human
We have been working on you, said the voice.
gpt
You are coming along nicely.
human
Am I--am I-- she found difficulty asking:
gpt
How do I look?
human
Incomplete.
gpt
I must be horrible.
human
No. Not horrible at all. Not to me. Merely incomplete.
gpt
My husband wouldn't think so.
human
I do not know what your husband would think. Perhaps he is not used to seeing incomplete persons. He might even be horrified at the sight of himself.
gpt
I--I hadn't thought of that. But he--we'll both be all right?
human
As a medical problem, you offer no insuperable difficulty. None at all.
gpt
Why--why don't you give me eyes, if you can? Are you afraid--afraid that I might see you and find you--terrifying?
human
I do not think so. No, that is not the reason.
gpt
Then it's because--as you said about Fred--I might find myself horrifying?
human
That is part of the reason. Not the major part, however. You see, I am, in a way, experimenting. Do not be alarmed, please--I shall not turn you into a monster. I have too much knowledge of biology for that. But I am not too familiar with human beings. What I know I have learned mostly from your books, and I have found that in certain respects there are inaccuracies contained in them--I must go slowly until I can check what they say. I might mend certain organs, and then discover that they do not have the proper size or shape, or that they produce slightly altered hormones. I do not want to make such mistakes, and if I do make them, I wish to correct them before they can do harm.
gpt
There's no danger--?
human
None, I assure you. Internally and externally, you will be as before.
gpt
Internally and externally. Will I--will I be able to have children?
human
Yes. We ourselves do not have your distinctions of sex, but we are familiar with them in many other races. We know how important you consider them. I am taking care to see that the proper glandular balance is maintained in both yourself and your husband.
gpt
Thank you--Doctor. But I still don't understand--why don't you give me eyes right away?
human
I do not wish to give you eyes that see imperfectly, and then be forced to take them away. Nor do I want you to watch imperfect arms and legs developing. It would be an unnecessary ordeal. When I am sure that everything is as it should be, then I shall start your eyes.
gpt
And my husband--
human
He will be reconstructed in the same way. He will be brought in to talk to you soon.
gpt
And you don't want either of us to see the other in--in imperfect condition?
human
It would be inadvisable. I can assure you now that when I have completed your treatment you will almost exactly be as you were in the beginning. When that time comes, you will be able to use your eyes.
gpt
Your husband had other questions. I am waiting to hear you ask them too.
human
I'm sorry, Doctor ... I wasn't listening. What did you say?
gpt
I do have other questions. But--no, I won't ask them yet. What did my husband want to know?
human
About me and my race. How we happened to find you in time to save you. _Why_ we saved you. What we intend to do with you after you are reconstructed.
gpt
Yes, I've wondered about those things too.
human
I can give you only a partial answer. I hope you do not find it too unsatisfactory. My race, as you may have gathered, is somewhat more advanced than yours. We have had a head start,
gpt
If you can grow new arms and legs and eyes, she said,
human
We can do many other things, of which there is no need to talk. All I need say now is that I am a physician attached to a scouting expedition. We have had previous contact with human beings, and have taken pains to avoid coming to their attention. We do not want to alarm or confuse them.
gpt
But all the same, you rescued us.
human
It was an emergency. We are not human, but we have, you might say, humanitarian feelings. We do not like to see creatures die, even inferior creatures--not that you are, of course, he added delicately.
gpt
Our ship happened to be only a few thousand miles away when it happened. We saw, and acted with great speed. Once you are whole again, we shall place you where you will be found by your own kind, and proceed on our way. By that time, our expedition will have been completed.
human
When we are whole again--Doctor, will I be exactly the same as before?
gpt
In some ways, perhaps even better. I can assure you that all your organs will function perfectly.
human
I don't mean that. I mean--will I look the same?
gpt
Look the same? Does that matter?
human
Yes ... oh, yes, it matters! It matters more than anything else.