Doppelgangers Read Online Free Page B

often have you been told in your first training—is treason in an agent. He forgets because he wants to fail. We’ve told you that you have been chosen because you alone fit physically; you alone, of all the possible cadets, could act as a model. We knew your damned vanity, but that can’t be helped and we have put up with your attempt at a breakaway because your vanity can be cured, while your physique, at least in the selection at our disposal, is unique.”
    There was a silence after this. It was the longest speech he ever remembered having been given during an “instruction period.” He thought it over. It was clear that they were being lenient, uniquely lenient with him, and it was just as clear that, having made the circumstances as clear to him as they could, it was now up to him to die at once or to go on. After all, he could always die when it became too tough. And also it might lead to some new kind of liberty. A way out could possibly lie ahead. No way out now lay by going back. He went over the steps again. Yes, it was clear enough that was the only thing to do if he ever wanted to sleep again in a bed or have another meal.
    â€œVery well,” he said, and already into his voice, he recognized, there had crept a slight tone of equality. The old blind obedience, the service of the great hidden mind that directed them, the willing pawns, was over. He was now a man bargaining as an equal. He had something they would give anything to get and they could take his life if he wouldn’t yield. But dead he was almost as great a loss to them as to himself.
    And he thought he could just detect something almost like relief in the level super-whisper which answered, “That is right.” Then after a moment it went on, “Now that you are once more in with us and have accepted your promotion, you must be told of the various steps. We shall want you to be in the very best of health for this training, naturally. You are tired, and the success of our work depends greatly on your health being superfine. You are not only going to act; you are actually going, first, to grow, to grow quite, a lot. You understand, don’t you?”
    It was a grim question, but he managed to get out a gruff, “Of course.”
    â€œSo, of course,” went on the voice, “you will need to be free of all toxins. You will be given deep colonic lavage in an hour’s time. It is very restful, besides being hygienic.” Again he grunted a consent and passed the hour checking back over the conversation. He always reached the same conclusion. There had been nothing else to do. So, when the light glowed again, he was passive.
    â€œIt will be slow acting, so rest,” said the voice of the figure which had been kneeling behind him.
    It certainly was soothing. He stretched and his mind went back to the bright scene in the park—the last lit thing that he remembered. Again he was walking there. He would live over those moments again: they were lovely and light. He would lie on his back and recall everything in detail. He thought with vivid imagery for a while.
    But why was the sheet over his face? It was drawn quite tightly, almost uncomfortably, over his cheeks. He put up his hand to push it aside. But his hand was somehow caught. He tried the other; caught, too. He twisted a bit. A voice, the voice, was speaking now, speaking to him.
    â€œBetter lie still. Everything’s gone very well; don’t trouble to speak. You’ll find it easier in quite a little while. This is all that has happened. You know the newer Avertin. You’ve seen it used, of course. A good anesthetic, as you know; and interesting: a great improvement on the old Avertin. It gives a really long rest—but the going out, as you recall, is rather long, even longer than’ with the old, and if interrupted, if the patient gets roused, then he’s apt to spoil everything. Why, it’s hard to know. But, you