,syndrome ,johnny ,,by ,,charles ,,dye ,illustrated by ,,emsh ,transcriber's ,note3 ,this etext was produced from ,galaxy ,science ,fiction ,july #aiea4 ,extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the ,u4,s4 copyright on this publication was renewed4 ,the plagues that struck mankind could be attributed to one man4 ,but was he fiend 444 or savior8 ,the blood was added to a pool of other blood1 mixed1 centrifuged1 separated to plasma and corpuscles1 irradiated slightly1 pasteurized slightly1 frozen1 evaporated1 and finally banked4 ,some of the plasma was used immediately for a woman who had bled too much in childbirth4 ,she died4 ,others received plasma and did not die4 ,but their symptoms changed1 including a syndrome of multiple endocrine unbalance1 eccentricities of appetite and digestion1 and a general pattern of emotional disturbance4 ,an alert hospital administrator investigated the mortality rise and narrowed it to a question of who had donated blood the week before4 ,after city residents were eliminated1 there remained only the signed receipts and thumbprints of nine men4 ,nine healthy unregistered travelers poor enough to sell their blood for money1 and among them a man who carried death in his veins4 ,the nine thumbprints were broadcast to all police files and a search began4 ,the effort was futile1 for there were many victims who had sickened and grown partially well again without recognizing the strangeness of their illness4 ,three years later they reached the carrier stage and the epidemic spread to four cities4 ,three more years1 and there was an epidemic which spread around the world1 meeting another wave coming from the opposite direction4 ,it killed two out of four1 fifty out of a hundred1 twenty-seven million out of fifty million4 ,there was hysteria where it appeared4 ,and where it had not appeared there were quarantines to fence it out4 ,but it could not be fenced out4 ,for two years it covered the world4 ,and then it vanished again1 leaving the survivors with a tendency toward glandular troubles4 ,time passed4 ,the world grew richer1 more orderly1 more peaceful4 ,a man paused in the midst of his work at the ,u4,n4 ,food and ,agriculture ,commission4 ,he looked up at the red and green production map of ,india4 ,just too many people per acre1 he said4 ,all our work at improving production 444 just one jump ahead of their rising population1 one jump ahead of famine4 ,sometimes ,i wish to ,god there would be another plague to give us a breathing spell and a fair chance to get things organized4 ,he went back to work and added another figure4 ,two months later1 he was one of the first victims of the second plague4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the dining hall of a university1 a biochemical student glanced up from his paper to his breakfast companion4 ,you remember ,johnny1 the mythical carrier that they told about during the first and second epidemics of ,syndrome ,plague8 ,sure4 ,syndrome ,johnny4 ,they use that myth in psychology class as a typical example of mass hysteria4 ,when a city was nervous and expecting the plague to reach them1 some superstitious fool would imagine he saw ,syndrome ,johnny and the population would panic4 ,symbol for ,death or some such thing4 ,people imagined they saw him in every corner of the world4 ,simultaneously1 of course4 ,it was a bright morning and they were at a window which looked out across green rolling fields to a towering glass-brick building in the distance4 ,the student who had gone back to his paper suddenly looked up again4 ,some ,peruvians here claim they saw ,syndrome ,johnny-- ,idiotic superstition6 ,you'd think it would have died down when the plague died4 ,the other grinned4 ,the plague didn't die4 ,he folded his newspaper slowly1 obviously advancing an opening for a debate4 ,his companion went on eating4 ,another of your wild theories1 huh8 ,then through a mouthful of food3 ,all right1 if the plague didn't die1 where did it go8 ,nowhere4 ,we have it now4 ,we all have it6 ,he shrugged4 ,a virus catalyst of high affinity for the cells and a high similarity to a normal cell protein--how can it be detected8 ,then why don't people die8 ,why aren't we sick8 ,because we have sickened and recovered4 ,we caught it on conception and recovered before birth4 ,proof8 ,why do you think that the countries which were known as the ,hungry ,lands are now well-fed1 leisured1 educated1 advanced8 ,because the birth rate has fallen6 ,why has the birth rate fallen8 ,he paused1 then very carefully said1 ,because two out of three of all people who would have lived have died before birth1 slain by ,syndrome ,plague4 ,we are all carriers now1 hosts to a new guest4 ,and--his voice dropped to a mock sinister whisper--with such a stranger within our cells1 at the heart of the intricate machinery of our lives1 who knows what subtle changes have crept upon us unnoticed6 ,his companion laughed4 ,eat your breakfast4 ,you belong on a horror program6 99 99 99 99 99 ,a police psychologist for the ,federated ,states of ,the ,americas was running through reports from the ,bureau of ,social ,statistics4 ,suddenly he grunted1 then a moment later said1 ,uh-huh6 ,uh-huh what8 asked his superior1 who was reading a newspaper with his feet up on the desk4 ,remember the myth1 of ,syndrome ,johnny8 ,ghost of ,syndrome ,plague4 ,si1 what of it8 ,titaquahapahel1 ,peru1 population nine hundred1 sent in a claim that he turned up there and they almost caught him4 ,crime ,statistics rerouted the report to ,mass ,phenomena1 of course4 ,mass ,phenomena blew a tube and sent their folder on ,syndrome ,johnny over here4 ,every report they ever had on him for ninety years back6 ,a memo came with it4 ,he handed the memo over4 ,the man behind the desk looked at it4 ,it was a small graph and some mathematical symbols4 ,what is it8 ,it means1 said the psychologist1 smiling dryly1 that every crazy report about our ghost has points of similarity to every other crazy report4 ,the whole business of ,syndrome ,johnny has been in their 'funny coincidence' file for twenty years4 ,this time the suspect hits the averaged description of ,johnny too closely3 ,a solid-looking man1 unusual number of visible minor scars1 and a disturbing habit of bending his fingers at the first-joint knuckles when he is thinking4 ,the coincidence has gotten too damn funny4 ,there's a chance we've been passing up a crime4 ,an extensive crime1 said the man at the desk softly4 ,he reached for the folder4 ,yes1 a considerable quantity of murder4 ,he leafed through the folder and then thought a while1 looking at the most recent reports4 ,thinking was what he was paid for1 and he earned his excellent salary4 ,this thumbprint on the hotel register--the name is false1 but the thumbprint looks real4 ,could we persuade the ,bureau of ,records to give their data on that print8 ,without a warrant8 ,against constitutional immunity4 ,no1 not a chance4 ,the public has been touchy about the right to secrecy ever since that police state was attempted in ,varga4 ,how about persuading an obliging judge to give a warrant on grounds of reasonable suspicion8 ,no4 ,we'd have the humanist press down on our necks in a minute1 and any judge knows it4 ,we'd have to prove a crime was committed4 ,no crime1 no warrant4 ,it seems a pity we can't even find out who the gentleman is1 the ,crimes ,department head murmured1 looking at the thumbprint wistfully4 ,no crime1 no records4 ,no records1 no evidence4 ,no evidence1 no proof of crime4 ,therefore1 we must manufacture a small crime4 ,he was attacked and he must have defended himself4 ,someone may have been hurt in the process4 ,he pushed a button4 ,do you think if ,i send a man down there1 he could persuade one of the mob to swear out a complaint8 ,that's a rhetorical question1 said the psychologist1 trying to work out an uncertain correlation in his reports4 ,with that sort of mob hysteria1 the town would probably give you an affidavit of witchcraft4 99 99 99 99 99 ,phone for you1 ,doctor ,alcala4 ,the nurse was crisp but quiet1 smiling down at the little girl before vanishing again4 ,ricardo ,alcala pushed the plunger in gently1 then carefully withdrew the hypodermic needle from the little girl's arm4 ,there you are1 ,cosita1 he said1 smiling and rising from the chair beside the white bed4 ,will that make me better1 ,doctor8 she piped feebly4 ,he patted her hand4 ,be a good girl and you will be well tomorrow4 ,he walked out into the hospital corridor to where the desk nurse held out a phone4 ,alcala speaking4 ,the voice was unfamiliar4 ,my deepest apologies for interrupting your work1 ,doctor4 ,at this late hour ,i'm afraid ,i assumed you would be at home4 ,the name is ,camba1 ,federation ,investigator on a health case4 ,i would like to consult you4 ,alcala was tired1 but there was nothing to do at home4 ,nita was at the health resort and ,johnny had borrowed all his laboratory space for a special synthesis of some sort1 and probably would be too busy even to talk4 ,interest stirred in him4 ,this was a ,federation investigator calling2 the man's work was probably important4 ,tonight1 if that's convenient4 ,i'll be off duty in five minutes4 ,thirty minutes later they were ordering in a small cantina down the street from the hospital4 ,julio ,camba1 ,federation ,investigator1 was a slender1 dark man with sharp1 glinting eyes4 ,he spoke with a happy theatrical flourish4 ,order what you choose1 ,senor4 ,we're on my expense account4 ,the resources of the ,federated ,states of all ,the ,americas stand behind your menu4 ,alcala smiled4 ,i wouldn't want to add to the national debt4 ,not at all1 ,senor4 ,the ,federated ,states are only too happy thus to express a fraction of their gratitude by adding a touch of luxury to the otherwise barren and self-sacrificing life of a scientist4 ,you shame me1 ,alcala said dryly4 ,it was true that he needed every spare penny for the health of ,nita and the child1 and for the laboratory4 ,a penny saved from being spent on nourishment was a penny earned4 ,he picked up the menu again and ordered steak4 ,the investigator lit a cigar1 asking casually3 ,do you know ,john ,osborne ,drake8 99 99 99 99 99 ,alcala searched his memory4 ,no4 ,i'm sorry4444 ,then he felt for the first time how closely he was being watched1 and knew how carefully his reaction and the tone of his voice had been analyzed4 ,the interview was dangerous4 ,for some reason1 he was suspected of something4 ,camba finished lighting the cigar and dropped the match into an ash-tray4 ,perhaps you know ,john ,delgados8 ,he leaned back into the shadowy corner of the booth4 ,johnny6 ,out of all the people in the world1 how could the government be interested in him8 ,alcala tried to sound casual4 ,an associate of mine4 ,a friend4 ,i would like to contact the gentleman4 ,the request was completely unforceful1 undemanding4 ,i called1 but he was not at home4 ,could you tell me where he might be8 ,i'm sorry1 ,senor ,camba1 but ,i cannot say4 ,he could be on a business trip4 ,alcala was feeling increasingly nervous4 ,actually1 ,johnny was working at his laboratory4 ,what do you know of his activities8 ,camba asked4 ,a biochemist4 ,alcala tried to see past the meditative mask of the thin dark face4 ,he makes small job-lots of chemical compounds4 ,special bug spray for sale to experimental plantations1 hormone spray for fruits1 that sort of thing4 ,sometimes1 when he collects some money ahead1 he does research4 ,camba waited1 and his silence became a question4 ,alcala spoke reluctantly1 anger rising in him4 ,oh1 it's genuine research4 ,he has some patents and publications to his credit4 ,you can confirm that if you choose4 ,he was unable to keep the hostility out of his voice4 ,a waiter came and placed steaming platters of food on the table4 ,camba waited until he was gone4 ,you know him well1 ,i presume4 ,is he sane8 ,the question was another shock4 ,alcala thought carefully1 for any man might be insane in secret4 ,yes1 so far as ,i know4 ,he turned his attention to the steak1 but first took three very large capsules from a bottle in his pocket4 ,i would not expect that a doctor would need to take pills1 ,camba remarked with friendly mockery4 ,i don't need them1 ,alcala explained4 ,mixed silicones4 ,i'm guinea pigging4 ,can't such things be left to the guinea pigs8 ,camba asked1 watching with revulsion as ,alcala uncapped the second bottle and sprinkled a layer of gray powder over his steak4 ,guinea pigs have no assimilation of silicones2 only man has that4 ,yes1 of course4 ,i should have remembered from your famous papers1 ,the ,need ,of ,trace ,silicon ,in ,human ,diet and ,silicon ,deficiency ,diseases4 99 99 99 99 99 ,obviously ,camba had done considerable investigating of ,alcala before approaching him4 ,he had even given the titles of the research papers correctly4 ,alcala's wariness increased4 ,what is the purpose of the experiment this time8 asked the small dark ,federation agent genially4 ,to determine the safe limits of silicon consumption and if there are any dangers in an overdose4 ,how do you determine that8 ,by dropping dead8 ,he could be right4 ,perhaps the test should be stopped4 ,every day1 with growing uneasiness1 ,alcala took his dose of silicon compound1 and every day1 the chemical seemed to be absorbed completely--not released or excreted--in a way that was unpleasantly reminiscent of the way arsenic accumulated without evident damage1 then killed abruptly without warning4 ,already1 this evening1 he had noticed that there was something faulty about his coordination and weight and surface sense4 ,the restaurant door had swung back with a curious lightness1 and the hollow metal handle had had a curious softness under his fingers4 ,something merely going wrong with the sensitivity of his fingers--8 ,he tapped his fingertips on the heavy indestructible silicone plastic table top4 ,there was a feeling of heaviness in his hands1 and a feeling of faint rubbery give in the table4 ,tapping his fingers gently1 his heavy fingers 444 the answer was dreamily fantastic4 ,i'm turning into silicon plastic myself1 he thought4 ,but how1 why8 ,he had not bothered to be curious before1 but the question had always been--what were supposedly insoluble silicons doing assimilating into the human body at all8 ,several moments passed4 ,he smoothed back his hair with his oddly heavy hand before picking up his fork again4 ,i'm turning into plastic1 he told ,camba4 ,i beg your pardon8 ,nothing4 ,a joke4 ,camba was turning into plastic1 too4 ,everyone was4 ,but the effect was accumulating slowly1 by generations4 99 99 99 99 99 ,camba lay down his knife and started in again4 ,what connections have you had with ,john ,delgados8 ,concentrate on the immediate situation4 ,alcala and ,johnny were obviously in danger of some sort of mistaken arrest and interrogation4 ,as ,alcala focused on the question1 one errant whimsical thought suddenly flitted through the back of his mind4 ,in red advertising letters3 ,,try ,,our ,,new ,,model ,,rust-,,proof1 ,,waterproof1 ,,heat ,,scald ,,resistant1 ,,strong--,,extra-,,long-,,wearing ,,human ,,being6 ,he laughed inwardly and finally answered3 ,friendship4 ,mutual interest in high ion colloidal suspensions and complex synthesis4 ,impatience suddenly mastered him4 ,exactly what is it you wish to know1 ,senor8 ,perhaps ,i could inform you if ,i knew the reasons for your interest4 ,camba chose a piece of salad with great care4 ,we have reason to believe that he is ,syndrome ,johnny4 ,alcala waited for the words to clarify4 ,after a moment1 it ceased to be childish babble and became increasingly shocking4 ,he remembered the first time he had met ,john ,delgados1 the smile1 the strong handclasp4 ,call me ,johnny1 he had said4 ,it had seemed no more than a nickname4 ,the investigator was watching his expression with bright brown eyes4 ,johnny1 yes 444 but not ,syndrome ,johnny4 ,he tried to think of some quick refutation4 ,the whole thing is preposterous1 ,senor ,camba4 ,the myth of ,syndrome ,plague ,johnny started about a century ago4 ,doctor ,alcala--the small man in the gray suit was tensely sober--,john ,delgados is very old1 and ,john ,delgados is not his proper name4 ,i have traced his life back and back1 through older and older records in ,argentina1 ,panama1 ,south ,africa1 the ,united ,states1 ,china1 ,canada4 ,everywhere he has paid his taxes properly1 put his fingerprints on file as a good citizen should4 ,and he changed his name every twenty years1 applying to the courts for permission with good honest reasons for changing his name4 ,everywhere he has been a laboratory worker1 held patents1 sometimes made a good deal of money4 ,he is one hundred and forty years old4 ,his first income tax was paid in #aigj1 exactly one hundred and twenty years ago4 ,other men are that old1 said ,alcala4 ,other men are old1 yes4 ,those who survived the two successive plagues1 were unusually durable4 ,camba finished and pushed back his plate4 ,there is no crime in being long-lived1 surely4 ,but he has changed his name five times6 ,that proves nothing4 ,whatever his reasons for changing his name1 it doesn't prove that he is ,syndrome ,johnny any more than it proves he is the cow that jumped over the moon4 ,syndrome ,johnny is a myth1 a figment of mob delirium4 99 99 99 99 99 ,as he said it1 he knew it was not true4 ,a ,federation investigator would not be on a wild goose chase4 ,the plates were taken away and cups of steaming black coffee put between them4 ,he would have to warn ,johnny4 ,it was strange how well you could know a man as well as he knew ,johnny1 firmly enough to believe that1 despite evidence1 everything the man did was right4 ,why must it be a myth8 ,camba asked softly4 ,it's ridiculous6 ,alcala protested4 ,why would any man-- ,his voice cut off as unrelated facts fell into a pattern4 ,he sat for a moment1 thinking intensely1 seeing the century of plague as something he had never dreamed4444 ,a price4 ,not too high a price in the long run1 considering what was purchased4 ,of course1 the great change over into silicon catalysis would be a shock and require adjustment and1 of course1 the change must be made in several easy stages--and those who could not adjust would die4 ,go on1 ,doctor1 ,camba urged softly4 ',why would any man--' ,he tried to find a way of explaining which would not seem to have any relationship to ,john ,delgados4 ,it has been recently discovered--but he did not say how recently--that the disease of ,syndrome ,plague was not a disease4 ,it is an improvement4 ,he had spoken clumsily4 ,an improvement on life8 ,camba laughed and nodded1 but there were bitterness and anger burning behind the small man's smile4 ,people can be improved to death by the millions4 ,yes1 yes1 go on1 ,senor4 ,you fascinate me4 ,we are stronger1 ,alcala told him4 ,we are changed chemically4 ,the race has been improved6 ,come1 ,doctor ,alcala1 ,camba said with a sneering merriment1 the ,syndrome ,plagues have come and they have gone4 ,where is this change8 ,alcala tried to express it clearly4 ,we are stronger4 ,potentially1 we are tremendously stronger4 ,but we of this generation are still weak and ill1 as our parents were1 from the shock of the change4 ,and we need silicone feeding2 we have not adjusted yet4 ,our illness masks our strength4 ,he thought of what that strength would be6 ,camba smiled and took out a small notebook4 ,the disease is connected with silicones1 you say8 ,the original name of ,john ,delgados was ,john ,osborne ,drake4 ,his father was ,osborne ,drake1 a chemist at ,dow ,corning1 who was sentenced to the electric chair in #aifg for unauthorized bacterial experiments which resulted in an accidental epidemic and eight deaths4 ,dow ,corning was the first major manufactury of silicones in ,america1 though not connected in any way with ,osborne ,drake's criminal experiments4 ,it links together1 does it not8 ,it is not a disease1 it is strength6 ,alcala insisted doggedly4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the small investigator looked up from his notebook and his smile was an unnatural thing1 a baring of teeth4 ,half the world died of this strength1 ,senor4 ,if you will not think of the men and women1 think of the children4 ,millions of children died6 ,the waiter brought the bill1 dropping it on the table between them4 ,lives will be saved in the long run1 ,alcala said obstinately4 ,individual deaths are not important in the long run4 ,that is hardly the philosophy for a doctor1 is it8 asked ,camba with open irony1 taking the bill and rising4 ,they went out of the restaurant in silence4 ,camba's 'copter stood at the curb4 ,would you care for a lift home1 ,doctor ,alcala8 ,the offer was made with the utmost suavity4 ,alcala hesitated fractionally4 ,why1 yes1 thank you4 ,it would not do to give the investigator any reason for suspicion by refusing4 ,as the 'copter lifted into the air1 ,camba spoke with a more friendly note in his voice1 as if he humored a child4 ,come1 ,alcala1 you're a doctor dedicated to saving lives4 ,how can you find sympathy for a murderer8 ,alcala sat in the dark1 looking through the windshield down at the bright street falling away below4 ,i'm not a practicing medico2 only one night a week do ,i come to the hospital4 ,i'm a research man4 ,i don't try to save individual lives4 ,i'm dedicated to improving the average life1 the average health4 ,can you understand that8 ,individuals may be sick and individuals may die1 but the average lives on4 ,and if the average is better1 then ,i'm satisfied4 ,the 'copter flew on4 ,there was no answer4 ,i'm not good with words1 said ,alcala4 ,then1 taking out his pen-knife and unfolding it1 he said1 ,watch6 ,he put his index finger on the altimeter dial1 where there was light1 and pressed the blade against the flesh between his finger and his thumb4 ,he increased the pressure until the flesh stood out white on either side of the blade1 bending1 but not cut4 ,three generations back1 this pressure would have gone right through the hand4 ,he took away the blade and there was only a very tiny cut4 ,putting the knife away1 he brought out his lighter4 ,the blue flame was steady and hot4 ,alcala held it close to the dashboard and put his finger directly over it1 counting patiently1 ,one1 two1 three1 four1 five-- ,he pulled the lighter back1 snapping it shut4 ,three generations ago1 a man couldn't have held a finger over that flame for more than a tenth part of that count4 ,doesn't all this prove something to you8 ,the 'copter was hovering above ,alcala's house4 ,camba lowered it to the ground and opened the door before answering4 ,it proves only that a good and worthy man will cut and burn his hand for an unworthy friendship4 ,good night4 ,disconcerted1 ,alcala watched the 'copter lift away into the night1 then1 turning1 saw that the lights were still on in the laboratory4 ,camba might have deduced something from that1 if he knew that ,nita and the girl were not supposed to be home4 ,alcala hurried in4 ,johnny hadn't left yet4 ,he was sitting at ,alcala's desk with his feet on the wastebasket1 the way ,alcala often liked to sit1 reading a technical journal4 ,he looked up1 smiling4 ,for a moment ,alcala saw him with the new clarity of a stranger4 ,the lean1 weathered face2 brown eyes with smile deltas at the corners2 wide shoulders2 steady1 big hands holding the magazine--solid1 able1 and ruthless enough to see what had to be done1 and do it4 ,i was waiting for you1 ,ric4 ,the ,feds are after you4 ,ricardo ,alcala had been running4 ,he found he was panting and his heart was pounding4 ,delgados' smile did not change4 ,it's all right1 ,ric4 ,everything's done4 ,i can leave any time now4 ,he indicated a square metal box standing in a corner4 ,there's the stuff4 ,what stuff8 ,the product ,johnny had been working on8 ,you haven't time for that now1 ,johnny4 ,you can't sell it4 ,they'd watch for anyone of your description selling chemicals4 ,let me loan you some money4 ,thanks4 ,johnny was smiling oddly4 ,everything's set4 ,i won't need it4 ,how close are they to finding me8 ,they don't know where you're staying4 ,alcala leaned on the desk edge and put out his hand4 ,they tell me you're ,syndrome ,johnny4 ,i thought you'd figured that one out4 ,johnny shook his hand formally4 ,the name is ,john ,osborne ,drake4 ,you aren't horrified8 ,no4 ,alcala knew that he was shaking hands with a man who would be thanked down all the successive generations of mankind4 ,he noticed again the odd white web-work of scars on the back of ,johnny's hand4 ,he indicated them as casually as he could4 ,where did you pick those up8 99 99 99 99 99 ,john ,drake glanced at his hand4 ,i don't know1 ,ric4 ,truthfully4 ,i've had my brains beaten in too often to remember much any more4 ,unimportant4 ,there are instructions outlining plans and methods filed in safety deposit boxes in almost every big city in the world4 ,always the same typing1 always the same instructions4 ,i can't remember who typed them1 myself or my father1 but ,i must have been expected to forget or they wouldn't be there4 ,up to eleven1 my memory is all right1 but after ,dad started to remake me1 everything gets fuzzy4 ,after he did what8 ,johnny smiled tiredly and rested his head on one hand4 ,he had to remake me chemically1 you know4 ,how could ,i spread change without being changed myself8 ,i couldn't have two generations to adapt to it naturally like you1 ,ric4 ,it had to be done artificially4 ,it took years4 ,you understand8 ,i'm a community1 a construction4 ,the cells that carry on the silicon metabolism in me are not human4 ,dad adapted them for the purpose4 ,i helped1 but ,i can't remember any longer how it was done4 ,i think when ,i've been badly damaged1 organization scatters to the separate cells in my body4 ,they can survive better that way1 and they have powers of regrouping and healing4 ,but memory can't be pasted together again or regrown4 ,john ,drake rose and looked around the laboratory with something like triumph4 ,they're too late4 ,i made it1 ,ric4 ,there's the catalyst cooling over there4 ,this is the last step4 ,i don't think ,i'll survive this plague1 but ,i'll last long enough to set it going for the finish4 ,the police won't stop me until it's too late4 99 99 99 99 99 ,another plague6 ,the last one had been before ,alcala was born4 ,he had not thought that ,johnny would start another4 ,it was a shock4 ,alcala walked over to the cage where he kept his white mice and looked in1 trying to sort out his feelings4 ,the white mice looked back with beady bright eyes1 caged1 not knowing they were waiting to be experimented upon4 ,a timer clicked and ,john ,delgados-,drake became all rapid efficient activity1 moving from valve to valve4 ,it lasted a half minute or less1 then ,drake had finished stripping off the lab whites to his street clothes4 ,he picked up the square metal box containing the stuff he had made1 tucked it under his arm and held out a solid hand again to ,alcala4 ,good-by1 ,ric4 ,wish me luck4 ,close up the lab for me1 will you8 ,alcala took the hand numbly and mumbled something1 turned back to the cages and stared blindly at the mice4 ,drake's brisk footsteps clattered down the stairs4 99 99 99 99 99 ,another step forward for the human race4 ,god knew what wonders for the race were in that box4 ,perhaps something for nerve construction1 something for the mind--the last and most important step4 ,he should have asked4 ,there came at last a pressure that was a thought emerging from the depth of intuition4 ,doctor ,ricardo ,alcala will die in the next plague1 he and his ill wife ,nita and his ill little girl4444 ,and the name of ,alcala will die forever as a weak strain blotted from the bloodstream of the race4444 ,he'd find out what was in the box by dying of it6 ,he tried to reason it out1 but only could remember that ,nita1 already sickly1 would have no chance4 ,and ,alcala's family genes1 in attempting to adapt to the previous steps1 had become almost sterile4 ,it had been difficult having children4 ,the next step would mean complete sterility4 ,the name of ,alcala would die4 ,the future might be wonderful1 but it would not be his future6 ,johnny6 he called suddenly1 something like an icy lump hardening in his chest4 ,how long had it been since ,johnny had left8 ,running1 ,alcala went down the long half-lit stairs1 out the back door and along the dark path toward the place where ,johnny's 'copter had been parked4 ,a light shone through the leaves4 ,it was still there4 ,johnny6 ,john ,osborne ,drake was putting his suitcase into the rear of the 'copter4 ,what is it1 ,ric8 he asked in a friendly voice without turning4 ,it would be impossible to ask him to change his mind4 ,alcala found a rock1 raised it behind ,syndrome ,johnny's back4 ,i know ,i'm being anti-social1 he said regretfully1 and then threw the rock away4 ,his fist was enough like stone to crush a skull4