why, you might be the first human being to live two hundred years. So don't be in a hurry. Now rest, please-I've got to examine you. Chin screen, Nurse."

"The patient's eyes are covered, Doctor."

"Ah, yes, so they are. Mr. Smith, when Dr. Feinstein arrives, we will see if he wants to expose your eyes to light today. In the meantime-uncover the patient, Nurse."

Uncovered, the new body was still mostly covered. A plastic corset "iron lung" encased the torso from chin to pubis; arms and legs were strapped and the straps cushioned; urethral and a.n.a.l catheters were in place and secured; two blood vessels were in use, one for nourishment, the other for monitoring; four others were prepared for use but currently stopped off. Wires were here and there. The body inside this dismal mess could have been one that Michelangelo would have treasured but the a.s.semblage of artifact and protoplasm could seem beautiful only to a medical specialist.

Dr. Hedrick seemed pleased. He took a stylus from his pocket, suddenly scratched the sole of the right foot-got the reflex he expected, got no response from Johann Smith, also as expected.

"Dr. Hedrick?" came a voice from the bed console.

"Yes."

"Dr. Feinstein is operating."

"Very well." He indicated to a nurse that he wanted the body covered. "Did you hear that, Mr. Smith? Your ophthalmologist is in surgery, can't see you today. Just as well, as you have had enough for one day. It's time for you to sleep."

"No. You . . do . . it. My . . eyes."

"No. We wait for Dr. Feinstein."

"No! You . are . in . charge."

"So I am and your eyes won't be touched until your specialist is present."

"d.a.m.n . . you. Get . . Jake . . Sal . o . mon!"

"Mr. Salomon is in Europe, will be notified that you are awake, and he may possibly be here tomorrow. I couldn't say. In the meantime I want you to rest. Sleep."

"Won't!"

"Ah, but you will." Dr. Hedrick pointed to Dr. Brenner, nodded. "As you pointed out, I am in charge. Want to know why I am certain you will sleep? Because we are slowing your breathing rate and introducing into your bloodstream a harmless drug that will insure that you do sleep. So good night, Mr. Smith, and again-my congratulations."

"d.a.m.n . . your . . . ins-. insuffera-" Johann Smith slept.

Once he half roused. "Eunice?" (Right here, Boss. Go back to sleep.) He slept on.

7.

"Hi, Jake!"

"h.e.l.lo, Johann. How do you feel?"

"Mean as a fox with its tail in a trap except when these tyrants dope me with something that makes me sweetness-and-light in spite of myself. Where the h.e.l.l have you been? Why didn't you come when I sent for you?"

"On vacation. First decent vacation I've had in fifteen years. Any objections?"

"Get your feathers down. You do have a nice tan. And taken off a little weight, too, I think. Okay, okay-though I don't mind saying I was disappointed that you didn't trot back for a day or two at least when I woke up. Hurt my feelings."

"Humph! You have no feelings. Never did."

"Now, Jake-I do so have feelings, just never was one for showing them. But, d.a.m.n it, I needed needed you." you."

The lawyer shook his head. "You didn't need me. I know why you thought you did. You wanted me to interfere with Dr. Hedrick's management of your case. Which I would not have done. So I extended my vacation to avoid useless argument."

Johann grinned at him. "Always the sly one, Jake. Okay, I've never been one to fret about yesterday's trouble. But now that you're back-well, Hedrick's a good doctor . . . but he's highhanded with me when it's not necessary. So we'll change that. I'll tell you what I want and you tell Hedrick-and if he balks, you can let him know that he is not indispensable."

"No."

"What do you mean, 'No'?"

"I mean No. Johann, you still require constant medical attention. I haven't interfered with Dr. Hedrick up to now and the results have been good. I won't interfere now."

"Oh, for Pete's sake, Jake. Sure, sure, you have my interests at heart. But you don't understand the situation. I'm no longer in a critical condition; I'm convalescent. Look, here's late news, important. Know what I did this morning during physiotherapy? Moved my right index finger. On purpose purpose, Jake. Know what that means?"

"Means you can bid in an auction. Or signal a waiter."

"Crab apples. Wiggled my toes a little, too. Jake, in a week I'll be walking walking, una.s.sisted. Why, I spend thirty minutes each day now without this lung thing, this corset . . . and when they put it back on me, it's simply set to a.s.sist, if necessary. But despite all this wonderful progress, I'm still treated like a wired-up laboratory monkey. Allowed to stay awake only a short time each day-h.e.l.l, they even shave me while I'm asleep and G.o.d alone knows what else; I don't. I'm strapped down every minute that at least six people don't have their hands on me for physio. If you don't believe me, lift the sheet and take a look. I'm a prisoner. In my own house."

Salomon didn't move. "I believe you."

"Move that chair around so that I can see you better. They've even got my head clamped-now I ask you, is that necessary?"

"No opinion. Ask your doctor." Salomon stayed where he was.

"I asked you . . . you . . . because I'm fed up with his top-sergeant behavior." because I'm fed up with his top-sergeant behavior."

"And I declined to express an opinion in a field in which I have no competence. Johann, you're getting well, that's evident. But only a fool replaces a quarterback who is winning. I I never thought you would live through the operation. I don't think you did, either." never thought you would live through the operation. I don't think you did, either."

"Well . . . truthfully, I didn't. I was betting my life-literally-on a long gamble. But I won."

"Then why don't you try being grateful?-instead of behaving like a spoiled child!"

"Temper, Jake, temper-why, you sound like me me."

"G.o.d knows I don't want to sound like you you. But I mean it. Show grat.i.tude. Praise the Lord-and Dr. Hedrick."

"And Dr. Boyle, Jake. Yes, I am am grateful, truly I am. I've been s.n.a.t.c.hed back from the edge of death-and now have every reason to expect a wonderful new life-and all I risked was a few more weeks of a life that had grown intolerable." Johann smiled. "I can't express how grateful I am, there are no words. My eyes are twenty/twenty again and I'm seeing shades of color I had forgotten existed. I can hear high notes I haven't heard in years. I get 'em to play symphonies for me and I can follow the piccolo clear up to the roof. And the violins. I can hear all sorts of high sounds now, higher than ever-even my new voice sounds high; he must have been a tenor. And I can grateful, truly I am. I've been s.n.a.t.c.hed back from the edge of death-and now have every reason to expect a wonderful new life-and all I risked was a few more weeks of a life that had grown intolerable." Johann smiled. "I can't express how grateful I am, there are no words. My eyes are twenty/twenty again and I'm seeing shades of color I had forgotten existed. I can hear high notes I haven't heard in years. I get 'em to play symphonies for me and I can follow the piccolo clear up to the roof. And the violins. I can hear all sorts of high sounds now, higher than ever-even my new voice sounds high; he must have been a tenor. And I can smell smell, Jake-and I lost my last trace of a sense of smell years ago. Nurse, walk past me and let me smell you."

The nurse, a pretty redhead, smiled, said nothing, did not move from the bed's console.

Johann went on, "I'm even allowed to eat now, once a day-eat and swallow, I mean, not a blasted tube. Jake, did you know that Cream o' Wheat tastes better than filet mignon? It can. h.e.l.l, everything everything tastes good now; I had forgotten what fun it is to eat. Jake, it's so grand to be alive-in this body-that I can't wait to go out in the country and walk in fields and climb a hill and look at trees and watch birds. And clouds. Sunbathe. Ice-skate, maybe. Square-dance. Ever square-dance, Jake?" tastes good now; I had forgotten what fun it is to eat. Jake, it's so grand to be alive-in this body-that I can't wait to go out in the country and walk in fields and climb a hill and look at trees and watch birds. And clouds. Sunbathe. Ice-skate, maybe. Square-dance. Ever square-dance, Jake?"

"I used to be good at it. No time for it, late years."

"I never had time for it even when I was young. I'm going to take take time, now. Reminds me, who's minding the store?" time, now. Reminds me, who's minding the store?"

"Teal, of course. He wants to see you."

"You see him, I'm too busy learning to use my new body. And enjoying it. Do I have any money left? Not that I give a hoot."

"You want the ungarnished truth?"

"You can't scare me, Jake. If I have to sell this house to pay off this gang of jailers, it won't worry me. Might be fun. I can tell you this: I'll never be on Welfare. I'll get by-always have, always will."

"Brace yourself. You're worth more than ever."

"Huh? Oh, what a shame! When I was just beginning to enjoy being broke."

"Hypocrite."

"Not at all, Jake. I-"

"Hypocrite, I said. Oh, hush up. Your fortune had already reached the takeoff point, where it can't possibly be spent no matter how you try; it just keeps growing. I didn't even spend all your income on this operation and all that went with it. However, you no longer control Smith Enterprises."

"So?"

"Yes. I encouraged Teal to borrow money and buy some of your voting shares; it gave him incentive in 'minding the store.' And it looked better. Also, as de-facto chairman of the board, I thought it would look better if I owned a bigger block, too, so I traded you some blue chips and taxexempts for some of your senior-corporation voting stock. At present two of us-you and I, or you and Teal-hold voting control. But no one of us. However, I'll trade back any time you want to resume control."

"G.o.d forbid!"

"We'll leave the matter open, Johann. I was not trying to take advantage of your illness."

"No, Jake. If I don't have controlling interest, I don't have even a moral responsibility to look out for the company. I'll resign as chairman of the board-and you can be chairman, or Teal, or you can put it up for grabs."

"Wait till you're well."

"Okay but I shan't change my mind. But now about that other matter-Uh, Nurse, don't you have to go empty something, or wash your hands, or check the roof to see if it's on tight? I want private conversation with my lawyer."

She smiled and shook her head. "No, sir. You know I can't leave the room even a moment without being relieved. But I'm authorized by Dr. Hedrick to do this, sir: I can shut off the voice monitor to the remotes, then go over in that far comer and watch video with the sound turned up high so that you'll be certain I can't hear you. Dr. Hedrick said you might want privacy in speaking with Mr. Salomon."

"Well! The old bug-bug-hunter is human after all. You do that, Nurse."

Shortly, Johann was able to say quietly, "You saw that, Jake? G.o.d knows there could be no harm in you alone watching me a few minutes-you could call for help if I choked or something. Anyhow, any trouble would show on their dials. But, no they chaperon me every second and won't agree to the most harmless request. Look, very quietly now-do you have a pocket mirror on you?"

"Eh? Never carried one in my life."

"A pity. Well, have one on you next time you're in to see me. Tomorrow, I hope. Jake, Hedrick is a good doctor, conceded-but he won't tell me anything anything. Just this week I asked him whose body this had been-and he wasn't even polite enough to lie; he just told me that it was none of my business."

"It isn't."

"Huh?"

"Remember the contract I worked out? It said-"

"Never read it. Your pidgin."

"I told you; you didn't listen. Donor's privacy to be respected unless donor specifically grants permission to breach it . . . and even then his estate must confirm after death. In this case neither proviso was met. So you can never be told."

"Oh, rats. I can find out, once I'm up and and around. I would never publicize it; I just want to know."

"No doubt you will find out. But I I won't be a party to breaching a contract with the dead." won't be a party to breaching a contract with the dead."

"Hmm. Jake, you're a stiff-necked old b.a.s.t.a.r.d; it wouldn't do any harm. All right, all right. But get me that mirror. Look, you can get me one now. Go into my bathroom, usual excuse, and look around. Search. Four or five small mirrors in there, drawers and such-or were the last time I was on my feet. Almost certainly still are. Just don't let a nurse see it. In your pocket. Or under your jacket."

"Why don't you simply ask for one?"

"Because they won't let me have one, Jake. You may think I'm paranoid but I am am being persecuted by this high-and-mighty doctor. Won't let me see my new face in a mirror. Okay, it's probably scarred; I don't care. Won't let me look at myself being persecuted by this high-and-mighty doctor. Won't let me see my new face in a mirror. Okay, it's probably scarred; I don't care. Won't let me look at myself at all. at all. When they work on me they put up a chin screen; I haven't even seen my hands. Would you believe it, I don't even know what When they work on me they put up a chin screen; I haven't even seen my hands. Would you believe it, I don't even know what color color I am. Am I a soul? Or a honk? Or something else? It's maddening." I am. Am I a soul? Or a honk? Or something else? It's maddening."

"Johann, it might be literally maddening for you to see yourself. Before you have your strength back."

"What? Oh, be your age, Jake; you know me better than that. If I'm the ugliest thing since wart hogs and covered with purple stripes, I can take it." Johann grinned. "I was ugly as sin before the operation; any change for the worse can't be great. But I tell you no lie, old friend; if they keep treating me like a r.e.t.a.r.ded child, they really will will drive me off the rails." drive me off the rails."

Salomon sighed. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Johann, but it is no news to me that they won't let you see yourself in a mirror-"

"What?"

"Steady down. I've discussed it with Dr. Hedrick and with the psychiatrist working with him. They are of the opinion that you could suffer a severe emotional shock-one that might give you a grave setback, even (as you say) 'drive you off the rails'-if you see your new self before you are fully well and strong."

Johann Smith did not answer at once. Then he said quietly, "Pig whistle. I know know I'm physically something else now. What harm do they think it could do me?" I'm physically something else now. What harm do they think it could do me?"

"The psychiatrist mentioned the possibility of a split personality."

"Move around and look me in the eyes. Jake Salomon, do you believe that?"

"My opinion is neither relevant nor competent. I am not not going to buck your physicians. Nor help you to outwit them." going to buck your physicians. Nor help you to outwit them."

"So that's how the wind sets. Jake . . . I am sorry to be forced to say this-but you are not the only lawyer in this city."