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moved forward, and bent over the woman. Dillon could see that shewas as sick as the others, but whether or not it was the same disease,he could not say. For the eighth such time, he wished he had takenmedical training as a youth, in deference to his family's wishes.

  "It's hot in here," said Cassidy. Sweat beaded out on his forehead, andhe wiped it away with a shaking hand.

  "Small wonder," said Dillon, "with all these people here. They must upthe temperature by twenty degrees." He opened his bag, and dug out aswab. After cleaning a spot on her arm, he dug out a needle, and filledit from an ampoule.

  "Dillon!"

  He whirled around. "Cass! What's the matter?"

  "I ... don't know. Woozy. I feel woozy." He staggered, and fell forward,unconscious.

  "Cass!" He bent over the man, and turned him over. Cassidy's face waswhite, and the sweat rolled off in rivulets. Dillon felt for a pulse,and then pulled out a stethoscope. Baring the other's chest, he listenedfor a beat.

  "What is it, Dillon?" asked Bila. "What is wrong?"

  "I don't know. He's sick." He looked worried.

  "Sick?" The natives stared at each other, unbelieving.

  "Yes, sick! Earthmen get sick too, you know!" He bared Cassidy's arm,and swabbed it clean. Then he pressed home the needle he had preparedfor the woman.

  "He will get well?" asked Bila.

  "I don't know." Dillon felt for a pulse again. Disbelief washed over hisface, and he sank back on his heels.

  "What is it?"

  "He's dead."

  "Dead?" Amazement took hold of them.

  "Dead." The Earthman stood up, shaking his head. "But your wife, Bila. Imust attend to her."

  "No." The native stepped between the man and woman, and held out hisarms.

  "No? Why not?"

  "The Gods have frowned on you, starman. It is obvious that they aredissatisfied with you, for they took your brother."

  "But just because Cassidy died doesn't mean your wife will." He staredat the lesser being, dumfounded. "But she might, if not treated."

  "We shall get the priest. We cannot run the risk of offending the Godsby permitting you to touch her."

  The Earthman stared from face to face, but the same message was writtenon all. Hopelessness took the place of question, and he turned, andstumbled from the hut, and into the storm.

  "Take the man to the post," said Bila. Several of the men hurried to dohis bidding. They carried Cassidy out into the night, without lookingback.

  * * * * *

  "Simple," said Cassidy. "Just like I said." He was hunched over hiscoffee, his ham-like hands soaking up the warmth from the cup.

  "Simple," said Dillon. "I don't get it. Just why did they stop me fromtreating the woman?"

  "We come from the stars, which the natives associate with the home ofthe Gods. We don't look quite like their legends say Gods should, butthey figured we must be close to them, so they credited us withomnipotent powers. The priests claimed the cures they affected were donewith the grace of the almighty, and the natives figured your cures camefrom the same source."

  "I can't figure why they wouldn't even let me touch her," said Dillon."It doesn't make sense."

  "Actually, if you had given her the shot without me on the scene, andshe had died, they probably would have accepted it as the will of theGods. The priests fail once in awhile, and they just claim that the Godshave wanted that particular person to die. But when you were unable tosave me, another man from the stars, and therefore presumably a closeacquaintance of the Almighty, they could come to only one conclusion:The Gods withdrew their blessings from you. After that they wouldn'thave let you touch a sick pig--if they have pigs here." He drained hiscup.

  A roar sounded down from the sky, building up into a wail that scrapedthe spines of the hearers. It rose to a crescendo, and then came ajarring shock that shuddered the whole building.

  "My chauffeur," said Cassidy. "Hot-rodding, as usual." He rose, andpicked up his baggage.

  "You know, Dillon," he said, "You're a jerk. I'll tell my grandchildrenabout you. You're a perfect example of what not to do." He shook hishead. "A horrible example."

  END

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  Transcriber's Note:

  This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction February 1958.Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyrighton this publication was renewed.

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