He pressed a button or switch below Kitten’s line of sight. There was the sound of a door opening. Kitten looked up and to the left to see an opening appear in the side of the room. A tall male figure entered. It was well-muscled and nude to the waist. A black hood pierced with three slots for eyes and mouth covered the man’s head down to the shoulders.

Kitten laughed—not easy, under the circumstances. “Oh . . . oh now, really! How terribly, terribly melodramatic!”

“Isn’t it?” said Rose rather fondly. “Please forgive me, my dear. I’m something of a traditionalist.”

The figure walked to a small wheeled cart and pushed it over next to Kitten’s bench. He stopped it close by her head. A large metal case sat on the cart. The man uncoupled four metallic latches and swung the two halves of the case open. The contents gleamed in the soft fluorescent light like faceted gems. They comprised a complete portable surgery.

“Physical torture!” she said contemptuously. “How unutterably crude! If you would persist in this idiocy, I would at least expect a modicum of sophistication!”

Rose smiled for the first time. There was no humor in it.

“The allegation has been made before, my dear. As I’ve indicated, I’m pretty nostalgic about some things. Despite the great advances in human technology, certain basics remain essentially unchanged. Only the methodology is improved. Also, I confess cheerfully that my motives are not wholly practical. The procedure involved provides me with a certain amount of pleasure. I like hearing pretty girls scream. We all have our little affectations. Mine is neither new nor unique. It’s a time-honored human pastime. At least you must give me credit for my choice of tools. You’re looking at a complete portable laboratory for organic repair—a very expensive toy, I assure you. Not the slightest danger of infection.”

“How considerate you are!” Kitten rasped. She tried the bonds at one ankle this time, pulling upwards as well as back.

“You won’t break those strappings, my dear. Now, this particular surgery was made by the best thranx technicians on Humus. For different purposes, of course. Cost me a pretty credit, not to mention faking hospital credentials for the purchaser and a host of other details! But I have few hobbies and can indulge. If you look closely, you can make out the imprint of the noted Elvor laboratories on each instrument. See how they catch the light!”

Kitten was trying to look anywhere but at the objects of Rose’s adoration. One glance had been more than sufficient. Where Rose saw beauty, she saw only a nightmare of piercing points and fine-honed edges. Things for gripping, things for slicing, things for scraping.

She shuddered for the first time. Even the most experienced operatives had only so much control.

“I understand,” she continued drily, “that the sublimation of normal desires through the use of such devices is positive proof of the wielder’s impotence.”

“Such well-honed insults! Such delicately practiced invective!” Rose clapped his hands boyishly. “I’ve read formal psychology, my dear. That is true in a few cases. Only a few. Anyway, as you can see, I’ve turned the actual operation—pardon the pun—over to this fine young friend of mine. It is him you should be trying to dissuade. He requested most firmly that he be permitted to perform as my surrogate. I agreed, because of my persistent problem in such things. I have a regrettable lack of patience and tend to get carried away early. That spoils things much too soon. Very unprofessional, too. My youthful compatriot, however, brings not only the necessary patience to the task, but also a certain young enthusiasm. And he’s received expert instruction, even if he remains less skillful than I.”