e little people, resort
to plastic surgery to compensate for their deficiency. For a while the
trend was to have everyone conform to a certain standard of beauty; if
we couldn't be strong, we could at least be handsome. Lately a new
theory of individualism has sprung up, and now we strive for original
forms in our bodies. This is all because size and strength has been bred
out of us and given to you."

"I know all this," Rolf said. "Why can't you--"

"Why can't I peel away your natural face and make you look like an
Earther? There's no reason why; it would be a simple operation. But who
would you fool? Why can't you be grateful for what you are? You can go
to Mars, while we can merely look at it. If I gave you a new face, it
would cut you off from both sides. The Earthers would still know you
were a Spacer, and I'm sure the other Spacers would immediately cease to
associate with you."

* * * * *

"Who are you to say? You're not supposed to pass judgment on whether an
operation should be performed, or you wouldn't pull out people's eyes
and stick diamonds in!"

"It's not that, Mr. Dekker." The surgeon folded and unfolded his hands
in impatience. "You must realize that you are what you are. Your
appearance is a social norm, and for acceptance in your social
environment you must continue to appear, well, perhaps, shall I say
apelike?"

It was as bad a word as the surgeon could have chosen.

"Ape! Ape, am I! I'll show you who's an ape!" Rolf yelled, all the
accumulated frustration of the last two days suddenly bursting loose. He
leaped up and overturned the desk. Dr. Goldring hastily jumped backwards
as the heavy desk crashed to the floor. A startled nurse dashed into the
office, saw the situation, and immediately ran out.

"Give me your instruments! I'll operate on myself!" He knocked Goldring
against the wall, pulled down a costly solidograph from the wall and
kicked it at him, and crashed through into the operating room, where he
began overturning tables and heaving chairs through glass shelves.

"I'll show you," he said. He cracked an instrument case and took out a
delicate knife with a near-microscopic edge. He bent it in half and
threw the crumpled wreckage away. Wildly he destroyed everything he
could, raging from one end of the room to the other, ripping down
furnishings, smashing, destroying, while Dr. Goldring stood at the door
and yelled for help.

It was not long in co