Undying World Part 15

Zampa was watching him with an odd smile. Blade nodded and had to acknowledge, "You are good at your work. But you were going to explain ditramonium to me."

"I cannot really explain that but perhaps I can show you." Zampa tore a blank page from his notebook and scribbled on it. He handed the bit of paper to Blade.

qs' + ut = zoa - SEL to 1/2 P thus transference of ut to 1/2 + P = PM (packet motivation) to final, realized, of: s=s s-zo leadin to t' = B (t+b (ut/oz)to th) Blade scanned it for a moment and said, "Thanks a lot." Zampa looked puzzled. "It is all there. I'm afraid that it is the best I can do."

Blade put the paper in his pocket. He scrubbed at his beard, grinned and nodded. He was acting now, so Zampa would not suspect the pain that was ripping his brain apart. Perhaps if Zampa knew Blade was about to leave him and the Selene Moon, there just might be some way to detain him. He reckoned on a few minutes yet before the HD computer grabbed him.

He smiled and smiled. Soon Zampa would think he was dealing with an idiot. But it hurt... it hurt terribly.

"You have been kind," said Blade, "and I admit I did not think you could make me like you. But you're good. You've gotten around me. Now if I can help you I will. But first I would like to know just what is in store for me. It is not a secret?"

Zampa waved his little book and laughed. "No secret. But there's no hurry, none at all. You will soon be out of my hands, of course, but I can make a guess. For a great many counts you will be given tests and examined. I do not know the details of all that. Eventually an effort will be made to send you back to the very dimension from which you came and-"

Blade writhed in agony and did not let it show. "You mean that I am to be sent through your computer?"

Zampa nodded, all smiles. "I believe so. And they hope to bring you back. The purpose, of course, is to establish communication, a working relationship, between your dimension and our own. If this can be accomplished you will, naturally, receive great honor. You may even be made an honorary Selene."

Blade's body was wrenched. Pain flowed. He saw Zampa's smile detach itself and come toward him. Blade retreated. He groaned, screamed, writhed, suffered. The smile pursued him. His guts flowed from him, turned to snares and tried to capture the smile. No luck His own mouth, no beard now, detached and went to meet the smile.

The smile-the smile-the smile Blade grunted in last agony. "Cheshire-cheshire-cheshire-"

The smile of Zampa spoke: "Cheshire? Let me see. I do not think I have that word either. Is it a Gnomen word?"

Blade had gone. Only his mouth remained. His mouth said, "A Gnomen word? Who Gno wens?-hah-hah-I think, Zampa man, that Blade and the Gnomen have screwed you. Time will tell, but I feel sure that the end is not a dead and silent h.e.l.l. Ba-by-pa-goose-bug off, Zampa baby. . ."

For the last time Zampa was seen clearly . . . Zampa saying, so seriously as he rifed his little book, "I do not believe I have that word either. . . "

The nurse was b.u.t.ton cute, pet.i.te, and had the legs to go with the Dior-designed mini-uniforms so recently permitted at St. Barts-over the bitter cries of Head Nurse Olvey, who had piano legs in parentheses.

But Dior was for Nurse Hawkins, definitely. Blade, with only a sheet over him, watched her with pleasure. When she had just now taken his temperature there had definitely been a happening.

Nurse Hawkins came back to his bed. She glanced down and turned a slow pink.

Blade did not even mind her archness as she said, "My word, but aren't we a naughty, naughty boy."

There was nothing to say. There were a million things to think of and he did not think of any of them. He reached for Nurse Hawkins' hand and gave it a squeeze. For a moment she permitted it, smiling at him and repeating: "We are a naughty boy."

Blade resorted to an Americanism. "You haven't seen anything yet, baby."

Nurse Hawkins turned severe. "I should hope not."

Then she relented. "You have a visitor," she said softly.

J came in, fussing as usual, his Homburg and rolled umbrella clutched in his hand.

"How are you, my dear boy? Don't tell me if you'd rather not. Lie if you like. Stay here as long as you please. Lord Leighton is dying to get his hooks into you. I know how you dread the debriefing." He shot a look at Nurse Hawkins. "If we could be alone, please?"

They were alone. J said, "The formula you brought back is gibberish. Nonsense. Lord L is most unhappy."

"I couldn't care less," said Richard Blade. He glanced down at the sheet. The tented arch was just subsiding.

"I think I'm happy," said Blade. "In fact I am sure of it."