“I’ve hardly had a chance to think it through,” Singh said. “But at first sight I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be tried. It might mean that your bodily appearance would tend towards Mr Allef’s, but it also holds out the hope of our being able to operate on you and give you a chance of healing normally. It might even mean you growing in height. I’ve warned Mr Allef that it would mean lying in a hospital bed as long as was required, unable to do anything and enduring as much pain as if he himself had been operated on, and that with no sure promise of success—”

“And I still insist on being allowed to do it,” said Rudi firmly.

Howson closed his eyes. He could do nothing else but accept, of course — but even as he uttered grateful words he felt it was unnecessary. Whether or not this hope was granted, whether or not the operations were successful, was of little account. For in the moment when Rudi made his offer, he, Gerald Howson, had become a whole man.