Grey wished Helen Walden could be forced to witness the
erasure. People did not realize what it was like.
What was it Bill had said? 'You should see how foolish
these communication codes look when you are undrugged.
This stupid hide-and-seek of shifting. . . .'
Well, wasn't that a charge to be
were taking it seriously enough to kill the man for it? As soon
as this case was completed, he would have .to return to his
city and blot himself out so that his own hyperalter, Ralph
Singer, a painter of bad pictures and a useless fool, could
waste five more days. To that man he lost half his possible
living days. What earthly good was Singer?
Major Grey roused himself and motioned the orderly to in-
ject Conrad Manz, so that Bill Walden would be forced back
into shift.
'As soon as I have advised the patient' of our decision,
you will all be dismissed. Naturally, I anticipated this decision
and have arranged for immediate erasure. After the erasure,
Mr. Manz, you will be instructed to appear regularly for
suspended animation.'
For some reason, the first thing Bill Walden did when he
became conscious of his surroundings was to look out the
great window for the flock of birds. But they were gone.
Bill looked at Major Grey and said, 'What are you going
to do?'
The officer ran his hand back through his whitening hair,
but he looked at Bill without wavering. 'You will be erased.'
Bill began to shake his head. 'There is something wrong,'
he said.
'Bill . . .' the major began.
'There is something wrong,' Bill repeated hopelessly.
'Why must we be split so there is always something missing
na-each of us? Why must we be stupefied with drugs that
keep us from knowing what we should feel? I was trying to
live a better life. I did not want to hurt anyone.'
'But you
would do so again if allowed to function in your own way in
this society. Yet it would be insufferable to you to be hospi-
talized. You would be shut off forever from searching for
another Clara Manz. Andthere is no one else for you, is
there?'
Bill looked up, his eyes cringing 'as though they stared at
death. 'No one else?' he asked vacantly. 'No one?'
The two orderlies lifted him up by his arms, almost carry-
ing him into the operating room. His feet dragged helplessly.
He made no resistance as they lifted him on to the operating
table and strapped him down.
Beside him was the great panel of the mnemonic eraser
with its thousand unblinking eyes. The helmet-like prober
