"Erotic styles you mean, let's not use euphemisms. Yes, Eunice did. She knew she was beautiful and did not mind sharing her beauty. Played up to it."
"I wish I had known her."
"I wish you had, Doctor; your life would have been richer thereby. If she had a call to give blood, Johann's guards were under orders to drive her. Protect her. Pick her up at her door, escort her to the car, deliver her, wait for her. But this was an emergency and she lives—lived—nineteen levels up in one of those beehives in the north end. Vehicle lift, sure—but not able to lift the sort of armor Johann owned. Owns. So the poor darling decided to save ten minutes and used the passenger elevator without waiting for escort. And that's where she was jumped. Killed."
"A pity. I suppose she didn't know that we can always stretch a patient an extra ten minutes if we know a donor is on the way."
"Maybe she did, maybe she didn't—but it is characteristic of Eunice Branca that she tried to hurry."
"A pity. You can put your shirt on. How old did you say you were?"
"I didn't say. Seventy-two is staring me in the face."
"I'm amazed. You seem to be younger—internally I mean, not necessarily your face—"
"So I'm ugly. I know it."
"I think ‘distinguished' is the accepted term. You seem much younger, physiologically. Say twenty years."
"So I take my hormones."
"I'm not sure you need them. Go home if you wish. Or stay. If you stay, I'd like to put a monitor on your heart. Professional interest." (And to make damn sure you don't conic out, old fellow—sometimes a heart stops for no good reason, after a shock such as you have had.)
"Uh...I am tired. Could I skip dinner and go straight to bed? With maybe a twelve-hour dose instead of eight?"
"No trouble."
Soon Jake Salomon was in bed and asleep. Hedrick ate, looked in on his patient, left orders with the night watch to call him if the displays exceeded certain tolerances, went to bed and to sleep; he never needed the drugs he prescribed.
Despite sedation, Johann Smith's dreams were troubled. Once the old man in the borrowed skull muttered, "Eunice?" (I'm here, Boss. Go back to sleep.) "All right, my dear. Just wanted to know where you'd gone." (Quit fretting, Boss. I'm here.) Johann smiled in his sleep and then slept, quietly, no more bad dreams.
9
The morning nurse bustled in with a tray. "Good morning, Miss Smith! How are we today?"
"I don't know how you are, but I'm hungry."
"Good! Hot oatmeal this morning, dear, and orange juice and a boiled egg—and we'll soak a little toast in egg so that it will go down easily. I'm going to tilt the bed up a touch."
"Mrs. Sloan—"
"Yes? Let me tuck the napkin under your chin."
"Stop that, or I'll tell you where to tuck it! Uncover me and unstrap me; I'm going to feed myself." (Boss, don't be rude to her. She's trying to help you.) (Eunice?) (Of course, dear—didn't I promise I wouldn't leave again?) (But—)(Shush, she's talking.)
"Now, Miss Smith, you know I can't do that. Please, dear. Doesn't this smell good?"
"Uh... I suppose you can't unstrap me without Dr. Hedrick's permission. I'm sorry I snapped at you." (That's better, Boss!) "But don't try to feed me, please don't. Instead please find Dr. Hedrick and tell him I'm being difficult again. You might also tell him that, if he doesn't want to go along with my unreasonable demands, he had better try to reach Mr. Salomon. Because if anyone tries to put food in my mouth while my hands are strapped, I'll do my best to spit it on the ceiling." (Is that better, Eunice?)
(Some, Boss. Say ten percent.) (Uh, darn, I don't have any practice in being a lady.) (I'll teach you, Boss.) (Eunice, are you really there, dear? Or have I come unstuck just as they thought I would?) (Discuss it later, Boss dear—you're going to have to face the doctor right away...and don't mention me…or you know what'll happen. They'll never unstrap our wrists. You know that, don't you.) (Of course I do! Think I'm crazy?) (Irrelevant and immaterial as Jake would say. The point is never to let Dr. Hedrick—or anybody—guess that I'm here... or they'll be certain you're crazy. Now I'm going to sbut up.) (Don't go ‘way!); (Boss, I'll never go away; I'll just keep quiet. You and I had better talk mostly when others aren't around. Unless I see you about to make a mistake.) (Going to nag me, huh?); Johann heard her merry giggle. (Haven't I always, Boss?"
Watch it; here come the cops.)
Dr. Hedrick came in, followed by Dr. Garcia. "Good, morning, Miss Smith."
"Good morning, gentlemen."
"Nurse says that you would like to try feeding yourself."
"That's true but that's not all of it. I want these straps, and clamps removed, all of them."
"Letting you feed yourself is no problem. It's a good idea, good practice. ‘As for the rest— That calls for thought."
"Doctor, the masquerade is over. If you can't see your way clear to remove all restraints from my body, then forget about breakfast; I won't starve. Get my lawyer instead."
"As it happens, Mr. Salomon is in the house—"
"Then get him!"
"Just a moment, please." Dr. Hedrick glanced at Dr. Garcia, who had seated himself at the console; Dr. Garcia,' nodded. "Miss Smith, would you agree to a reasonable compromise? Or at least listen?"
"I'll listen. But—" (Shut up, Boss!) "I'll listen, Doctor."
"Mr. Salomon is, as you know, an elderly man, and he had a trying day yesterday. I persuaded him to stay overnight, and rest. I'm told that he is just getting up; he has not had breakfast. I have and so has Dr. Garcia—but so long ago that we could use a bit of brunch. Now I can unstrap your arms, let you feed yourself— But unstrapping your pelvis... well, as you must have guessed, there is some odd plumbing down there and other things. Takes time to unhitch everything.
"So here is my thought. You can invite Mr. Salomon to join you for breakfast...and you could invite us, too, for that bit of brunch—and we four can talk over what needs to be done next. I shall follow the wishes of your guar—your lawyer. Or let him select another physician and withdraw, if I find that I must."
"My guardian," Johann said quietly. "We'll do whatever my guardian requires. But I hope he does not decide to replace you, Dr. Hedrick. I have been a difficult patient and I'm sorry. I know what a miraculous job you have done on me. ...nd I am grateful."
"Thank you, Miss Smith."
"I would be delighted to have you three gentlemen join me for brunch... if you will be so kind as to unstrap my arms."
(Boss!) (What's biting you, little one? I thought I was being a perfect lady?) (You are—but don't you dare let gentlemen in here to eat with us until we're made pretty!
Not a speck of makeup, and our hair must be a mess. Horrid!) (But look, dear, it's just Jake and our doctors.) (It's the principle of the thing. I know more about being a girl than you do—well, don't I? When did I ever come to work with my face stark naked and my hair in rats? Why, I often got up much earlier than I had to, just to make sure that I was as pretty as possible, just for you. Didn't I? Did I not?)
"A pain, Miss Smith?"
"Eh? I mean, ‘Oh?' Sorry, Doctor, just thinking. If I am to have gentlemen guests for breakfast, shouldn't I start practicing how to be a lady? It's new to me, you know. Do I have any makeup on?"
Hedrick looked startled. "Do you mean lipstick?"
"Whatever it is that ladies put on their faces; I'm sure it's always more than lipstick. And my hair should be brushed. Or do I have hair?"