Page 43 - Astounding Pulp V2

42 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE-FICTION

said. " You'll come through all right." And for once R ives was speechless.
"Why not tell the truth ?" asked Norm Norm grinned. It seemed almost as
gently. "You tried to remove the burr, if they were all expecting him to take
and found that most of it had . already charge of things.
been absorbed. Moreover, the small "I think," he observed with quiet
vestige still remaining was s0 thoroughly assurance, "that Dr. Frontain has fig-
incorporated ,vith the spinal cord that ured out a possible explanation as to
to attempt its removal would cause .my why that burr hasn't killed me. W on't
death.'r r you tell us about it, doc?"
Frontain's jaw dropped. "How did "This is the most astou11ding thing
you lmow that?" he gulped. that ever happened to mankind!" gasped
"Because," said Norm quietly, "I can Dr. Frontain. "Yes, it is true ! I do !
read your thoughts." have a theory. These burrs, as we
Blank amazement fell across that circle know, belong to a symbiotic life-form.
-of faces. It is quite apparent that when they at-
They watched Norm rise from the tack man, the bun's are not in them- l
bunk. selves deadly. The man attacked im-
Then Captain Egard stepped forward. mediately acquires a new sense. And
Worry had deepened the lines on his if he is prevented from sacrificing him-
face. "Lad," he said gruffly, "I'll never self to the parent organism during the
forgive mys~lf for ordering one of my subsequent brief delirium, he may even
men out in a bad oxygen suit." be permanently benefited. This life-
, " Forget it, Cap," said Norm. "I'm fom1, since it works on a symbiosis, does
0. K." ' not kill him, but merely attempts to con-
And this seemed to be the truth. Eric tinue its symbiosis. It is mutually profit-
N orm had never felt better i~ bis life. able both to the life-form and the 111an,
Formerly he had been of a r_ather quiet, but more profitable to the man because
retiring disposition; but now, with the he has at last acquired a long-desired
possession of this new sense, a certain faculty.
ease and sureness of himself had de- "Moreover, this ne ... v • stmse will u
scended on him-for his mind seemed d_oubted y . d n-
l b e ~ransm1tte from genera-
to reach out and encompass that of .every t10n to generab_on'. as ~re certain earth!
man present. forms of symb1os1s with which we ar~
Nevertheless, he was mystified. What already familiar.
had become of that obsession, that "This; gentleman, is my theory !"
delfrium he had lab~red under? Of
course, McDill's interference, which As Dr. Frontain ceased speaking
had prevented him from immediately Captain Egard stepped to Norman's side'.
d
1
m,en,
"11.,f " I 1e announce grave y, Yet
un'iting with the Dionian monster, might
in a deep tone of triumph, "we shall
be the solution. For the telepathic con-
leave Dione immediately. We have
trol exerted by the monster over its
more than accomplished our mission
burrs might conceivably be expected to
grow weaker with the passage of time Not only shall ~ e return to E arth with
a plethora of thought-nuggets, but with
when anything prevented their natural
something much more auspicious.
functioning.
But what about the burr itself ? Why "Behold the superman!" he rum bled
had it not killed him? Would it eventu- . placing his hand on Norm's shoulcle/
ally kill him? "The possible progenitor of a new rac~
Rives and Talbot were staring at him of humans-th~ first man with a c 001 •
with odd, slightly abashed expressions. plete telepathic sense !"