Category Phoenix

by Boyd Ellanby

more favorable time in the future--ifthere was a future for him. But he would begin at once to produce inquantity a supply of the SDE-Blue Martian, for he was sure that theuntrained guards who watched his movements would never realize that hehad shifted to another project.

  With a brief good night to the guard, he left the building to walk home.His shoulders were straight, his stride confident, and he disdainedlooking behind him to see if anyone was following. He had made his termswith himself, and only death, which he would certainly try to prevent,could alter his plans.

  Going into his apartment he wearily turned on the light. Then he froze,feeling as though he had been clubbed. Leah Hachovnik was huddled at oneend of the sofa, her face dripping tears.

  "I thought you'd never come," she whispered.

  He slumped down beside her. "How did you get here, Leah? I thought youwere--"

  "I hid in your hallway until the watchguard was at the other end. Whenhis back was turned, I just took off my shoes and slipped in. I've beenwaiting for hours." Her voice was almost inaudible, spent beyondemotion.

  "They got Tanya," she said dully. "They took her away."

  "What happened? Quick!"

  "After I reported to BureauMed--I'm sorry I did that, Dr. Wong, but Ijust couldn't help myself. I didn't tell them about Tanya and theothers, just about you. Then I walked around for hours, hating you,hating Tanya, hating everybody. Finally I got so tired that I went home.Just as I got into the hall, I heard a loud knock and I saw OfficerMagnun at my door. When Tanya opened it, he simply said, 'OfficeCategory Hachovnik?' When she nodded her head, he said, 'You're underdetention.' She screamed and she fought, but he took her away. Sincethen, I've been hiding. I'm afraid."

  David tried to think. He remembered that he had said only "MissHachovnik" in his talk with the Leader. Had Marley never known thatthere was more than one? But Lanza surely knew. Or had he merely assumedthat Magnun would ask for Leah? Would they realize, at Psycho-detention,that they had the wrong woman? Probably not, for she would be hystericalwith terror, and her very youth and beauty taken in connection with the"jealousy and envy of younger women" which was noted in her commitmentorder, would seem to confirm her madness. He was still safe, for awhile--if he could keep Leah away from the Institute.

  "I'm afraid," she whimpered. "Don't let them put me away."

  "Then you'll have to do exactly as I tell you. Can you follow ordersexactly?"

  "Yes, yes!"

  "I'll have to hide you here. We can fix up my library as a room for you.It's the only room I can keep locked, and which my Menial never entersin my absence. Whatever happens, Leah--no matter what happens--keepyourself hidden. More than your life depends on that."

  * * * * *

  When the three convalescents returned from the hospital, pale and shaky,David summoned them to his office. At the door, Watchguard Jones lookedthem over.

  "Say, that Blue Martian fever sure does take it out of you. You fellowslook like you've been plenty sick!"

  "They have been," said David. "Let them by so they can sit down andrest."

  Jones moved aside, but he lounged in the doorway, listening.

  David ignored him. "Glad to see you back, gentlemen. I'll make thisbrief. You have been the victims of a laboratory accident just as muchas if you'd been contaminated with radiation. Our Leader Marley, whounderstands the problems of all Categories, has very generouslyconsented to grant you a two weeks' convalescence, in addition to a FreeChoice. Take a few minutes to think over your decision."

  He strolled over to the window and looked out at the green of the treesjust bursting into leaf. Then, as if on impulse, he turned back.

  "While you're thinking it over, will you look at these protocols? Wediscussed them before you got sick, you remember--a plan to prevent anepidemic of Blue Martian. Do you approve of the final form? I'd like tocarry on, and after all," he added with an ironic smile, "it's gettinglater than we might think."

  He handed each man a sheet of paper whose contents were identical. Theystudied them. Karl Haslam was the first to speak.

  "You think, then, that other cases of Blue Martian may develop?"

  "It is certainly probable. Those _Fafli_ insects were never caught."

  Karl looked back at his paper. It contained a list of names, some ofwhich were well known to all the country, some of them obscure.Thoughtfully, he nodded as he ran down the list.

  Hudson glanced up, frowning, his finger pointed at one name.

  "I don't know," he said slowly, "that this particular experiment wouldprove useful. Surely the Lanza method has not proved to be as effectiveas we once hoped."

  "You may be right. But there's the bare possibility that the _modified_Lanza method might be of enormous benefit to us."

  "It is uncertain. Too much of a risk. That's my opinion."

  "Then I'll reconsider. The rest has your approval? Very well. And nowwhat choice have you made for your holiday?"

  "I think we are all agreed," said Karl soberly. "We'll have an AimlessTramp."

  "An excellent idea," approved David. "Oh, Jones, will you get an aircabto take the doctors to BureauMed, and then arrange for their Roboplanesto be serviced and ready in an hour?"

  "I don't know as I ought to leave my post," said Jones.

  "You'd rather stay with us and perhaps be exposed to the Fever?"

  "Okay, okay!"

  When his footsteps had died away, David leaned forward.

  "We've done our best. Another month or so and we should be completelyready for our retirement act."

  "If we have a month," said Faure.

  David grinned. "Well, if our time runs out, at least we'll go downfighting. You know all your lines, your props are ready, the plot isworked out, and we can slip into our makeup in an instant--provided theaudience shows up."

  "You're getting to be quite a joker, David," said Karl. "What if theaudience comes around to the stage door?"

  "Then we'll try to receive him properly. Our Leader is a man of iron,but I doubt that he's immortal."

  They heard the approaching guard.

  "I'm sure you'll benefit from your holiday," David went on. "That lastcheckup showed an antibody titer entirely too high for safety."

  "In other words, it's time for us to get going?" asked Karl, smiling.

  "That's right. Only the next time the antibody curve rises, it will befor keeps."

  * * * * *

  Four days later it was reported that Judge Brinton, the well-knownchampion of Category rights, was ill with Blue Martian fever. Threelittle-known nuclear physicists living in the same apartment in OakRidge developed symptoms on the same day. Sporadic cases of Blue Martianflared up all over the continent. Occasionally a whole family wasaffected--husband, wife, and all the children. There was a mild epidemicat MIT, a more serious one at the School of Social Structure, and atHarvard Medical School nearly a third of the senior class, and they themost brilliant, were hospitalized at the same time.

  Rumors blanketed the country like a fog, and people everywhere becameuneasy. There were no deaths from the illness, but the very idea that aninfectious disease could flare up unpredictably all over the nation, outof control, was frightening. It was said that the disease had beenbeamed to Earth by alien enemies from space; that all its victims becamesterile; or that their minds were permanently damaged.

  It was also said, though people laughed even as they repeated the rumor,that if you once had Blue Martian Fever you'd become immortal. Thisparticular theory had been clearly traced to the ravings of a red-hairedmadwoman who was confined to Psycho-detention, but still it was tooridiculous not to repeat. For a week, comedians rang a hundred changeson the basic joke:

  Wife: Drop dead!

  Husband: I can't. I've had Blue Martian.

  The unrest became so great that Leader Marley himself appeared on thetelecaster to reassure the nation.

  He was an impressive figure on the lighted screen, resting solid and atea
se in a leather chair, raising his massive black head, lifting his bighand to gesture as his rich voice rolled out.

  "You have nothing to fear," he said. "Under your beneficent Leaders,infectious disease has been wiped out many years ago. BureauMed informsme that these scattered cases of Blue Martian fever have been caused bythe escape of a few _Fafli_ insects, which have, since then, beenisolated and destroyed. The illness has no serious after-effects. And asfor the rumors that it confers immortality--"

  He allowed his face to break into a pitying smile as he slowly shook hishead, looking regretful and yet