fierce, and you don't want to be looking into them. David moved back
and Ruby adjusted the machine. A roll of graph paper began running
slowly under a moving stylus which settled almost immediately into a
steady rhythmic pattern. On a separate glass screen a moving green dot
of light began to repeat the same rhythm, leaving a fading trail across
the screen like the tail of a comet. It reminded David of the
interceptor radar screen on the instrument panel of a Mirage jet. Ruby
switched out the top lights, plunging the room into utter darkness,
except for the pulsing green dot on the screen.
Are we ready now, Debra? Look straight ahead, please. Eyes open.
Soundlessly a brilliant burst of blue light filled the room, and
distinctly David saw the green dot on the screen jump out of its
established pattern, and for a beat or two it went haywire, then settled
again into the old rhythm. Debra had seen the light flash, even though
she was unaware of it; the pulse of light had registered on her brain
and the machine had recorded her instinctive reaction.
The play with light went on for another twenty minutes while Ruby
adjusted the intensity of the light source and varied the transmissions.
At last he was satisfied, and turned the top lights up.
Well? Debra demanded brightly. Do I pass? 'There's nothing more I
want from you, Ruby told her. You did just great, and everything is the
way we want it. 'Can I go now? David can take you to lunch, but this
afternoon I want you at the radiologist's. My receptionist arranged it
for 2:30, I believe, but you had best check with her. Neatly Ruby
countered any attempt of David's to get him alone.
I shall let you know as soon as I have the X-ray results. Here, I'll
write down the radiologist's address. Ruby scribbled on his
prescription pad and handed it to David. See me alone tomorrow io a. m.
David nodded and took Debra's arm.
He stared at Ruby a moment trying to draw some reaction from him, but he
merely shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes in a music-hall
comedian's gesture of uncertainty.
The Brig joined them for lunch in their suite at the Mount Nelson, for
David still could not endure the discomfort of the public rooms. The
Brig drew upon some hidden spring of charm, as though sensing that his
help was needed, and he had both of them laughing naturally with stories
of Debra's childhood and the family's early days after leaving America.
David was grateful to him, for the time passed so quickly that he had to
hurry Debra to her appointment.
I am going to use two different techniques on you, my dear- David
wondered what it was about her that made all males over forty refer to
Debra as though she were twelve years old. First of all we will do five
of what we call police mug shots, front, back, sides and top - The
radiologist was a red-faced, grey-haired man with big hands and heavy
shoulders like a professional wrestler. We aren't even going to make
you take your clothes off - he chuckled, but David thought he detected a
faint note of regret. Then after that, we are going to be terribly
clever and take a continuous moving shot of the inside of your head.
It's called tomography.
We are going to clamp your head to keep it still and the camera is going
