ut who was nevertheless
capable of recognizing that there were men who were his superiors in one
field or another.

"If I can't dispose of the Nipe," Stanton said, "no one can."

Colonel Mannheim nodded slowly. "I believe you're right," he said at
last. His voice was firm with inner conviction. He shot a glance at
Farnsworth. "How about the second man?"

Farnsworth shook his head. "He'll never make it. In another two years we
can put him into reasonable shape again, but his nervous system just
couldn't stand the gaff."

"Can we get another man ready in time?"

"Hardly. We can't just pick a man up off the street and turn him into a
superman. Even if we could find another subject with Bart's genetic
possibilities, it would take more time than we have to spare."

"No way at all of cutting the time down?"

"This isn't magic, Colonel," Farnsworth said. "You don't change a nobody
into a physical and mental giant by saying _abracadabra_ or by teaching
him how to pronounce _shazam_ properly."

"I'm aware of that," said the colonel without rancor. "It's just that I
keep feeling that five years of work on Mr. Stanton should have taught
you enough to be able to repeat the process in less time."

Farnsworth repeated the head-shaking. "Human beings aren't machines,
Colonel. They require time to heal, time to learn, time to integrate
themselves. Remember that, in spite of our increased knowledge of
anesthesia, antibiotics, viricides, and obstetrics, it still takes nine
months to produce a baby. We're in the same position, if not more so.
After all, we can't even allow for a premature delivery."

"I know," said Mannheim.

"Besides," Dr. Farnsworth continued, "Stanton's body and nervous system
are now close to the theoretical limit for human tissue. I'm afraid you
don't realize what kind of mental stability and organization are
required to handle the equipment he has now."

"I'm sure I don't," Colonel Mannheim agreed. "I doubt if anyone besides
Stanton himself _really_ knows." He looked at Bart Stanton. "That's it
then, son. You're it. You're the only answer we've found so far. And the
only answer visible in the foreseeable future to the problem posed by
the Nipe."

The colonel's face seemed to darken. "Ten years," he said in a low
voice. "Ten years that inhuman monster has been loose on Earth. He's
become a legend. He's replaced Satan, the Bogeyman, Frankenstein's
monster, and Mumbo Jumbo, Lord of the Congo, in the pub