Isaac Asimov Read Online Free PDF Page B

that he was having trouble with his government. He had shown every sign of being loyal for a quarter of a century, and he’d been well-treated. Now he suddenly defects …”
    “Because he wants to break the stalemate on Our side.”
    “Does he? Or could it be that he revealed enough of his work, before realizing its full significance, to give the Other Side the key to the advance. He may then have come to realize that, without quite meaning to, he had placed world dominion securely into the hands of his own side, and perhaps he wasn’t sufficiently confident in the virtues of his own side to be satisfied with that. —So now he comes to us, not so much to give us the victory, as to give no one the victory. He comes to us in order to maintain the stalemate.”
    “Is there any evidence for that, sir?”
    “Not one bit,” said Carter. “But you see it as a possibility, I presume, and you realize that there is not one bit of evidence against it, either.”
    “Go on.”
    “If the matter of life or death for Benes meant a choice between total victory for us or continued stalemate—well, we could manage. To lose our chance of total victory would be a damned shame, but we might get another chance tomorrow. However, what might be facing us is a choice between stalemate and total defeat, and there one of the alternatives is completely unbearable. Do you agree?”
    “Of course.”
    “You see, then, that if there is even a small possibility that Benes’ death will involve us in total defeat, then that death must be prevented at any price, at any cost, at any risk.”
    “I take it you mean that statement for my benefit, general, because you’re going to ask me to do something. As it happens, I’ve risked my life to prevent eventualities considerably short of total defeat. I’ve never really enjoyed it, if you want a confession—but I’ve done it. However, whatcan I do in the operating room? When I needed a band-aid over my short-ribs the other day, Benes had to put it on for me. And compared to other aspects of medical technique, I’m very good at band-aids.”
    Carter didn’t react to that, either. “Gonder recommended you for this. On general principles, in the first place. He considers you a remarkably capable man. So do I.”
    “General, I don’t need the flattery. I find it irritating.”
    “Darn it, man. I’m not flattering you. I’m explaining something. Gonder considers you capable in general, but more than that, he considers your mission to remain incomplete. You were to get Benes to us safely, and that has not been done.”
    “He was safe when I was relieved by Gonder himself.”
    “Nevertheless, he is not safe now.”
    “Are you appealing to my professional pride, general?”
    “If you like.”
    “All right. I’ll hold the scalpels. I’ll wipe the perspiration from the surgeon’s forehead; I’ll even wink at the nurses. I think that’s the complete list of my competencies in an operating room.”
    “You won’t be alone. You’ll be part of a team.”
    “I somehow expect that,” said Grant. “Someone else will have to aim the scalpels and push them. I just hold them in a tray.”
    Carter manipulated a few switches with a sure touch. On one TV screen, a pair of dark-glassed figures came into instant view. They were bent intently over a laser beam, its red light narrowing to threadlike thinness. The light flashed out and they removed their glasses.
    Carter said, “That’s Peter Duval. Have you ever heard of him?”
    “Sorry, but no.”
    “He’s the top brain surgeon in the country.”
    “Who’s the girl?”
    “She assists him.”
    “Hah!”
    “Don’t be single-tracked. She’s an extremely competent technician.”
    Grant wilted a bit. “I’m sure of it, sir.”
    “You say you saw Owens at the airport?”
    “Very briefly, sir.”
    “He’ll be with you, too. Also our chief of the Medical Section. He’ll brief you.”
    Another quick manipulation and this time the TV screen