What kind doesn't matter. Put it in the
autobath and take a hot bath, plenty of lather. Soak in it for at least
fifteen minutes."

* * * * *

Her prescription was primitive in the extreme. Did she really expect it
to be effective, or did she have something else in mind?

"Do you think I'm going to trust myself to that machine?" he said. "I've
got myself a little enamel basin. Had to steal it out of a museum."

Nothing was outwardly changed, but she seemed slightly sympathetic. "I
can understand how you feel, but you'll have to get over it or go
pioneering in the wild lands. As long as you're in a city, you can't
rent, buy or build accommodations that have no autobath. Besides, I've
been assured that the odds are against that happening again."

That was an understatement, if his information was correct. Actually, he
had wanted her reaction, but it didn't tell him a thing.

"Feel better already," he said.

She nodded. "Suggestion at work. Take your bath now and call me tomorrow
if it doesn't work. Sooner, if you need to." She cut their connection
before he could answer.

In addition to physical relief, he had hoped that she would let slip
some information. She hadn't done so. Of course, she might not know
anything more than the purely medical aspects of the police plan. If it
was the police.

He left the screen and checked the autobath for supplies. Satisfactory
for the present. He removed his clothing, stepped inside, and followed
her instructions. A tub rose out of the floor, filled with water, and
the mechanism immersed him in it. Thick soapy suds billowed up and warm
water laved his skin. The rubbery hands of the autobath were soft and
massaged him gently and expertly.

He tried to relax. So far, he had suffered no irreparable harm. He tried
to avoid the memory of his accident, but that was impossible. The one
comfort was that his death was not the objective. He corrected
himself--not the _immediate_ objective.

Anyway, he'd been rescued and placed under good medical care. How the
rescue had been effected was unknown, unless it had been included in the
plan from the beginning. If so, he could assume that the autobath had
been tampered with and fixed with a signal that would indicate when he
was unconscious.

"Fifteen minutes and ten seconds," said the autobath. "Do you wish to
remain longer?"

"That'll do," he said. "The rinse, please."

He lay back and curled up his l