THE DOCTOR OPENED A DOOR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HER EXAMINATION ROOM FROM WHERE THEY HAD ORIGINALLY ENTERED. "MISS INGRID, WILL YOU PLEASE COME IN HERE?"

GERALD FLINCHED AS A HEAVY-SET, STERN-FACED WOMAN IN A STIFFLY STARCHED NURSE'S UNIFORM MARCHED INTO THE ROOM.

"THIS IS GERALD, MISS INGRID, THE DOCTOR SAID.

THE NURSE GAVE GERALD AN IMPASSIVE GLANCE WHICH CHILLED HIM TO THE BONE. IT WAS AS IF SHE WAS LOOKING AT A PIECE OF MEAT.

DOCTOR BUELL CONTINUED. "PLEASE TAKE GERALD TO THE SURGERY AND READY HIM FOR A BREAST IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE.

POOR GERALD COULD ENDURE THIS TERRIFYING SITUATION NO LONGER. HE JUMPED DOWN FROM THE TABLE AND DROPPED TO HIS KNEES IN FRONT OF AUNT, FRANTICALLY CLUTCHING AT HER SKIRTS AND SOBBING.

"OH, AUNTY, DON'T LEAVE ME IN THIS AWFUL PLACE! PLEASE DON'T LET THEM DO THIS TERRIBLE THING TO ME! PLEASE PLEASE, AUNTY. I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK, JUST DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!"

000

MISS INGRID SNIFFED IN CONTEMPT. AS SHE STEPPED NEXT TO GERALD, REACHED DOWN TO TAKE A PAINFUL GRIP ON HIS SHOULDER, YANKED HIM TO HIS FEET AS THOUGH HE WERE WEIGHTLESS, AND THEN MARCHED HIM FROM THE ROOM, STILL PLEADING AND SOBBING HIS HEART OUT.

"STOP YOUR NONSENSE, CHILD!" SHE DEMANDED IN A HUSKY VOICE. "IT WILL DO YOU NO GOOD AT ALL, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO THAT RIGHT NOW."

GERALD, NOW IN THE SURGERY, CAST AN APPREHENSIVE GLANCE ABOUT THE ROOM, SHUDDERING AS HIS EYES FELL ON THE PADDED WHITE OPERATING TABLE IN THE CENTER, WITH A HUGE QUARTZ-REFLECTOR LIGHT OVER IT. THEN HE SAW THE GLASS-DOORED, GLASS-SHELVED CABINETS FILLED WITH SHINY INSTRUMENTS.

THE HEADY ODOR OF ANTISPETIC MADE HIS NOSTRILS TWITCH, AND HE FERVENTLY DESIRED TO BE ELSEWHERE. IF THIS WERE A NIGHTMARE, HE WANTED TO WAKEN BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE!

THE

NURSE INGRID PROMPTLY REMOVED HIS STOCKINGS AND SHOES, THEN BEGAN LOOSENING LACES OF HIS CORSETS. "IT'S A PITY YOU WERE WEARING THIS PRETTY VEST UNDER YOUR CORSETS, OR I WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED TO REMOVED THEM EVEN THIS MUCH, SHE SAID.

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