Beyond Bedlam

sense, Mrs. Walden. I prosecute the acts of drug refusal and

communication breaks. There is quite a difference.'

'Well!' she said almost explosively. 'I always knew Bill

would get into trouble sooner or later with his wild, antisocial

ideas. I never dreamed the Medicorps would take his side.'

Major Grey held his breath, almost certain now that she

would walk into the trap. If she did, he could save Clara

Manz before the trial.

'After all, they have broken every communication code.

They have refused the drugs, a defiance aimed at our very

lives. They'

'Shut up!' It was the first time Conrad Manz had spoken

since he sat down. 'The Medicorps spent weeks gathering

evidence and preparing their recommendations. You haven't

seen any of that and you've already made up your mind. How

logical is that? It sounds as if you want your husband dead.

Maybe the poor devil had some reason, after all, for what he

did.' On the man's face there was the nearest approach to

bate that the drugs would allow.

Major Grey let his breath out softly. They were split per-

manently. She would have to trade him a mild decision on

Clara in order to save Bill. And even there, if the subsequent

evidence gave any slight hope. Major Grey believed now that

he could work on Conrad to hang the lay judgment and let

the Medicorps' scientific recommendation go through unmodi-

fied.

He let them stew in their cross-purposed silence for a while

and then nailed home a disconcerting fact.

'I think I should remind you that there are a few ad-

vantages to having your alter extinguished in the mnemonic

eraser. A man whose hyperalter has been extinguished must

report on his regular shift days to a hospital and be placed

for five days in suspended animation. This is not very healthy

for the body, but necessary. Otherwise, everyone's natural dis-

taste for his own alter and the understandable wish to spend

twice as much time living would generate schemes to have

one's alter sucked out by the eraser. That happened exten-

sively back in the 21st Century before the five-day suspension.

was required. It was also used as a 'cure' for schizophrenia,

but it was, of course, only the brutal murder of innocent

personalities.'

Major Grey smiled grimly to himself. 'Now I will have to

'ask you both to accompany me to the hospital. I will want

you, Mrs. Walden, to shift at once to Mrs. Manz. Mr.

Manz, you will have to remain under the close observation of

an officer until Bill Walden tries to shift back. We have to

catch him with an injection to keep him in shift.'

The young medicop put the syringe aside and laid his

hand on Bill Walden's forehead. He pushed the hair back