kneading him. It was when it reached for his face--Jadiver remembered
very clearly--he lost consciousness.

He lay on the bed in the hospital, sweat soaking into the bandages. He
could understand why he'd had a memory block--being boiled alive was
frightful enough for his mind to repress.

It was not only the accident that was disturbing, but the manner in
which it occurred. He knew robot machinery and the principles used in
the construction of it. The autobath was one of the best--foolproof, if
there was such a mechanism.

Someone had tampered with it--object: _to try to kill him_.

That was one possibility and he could face it with equanimity.

There was also another, but he didn't like to think about that.

* * * * *

He looked out over Venicity. From his apartment, the topography
resembled that of a lunar crater. In the middle was a giant concrete
plain, the rocketport. From the edges of the rocketport, the size of the
buildings increased gradually; at a third of the distance from the
center, they were at maximum height; thereafter, they decreased
gradually until one and two story structures nibbled at the surrounding
forest.

Five million people and in ten years there would undoubtedly be seven, a
sizable metropolis even for Earth. That didn't mean that the population
of Venus could compare with the home planet. Venus was settled
differently. Newcomers started with the cities; only later did they
venture out into the vast wild lands. Venus was civilized, after a
fashion, but it wasn't a copy of Earth.

The screen glimmered at his back. "Thadeus Jadiver, consulting
engineer?"

He turned. "That's right. Can I help you?"

The man on the screen closed one eye slowly and opened it again the same
way. "This is Vicon Burlingame. I've been doing some experimenting and
am now at the point where I can use some technical assistance."

"I'm not sure. I've been in the hospital until this morning. I think I
need a checkup."

"I called while you were gone," said Burlingame. "I know about the
hospital; however, I don't think my work will be strenuous. Perhaps
you'd come over and we'll discuss it."

"I'll take the chance I can help you."

"Good." Vicon Burlingame gave him the address before fading out of the
screen.

Jadiver dressed slowly. Weak, but better than he expected. Physically,
his recovery was far advanced. It wasn't he who was taking a chance, of
course; it was Burling