,transcrib]'s ,note3 ,?is etext 0 produc$ f ,analog ,sci5ce ,fact ,fiction ,septemb] #aifc4 ,ext5sive rese>* did n uncov] any evid5ce t ! ,u4,s4 copyright on ?is publication 0 r5ew$4 ,,am ,i ,,/ill ,,!re8 ,:i* mu/ 9 ess5ce1 ( c\rse1 simply be ! "q ,:at d ,i mean by ',i'8 by ,,james ,r4 ,,hall ,,illu/rat$ ,,by ,,leo ,,summ]s ,illu/ration 99 99 99 99 99 ,lee slid (f ! exam9+ table & began button+ 8 %irt4 ,he _h _h a m$ical exam9ation e six mon?s ( 8 adult life1 & x always seem$ /range to him t1 despite ! banks ( ma*9es ! doctor _h :i* c\ld practically map a man f a s+le cell outw>d1 ea* exam9ation always entail$ ! cold end ( a /e?oscope aga9/ 8 *e/4 ,he tuck$ 8 %irt into 8 pants & turn$ to ! exam9+ doctor :o 0 writ+ on a *>t4 ,well8 ,lee ask$ him4 ,s\nd z a doll>1 repli$ ! doctor4 ,( c\rse ,dr4 ,flotman or ,dr4 ,rob]ts might turn up some?+ on _! electronic mon/]s1 b ,i see no reason :y we c't g ahead on s*$ule4 ,lee felt reliev$4 ,ev5 :ile be+ exam9$ by te*nicians1 ,m4,d4's & biologi/s1 he _h be5 consci\s ( ! hundr$s ( little dull pa9s :i* _h nibbl$ l mice 9 e corn] ( 8 bra94 ,sometimes he felt l a piece ( 8 bra9 0 be+ completely smo!r$1 a horrible s5sation ( hav+ a "p ( 8 head sev]$ f him4 ,?is w\ld g away1 b w\ld appe> aga9 9 a diff]5t area1 usually 9 ab\t fifte5 to ?irty m9utes4 ,well1 ! doctor said he 0 fit = surg]y4 ,t w\ld end ?is nagg+ pa91 j z x always _h 9 ! pa/4 444 ,if y're ready n[4 ,lee became aw>e ! doctor 0 speak+ to him4 ,oh1 ,lee said4 ,he _h no idea :at ! doctor 0 talk+ ab\t4 ,i'm sorry1 ,i guess ,i didn't he> :at y said-- ,! doctor smil$ tol]antly4 ,i said y c see ,dr4 ,letzmill] ?is aft]noon to get ! f9al ,o4,k4 ,letzmill]8 ,:o's he8 ,i ?\ght y said ,i 0 ready to g4 ,lee knew he s\nd$ a little petulant1 b he 0 tir$ f all ^! exam9ations1 & besides1 8 head hurt4 ,! doctor1 ,gorss1 ,lee ?\ght 8 "n 01 0 r "y b seem$ us$ to ?is k9d ( ?+4 ,he turn$ on 8 tol]ant smile aga94 ,dr4 ,letzmill] is *ief ( ! ,famili>ization & ,po/-,op]ative ,adju/m5t ,section4 ,he c expla9 himself bett] :5 y see him4 ,is he ! la/ "o8 ,lee ask$4 ,he 0 already foll[+ ,dr4 ,gorss out ! door & d[n a corridor4 ,dr4 ,gorss /opp$ be=e a door m>k$ ,dr4 ,c4 ,l4 ,letzmill]1 & op5$ x4 ,! la/ "o4 ,y take ^!1 he h&$ ,lee a ?ick manila fold]1 & tell ! girl ,dr4 ,gorss s5t y = y\r int]view4 ,he wait$ until ,lee _h ent]$1 !n clos$ ! door & left4 99 99 99 99 99 ,evid5tly ,dr4 ,letzmill] _h be5 expect+ him1 = v %ortly ,lee f\nd himself sitt+ at ! doctor's desk1 com=tably seat$ 9 a br[n lea!r arm*air4 ,he 0 fac+ a r pudgy man1 :o 0 leaf+ ?r\gh ! manila fold] ,lee _h giv5 him4 ,f9ally ,dr4 ,letzmill] look$ up4 ,well4 ,well n[1 ,mr4 ,lee1 suppose y fir/ tell me ab\t y\rself1 & !n ,i'll tell y ab\t me4 ,tell y ab\t me8 ,lee ask$4 ,dr4 ,letzmill] smil$4 ,x 0 ano!r tol]ant smile1 b x seem$ m s9c]e ?an ,gorss'4 ,i suppose ! be/ way w\ld be = me to review ^! facts on y\r m$ical hi/ory4 ,y are ,v9c5t ,bon>d ,lee8 ,yes1 sir4 ,date ( bir?8 ,augu/ #aa1 #aicd4 ,t w\ld make y f\r hundr$ n9e ye>s old4 ,lee hesitat$4 ,he nev] really ?\ght ( 8 age4 ,x _h long ago ceas$ to be ( any importance to him4 ,( c\rse he rememb]$ 8 bir? date4 ,x 0 "o ( ^? facts t always appe>s on y\r records1 l y\r social security numb]4 ,he did "s calculation 9 8 head1 z rapidly z ! con/antly %ift+ blank spots 9 8 ?9k+ w\ld all[ him4 ,yes1 sir4 ,x %[s "h t y fir/ und]w5t replacive surg]y 9 #aiia4 ,correct8 ,yes4 ,rememb] :at x 0 =8 ,yes1 ,i _h he>t tr\ble4 ,!y fix$ me up ) "o ( ^? big jobs requir+ my c>ry+ batt]ies "u my armpit4 ,"o ( ^? e>ly models4 ,& ?is %[s t at v>i\s times s9ce !n y h und]gone replacive surg]y "s eighty-sev5 times1 includ+ ?ree replacem5ts ( a pulmon>y nature4 ,aga9 ,lee hesitat$4 ,! numb] ( times he _h _h a worn organ or tissue repair$ or replac$ 0 m ?an a little hazy4 ,aft] ! novelty ( ! fir/ few times :5 he f\nd himself ) a new /oma*1 or liv]1 or muscle1 he _h />t$ to take ^! ?+s z a matt] ( c\rse4 ,he gave a little n]v\s laugh4 ,if t pap] says s1 ,i suppose s1 doctor4 ,yes4 ,well1 ev]y?+ seems to be function+ prop]ly n[1 doesn't x8 ,) ! exception ( y\r head1 ( c\rse4 ,yes1 yes ,i feel f9e o!rwise4 ,lee 0 feel+ uncom=table4 ,doctor1 c\ld y tell me :at ?is is all ab\t8 ,i mu/ h answ]$ ^! que/ions half a doz5 times be=e to ^? o!r p4 ,9 j a mom5t4 ,fir/ ,i ne$ to "k y a little bett]4 ,y\r m$ical hi/ory li/s y\r occupation z 'cab9et mak]'4 ,t's "r4 ,lee 0 becom+ m & m uncom=table4 ,! ext5sive exam9ations _h tir$ him1 & repetition ( ! answ]s to all ^! que/ions 0 mak+ him edgy4 ,doctor1 c't y at lea/ tell me :at type op]ation ,i'm go+ to h8 ,:at d y ?9k x w be8 ,i don't "k4 ,"s sort ( repair on my head1 ,i guess4 ,mr4 ,lee1 ?is isn't go+ to be a matt] ( repair4 ,we h f\nd x necess>y to replace ! entirety ( :at c\ld r\ghly be call$ y\r 'bra9'1 z well z "p ( ! sp9al cord4 ,my :ole bra98 ,lee sat1 /unn$1 compreh5sion sl[ly filt]+ into him4 ,he voic$ ! only coh]5t ?\ght :i* mat]ializ$4 ,:y t w mean !re won't be any?+ left ( me at all4 ,dr4 ,letzmill] reg>d$ him4 ,:at d y mean8 ,doc1 y've got my records !re4 ,at "o "t or ano!r1 s9ce !y fir/ put a new he>t 9 me1 e s+le in* ( me has be5 replac$ by an artificial "p4 ,i mean all ( me4 ,!re's n "o bit ( me1 he>t1 eyes1 to5ails1 no?+1 t is me4 ,t bo!r$ me q a bit :5 ?is left eye 0 put 94 ,i mean ,i ?\ght1 ',well1 ?is isn't me4 ,?is is my bra9 walk+ ar\nd 9 a jumble ( artificial fle%4' ,i tell y x bo!r$ me4 ,b ,i w5t to a doctor1 y "k1 a psy*oanaly/1 & he conv9c$ me t z long z ,i _h :at he call$ a 's5se ( id5tity'1 t ,i 0 me4 ,lee /opp$4 ,h[ c\ld he expla9 x8 ,b ,letzmill] seem$ to und]/&4 ,& y ?9k t y\r bra9 is all t is left ( 'y'8 ,doc1 x's a funny feel+4 ,l ?is4 ,lee rais$ 8 h&s1 br\ght !m toge!r & t\*$ 8 f+]tips4 ,see t8 ,i c raise ^? h&s4 ,i c make !m t\* ea* o!r4 ,i c feel !m t\*+ ea* o!r4 ,b x is j n q "r4 ,x's j a little bit (f key1 l "o trumpet play] out ( tw5ty be+ ab\t "o-sixte5? ( a note flat4 ,"k :at ,i mean8 ,i ?9k ,i d1 said ,letzmill]1 nodd+ sl[ly4 ,n[1 j :at does t h to d ) y\r op]ation8 ,doctor-- ,lee _h to /op1 = ! pat*work quilt ( blank spaces 0 danc+ 9 8 head4 ,! helplessness w5t away1 sl[ly1 l smoke drift+ f a fire4 ,z 8 m9d cle>$1 he realiz$ t he didn't "k :y he 0 be+ int]view$ by ?is doctor4 ,any?+ wrong8 ,dr4 ,letzmill] ask$4 ,lee knew he wasn't be+ too coh]5t1 jump+ ab\t ) ! conv]sation ?is way1 b he ask$ ! "q1 anyway4 ,doc1 :y am ,i see+ y8 ,y hav5't guess$8 ,no4 ,! doctor paus$ to light a half-gone cig>4 ,my job "h at ,m]k9s ,replacive is to deal ) j su* fe>s z y h express$4 ,i'm an ,m4,d4 & a psy*ologi/1 &--,letzmill] smil$ to himself--a k9d ( hi/orian4 ,hi/orian8 ,well1 y see ,i 0 suppos$ to give y ! regul> =mal lecture on ! hi/ory ( replacive surg]y :5 y fir/ came 94 ,l to he> x8 ,lee nodd$1 s ,letzmill] cont9u$4 ,replacive surg]y is actually q old4 ,old z m$ic9e itself1 ,i suppose4 ,v e>ly attempts at d5tures 7 tri$1 ?\gh ) little success4 ,&1 ( c\rse1 peg legs & hooks = p]sons :o _h lo/ _! h&s might be call$ replacive surg]y1 ?\gh !y 7 v crude4 ,lat] on came m ref9$ d5tures1 artificial limbs1 corrective l5ses1 skull plates1 he>+ aids1 pla/ic or cosmetic surg]y1 blood transfusions1 all types ( sk9 grafts1 et cet]a4 ,! #aiejs saw ! beg9n+ ( bone & corneal transplants1 use ( pla/ics 9 art]ies1 ^? huge he>t-lung & kidney ma*9es1 implantation ( electrodes 9 ! he>t to /eady its beat--_m ?+s :i* 7 mo/ly em]g5cy or /op-gap measures4 ,all ?r\gh ! late #aijjs ref9em5ts cont9u$ to be made1 b x wasn't until #aihh t ! fa!rs ( replacive surg]y1 ,doctors ,mills1 ,lev9son & ,mc,carty made ! break?r\gh t revolutioniz$ ! :ole concept4 ,9 v simplifi$ language !y unlock$ ! key to produc+ specializ$ liv+ tissue ?r\gh a bomb>dm5t ( an extremely complex c>bon comp\nd ) am9o acids & electricity1 !n mak+ x selective 9 function by a fanta/ically intricate application ( radiation4 ,t pulmon>y replacem5t y receiv$ 9 #aiia 0 und\bt$ly "o ( ! fir/ successes4 ,y 7 q lucky1 y "k4 ,up until #bjag1 only ab\t five p] c5t ( _! syn!siz$ he>ts la/$ m ?an ?irty days4 ,at any rate1 ! pr9ciple 0 e/abli%$1 & x 0 prov5 t x c\ld "w4 ,mo/ ( our "w f !n till a few ye>s ago has be5 9 improv+ & ref9+ ! "w ^? ?ree good doctors did ov] ?ree hundr$ ye>s ago4 ,letzmill]'s cig> _h gone out1 & he disc>d$ x 9 favor ( a cig>ette4 ,t w\ld be ! end ( my hi/ory lecture1 if x 7 n = ! nature ( y\r tr\ble4 ,lee look$ at him closely4 ,:y's t8 ,well1 ,mr4 ,lee1 ! big ?+ miss+ 9 t summation is ! seem+ly impossible task ( syn!siz+ n]ve tissue1 especially t ( ! c]ebral cortex4 ,x's be5 approximat$1 at any rate closely en\gh to give u good en\gh results to all[ an artificial tissue to respond to bra9 signals ab\t n9ety-eight p] c5t z well z ! orig9al w\ld4 ,b actual duplication8 ,no4 ,at lea/ n until ab\t ?ree ye>s ago4 ,to tell y ! tru?1 x is b>ely out ( ! exp]im5tal /age4 ,exp]im5tal6 99 99 99 99 99 ,yes1 ?is w be ! fir/ complete replacem5t ( a human bra94 ,oh1 ( c\rse x has be5 done ) animals1 & x has be5 successful ) p>tial replacem5ts on humans4 ,b y w h ! honor ( be+ ! fir/ human ) a complete sub/itution4 ,lee c\ld n conta9 himself4 ,doc1 t's j x6 ,!re won't be a s+le atom ( me except :at y fell[s h conjur$ up-- ,letzmill] broke 9 mildly4 ,i ?9k 'conjur$' is h>dly ! prop] ^w1 ,mr4 ,lee4 ,well1 ( c\rse1 ,i didn't mean t4 ,b don't y see :at ,i'm driv+ at8 ,y c\ld j z well />t f scrat* & duplicate me )\t bo!r+ ab\t go+ ab\t x piecemeal4 ,& :at does t make me8 ,! doctor _h be5 look+ at ,lee int5tly1 /udy+ him ?r\gh ?is outbur/4 ,i ?9k ,i see :at y mean4 ,& ,i c't answ] y4 ,! "q y raise may be philosophical1 or metaphysical1 b x c]ta9ly isn't m$ical4 ,& f a doctor's po9t ( view complete sub/itution is ! only c\rse op51 risky z x may seem4 ,lee mull$ ?is ov]4 ,( c\rse he knew surg]y 0 ! only solution to 8 decay+ m5tality1 actually ! only alt]native to 8 becom+ a virtual idiot1 &1 %ortly aft] t1 dead4 ,& he did n want to die4 ,he _h liv$ a long "t1 b ?anks to ! me?ods ( ,letzmill]1 ,gorss1 & all _! pr$ecessors1 he 0 z full ( juice z he _h be5 at ?irty-five4 ,b ! "q t kept plagu+ him ,letzmill] seem$ det]m9$ to avoid4 ,he didn't und]/& v mu* ab\t replacive surg]y1 really didn't c>e to4 ,if ,letzmill] said x c\ld "w1 !n he wasn't worri$ ab\t t4 ,well1 he guess$ he really didn't h mu* *oice4 ,) ?is realization1 he _h only "o m "q = ,letzmill]4 ,doc1 if ,i'm n me :5 ?is is ov]1 d y ?9k ,i'll "k x8 ,letzmill] look$ at ,lee's tr\bl$ face4 ,d y ?9k t y w\ld want to8 ,lee answ]$ sl[ly4 ,no1 no ,i guess n4 ,letzmill] rose f 8 *air4 ,i'll talk to y aga9 aft] ! op]ation4 ,d y ?9k y're ready to g to y\r room n[8 ,lee nodd$ & ob$i5tly foll[$ ! doctor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lee 0 asleep :5 ! nurse came1 b ) ! effici5cy ( all good nurses s9ce "t immemorial1 %e woke him to give him ! s$ative to prep>e him = surg]y4 ,%e *att]$ brightly z %e prep>$ ! hypod]mic4 ,y "k1 y h all ! nurses speculat+1 ,mr4 ,lee4 ,i mean we're wond]+ j :at ,dr4 ,lak91 he's ! ane/hesiologi/1 is go+ to use = y :5 y won't h any bra9 = ! ane/hesia to "w on4 ,%e /opp$1 ! ne$le pois$ above ,lee's arm1 realiz+ ! inaptness ( h] rem>k4 ,oh4 ,i %\ldn't h said t4 ,no1 t's all "r1 said ,lee4 ,i've already reconcil$ myself to be+ ! headless horseman = a :ile4 ,he _h1 too1 al?\gh x 0 wond]fully /range to ?9k ( himself ly+ on ! op]at+ table ) a cavity :]e he "r n[ ?\ght1 felt1 knew t he 0 a p]son4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lee didn't actually lie on ! table 9 ! lit]al s5se4 ,! table 0 incl9$ to ab\t =ty-five degrees1 ) 8 head expos$ & support$ by a clamp on ! *eek & jaw bones4 ,?is arrangem5t 0 necess>y to all[ ! wait+ ma*9]y access to ! area :]e x w\ld p]=m4 ,physicians1 surgeons1 biologi/s & ! l 7 ga!r$ 9 ! amphi!at] to see a bit ( m$ical hi/ory4 ,actually !re wasn't mu* to see4 ,a team ( te*nicians1 radiologi/s & surgeons 7 work+ ar\nd ,lee4 ,"s 7 atta*+ electrodes to p>ts ( ,lee's body to ma9ta9 ! electrical impulses necess>y to keep 8 vital processes 9 motion :ile ! ma9 swit*bo>d 0 out ( commission4 ,o!rs 7 s5sitiz+ ! expos$ bra91 f :i* ! skull _h already be5 remov$1 to guide ! delicate f+]s ( ! huge automatic ,op]at+1 ,record+ & ,calculat+ ,complex ?r\gh its precisely programm$ /eps4 ,letzmill] 0 among ^? 9 ! amphi!at]1 z a spectator1 drawn bo? by pr(essional curiosity & a desire to "k ! answ] to ,lee's "q1 ,doc1 :at w !re be left ( me8 ,( c\rse he c\ldn't f9d out ev5 "p ( ! answ] = "s weeks4 ,ev5 ! ,,orc complex1 n[ be+ fitt$ to ,lee's unconsci\s bra91 adju/$ & activat$1 w\ld n f9i% ) its job = some?+ l ?irty-two h\rs4 ,! syn!siz] w\ld reconv]t ! data1 translate x into c\ntless *emical & electrical =mulae1 & apply x to ! raw mat]ial ( c>bons1 am9o acids1 prote9s1 & o!r compon5ts4 ,:5 ! basic organ _h be5 recon/ruct$1 a process requir+ ano!r week & a half 9 ! syn!siz]1 x w\ld be graft$ back4 ,! n]ve lead-ins w\ld !n be reconnect$1 "o by "o1 spac$ at int]vals to avoid %ock4 ,lee w\ld be unconsci\s ! :ole "t1 ( c\rse4 ,or r ,lee w\ld be unconsci\s "p ( ! "t4 ,mo/ ( ! "t he w\ldn't h ! capacity = ei!r consci\sness or ! lack ( x4 ,dr4 ,letzmill] obs]v$ ! huge ,,orc complex = a "t1 b !re wasn't any?+ to see4 ,x simply sat ov] ,lee1 do+ its job4 ,unwant$1 ! ?\ght came to ,letzmill] t ! ma*9e look$ l a frog ) a long worm dangl+ f its m\?4 ,lee 0 ! worm4 99 99 99 99 99 ,y c talk to him n[1 doctor4 ,old5reid1 ,surgeon 9 ,*>ge1 address$ ,letzmill] outside ,lee's room :]e he _h j f9i%$ 8 exam9ation4 ,p]sonally1 ,i ?9k ?+s w5t exactly z !y %\ld4 ,all physical & m5tal responses *eck out4 ,i guess "h's :]e ,i'm f9i%$ & y g to "w4 ,lee 0 sitt+ up 9 b$ z ,letzmill] ent]$4 ,he look$ j l he _h 9 ,letzmill]'s (fice be=e ! op]ation1 except = ! small :ite b&ages ar\nd 8 head to protect 8 heal+ skull4 ,well1 ! doctor said1 h[ d y feel8 ,y\r head hurt8 99 99 99 99 99 ,letzmill] *eck$ at ,old5reid's (fice1 & 0 admitt$ to give 8 report1 z _h be5 plann$4 ,well8 ask$ ,old5reid4 ,letzmill] lit ! end ( 8 cig> be=e answ]+4 ,i :olly agree ) y4 ,ev]y?+ seems to h work$ out exactly accord+ to plan4 ,i f\nd him ess5tially ! same z he appe>$ to me dur+ 8 pre-op]ative int]view4 ,( c\rse he's a little foggy yet1 b ,i suppose t's j ! po/-op]ative %ock4 ,yes1 t w cle> up 9 a few days4 ,he seems al]t1 responsive1 full memory4 ,i don't ?9k !re w be any difficulty ) my "p ( 8 po/-op]ative treatm5t4 ,except-- ,doctor1 h y ev] li/5$ to a gr\p ( viol9s & s5s$1 j s5s$1 n actually he>d1 t "o ( !m seem$ ab\t a qu>t] ( a note flat8 ,old5reid look$ at him /rangely z ,letzmill] left ! (fice & clos$ ! door4 99 99 99 99 99