"Thanks." Spence was suddenly convulsed by a fit of coughing. The flames in his lungs leapt up and he felt as if his throat was on fire.

Ari stood quickly and grabbed a plastic cup of ice water from the tray beside his bed. "Here, sip some of this." She held the cup for him and guided the straw to his mouth. "Better?"

"Much." They looked at one another without speaking for a moment, then Spence turned his head away.

"Was it that bad this time?" His voice sounded small and faraway.

Ari sat down on the edge of his bed. She placed a hand on his arm. "Don't you remember?"

"I don't remember anything."

She placed a cool hand on the side of his face and turned his head toward her. "It's all right, Spence. It's going to be all right."

In the soft light falling from recessed panels overhead Ari was transformed in his eyes into a ministering angel who had come to succor him in his hour of need. Her fair hair shone with a soft luster and her eyes glimmered with calm assurance. Her lips curved upward in a smile and the shadows caressed the gentle curve of her smooth cheek.

He lifted a hand to her face and gazed into her eyes. She took the hand in hers and kissed it gently. Spence felt revived. He squeezed her hand and pulled it to him.

"How long will I be here this time?" he asked at length. "The doctor said at least twenty-four hours, but it's up to you, really. How do you feel?"

"Tired."

"I'll leave you to get some rest." She stood up from the bed and placed his hand back on his chest, giving it a gentle squeeze, "No. I didn't mean-"

"Shh. Don't worry. I'll come back. Get some sleep now." She smiled again as she turned to leave. "You had me worried-for a moment I thought it was the mousse."

"I didn't eat it, remember?" He smiled faintly. "Good night, Spencer."

He closed his eyes and drifted off into deep, untroubled sleep.

…

"HE RESISTED THE ATTEMPTED mindlink," said Hocking flatly. He did not like admitting failure, especially to Ortu. Often the repercussions were unpleasant.

Ortu's yellow eyes narrowed as he glared coldly out of the shimmering halo. "So?"

"He is a strong-willed subject, Ortu. I don't know where he found the strength to resist. It did not seem possible that this time he could withstand."

"There seem to be a great many things you do not know, and far too many impossibilities. It does not suit me at all. I am displeased with you, Hocking." The metallic band on his brow pulsed more quickly.

Hocking fought to keep his voice under control. "A minor setback. A small delay. We are nearly there. Next time-"

"Next time!" The wizened countenance suddenly contorted in a snarl of venomous rage. The thin-lipped mouth gaped open, revealing a row of sharp, even brown teeth. The yellow eyes flashed fire, and the gleaming circlet quivered. "Next time' You speak to me of next time? I, Ortu, say what is to be. Or have you forgotten?"

Hocking drew back into his chair as if it were a shell he could hide in. His fingers jerked spasmodically on the tray before him.

"I have not forgotten. How am I ever to forget?" There was an icy tinge of hate in the underling's voice.

Ortu's eyes narrowed once more. "I made you what you are. I can unmake you. You came to me a pathetic mass of misshapen flesh. I saved you, fed your intellect, increased the power of your mind. Do not now pretend that you are sorry. It is too late for that, crippled one. Much too late."

"I meant nothing by it, Ortu. I ask your forgiveness for my error." Hocking swallowed hard and looked steadily into the glowing blue wreath of light. His answer seemed to appease his unpredictable mentor. Ortu drew back and his twisted features went slack, becoming once more blank and remote as if he were carved of cold stone.

"What would you have me do?" asked Hocking. His breath came easier.

"We are in dangerous territory at present. One more projection could break him and he would be ruined for our purposes. It could kill him. Either outcome would be unfortunate. It would mean starting over yet again. I do not wish to begin again. Besides, his ability to resist interests me. We will continue."

"As you wish, Ortu. I will allow him time to regain his strength and then increase the frequency of the dream suggestions. That should sufficiently wear down his mental defenses.

"Dr. Reston is, after all, a very adept subject. We have a great wealth of dreamstate images from him already. I will have no trouble altering the content of his dreams to suit our purposes."

"The next projection must not fail," warned Ortu. The hollow, empty voice was devoid of anger or malice. The utterance chilled Hocking to the marrow.

"It will not."

The halo dimmed and began to fade away. Hocking watched until nothing was left but a faint glow in the air. Then that, too, disappeared. The egg-shaped chair spun silently around and whisked out of the empty chamber.

"I have been too easy on him," muttered Hocking. "I have let him escape. But no more. I will break him like a twin. He will acknowledge we. Reston will crawl to me!"

14

… Y0U ARE LOOKING CHIPPER this morning!"

Spence turned as Ari entered the room. She was dressed in a fresh, green, tunicked jumpsuit with a high collar. Her hair spilled over her shoulders in flaxen curls. She appeared the picture of health and good will.

"I am. I'm leaving."

"When?"

"Right now-or just as soon as the nurse comes back with my clothes."

She cocked her head to one side. "Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Of course. I only slipped in the shower. I'm fine. Besides, if I stay here much longer, I'll starve. The food is like… don't ask." "You still sound like a frog. Your poor throat-" "Dr. Williams says it will clear up in a day or two. The chemical isn't harmful, but it doesn't do to inhale it in quantity, that's all. He says if I can stay out of the rain I won't catch pneumonia.

There's no reason to keep me here."

"Can you breathe all right? Does it hurt?"

"Not too much. What's all this? Don't you want me to get out?" "Certainly I do. But I don't want you to have a relapse." "Relapse?"

"You know-another spell or whatever."

Spence stared at the ceiling for a few moments before speak inn again. And when he did, the bantering tone had none out of his voice.

"Ari, what do you think has been happening to me?" "I don't know. Honestly."

"What has Dr. Williams told you?"

"Nothing. He's as puzzled by all this as anybody."

He considered this. "Listen to we, Ari, I-" He was inter rupted by the arrival of the nurse with his clothing.

"Here we are. Good as new, Mr. Reston." Everyone was Mixter to the nursing staff-that was the only way they could distinguish the medical doctors from all the other varieties abounding on Gotham. She laid the neatly folded gold and blue bundle of his jumpsuit at the foot of his bed.

"I'll wait outside while you change, Spence," said Ari. She left with the nurse.

When he emerged from the sick bay ward he looked fit and rested and better than Ari had seen him. She wondered if she had been overconcerned; surely Spence knew what was best. He turned his head when he saw her and she saw the "sun-burned" portion of his face. No, she was right to be worried. He needed looking after.

Dr. Williams stepped up to dismiss his patient as Spence met Ari at the portal. "I hope you'll think about what I said, Dr. Reston. My offer still stands."

"I'll think about it. But I don't think I'll change my mind." The physician shook his head. "It's up to you. I'm always available."

"I appreciate that."

The panel slid open. Spence and Ari stepped through. "Goodbye, doctor. I'll try to stay out of trouble for at least a week."