The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Standardized Man, by Stephen Bartholomew

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Title: The Standardized Man

Author: Stephen Bartholomew

Release Date: June 2, 2010 [EBook #32658]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STANDARDIZED MAN ***

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from IF Worlds of Science Fiction
February 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence
that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

_The dilemma of "The Man in the White Suit" was but a minor
irritation compared to Charles and his "all-weather" suit!_

THE STANDARDIZED MAN

BY STEPHEN BARTHOLOMEW

The turbocar swiped an embankment at ninety miles an hour; the result
was, of course, inevitable. It was a magnificent crash, and the driver
was thrown clear at the end of it for a distance of 50 feet.

Charles looked at the body and got his bright idea.

* * * * *

The trouble had started a couple of weeks before, when Edwin, Charles'
laboratory co-ordinator, had called him into his office just before
Charles was due to leave for home. It was a distinct breach of
etiquette to cause a worker to arrive home at any time besides his
accustomed hour, so Charles knew whatever Edwin wanted must be
important. He sat down opposite the Co-ordinator and assumed a
politely questioning look.

"Charles, you know I wouldn't call you here at this hour if it wasn't
important," Edwin said, pursing his lips.

"Of course not, sir," Charles replied, waiting.

"The fact of the matter is, we are in dire straits." Edwin stared at
the other ominously. "As you well know, the Textile Industry, like
every other business firm in the world, has functioned entirely
without economic troubles of any sort for the past fifty years."

"Well, of course, sir...."

"And you are also well aware of what would be the results of any
financial deviation in any of these firms, particularly in a major
industry such as our