The answer did not surprise her. "You think Maita Pan-green had herself fixed the way she is, without experimenting first? Do you? If so, you're wrong." The woman gestured around her. "All these, what's left of us now-the Committee's guinea pigs, D Center's allotment."

  Rissa shook her head; the woman continued. "Thirty at least-some men and some women-for the ears alone, before she was satisfied. Afterward, you see, they cut the altered parts away completely, so the rest of the freaks won't find out what they're up to, and maybe top it. At least with ears it was simpler for her than killing me-she does that too, sometimes."

  Rissa began to speak, but the woman was not done. "And sometimes she doesn't have to-kill, 1 mean. My sister-when she saw what was left of her face, she drowned herself-wire around her neck so she couldn't pull her head out of the washbasin, turned on the water and threw the faucet handles away. You don't know-"

  I must no! succumb to the urge for vengeance-but how can I deny if to such as these? Rissa said, "We had thought that Welfaring the Committee members would be punishment enough, but-" She shook her head. "Tell me-these things that were done to you-even under UET's laws, could they be justified legally?"

  "No. It was all done secretly. That's why these-" She gestured toward the uniformed corpses, "-why they decided to cremate us alive before you could see us."

  Now she told a simple and terrible story. The guards had brought men and women from their separate quarters and herded the mutilated group along, talking and laughing at them, until here-one room short of the cremating furnace- the woman had understood what they meant to do. "Take us in, one at a time, clamp us onto the death trolley and slide us

  216

  into heat that would melt steel. So I grabbed a gun and turned loose. Jerily-she's dead over there-got one, too. We were all mixed in together by then-no way to keep from killing our own, too, to be sure and get them.

  "I think-I think it was me that shot Jerily."

  Through her horror, Rissa concentrated on facts. "Do you know who gave the orders to kill you? And when?"

  The woman shrugged. "Pangreen, I suppose-or some of her clique. Probably around the time Tregare took Headquarters, saying to do it if he sent anybody here. Just to be on the safe side, she'd do that." She looked at Rissa. "Now what happens to us-that hasn't already?"

  "Nothing will be done to you. I do not know as yet what can be done for you. Except that-Brinton? Something is wrong?" She had not seen him leave; now he approached quickly.

  He said, "Nobody was doing anything for the hurt ones. I got on the intercom upstairs. Medics coming now." "Thank you. I should have thought, but-"

  The woman gestured. 'First sight of us, you wouldn't be thinking too calm. To tell the truth, it doesn't get much easier later on, either."

  Rissa groped for speech. "How are you quartered, here?"

  "A pair of double-deckers all our own, where nobody has to look at us."

  "You will be given more comfortable quarters. For the rest -such things as corrective surgery, cosmetic prostheses-as I say, I do not know as yet, what help we can give you."

  But suddenly she knew exactly what to do with Maita Pangreen.

  she called on the gripe circuit. "It is cruel and terrible, Bran, but it is just. As the woman said-with each of the Committee, have the altered parts removed-using anesthesia, which is more than Pangreen bothered to do. When they have healed they will be effectively anonymous and can be quartered with their victims, subject to the same remedial efforts. But to remain alive they must pretend to be victims." "You think Pangreen can keep up that kind of pretense?" "If she cannot, her death is her own doing, not ours. And the same for the rest, any who have done similarly."

  217

  "You include Zavole in this?""So far as I can determine, he used no Clients for experiments. The technique of affixing gems to bone is an old one-perhaps that is why he chose it."

  "All right; I'll give the orders. You coming back here tonight?"

  "Tomorrow, I had thought-so as to conclude reassignment of quarters, and other matters I have mentioned. Do you approve of these?" She saw him nod. "As to returning-other than our wish to be together, is there cause for hurry?"

  "Not really, I guess. But there's something I don't want to discuss in detail, on the circuit."

  "Yes, Bran? Can you tell me anything about it, now?"

  "Sure. We finally got a solid bite from the Hulzein Establishment." He grinned. "Except, I'm not sure who's supposed to be on which end of the hook."

  garbatt now slept normally; Rissa and Ivan took Brinton to lunch aboard the scout. As they entered, Anse Kenekke said, "You have much trouble in there?"

  "Some," said Ivan. "Nothing your presence out here didn't handle."

  Kenekke grinned. "Then sit down. Main and I, we ate already-but he fixed enough extra, just in case."

  When Kenekke served the food, Brinton first gulped a huge bite. Then Rissa saw him look at his plate. His next bite was smaller and he chewed it slowly. He looked at her and swallowed. "Food like this-not since 1 was a little kid, still Outside."

  "We know," said Ivan. "We've both been in Welfare. Though I suppose the food's got worse-everything else has."

  "Pretty bad, all right." Until he was done, Brinton said no more. Then; "How you want to leave things set up here?"

  "As soon as possible," said Rissa, "Tregare needs an official representative at each Center, with access to the executive circuits at all times in order to report to Tregare's office at least once a day.''

  "Report what?"

  "Whether operations are proceeding correctly. The representative will appoint assistants to monitor those operations. Brinton-do you want the job for this Center?"

  218

  "Should be Garbatt--he's the one got the riot under control, and all. I-"

  "If he recovers and is capable-since you vouch for him, he can be the one. You would assist him, then?"

  "Sure, that's better. You see-they all listen to Garbatt more."

  "I will take your word for it. Now, then-besides the things we have discussed, what other immediate changes do you recommend?"

  "Visiting." Her brows raised in inquiry; he said, "Men and women, we're kept separate. Saturday nights-that's the only time-five to ten from each dorm, the ones with the best records for the week, can go if they want to."

  "Go? Where?"

  "To the old gym! Get together and fuck up a storm!"

  "You mean-you can meet your lovers only in an open room, among a crowd?"

  He laughed. "What lovers? You hardly ever see the same one twice. The only rule we got is, nobody gets left out-you get there at all, somebody takes care of you. It's the only way there is, we can do anything good for each other. So-"

  She raised a hand. "One moment." Then; "Again, we cannot correct this dehumanizing situation immediately-only one step at a time."

  "Forget about privacy," said Ivan, "-at first, anyway. They're not used to it and probably don't care."

  "Some do," Brinton said. "The new ones. Some won't go, account of that, or because they still think they'll get back with their own mates sometime."

  At least, those will be the first released. Think of the worst cases! She said, "Would the gymnasium accommodate a seventh of the clients in this Center?"

  "Empty, it would-easy. Mostly it's filled up with storage."

  "Have it cleared; I do not care how it is done. Then-in each dormitory the persons divide themselves among the days of the week. The orders to use names again, rather than numbers, have been followed?" Brinton nodded. "Then every night a seventh of those who wish it will have the use of that gymnasium, until releases make more suitable facilities available."

  219

  She looked at him. "You guarantee these meetings will be self-policing? No rapes or other violence?"

  "To each other? We don't do that way. I mean, things are bad enough..."

  There is hope-even for these, there is hope! "Then-today is Thursday-announce the new procedure to begin on Sunday. That should be time enough to arrange it. So, Brin-ton-as a stopgap, do you find the proposal satisfactory?"

  "Compared to now, anything is. Say-do we have to stay with the day we pick first?"

  "What-? Oh, I see-to meet only the same one-seventh, never the rest. No-devise any system you like, so long as it is equitable and provides free choice."

  "I gotcha." He frowned. "You really gonna put the staff in double-deckers?"

  "For a time. So long as any must experience such discomfort, it is reasonable that staff and guards share it-if only that they may better understand your own feelings."

  He grinned. "Hey-do they go to the gym, too?"

  "Brinton-1 do not like your thought, there."

  Shrugging, he said, "Thought, yeah-some of those smart-asses-but you're right. Things could get bad, that way."

  "But for the time," said Rissa, "they will follow the same rules as yourselves. In a place of their own, of course."

  Ivan laughed. "Me, I'd put 'em on their old rules first."

  Before Rissa could answer, Brinton said, "Naw, she's right. Hit 'em too hard, they won't know why. Her way, maybe they will."

  She said, "You understand a great deal. Brinton, can you read?"

  Shrug. "A little. Just learning when they Welfared us-lost most of it. Been trying, though-watching the new stuff on Tri-V. Getting there a little, but it's slow."

  "Keep trying. You will need the ability, to do the work that suits your other talents." He only smiled. She said, "Would you go see if your friend Garbatt is awake and able to talk? If so, tell him what has been decided; then call us here."

  "What about Tilseng, Conichiel-those?"

  "Tell them you are Tregare's representative and that I will confirm it shortly."

  He left. Ivan said, "You've taped all this?"

  220

  "Everything since we entered the place."

  "You want me to piay it off, make a summary for Tre-gare?"

  "There is not time, I would think. We go inside again soon."

  Deverel spoke. "If it's not Top Zipper, I could do it."

  "Would you, Hain? Thank you. And now, while Ivan abuses his kidneys with more coffee than is healthful, I should like to borrow a bunk, to lie quietly and relax my mind."

  She shuddered. "There are things here, I wish I had not seen."

  she dozed, but came fully awake at Ivan's touch. She put her hand on his where it clasped her shoulder, and said, "Brinton is ready for us?"

  "Yes. But no hurry-take your time."

  "Two minutes, no more. Excuse me now." And it could not have been much longer before she rejoined him, and they left the scout to enter the forbidding edifice.

  Inside, Paris Conichiel met them. "The infirmary-I'll take you there." They followed her.

  Garbatt still needed a shave, and his mouth twitched. But his eyes were clear; he sat propped against cushions and answered her query. "Feeling fine now, yeah. Brinton here, he told me what's happened." He squinted against overhead light. "You people really mean it, I guess. I'm glad-you dunno how much I'm glad. Well, then-okay, we'll work it the way you said. Some won't like the part about no getting even, now when we could, so easy. But don't worry-with the Clients, I say beans, everybody farts. And with the staff I talk for Tregare. Good combination-it's gonna work."

  "I would think so. Garbatt. Now-would you like a summary of our agreements, for reference, on tape or on paper?"

  "Tape. I can read-used to, anyway-but not since they took my contacts. Four years I kept 'em, the guards didn't know, but one time I got caught washing 'em and-"

  "I see. In time we can replace such things."

  "Sure. Hey-look, I'm sleepy again. Maybe-"

  "Certainly. And I will see you on the circuit sometimes, when you report to Tregare."

  She shook his hand and led the way out to the corridor.

  221

  "Now," she said to Brinton, "before we leave this Center I will see the woman who calls herself Ears."

  "Not much you can do for that one. You saw ..."

  "Nonetheless, I wish to see her."

  RiSSA and Ivan found the maimed ones, with medical personnel attending the recently wounded, in a vacated staff suite. Ears, conferring with a medic, looked up and then came to meet them. She said, "I've seen our new quarters-full height, they are. Thanks. Is it true you're putting staff in our old ones?"

  "For a time. I think it is well they have that experience."

  "They're not all bastards," the woman said. Then, hesitating, she said, "You told me you want to help us. Well, there's one favor-"

  "Yes?"

  "Couldn't we be all together-men and women both?"

  "Have you not been allowed even that?"

  The scarred mouth twitched. "Sure-just like everybody else-Saturday-night quota to the gym." Her voice rose. "How could we? They see you and look away. I tried once- Jerily said I should-she did sometimes, but she wasn't so ruined, herself. They-they tried not to notice me, then three over to one side talked together. 1 knew why-the rule is, nobody gets left out. Finally one came over to me, looking down and sidewise, anywhere but at me. He did it, all right-he was even good-but he never once looked at me!"

  Now she spoke more quietly. "I thanked him, you know- before he got away as fast as he could, but I never went back. Most of us don't, a second time. Just among ourselves, though-it wouldn't be so bad, I think."

  Rissa felt tears welling; she blinked them back. Between her hands she took the ravaged head, palms cupping the cheeks and fingers touching the partial ear and lack of the other. "Of course you can be together! And your hair will grow to cover these, and some scars can be corrected or at least minimized. We will see."

  Ivan spoke. "My wife lost an ear-a projector beam took it." He described Ilse's injuries. "She told me-any time the change bothers me, feel free to leave her." He shook his head. "She doesn't believe it yet, but that's never going to happen."

  222

  Reaching up, the woman put her hands over Rissa's. "You-you touched me. At first, like everybody else, you couldn't look at me. But now you are." Shuddering, she exhaled, "I don't know what anybody can do about this face; until 1 see it done, I won't hope for much. But one way, you've already changed me."

  "Tell me..."

  "I'm not going to be Ears anymore. I'm Celie Brashean again!"

  walking back toward the office areas, Rissa unearthed a nagging thought. Where are the children? When she found Con-ichiel, she asked. "-and 1 suppose that they being smaller, their dormitories are triple -decked?"

  Conichiel looked blank, then made a hiccuping sound that was almost a laugh. She shook her head. "No-it's the other way around. Welfare gets fewer children ail the time, because-"

  Rissa waved a hand. "Yes, of course-I should have realized. But where are they?"

  "Only two Centers have Juvenile Divisions any more-K and R."

  "K?" said Ivan. "Rissa-that's where we were!"

  She turned to him. "Is it far from here? Far out of our way, going back to Headquarters?"

  "Not very."

  "Then before we return to Inconnu, we will visit that place." And then to Conichiel, "You have reports to show me?" The woman gestured toward a desk; Rissa sat and began inspecting the papers.

  After a time she looked up. "Has Tilseng seen these? What does he say?"

  "He said just do it and don't bother him. He's holed up in his quarters, while he still has them, floating on a cloud of drug-smoke." The tall woman shrugged. "I don't mind-I'm used to doing his work for him."

  "It is no longer his work, Paris Conichie!-it is yours. Assign Tilseng to some job he can do-for you are now Chief Administrator here, working with Garbatt who represents Tregare."

  223

  "I-" A nod. "All right, I can do it. Except-Garbatt, he scares me."

  "He need not. He speaks roughly but displays a sense of fairness. And now-you have done well, and more quickly than I expected. I think I will return to Headquarters today, after all. Is there anything more we need discuss?"

  "Well-I see why you're doing it, but do we-the staff- have to go sleep in those double-decked chicken coops? And be naked all the time we're back there, out of this area? I mean-"

  Rissa looked at her. "Yes. You will experience a small part of what you have administered. When congestion is relieved so that all may sleep in rooms of full height, then you may also. When all can be clothed whenever they wish, you will have your clothing back. Do you see?"

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37