hese were just scratches on the thick tube. They couldn't
matter. But blind, unreasoning fear sent Jason curling away as far as he
could. Shrinking inside himself, seeking escape.

Only when the flying creature began dissolving did he realize the nature
of the room outside. Sprays of steaming liquid came from all sides,
raining down until the cylinders were covered. After one last clash of
its jaws, the Pyrran animal was washed off and carried away. The liquid
drained away through the floor and a second and third shower followed.

While the solutions were being pumped away, Jason fought to bring his
emotions into line. He was surprised at himself. No matter how frightful
the creature had been, he couldn't understand the fear it could generate
through the wall of the sealed tube. His reaction was all out of
proportion to the cause. Even with the creature destroyed and washed out
of sight it took all of his will power to steady his nerves and bring
his breathing back to normal.

* * * * *

Meta walked by outside and he realized the sterilization process was
finished. He opened his own tube and climbed wearily out. Meta and the
others had gone by this time and only a hawk-faced stranger remained,
waiting for him.

"I'm Brucco, in charge of the adaptation clinic. Kerk told me who you
were. I'm sorry you're here. Now come along, I want some blood samples."

"Now I feel right at home," Jason said. "The old Pyrran hospitality."
Brucco only grunted and stamped out. Jason followed him down a bare
corridor into a sterile lab.

The double gravity was tiring, a constant drag on sore muscles. While
Brucco ran tests on the blood sample, Jason rested. He had almost dozed
off into a painful sleep when Brucco returned with a tray of bottles and
hypodermic needles.

"Amazing," he announced. "Not an antibody in your serum that would be of
any use on this planet. I have a batch of antigens here that will make
you sick as a beast for at least a day. Take off your shirt."

"Have you done this often?" Jason asked. "I mean juice up an outlander
so he can enjoy the pleasures of your world?"

Brucco jammed in a needle that felt like it grated on the bone. "Not
often at all. Last time was years ago. A half-dozen researchers from
some institute, willing to pay well for the chance to study the local
life forms. We didn't say no. Always need more galaxy currency."

Jason was already beginning to feel light-