a skin disease we can do nothing with. The best research personnel in the country are working around the clock trying to find a cure. As of yet there has been no progress whatsoever. We have steadily lost ground. When Barry landed the skin was blue from his shoulders to his finger- tips. Now it covers his body. It is relentless and nothing works. From head to toe, he itches constantly while awake. The latest report I have on his condition is heartbreaking. It has begun to enter his blood. You know what that means. His life is extremely limited. Before I called you I broke this news to Barry. In addition, I gave him two alternatives to an immediate death. He wants you to help him decide. You have but a few hours at most. The first choice is to put him in a state of suspended animation, or to use layman's terms: freeze him until we have found a cure. This may take from two years to many years. To be perfectly frank with you, I believe it may be five years or even longer.

"The second choice is not pretty either, but I consider it the best for his sake. It will not help you, very much, however. You may have heard of brain transplants?" She answered that she had. "This is possible at the moment because this disease has not reached his brain yet. The trouble is, we have no body that is right for him to be transplanted into. Here is the nitty gritty thing. A family has donated the body of their nineteen year old daughter. It is damaged in no way. This is what we must have, in order to remove his brain and place him into a vacant body. You see Julie, the only way for Barry to live on, right now, is to have a body to live in. If we put him to sleep, we are not yet certain that he'll ever live and be himself again. Of course, the brain transplant could fail too. It's a tough decision to make either way. He heard me out and indicated that he was desirous of your help in choosing between the two."

"I'm going to leave you kids alone, and if you want to know where I'm going, I'm going to the nearest bar. The office is a good place for you to stay. I'll have dinner sent up. When you have made up your mind, tell Miss Grayson to call Jayro's Bar and let them tell me if it is the first or second choice. After you decide, take an hour for your- selves and then Miss Grayson will start the ball rolling. I hate to be so weak, but this thing has got me pulled in every direction. Bye . . With this we were left alone. I couldn't lift my head and look into her eyes.

""

"Barry," she pleaded, "look at me." I lifted up my eyes and she said: "I do love you. I love you enough to tell you to choose to live, even

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