I found the old

surgeon lying, a shrunken, pitiful heap of withered skin and bones.

"We must hasten, Vad Varo," he said in a weak whisper. "My heart was like to

have stopped a few tals ago. It was then that I sent for you." He pointed to a

door leading from his chamber. "There," he said, "you will find the body I have

chosen. There, in the private laboratory I long ago built for this very purpose,

you will perform the greatest surgical operation that the universe has ever

known, transferring its most perfect brain to the most beautiful and perfect

body that ever has passed beneath these ancient eyes. You will find the head

already prepared to receive my brain; the brain of the subject having been

removed and destroyed – totally destroyed by fire. I could not possibly chance

the existence of a brain desiring and scheming to regain its wondrous body. No,

I destroyed it. Call slaves and have them bear my body to the ersite slab."

"That will not be necessary," I told him; and lifting his shrunken form in my

arms as he had been an earthly babe, I carried him into the adjoining room where

I found a perfectly lighted and appointed laboratory containing two operating

tables, one of which was occupied by the body of a red-man. Upon the surface of

the other, which was vacant, I laid Ras Thavas, then I turned to look at the new

envelope he had chosen. Never, I believe, had I beheld so perfect a form, so

handsome a face – Ras Thavas had indeed chosen well for himself. Then I turned

back to the old surgeon. Deftly, as he had taught me, I made the two incisions

and attached the tubes. My finger rested upon the button that would start the

motor pumping his blood from his veins and his marvellous

preservative-anaesthetic into them. Then I spoke.

"Ras Thavas," I said, "You have long been training me to this end. I have

labored assiduously to prepare myself that there might be no slightest cause for

apprehension as to the outcome. You have, coincidentally, taught me that one's

every act should be prompted by self-interest only. You are satisfied,

therefore, that I am not doing this for you because I love you, or because I

feel any friendship for you; but you think that you have offered me enough in

placing before me a similar opportunity for immortality.

"Regardless of your teaching I am afraid that I am still somewhat of a

sentimentalist I crave the redressing of wrongs. I crave friendship and love.

The price you offer is not enough. Are you willing to pay more that this

operation may be successfully concluded?"

He looked at me steadily for a long minute. "What do you want?" he asked. I

could see that he was trembling with anger, but he did not raise his voice.

"Do you recall 4296-E-2631-H?" I inquired.

"The subject with the body of Xaxa? Yes, I recall the case. What of it?"

"I wish her body returned to her. That is the price you must pay for this

operation."

He glared at me. "It is impossible. Xaxa has the body. Even if I cared to do so,

I could never recover it. Proceed with the operation!"

"When you have promised me," I insisted.

"I cannot promise the impossible – I cannot obtain Xaxa. Ask me something else.