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〃Just one last problem；〃 I said as I started to leave。 〃What about the worthy Zinaare you going to tell her about this？〃
〃You crazy？〃 Vulff asked with undisguised surprise。
〃I suppose that means you won't tell her。 Since only you and I are going to know about this operation； how are you going to explain your absence or where the money has e from？〃
This was even more shocking to him。 〃Explain？ To her？ She isn't going to see either me or the money once I leave here。 Which will be no more than ten minutes from now。〃
〃I see；〃 I said； and I did。 I also thought it was rather uncharitable of him since the unlucky Zina had been supporting him by practicing a trade that most women shun。 I made a mental note to see what could be done to even the score a little。 In the future though。 Right now I had to see to the dissolution of James Bolivar diGriz。
Sparing no expense I ordered all the surgical and operating room equipment that Vulff could suggest。 Whenever possible I bought robot…controlled devices since he would be working alone。 Everything was loaded in a heavy carrier rented for the occasion and we drove out to the house in the country together。 Neither of us would trust the other out of his sight which was of course understandable。 Financial payments were the hardest to arrange since the purehearted Dr。 Vulff was sure I would bash in his skull and take back all of my money once the job was finishednever realizing of course that as long as there were banks I would never be broke。 The safeguards were finally arranged to his satisfaction and we began our solitary and important business。
The house was lonely and self…contained； perched on the cliff above a far reach of the lake。 What fresh food we needed was delivered once a week； along with the mail which consisted of drugs and other medical supplies。 The operations began。
Modern surgical techniques being what they are there was of course no pain or shock。 I was confined to bed and at times was loaded with so much sedation that days passed in a dreamy fog。 Between two' periods of radical surgery I took the precaution of seeing that a sleeping pill was included in Vulff's evening drink。 This drink was of course non…alcoholic since his traveling this entire course mounted on the water wagon was one of the conditions of our agreement。 Whenever he found it difficult I restored his resolution with a little more money。 All this continence had his nerves on edge and I thought he would appreciate a good night's sleep。 I also wanted to do a little investigating。 When I was sure he was deeply under I picked the lock of his door and searched his room。
I suppose the gun was there as a matter of insurance； but you can never tell with these nervous types。 My days of being a target were over if I had anything to say about it。 The gun was a pocket model of a recoilless 。50； neat and deadly。 The mechanism worked fine and the cartridges still held all their deadly power； but there would be some difficulty m shooting the thing after I filed off the end of the firing pin。
Finding the camera was no shock since I have very little faith left in the basic wholesomeness of mankind。 That I was his benefactor and financer wasn't enough for Vulff。 He was lining up some blackmail just in case。 There was plenty of exposed film； no doubt filled with studies of my unconscious face Before and After。 I put all the film； including the unexposed rolls； under the x…ray machine for a nice long treatment and that settled that。
Vulff did a good job in the times when he wasn't moaning about the absence of spirituous beverages or nubile females。 Bending and shortening my femurs altered my height and walk。 Hands； face； skull； earsall of these were changed permanently to build a new individual。 Skillful use of the correct hormones caused a change in the pigment cells； darkening the natural color of my skin and hair； even altering the hair pattern itself。 The last thing done； when Vulff's skill was at its peak； was a delicate touch on my vocal cords that deepened and roughened my speech。
When it was all finished Slippery Jim diGriz was dead and Hans Schmidt was born。 Not a very inspired name I admit； but it was just designed to cover the period before I shed Vulff and began my important enterprise。
〃Very good； very good indeed；〃 I said； looking into the mirror and watching my fingers press a stranger's face。
〃God； I could use a drink；〃 Vulff gasped behind me； sitting on his already…packed bags。 He had been hitting the medical alcohol the last few days； until I had spiked it with my favorite regurgitant； and he was nervously anxious to get back to some heavy drinking。 〃Give me the balance of the money that's due and let's get out of here！〃
〃Patience； doctor；〃 I murmured and slipped him the packet of bills。 He broke the bank wrapper and began to count them with quick； caressing touches of his fingers。 〃Waste of time doing that；〃 I told him； but he kept right on。 〃I've taken the liberty of writing 'STOLEN' on each bill； with ink that will fluoresce when the bank puts it under the ultraviolet。〃
This stopped the counting all right； and drained him white at the same instant。 I ought to warn him about the old ticker； that's the way he would pop off if he didn't watch out。
〃What do you mean； stolen？〃 he choked after a bit。
〃Well they were； you know。 All of the money I paid you with was stolen。〃 His face went even whiter and I was sure he would never reach fifty； not with circulation like that。 〃You shouldn't let it worry you。 The other stuff was all in old bills。 I've passed a lot of it without any trouble。〃
〃But 。 。 。 why〃〃 he finally squeezed out。
〃Sensible question； doctor。 I've sent the same amountin un…tampered bills； of courseto your old friend Zina。 I felt you owed her that much at least； after all she has done for you。 Fair is fair you know。〃
He glared at me while I tossed all the machines； surgical supplies and such off the cliff。 I was careful not to have my back to him when he was too close； other than this all the precautions had already been taken。 When I glanced up by chance and saw that a covert smile had replaced the earlier expression； I knew it was time to reveal the rest of my arrangements。
〃An air cab will be here in a few minutes； we'll leave together。 I regret to inform you that there won't be enough time after we arrive in Freiburbad for you to seek out Zina and thrash her as planned； and get the money back。〃 His guilty start proved that he was really an amateur at this sort of thing。 I continued； hoping he would be grateful for this plete revelation of how to do things in an efficient criminal manner。 〃I've timed everything rather carefully from here on in。 Today is a bit unusual in that there are two starships leaving the port within minutes of each other。 I've booked a ticket on one for myselfhere is your ticket on the other。 I've paid in advance for it； though I don't expect you to thank me。〃 He took the ticket with all the spirited interest of an old maid picking up a dead snake。 〃The need for speedif you will pardon the rhymeis urgent。 A few minutes after your ship leaves an envelope will be delivered to the police describing your part in this operation。〃
Dear Doctor Vulff digested all this as we waited for the copter to arrive； and from his sickening expression I saw he could find no flaws in the arrangements。 During the entire flight he huddled away from me in his chair and never said a word。 Without a bon voyage or even a curse he made for his ship upon our arrival and I watched him board it。 I of course merely went in the direction of mine and turned off before entering it。 I had as much intention of leaving Freibur as I had of informing the police that an illegal operation had taken place。 The last thing I wanted was attention。 Both little lies had merely been devices to make sure that the alcoholic doctor went away and stayed away before he began his solitary journey to cirrhosis。 There was no reason for me to leave； in fact every reason for me to stay。
Angelina was still on this planet； and I wanted no interference while I tracked her down。
Perhaps it was presumptuous of me to be so positive； yet I felt I knew Angelina very well by this time。 Our crooked little minds rotated in many of the same cycles of dishonesty。 Up to a certain point I felt I could predict her reactions with firm logic。 Firstlyshe would be very happy about my bloody destruction。 She got the same big bang out of corpses that most girls get from new clothes。 Thinking toe dead would make following her that much easier。 I knew she would take normal precautions against the police and other agents of the Corps。 But they wouldn't know she was on Freiburthere was nothing to connect my death with her presence。 Therefore she didn't have to run again； but could stay on this planet under a new cover and changed personality。 That she would want to stay here I had very little doubt。 Freibur was a planet that seemed designed for illegal operation。 In my years of knocking around the known universe I had never before e up against a piece of fruit so ripe for plucking。 A heady mixture o