Transcriber's Note: This e-text was produced from Galaxy ScienceFiction, October, 1955. Extensive research did not reveal anyevidence that the U. S. Copyright on this publication was renewed. 

Bolden's Pets

By F. L. WALLACE

Illustrated by DIEHL

_The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward thevictim looked for!_

His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts. If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken. But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had. Manhadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degreeof thoroughness. There were always different hazards to overcome as newplanets were settled. 

But whatever infection he had, Bolden was not greatly concerned as hecounted out the gifts. He had felt the onset of illness perhaps an hourbefore. When he got back to the settlement he'd be taken care of. Thatwas half a day's flight from here. The base was equipped with the bestmedical facilities that had been devised. 

He stacked up the gifts to make an impressive show: five pairs of radargoggles, seven high-velocity carbines, seven boxes of ammunition. Thiswas the natives' own rule and was never to be disregarded--it had to bean odd number of gifts. 

The Van Daamas native gazed impassively at the heap. He carried a ratherstrange bow and a quiver was strapped to his thigh. With one exception, the arrows were brightly colored, mostly red and yellow. Bolden supposedthis was for easy recovery in case the shot missed. But there was alwaysone arrow that was stained dark blue. Bolden had observed thisbefore--no native was ever without that one somber-looking arrow. 

The man of Van Daamas stood there and the thin robe that was noprotection against the elements rippled slightly in the chill current ofair that flowed down the mountainside. "I will go talk with the others, "he said in English. 

"Go talk, " said Bolden, trying not to shiver. He replied in nativespeech, but a few words exhausted his knowledge and he had to revert tohis own language. "Take the gifts with you. They are yours, no matterwhat you decide. "

The native nodded and reached for a pair of goggles. He tried them on, looking out over fog and mist-shrouded slopes. These people of VanDaamas needed radar less than any race Bolden knew of. Living bypreference in mountains, they had developed a keenness of vision thatenabled them to see through the perpetual fog and mist far better thanany Earthman. Paradoxically it was the goggles they appreciated most. Extending their sight seemed more precious to them than powerfulcarbines. 

The native shoved the goggles up on his forehead, smiling with pleasure. Noticing that Bolden was shivering, he took his hands and examined them. "Hands sick?" he queried. 

"A little, " said Bolden. "I'll be all right in the morning. "

The native gathered up the gifts. "Go talk, " he repeated as he wentaway. 

 * * * * *

Lee Bolden sat in the copter and waited. He didn't know how muchinfluence this native had with his people. He had come to negotiate, butthis might have been because he understood English somewhat better thanthe others. 

A council of the natives would make the decision about working for theEarthmen's settlement. If they approved of the gifts, they probablywould. There was nothing to do now but wait--and shiver. His hands weregetting numb and his feet weren't much better. 

Presently the native came out of the fog carrying a rectangular wickerbasket. Bolden was depressed when he saw it. One gift in return forgoggles, carbines, ammunition. The rate of exchange was not favorable. Neither would the reply be. 

The man set the basket down and waited for Bolden to speak. "The peoplehave talked?" asked Bolden. 

"We have talked to come, " said the native, holding out his fingers. "Infive or seven days, we come. "

It was a surprise, a pleasant one. Did one wicker basket equal so manyfine products of superlative technology? Apparently it did. The nativeshad different values. To them, one pair of goggles was worth more thanthree carbines, a package of needles easily the equivalent of a box ofammunition. 

"It's good you will come. I will leave at once to tell them at thesettlement, " said Bolden. There was something moving in the basket, butthe weave was close and he couldn't see through it. 

"Stay, " the man advised. "A storm blows through the mountains. "

"I will fly around the storm, " said Bolden. 

If he hadn't been sick he might have accepted the offer. But he had toget back to the settlement for treatment. On a strange planet you nevercould tell what might develop from a seemingly minor ailment. Besideshe'd already been gone two days searching for this tribe in theinterminable fog that hung over the mountains. Those waiting at the basewould want him back as soon as he could get there. 

"Fly far around, " said the man. "It is a big storm. " He took up thebasket and held it level with the cabin, opening the top. An animalsquirmed out and disappeared inside. 

Bolden looked askance at the eyes that glowed in the dim interior. Hehadn't seen clearly what the creature was and he didn't like the idea ofhaving it loose in the cabin, particularly if he had to fly through astorm. The man should have left it in the basket. But the basket plusthe animal would have been two gifts--and the natives never consideredanything in even numbers. 

"It will not hurt, " said the man. "A gentle pet. "

 * * * * *

As far as he knew, there were no pets and very few domesticated animals. Bolden snapped on the cabin light. It was one of those mysteriouscreatures every tribe kept in cages near the outskirts of their camps. What they did with them no one knew and the natives either found itimpossible to explain or did not care to do so. 

It seemed unlikely that the creatures were used for food and certainlythey were not work animals. And in spite of what this man said, theywere not pets either. No Earthman had ever seen a native touch them norhad the creatures ever been seen wandering at large in the camp. Anduntil now, none had been permitted to pass into Earth's possession. Thescientists at the settlement would regard this acquisition with delight. 

"Touch it, " said the native. 

Bolden held out his trembling hand and the animal came to him with alertand friendly yellow eyes. It was about the size of a rather small dog, but it didn't look much like one. It resembled more closely a tinyslender bear with a glossy and shaggy cinnamon coat. Bolden ran hishands through the clean-smelling fur and the touch warmed his fingers. The animal squirmed and licked his fingers. 

"It has got your taste, " said the native. "Be all right now. It isyours. " He turned and walked into the mist. 

Bolden got in and started the motors while the animal climbed into theseat beside him. It was a friendly thing and he couldn't understand whythe natives always kept it caged. 

He headed straight up, looking for a way over the mountains to avoid theimpending storm. Fog made it difficult to tell where the peaks were andhe had to drop lower, following meandering valleys. He flew as swiftlyas limited visibility would allow, but he hadn't gone far when the stormbroke. He tried to go over the top of it, but this storm seemed to haveno top. The region was incompletely mapped and even radar wasn't muchhelp in the tremendous electrical display that raged around the ship. 

His arms ached as he clung to the controls. His hands weren't actuallycold, they were numb. His legs were leaden. The creature crept closer tohim and he had to nudge it away. Momentarily the distraction cleared hishead. He couldn't put it off any longer. He had to land and wait out thestorm--if he could find a place to land. 

Flexing his hands until he worked some feeling into them, he inched theship lower. A canyon wall loomed at one side and he had to veer away andkeep on looking. 

Eventually he found his refuge--a narrow valley where the force of thewinds was not extreme--and he set the land anchor. Unless somethingdrastic happened, it would hold. 

 * * * * *

He made the seat into a bed, decided he was too tired to eat, and wentdirectly to sleep. When he awakened, the storm was still raging and thelittle animal was snoozing by his side. 

He felt well enough to eat. The native hadn't explained what the animalshould be fed, but it accepted everything Bolden offered. Apparently itwas as omnivorous as Man. Before lying down again, he made the otherseat into a bed, although it didn't seem to matter. The creaturepreferred being as close to him as it could get and he didn't object. The warmth was comforting. 

Alternately dozing and waking he waited out the storm. It lasted a dayand a half. Finally the sun was shining. This was two days since he hadfirst fallen ill, four days after leaving the settlement. 

Bolden felt much improved. His hands were nearly normal and his visionwasn't blurred. He looked at the little animal curled in his lap, gazingup at him with solemn yellow eyes. If he gave it encouragement it wouldprobably be crawling all over him. However, he couldn't have it friskingaround while he was flying. "Come, Pet, " he said--there wasn't anythingelse to call it--"you're going places. "

Picking it up, half-carrying and half-dragging it, he took it to therear of the compartment, improvising a narrow cage back there. He wassatisfied it would hold. He should have done this in the beginning. Ofcourse he hadn't felt like it then and he hadn't had the time--andanyway the native would have resented such treatment of a gift. Probablyit was best he had waited. 

His pet didn't like confinement. It whined softly for a while. The noisestopped when the motors roared. Bolden headed straight up, until he washigh enough to establish communication over the peaks. He made a briefreport about the natives' agreement and his own illness, then he startedhome. 

He flew at top speed for ten hours. He satisfied his hunger by nibblingconcentrated rations from time to time. The animal whined occasionally, but Bolden had learned to identify the sounds it made. It was neitherhungry nor thirsty. It merely wanted to be near him. And all he wantedwas to reach the base. 

The raw sprawling settlement looked good as he sat the copter down. Mechanics came running from the hangars. They opened the door and hestepped out. 

And fell on his face. There was no feeling in his hands and none in hislegs. He hadn't recovered. 

 * * * * *

Doctor Kessler peered at him through the microscreen. It gave his face anarrow insubstantial appearance. The microscreen was a hemisphericalforce field enclosing his head. It originated in a tubular circlet thatsnapped around his throat at the top of the decontagion suit. The fieldkilled all microlife that passed through it or came in contact with it. The decontagion suit was non-porous and impermeable, covering completelythe rest of his body. The material was thinner over his hands andthicker at the soles. 

Bolden took in the details at a glance. "Is it serious?" he asked, hisvoice cracking with the effort. 

"Merely a precaution, " said the doctor hollowly. The microscreendistorted sound as well as sight. "Merely a precaution. We know what itis, but we're not sure of the best way to treat it. "

Bolden grunted to himself. The microscreen and decontagion suit werestrong precautions. 

The doctor wheeled a small machine from the wall and placed Bolden'shand in a narrow trough that held it steady. The eyepiece slid into themicroscreen and, starting at the finger tips, Kessler examined the arm, traveling slowly upward. At last he stopped. "Is this where feelingends?"

"I think so. Touch it. Yeah. It's dead below there. "

"Good. Then we've got it pegged. It's the Bubble Death. "

Bolden showed concern and the doctor laughed. "Don't worry. It's calledthat because of the way it looks through the X-ray microscope. It's truethat it killed the scouting expedition that discovered the planet, butit won't get you. "

"They had antibiotics. Neobiotics, too. "

"Sure. But they had only a few standard kinds. Their knowledge was morelimited and they lacked the equipment we now have. "

The doctor made it sound comforting. But Bolden wasn't comforted. Notjust yet. 

"Sit up and take a look, " said Kessler, bending the eyepiece around soBolden could use it. "The dark filamented lines are nerves. See whatsurrounds them?"

Bolden watched as the doctor adjusted the focus for him. Each filamentwas covered with countless tiny spheres that isolated and insulated thenerve from contact. That's why he couldn't feel anything. The sphericalmicrobes did look like bubbles. As yet they didn't seem to have attackedthe nerves directly. 

While he watched, the doctor swiveled out another eyepiece for his ownuse and turned a knob on the side of the machine. From the lens next tohis arm an almost invisible needle slid out and entered his flesh. Bolden could see it come into the field of view. It didn't hurt. Slowlyit approached the dark branching filament, never quite touching it. 

The needle was hollow and as Kessler squeezed the knob it sucked in thespheres. The needle extended a snout which crept along the nerve, vacuuming in microbes as it moved. When a section had been cleansed, thesnout was retracted. Bolden could feel the needle then. 

 * * * * *

When the doctor finished, he laid Bolden's hand back at his side andwheeled the machine to the wall, extracting a small capsule which hedropped into a slot that led to the outside. He came back and sat down. 

"Is that what you're going to do?" asked Bolden. "Scrape them off?"

"Hardly. There are too many nerves. If we had ten machines and enoughpeople to operate them, we might check the advance in one arm. That'sall. " The doctor leaned back in the chair. "No. I was collecting a fewmore samples. We're trying to find out what the microbes react to. "

"_More_ samples? Then you must have taken others. "

"Certainly. We put you out for a while to let you rest. " The chair camedown on four legs. "You've got a mild case. Either that or you have astrong natural immunity. It's now been three days since you reported thefirst symptoms and it isn't very advanced. It killed the entire scoutingexpedition in less time than that. "

Bolden looked at the ceiling. Eventually they'd find a cure. But wouldhe be alive that long?

"I suspect what you're thinking, " said the doctor. "Don't overlook ourspecial equipment. We already have specimens in the sonic accelerator. We've been able to speed up the life processes of the microbes about tentimes. Before the day is over we'll know which of our anti andneobiotics they like the least. Tough little things so far--unbelievablytough--but you can be sure we'll smack them. "

His mind was active, but outwardly Bolden was quiescent as the doctorcontinued his explanation. 

The disease attacked the superficial nervous system, beginning with theextremities. The bodies of the crew of the scouting expedition had beenin an advanced state of decomposition when the medical rescue teamreached them and the microbes were no longer active. Nevertheless it wasa reasonable supposition that death had come shortly after the invadingbacteria had reached the brain. Until then, though nerves were the routealong which the microbes traveled, no irreparable damage had been done. 

 * * * * *

This much was good news. Either he would recover completely or he woulddie. He would not be crippled permanently. Another factor in his favorwas the sonic accelerator. By finding the natural resonance of theone-celled creature and gradually increasing the tempo of the soundfield, the doctor could grow and test ten generations in the laboratorywhile one generation was breeding in the body. Bolden was the firstpatient actually being observed with the disease, but the time elementwasn't as bad as he had thought. 

"That's where you are, " concluded Kessler. "Now, among other things, we've got to find where you've been. "

"The ship has an automatic log, " said Bolden. "It indicates every placeI landed. "

"True, but our grid coordinates are not exact. It will be a few yearsbefore we're able to look at a log and locate within ten feet of where aship has been. " The doctor spread out a large photomap. There wereseveral marks on it. He fastened a stereoscope viewer over Bolden's eyesand handed him a pencil. "Can you use this?"

"I think so. " His fingers were stiff and he couldn't feel, but he couldmark with the pencil. Kessler moved the map nearer and the terrainsprang up in detail. In some cases, he could see it more clearly thanwhen he had been there, because on the map there was no fog. Bolden madea few corrections and the doctor took the map away and removed theviewer. 

"We'll have to stay away from these places until we get a cure. Did younotice anything peculiar in any of the places you went?"

"It was all mountainous country. "

"Which probably means that we're safe on the plain. Were there anyanimals?"

"Nothing that came close. Birds maybe. "

"More likely it was an insect. Well, we'll worry about the host and howit is transmitted. Try not to be upset. You're as safe as you would beon Earth. "

"Yeah, " said Bolden. "Where's the pet?"

The doctor laughed. "You did very well on that one. The biologists havebeen curious about the animal since the day they saw one in a nativecamp. "

"They can _look_ at it as much as they want, " said Bolden. "Nothingmore on this one, though. It's a personal gift. "

"You're sure it's personal?"

"The native said it was. "

The doctor sighed. "I'll tell them. They won't like it, but we can'targue with the natives if we want their cooperation. "

Bolden smiled. The animal was safe for at least six months. He couldunderstand the biologists' curiosity, but there was enough to keep themcurious for a long time on a new planet. And it was his. In a remarkablyshort time, he had become attached to it. It was one of those rarethings that Man happened across occasionally--about once in every fiveplanets. Useless, completely useless, the creature had one virtue. Itliked Man and Man liked it. It was a pet. "Okay, " he said. "But youdidn't tell me where it is. "

The doctor shrugged, but the gesture was lost in the shapelessdecontagion suit. "Do you think we're letting it run in the streets?It's in the next room, under observation. "

The doctor was more concerned than he was letting on. The hospital wassmall and animals were never kept in it. "It's not the carrier. I wassick before it was given to me. "

"You had something, we know that much, but was it this? Even grantingthat you're right, it was in contact with you and may now be infected. "

"I think life on this planet isn't bothered by the disease. The nativeshave been every place I went and none of them seemed to have it. "

"Didn't they?" said the doctor, going to the door. "Maybe. It's tooearly to say. " He reeled a cord out of the wall and plugged it into thedecontagion suit. He spread his legs and held his arms away from hissides. In an instant, the suit glowed white hot. Only for an instant, and it was insulated inside. Even so it must be uncomfortable--and theprocess would be repeated outside. The doctor wasn't taking any chances. "Try to sleep, " he said. "Ring if there's a change in yourcondition--even if you think it's insignificant. "

"I'll ring, " said Bolden. In a short time he fell asleep. It was easy tosleep. 

 * * * * *

The nurse entered as quietly as she could in the decontagion outfit. Itawakened Bolden. It was evening. He had slept most of the day. "Whichone are you?" he asked. "The pretty one?"

"All nurses are pretty if you get well. Here. Swallow this. "

It was Peggy. He looked doubtfully at what she held out. "All of it?"

"Certainly. You get it down and I'll see that it comes back up. Thestring won't hurt you. "

She passed a small instrument over his body, reading the dial she heldin the other hand. The information, he knew, was being recordedelsewhere on a master chart. Apparently the instrument measured neuralcurrents and hence indirectly the progress of the disease. Already theyhad evolved new diagnostic techniques. He wished they'd made the sameadvance in treatment. 

After expertly reeling out the instrument he had swallowed, the nurseread it and deposited it in a receptacle in the wall. She brought a trayand told him to eat. He wanted to question her, but she was insistentabout it so he ate. Allowance had been made for his partial paralysis. The food was liquid. It was probably nutritious, but he didn't care forthe taste. 

She took the tray away and came back and sat beside him. "Now we cantalk, " she said. 

"What's going on?" he said bluntly. "When do I start getting shots?Nothing's been done for me so far. "

"I don't know what the doctor's working out for you. I'm just thenurse. "

"Don't try to tell me that, " he said. "You're a doctor yourself. In apinch you could take Kessler's place. "

"And I get my share of pinches, " she said brightly. "Okay, so I'm adoctor, but only on Earth. Until I complete my off-planet internshiphere, I'm not allowed to practice. "

"You know as much about Van Daamas as anyone does. "

"That may be, " she said. "Now don't be alarmed, but the truth ought tobe obvious. None of our anti or neobiotics or combinations of them havea positive effect. We're looking for something new. "

It should have been obvious; he had been hoping against that, though. Helooked at the shapeless figure sitting beside him and remembered Peggyas she usually looked. He wondered if they were any longer concernedwith him as an individual. They must be working mainly to keep thedisease from spreading. "What are my chances?"

"Better than you think. We're looking for an additive that will make thebiotics effective. "

 * * * * *

He hadn't thought of that, though it was often used, particularly onnewly settled planets. He had heard of a virus infection common toCentaurus that could be completely controlled by a shot of neobioticsplus aspirin, though separately neither was of any value. But thediscovery of what substance should be added to what antibiotic waslargely one of trial and error. That took time and there wasn't muchtime. "What else?" he said. 

"That's about it. We're not trying to make you believe this isn'tserious. But don't forget we're working ten times as fast as the diseasecan multiply. We expect a break any moment. " She got up. "Want asedative for the night?"

"I've got a sedative inside me. Looks like it will be permanent. "

"That's what I like about you, you're so cheerful, " she said, leaningover and clipping something around his throat. "In case you'rewondering, we're going to be busy tonight checking the microbe. We canput someone in with you, but we thought you'd rather have all of usworking on it. "

"Sure, " he said. 

"This is a body monitor. If you want anything just call and we'll behere within minutes. "

"Thanks, " he said. "I won't panic tonight. "

She plugged in the decontagion uniform, flashed it on and then left theroom. After she was gone, the body monitor no longer seemed reassuring. It was going to take something positive to pull him through. 

They were going to work through the night, but did they actually hopefor success. What had Peggy said? None of the anti or neobiotics had apositive reaction. Unknowingly she had let it slip. The reaction wasnegative; the bubble microbes actually grew faster in the medium thatwas supposed to stop them. It happened occasionally on strange planets. It was his bad luck that it was happening to him. 

He pushed the thoughts out of his mind and tried to sleep. He did for atime. When he awakened he thought, at first, it was his arms that hadaroused him. They seemed to be on fire, deep inside. To a limitedextent, he still had control. He could move them though there was nosurface sensation. Interior nerves had not been greatly affected untilnow. But outside the infection had crept up. It was no longer just abovethe wrists. It had reached his elbows and passed beyond. A few inchesbelow his shoulder he could feel nothing. The illness was accelerating. If they had ever thought of amputation, it was too late, now. 

 * * * * *

He resisted an impulse to cry out. A nurse would come and sit besidehim, but he would be taking her from work that might save his life. Theinfection would reach his shoulders and move across his chest and back. It would travel up his throat and he wouldn't be able to move his lips. It would paralyze his eyelids so that he couldn't blink. Maybe it wouldblind him, too. And then it would find ingress to his brain. 

The result would be a metabolic explosion. Swiftly each bodily functionwould stop altogether or race wildly as the central nervous system wasinvaded, one regulatory center after the other blanking out. His bodywould be aflame or it would smolder and flicker out. Death might bespectacular or it could come very quietly. 

That was one reason he didn't call the nurse. 

The other was the noise. 

It was a low sound, half purr, half a coaxing growl. It was the animalthe native had given him, confined in the next room. Bolden was not surewhy he did what he did next. Instinct or reason may have governed hisactions. But instinct and reason are divisive concepts that cannot applyto the human mind, which is actually indivisible. 

He got out of bed. Unable to stand, he rolled to the floor. He couldn'tcrawl very well because his hands wouldn't support his weight so hecrept along on his knees and elbows. It didn't hurt. Nothing hurt exceptthe fire in his bones. He reached the door and straightened up on hisknees. He raised his hand to the handle, but couldn't grasp it. Afterseveral trials, he abandoned the attempt and hooked his chin on thehandle, pulling it down. The door opened and he was in the next room. The animal was whining louder now that he was near. Yellow eyes glowedat him from the corner. He crept to the cage. 

It was latched. The animal shivered eagerly, pressing against the side, striving to reach him. His hands were numb and he couldn't work thelatch. The animal licked his fingers. 

It was easier after that. He couldn't feel what he was doing, butsomehow he managed to unlatch it. The door swung open and the animalbounded out, knocking him to the floor. 

He didn't mind at all because now he was sure he was right. The nativeshad given him the animal for a purpose. Their own existence was meager, near the edge of extinction. They could not afford to keep somethingthat wasn't useful. And this creature was useful. Tiny blue sparkscrackled from the fur as it rubbed against him in the darkness. It wasnot whining. It rumbled and purred as it licked his hands and arms androlled against his legs. 

After a while he was strong enough to crawl back to bed, leaning againstthe animal for support. He lifted himself up and fell across the bed inexhaustion. Blood didn't circulate well in his crippled body. The animalbounded up and tried to melt itself into his body. He couldn't push itaway if he wanted. He didn't want to. He stirred and got himself into amore comfortable position. He wasn't going to die. 

 * * * * *

In the morning, Bolden was awake long before the doctor came in. Kessler's face was haggard and the smile was something he assumed solelyfor the patient's benefit. If he could have seen what the expressionlooked like after filtering through the microscreen, he would haveabandoned it. "I see you're holding your own, " he said with hollowcheerfulness. "We're doing quite well ourselves. "

"I'll bet, " said Bolden. "Maybe you've got to the point where one of theantibiotics doesn't actually stimulate the growth of the microbes?"

"I was afraid you'd find it out, " sighed the doctor. "We can't keepeverything from you. "

"You could have given me a shot of plasma and said it was a powerful newdrug. "

"That idea went out of medical treatment a couple of hundred years ago, "said the doctor. "You'd feel worse when you failed to show improvement. Settling a planet isn't easy and the dangers aren't imaginary. You'vegot to be able to face facts as they come. "

He peered uncertainly at Bolden. The microscreen distorted his vision, too. "We're making progress though it may not seem so to you. When amixture of a calcium salt plus two antihistamines is added to a certainneobiotic, the result is that the microbe grows no faster than itshould. Switching the ingredients here and there--maybe it ought to be apotassium salt--and the first thing you know we'll have it stoppedcold. "

"I doubt the effectiveness of those results, " said Bolden. "In fact, Ithink you're on the wrong track. Try investigating the effects of neuralinduction. "

"What are you talking about?" said the doctor, coming closer andglancing suspiciously at the lump beside Bolden. "Do you feel dizzy? Isthere anything else unusual that you notice?"

"Don't shout at the patient. " Bolden waggled his finger reprovingly. Hewas proud of the finger. He couldn't feel what he was doing, but he hadcontrol over it. "You, Kessler, should face the fact that a doctor canlearn from a patient what the patient learned from the natives. "

But Kessler didn't hear what he said. He was looking at the upraisedhand. "You're moving almost normally, " he said. "Your own immunityfactor is controlling the disease. "

"Sure. I've got an immunity factor, " said Bolden. "The same one thenatives have. Only it's not inside my body. " He rested his hand on theanimal beneath the covers. It never wanted to leave him. It wouldn'thave to. 

"I can set your mind at rest on one thing, Doctor. Natives aresusceptible to the disease, too. That's why they were able to recognizeI had it. They gave me the cure and told me what it was, but I wasunable to see it until it was nearly too late. Here it is. " He turnedback the covers and the exposed animal sleeping peacefully on his legswhich raised its head and licked his fingers. He felt that. 

 * * * * *

After an explanation the doctor tempered his disapproval. It was anunsanitary practice, but he had to admit that the patient was muchimproved. Kessler verified the state of Bolden's health by extensive useof the X-ray microscope. Reluctantly he wheeled the machine to the walland covered it up. 

"The infection is definitely receding, " he said. "There are previouslyinfected areas in which I find it difficult to locate a single microbe. What I can't understand is how it's done. According to you, the animaldoesn't break the skin with its tongue and therefore nothing is releasedinto the bloodstream. All that seems necessary is that the animal benear you. " He shook his head behind the microscreen. "I don't think muchof the electrical analogy you used. "

"I said the first thing I thought of. I don't know if that's the way itworks, but it seems to me like a pretty fair guess. "

"The microbes _do_ cluster around nerves, " said the doctor. "We knowthat neural activity is partly electrical. If the level of that activitycan be increased, the bacteria might be killed by ionic dissociation. "He glanced speculatively at Bolden and the animal. "Perhaps you doborrow nervous energy from the animal. We might also find it possible tocontrol the disease with an electrical current. "

"Don't try to find out on me, " said Bolden. "I've been an experimentalspecimen long enough. Take somebody who's healthy. I'll stick with thenatives' method. "

"I wasn't thinking of experiments in your condition. You're still notout of danger. " Nevertheless he showed his real opinion when he left theroom. He failed to plug in and flash the decontagion suit. 

Bolden smiled at the doctor's omission and ran his hand through the fur. He was going to get well. 

 * * * * *

But his progress was somewhat slower than he'd anticipated though itseemed to satisfy the doctor who went on with his experiments. Theoffending bacteria could be killed electrically. But the current wasdangerously large and there was no practical way to apply the treatmentto humans. The animal was the only effective method. 

Kessler discovered the microbe required an intermediate host. A tick ora mosquito seemed indicated. It would take a protracted search of themountains to determine just what insect was the carrier. In any eventthe elaborate sanitary precautions were unnecessary. Microscreens camedown and decontagion suits were no longer worn. Bolden could not passthe disease on to anyone else. 

Neither could the animal. It seemed wholly without parasites. It wasclean and affectionate, warm to the touch. Bolden was fortunate thatthere was such a simple cure for the most dreaded disease on Van Daamas. 

It was several days before he was ready to leave the small hospital atthe edge of the settlement. At first he sat up in bed and then he wasallowed to walk across the room. As his activity increased, the animalbecame more and more content to lie on the bed and follow him with itseyes. It no longer frisked about as it had in the beginning. As Boldentold the nurse, it was becoming housebroken. 

The time came when the doctor failed to find a single microbe. Bolden'snewly returned strength and the sensitivity of his skin where beforethere had been numbness confirmed the diagnosis. He was well. Peggy cameto walk him home. It was pleasant to have her near. 

"I see you're ready, " she said, laughing at his eagerness. 

"Except for one thing, " he said. "Come, Pet. " The animal raised its headfrom the bed where it slept. 

"Pet?" she said quizzically. "You ought to give it a name. You've had itlong enough to decide on something. "

"Pet's a name, " he said. "What can I call it? Doc? Hero?"

She made a face. "I can't say I care for either choice, although it didsave your life. "

"Yes, but that's an attribute it can't help. The important thing is thatif you listed what you expect of a pet you'd find it in this creature. Docile, gentle, lively at times; all it wants is to be near you, to haveyou touch it. And it's very clean. "

"All right, call it Pet if you want, " said Peggy. "Come on, Pet. "

It paid no attention to her. It came when Bolden called, getting slowlyoff the bed. It stayed as close as it could get to Bolden. He was stillweak so they didn't walk fast and, at first, the animal was able to keepup. 

 * * * * *

It was almost noon when they went out. The sun was brilliant and VanDaamas seemed a wonderful place to be alive in. Yes, with death behindhim, it was a very wonderful place. Bolden chatted gaily with Peggy. Shewas fine company. 

And then Bolden saw the native who had given him the animal. Five toseven days, and he had arrived on time. The rest of the tribe must beelsewhere in the settlement. Bolden smiled in recognition while the manwas still at some distance. For an answer the native shifted the bow inhis hand and glanced behind the couple, in the direction of thehospital. 

The movement with the bow might have been menacing, but Bolden ignoredthat gesture. It was the sense that something was missing that causedhim to look down. The animal was not at his side. He turned around. 

The creature was struggling in the dust. It got to its feet and wobbledtoward him, staggering crazily as it tried to reach him. It spun around, saw him, and came on again. The tongue lolled out and it whined once. Then the native shot it through the heart, pinning it to the ground. Theshort tail thumped and then it died. 

Bolden couldn't move. Peggy clutched his arm. The native walked over tothe animal and looked down. He was silent for a moment. "Die anywaysoon, " he said to Bolden. "Burned out inside. "

He bent over. The bright yellow eyes had faded to nothingness in thesunlight. "Gave you its health, " said the man of Van Daamas respectfullyas he broke off the protruding arrow. 

It was a dark blue arrow. 

 * * * * *

Now every settlement on the planet has Bolden's pets. They have beengiven a more scientific name, but nobody remembers what it is. Theanimals are kept in pens, exactly as is done by the natives, on one sideof town, not too near any habitation. 

For a while, there was talk that it was unscientific to use the animal. It was thought that an electrical treatment could be developed toreplace it. Perhaps this was true. But settling a planet is a big task. As long as one method works there isn't time for research. And itworks--the percentage of recovery is as high as in other commonailments. 

But in any case the animal can never become a pet, though it may be inthe small but bright spark of consciousness that is all the littleyellow-eyed creature wants. The quality that makes it so valuable is thefinal disqualification. Strength can be a weakness. Its nervous systemis too powerful for a man in good health, upsetting the delicate balanceof the human body in a variety of unusual ways. How the energy-transfertakes place has never been determined exactly, but it does occur. 

It is only when he is stricken with the Bubble Death and needsadditional energy to drive the invading microbes from the tissue aroundhis nerves that the patient is allowed to have one of Bolden's pets. 

In the end, it is the animal that dies. As the natives knew, it iskindness to kill it quickly. 

It is highly regarded and respectfully spoken of. Children play as closeas they can get, but are kept well away from the pens by a high, sturdyfence. Adults walk by and nod kindly to it. 

Bolden never goes there nor will he speak of it. His friends say he'sunhappy about being the first Earthman to discover the usefulness of thelittle animal. They are right. It is a distinction he doesn't care for. He still has the blue arrow. There are local craftsmen who can mend it, but he has refused their services. He wants to keep it as it is. 

--F. L. WALLACE