dark hair which Jay Allison had
slicked down now heavily rumpled. I still didn't think I looked anything
like the doctor. Our voices were nothing alike either; his had been
pitched rather high, falsetto. My own, as nearly as I could judge, was a
full octave deeper, and more resonant. Yet they issued from the same
vocal chords, unless Forth was having a reasonless, macabre joke.

"Did I honest-to-God study medicine? It's the last thing I'd think
about. It's an honest trade, I guess, but I've never been that
intellectual."

"You--or rather, Jay Allison is a specialist in Darkovan parasitology,
as well as a very competent surgeon." Forth was sitting with his chin in
his hands, watching me intently. He scowled and said, "If anything, the
physical change is more startling than the other. I wouldn't have
recognized you."

"That tallies with me. I don't recognize myself." I added, "--and the
queer thing is, I didn't even _like_ Jay Allison, to put it mildly. If
he--I can't say _he_, can I?"

"I don't know why not. You're no more Jay Allison than I am. For one
thing, you're younger. Ten years younger. I doubt if any of his
friends--if he had any--would recognize you. You--it's ridiculous to go
on calling you Jay_{2}. What should I call you?"

"Why should I care? Call me Jason."

"Suits you," Forth said enigmatically. "Look, then, Jason. I'd like to
give you a few days to readjust to your new personality, but we are
really pressed for time. Can you fly to Carthon tonight? I've
hand-picked a good crew for you, and sent them on ahead. You'll meet
them there. You'll find them competent."

* * * * *

I stared at him. Suddenly the room oppressed me and I found it hard to
breathe. I said in wonder, "You were pretty sure of yourself, weren't
you?"

Forth just looked at me, for what seemed a long time. Then he said, in a
very quiet voice, "No. I wasn't sure at all. But if you didn't turn up,
and I couldn't talk Jay into it, I'd have had to try it myself."

* * * * *

Jason Allison, Junior, was listed on the directory of the Terran HQ as
"Suite 1214, Medical Residence Corridor." I found the rooms without any
trouble, though an elderly doctor stared at me rather curiously as I
barged along the quiet hallway. The suite--bedroom, minuscule
sitting-room, compact bath--depressed me; clean, closed-in and neutral
as the man who owned them, I rummaged them restlessly, tr