The Compassion Circuit Read Free Page A

eyes.
    “Oh, George, dear. Has she told you?”
    “Has who told me what?” he asked, sitting down on the side of the bed.
    “Hester. She said she would. Oh, George, I didn’t mean it. At least, I don’t think I meant it. She sent me, George. I was so weak and wretched. I wanted to be strong. I don’t think I really understood.
    Hester said—”
    “Take it easy, darling. Take it easy,” George suggested with a smile. “What on earth’s all this about?”
    He felt under the bedclothes and found her hand. “But, George—” she began.
    He interrupted her. “I say, darling, your hand’s dreadfully cold. It’s almost like—” His fingers slid further up her arm. His eyes widened at her, incredulously. He jumped up suddenly from the bed and flung back the covers. He put his hand on the thin nightdress, over her heart—and then snatched it away as if he had been stung. He staggered back. “God! NO!” he said, staring at her.
    “But George. George, darling—” said Janet’s head on the pillows.
    “NO! NO!” cried George, almost in a shriek. He turned and ran blindly from the room. In the darkness on the landing he missed the top step of the stairs, and went headlong down the whole flight.
    Hester found him lying in a huddle in the hall. She bent down and gently explored the damage. The extent of it, and the fragility of the frame that had suffered it disturbed her compassion-circuit very greatly.
    She did not try to move him, but went to the telephone and dialed.
    “Emergency?” she asked, and gave the name and address. “Yes, at once,” she told them. “There may not be a lot of time. Several compound fractures, and I think his back is broken, poor man… No. There appears to be no damage to his head… Yes, much better. He’d be crippled for life, even if he did get over it… Yes, better send the form of consent with the ambulance so that it can be signed at once… Oh, yes, that’ll be quite all right. His wife will sign it.”
    The End.

    Notes and proofing history
    Scanned with preliminary proofing by A\NN/A
    January 14th, 2008—v1.0
    from: Thirteen Great Science Fiction Stories, Cronklin, ed. , 1960
    Originally published in Fantastic Universe , December, 1954