The Beautiful People + 

Mary sat quietly and watched the handsome manвАЩs legs blown off; watched further as the great ship began to crumple and break into small pieces in the middle of the blazing night. She fidgeted slightly as the men and the parts of the men came floating dreamily through the wreckage out into the awful silence. And when the meteorite shower came upon the men, gouging holes through everything, tearing flesh and ripping bones, Mary closed her eyes. + 

вАЬMother.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle glanced up from her magazine. + 

вАЬHmm?вАЭ + 

вАЬDo we have to wait much longer?вАЭ + 

вАЬI donвАЩt think so. Why?вАЭ + 

Mary said nothing but looked at the moving wall. + 

вАЬOh, that.вАЭ Mrs.¬†Cuberle laughed and shook her head. вАЬThat tired old thing. Read a magazine, Mary, like IвАЩm doing. WeвАЩve all seen that a million times.вАЭ + 

вАЬDoes it have to be on, Mother?вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, nobody seems to be watching. I donвАЩt think the doctor would mind if I switched it off.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle rose from the couch and walked to the wall. She depressed a little button and the life went from the wall, flickering and glowing. + 

Mary opened her eyes. + 

вАЬHonestly,вАЭ Mrs.¬†Cuberle said to a woman sitting beside her, вАЬyouвАЩd think theyвАЩd try to get something else. We might as well go to the museum and watch the first landing on Mars. The Mayoraka DisasterвБ†вАФreally!вАЭ + 

The woman replied without distracting her eyes from the magazine page. вАЬItвАЩs the doctorвАЩs idea. Psychological.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle opened her mouth and moved her head up and down knowingly. + 

вАЬOhhh. I should have known there was some reason. Still, who watches it?вАЭ + 

вАЬThe children do. Makes them think, makes them grateful or something.вАЭ + 

вАЬOhhh.вАЭ + 

вАЬPsychological.вАЭ + 

Mary picked up a magazine and leafed through the pages. All photographs, of women and men. Women like Mother and like the others in the room; slender, tanned, shapely, beautiful women; and men with large muscles and shiny hair. Women and men, all looking alike, all perfect and beautiful. She folded the magazine and wondered how to answer the questions that would be asked. + 

вАЬMotherвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬGracious, what is it now! CanвАЩt you sit still for a minute?вАЭ + 

вАЬBut weвАЩve been here three hours.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle sniffed. + 

вАЬDoвБ†вАФdo I really have to?вАЭ + 

вАЬNow donвАЩt be silly, Mary. After those terrible things you told me, of course you do.вАЭ + 

An olive-skinned woman in a transparent white uniform came into the reception room. + 

вАЬCuberle. Mrs.¬†Zena Cuberle?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes.вАЭ + 

вАЬDoctor will see you now.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle took MaryвАЩs hand and they walked behind the nurse down a long corridor. + 

A man who seemed in his middle twenties looked up from a desk. He smiled and gestured toward two adjoining chairs. + 

вАЬWellвБ†вАФwell.вАЭ + 

вАЬDoctor Hortel, IвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

The doctor snapped his fingers. + 

вАЬOf course, I know. Your daughter. Ha ha, I certainly do know your trouble. Get so many of them nowadaysвБ†вАФtakes up most of my time.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou do?вАЭ asked Mrs.¬†Cuberle. вАЬFrankly, it had begun to upset me.вАЭ + 

вАЬUpset? Hmm. Not good. Not good at all. Ah, but thenвБ†вАФif people did not get upset, we psychiatrists would be out of a job, eh? Go the way of the early M. D. But, I assure you, I need hear no more.вАЭ He turned his handsome face to Mary. вАЬLittle girl, how old are you?вАЭ + 

вАЬEighteen, sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, a real bit of impatience. ItвАЩs just about time, of course. What might your name be?вАЭ + 

вАЬMary.вАЭ + 

вАЬCharming! And so unusual. Well now, Mary, may I say that I understand your problemвБ†вАФunderstand it thoroughly?вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle smiled and smoothed the sequins on her blouse. + 

вАЬMadam, you have no idea how many there are these days. Sometimes it preys on their minds so that it affects them physically, even mentally. Makes them act strange, say peculiar, unexpected things. One little girl I recall was so distraught she did nothing but brood all day long. Can you imagine!вАЭ + 

вАЬThatвАЩs what Mary does. When she finally told me, doctor, I thought she had goneвБ†вАФyou know.вАЭ + 

вАЬThat bad, eh? Afraid weвАЩll have to start a re-education program, very soon, or theyвАЩll all be like this. I believe IвАЩll suggest it to the senator day after tomorrow.вАЭ + 

вАЬI donвАЩt quite understand, doctor.вАЭ + 

вАЬSimply, Mrs.¬†Cuberle, that the children have got to be thoroughly instructed. Thoroughly. Too much is taken for granted and childish minds somehow refuse to accept things without definite reason. Children have become far too intellectual, which, as I trust I neednвАЩt remind you, is a dangerous thing.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, but what has this to do withвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬWith Mary? Everything, of course. Mary, like half the sixteen, seventeen and eighteen year olds today, has begun to feel acutely self-conscious. She feels that her body has developed sufficiently for the TransformationвБ†вАФwhich of course it has not, not quite yetвБ†вАФand she cannot understand the complex reasons that compel her to wait until some future date. Mary looks at you, at the women all about her, at the pictures, and then she looks into a mirror. From pure perfection of body, face, limbs, pigmentation, carriage, stance, from simon-pure perfection, if I may be allowed the expression, she sees herself and is horrified. IsnвАЩt that so, my dear child? Of courseвБ†вАФof course. She asks herself, why must I be hideous, unbalanced, oversize, undersize, full of revolting skin eruptions, badly schemed organically? In short, Mary is tired of being a monster and is overly anxious to achieve what almost everyone else has already achieved.вАЭ + 

вАЬButвБ†вАФвАЭ said Mrs.¬†Cuberle. + 

вАЬThis much you understand, doubtless. Now, Mary, what you object to is that our society offers you, and the others like you, no convincing logic on the side of waiting until age nineteen. It is all taken for granted, and you want to know why! It is that simple. A nontechnical explanation will not sufficeвБ†вАФmercy no! The modern child wants facts, solid technical data, to satisfy her every question. And that, as you can both see, will take a good deal of reorganizing.вАЭ + 

вАЬButвБ†вАФвАЭ said Mary. + 

вАЬThe child is upset, nervous, tense; she acts strange, peculiar, odd, worries you and makes herself ill because it is beyond our meagre powers to put it across. I tell you, what we need is a whole new basis for learning. And, that will take doing. It will take doing, Mrs.¬†Cuberle. Now, donвАЩt you worry about Mary, and donвАЩt you worry, child. IвАЩll prescribe some pills andвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬNo, no, doctor! YouвАЩre all mixed up,вАЭ cried Mrs.¬†Cuberle. + 

вАЬI beg your pardon, Madam?вАЭ + 

вАЬWhat I mean is, youвАЩve got it wrong. Tell him, Mary, tell the doctor what you told me.вАЭ + 

Mary shifted uneasily in the chair. + 

вАЬItвАЩs thatвБ†вАФI donвАЩt want it.вАЭ + 

The doctorвАЩs well-proportioned jaw dropped. + 

вАЬWould you please repeat that?вАЭ + 

вАЬI said, I donвАЩt want the Transformation.вАЭ + 

вАЬDвБ†вАФDonвАЩt want it?вАЭ + 

вАЬYou see? She told me. ThatвАЩs why I came to you.вАЭ + 

The doctor looked at Mary suspiciously. + 

вАЬBut thatвАЩs impossible! I have never heard of such a thing. Little girl, you are playing a joke!вАЭ + 

Mary nodded negatively. + 

вАЬSee, doctor. What can it be?вАЭ Mrs.¬†Cuberle rose and began to pace. + 

The Doctor clucked his tongue and took from a small cupboard a black box covered with buttons and dials and wire. + 

вАЬOh no, you donвАЩt thinkвБ†вАФI mean, could it?вАЭ + 

вАЬWe shall soon see.вАЭ The doctor revolved a number of dials and studied the single bulb in the center of the box. It did not flicker. He removed handles from MaryвАЩs head. + 

вАЬDear me,вАЭ the doctor said, вАЬdear me. Your daughter is perfectly sane, Mrs.¬†Cuberle.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, then what is it?вАЭ + 

вАЬPerhaps she is lying. We havenвАЩt completely eliminated that factor as yet; it slips into certain organisms.вАЭ + 

More tests. More machines and more negative results. + 

Mary pushed her foot in a circle on the floor. When the doctor put his hands to her shoulders, she looked up pleasantly. + 

вАЬLittle girl,вАЭ said the handsome man, вАЬdo you actually mean to tell us that you prefer that body?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬMay I ask why.вАЭ + 

вАЬI like it. ItвАЩsвБ†вАФhard to explain, but itвАЩs me and thatвАЩs what I like. Not the looks, maybe, but the me.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou can look in the mirror and see yourself, then look atвБ†вАФwell, at your mother and be content?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, sir.вАЭ Mary thought of her reasons; fuzzy, vague, but very definitely there. Maybe she had said the reason. No. Only a part of it. + 

вАЬMrs.¬†Cuberle,вАЭ the doctor said, вАЬI suggest that your husband have a long talk with Mary.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy husband is dead. That affair near Ganymede, I believe. Something like that.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, splendid. Rocket man, eh? Very interesting organisms. Something always seems to happen to rocket men, in one way or another. ButвБ†вАФI suppose we should do something.вАЭ The doctor scratched his jaw. вАЬWhen did she first start talking this way,вАЭ he asked. + 

вАЬOh, for quite some time. I used to think it was because she was such a baby. But lately, the time getting so close and all, I thought IвАЩd better see you.вАЭ + 

вАЬOf course, yes, very wise. ErвБ†вАФdoes she also do odd things?вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, I found her on the second level one night. She was lying on the floor and when I asked her what she was doing, she said she was trying to sleep.вАЭ + 

Mary flinched. She was sorry, in a way, that Mother had found that out. + 

вАЬToвБ†вАФdid you say вАШsleepвАЩ?вАЭ + 

вАЬThatвАЩs right.вАЭ + 

вАЬNow where could she have picked that up?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo idea.вАЭ + 

вАЬMary, donвАЩt you know that nobody sleeps anymore? That we have an infinitely greater lifespan than our poor ancestors now that the wasteful state of unconsciousness has been conquered? Child, have you actually slept? No one knows how anymore.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo sir, but I almost did.вАЭ + 

The doctor sighed. вАЬBut, itвАЩs unheard of! How could you begin to try to do something people have forgotten entirely about?вАЭ + 

вАЬThe way it was described in the book, it sounded nice, thatвАЩs all.вАЭ Mary was feeling very uncomfortable now. Home and no talking man in a foolish white gown.вБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ + 

вАЬBook, book? Are there books at your Unit, Madam?вАЭ + 

вАЬThere could beвБ†вАФI havenвАЩt cleaned up in a while.вАЭ + 

вАЬThat is certainly peculiar. I havenвАЩt seen a book for years. Not since вАЩ17.вАЭ + 

Mary began to fidget and stare nervously about. + 

вАЬBut with the tapes, why should you try and read booksвБ†вАФwhere did you get them?вАЭ + 

вАЬDaddy did. He got them from his father and so did Grandpa. He said theyвАЩre better than the tapes and he was right.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle flushed. + 

вАЬMy husband was a little strange, Doctor Hortel. He kept those things despite everything I said.вАЭ + 

вАЬDear me, IвБ†вАФexcuse me.вАЭ + 

The muscular, black-haired doctor walked to another cabinet and selected from the shelf a bottle. From the bottle he took two large pills and swallowed them. + 

вАЬSleepвБ†вАФbooksвБ†вАФdoesnвАЩt want the TransformationвБ†вАФMrs.¬†Cuberle, my dear good woman, this is grave. DoesnвАЩt want the Transformation. I would appreciate it if you would change psychiatrists: I am very busy and, uh, this is somewhat specialized. I suggest Centraldome. Many fine doctors there. Goodbye.вАЭ + 

The doctor turned and sat down in a large chair and folded his hands. Mary watched him and wondered why the simple statements should have so changed things. But the doctor did not move from the chair. + 

вАЬWell!вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Cuberle and walked quickly from the room. + 

The manвАЩs legs were being blown off again as they left the reception room. + 

Mary considered the reflection in the mirrored wall. She sat on the floor and looked at different angles of herself: profile, full-face, full length, naked, clothed. Then she took up the magazine and studied it. She sighed. + 

вАЬMirror, mirror on the wallвБ†вАФвАЭ The words came haltingly to her mind and from her lips. She hadnвАЩt read them, she recalled. Daddy had said them, quoted them as he put it. But they too were lines from a bookвБ†вАФвАЬwho is the fairest ofвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

A picture of Mother sat upon the dresser and Mary considered this now. Looked for a long time at the slender, feminine neck. The golden skin, smooth and without blemish, without wrinkles and without age. The dark brown eyes and the thin tapers of eyebrows, the long black lashes, set evenly, so that each half of the face corresponded precisely. The half-parted-mouth, a violet tint against the gold, the white, white teeth, even, sparkling. + 

Mother. Beautiful, Transformed Mother. And back again to the mirror. + 

вАЬвБ†вАФof them all.вБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ + 

The image of a rather chubby girl, without lines of rhythm or grace, without perfection. Splotchy skin full of little holes, puffs in the cheeks, red eruptions on the forehead. Perspiration, shapeless hair flowing onto shapeless shoulders down a shapeless body. Like all of them, before the Transformation. + 

Did they all look like this, before? Did Mother, even? + 

Mary thought hard, trying to remember exactly what Daddy and Grandpa had said, why they said the Transformation was a bad thing, and why she believed and agreed with them so strongly. It made little sense, but they were right. They were right! And one day, she would understand completely. + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle slammed the door angrily and Mary jumped to her feet. She hadnвАЩt forgotten about it. вАЬThe way you upset Dr.¬†Hortel. He wonвАЩt even see me anymore, and these traumas are getting horrible. IвАЩll have to get that awful Dr.¬†Wagoner.вАЭ + 

вАЬSorryвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle sat on the couch and crossed her legs carefully. + 

вАЬWhat in the world were you doing on the floor?вАЭ + 

вАЬTrying to sleep.вАЭ + 

вАЬNow, I wonвАЩt hear of it! YouвАЩve got to stop it! You know youвАЩre not insane. Why should you want to do such a silly thing?вАЭ + 

вАЬThe books. And Daddy told me about it.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd you mustnвАЩt read those terrible things.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhyвБ†вАФis there a law against them?вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, no, but people tired of books when the tapes came in. You know that. The house is full of tapes; anything you want.вАЭ + 

Mary stuck out her lower lip. + 

вАЬTheyвАЩre no fun. All about the Wars and the colonizations.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd I suppose books are fun?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes. They are.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd thatвАЩs where you got this idiotic notion that you donвАЩt want the Transformation, isnвАЩt it? Of course it is. Well, weвАЩll see to that!вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle rose quickly and took the books from the corner and from the closet and filled her arms with them. She looked everywhere in the room and gathered the old rotten volumes. + 

These she carried from the room and threw into the elevator. A button guided the doors shut. + 

вАЬI thought youвАЩd do that,вАЭ Mary said. вАЬThatвАЩs why I hid most of the good ones. Where youвАЩll never find them.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle put a satin handkerchief to her eyes and began to weep. + 

вАЬJust look at you. Look. I donвАЩt know what I ever did to deserve this!вАЭ + 

вАЬDeserve what, Mother? What am I doing thatвАЩs so wrong?вАЭ MaryвАЩs mind rippled in a confused stream. + 

вАЬWhat!вАЭ Mrs.¬†Cuberle screamed, вАЬWhat! Do you think I want people to point to you and say IвАЩm the mother of an idiot? ThatвАЩs what theyвАЩll say, youвАЩll see. Or,вАЭ she looked up hopefully, вАЬhave you changed your mind?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo.вАЭ The vague reasons, longing to be put into words. + 

вАЬIt doesnвАЩt hurt. They just take off a little skin and put some on and give you pills and electronic treatments and things like that. It doesnвАЩt take more than a week.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo.вАЭ The reason. + 

вАЬDonвАЩt you want to be beautiful, like other peopleвБ†вАФlike me? Look at your friend Shala, sheвАЩs getting her Transformation next month. And sheвАЩs almost pretty now.вАЭ + 

вАЬMother, I donвАЩt careвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬIf itвАЩs the bones youвАЩre worried about, well, that doesnвАЩt hurt. They give you a shot and when you wake up, everythingвАЩs moulded right. Everything, to suit the personality.вАЭ + 

вАЬI donвАЩt care, I donвАЩt care.вАЭ + 

вАЬBut why?вАЭ + 

вАЬI like me the way I am.вАЭ AlmostвБ†вАФalmost exactly. But not quite. Part of it, however. Part of what Daddy and Grandpa meant. + 

вАЬBut youвАЩre so ugly, dear! Like Dr.¬†Hortel said. And Mr.¬†Willmes, at the factory. He told some people he thought you were the ugliest girl heвАЩd ever seen. Says heвАЩll be thankful when you have your Transformation. And what if he hears of all this, whatвАЩll happen then?вАЭ + 

вАЬDaddy said I was beautiful.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell really, dear. You do have eyes.вАЭ + 

вАЬDaddy said that real beauty is only skin deep. He said a lot of things like that and when I read the books I felt the same way. I guess I donвАЩt want to look like everybody else, thatвАЩs all.вАЭ No, thatвАЩs not it. Not at all it. + 

вАЬThat man had too much to do with you. YouвАЩll notice that he had his Transformation, though!вАЭ + 

вАЬBut he was sorry. He told me that if he had it to do over again, heвАЩd never do it. He said for me to be stronger than he was.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, I wonвАЩt have it. YouвАЩre not going to get away with this, young lady. After all, I am your mother.вАЭ + 

A bulb flickered in the bathroom and Mrs.¬†Cuberle walked uncertainly to the cabinet. She took out a little cardboard box. + 

вАЬTime for lunch.вАЭ + 

Mary nodded. That was another thing the books talked about, which the tapes did not. Lunch seemed to be something special long ago, or at least different. The books talked of strange ways of putting a load of things into the mouth and chewing these things. Enjoying them. Strange and somehow wonderful. + 

вАЬAnd youвАЩd better get ready for work.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, Mother.вАЭ + 

The office was quiet and without shadows. The walls gave off a steady luminescence, distributed the light evenly upon all the desks and tables. And it was neither hot nor cold. + 

Mary held the ruler firmly and allowed the pen to travel down the metal edge effortlessly. The new black lines were small and accurate. She tipped her head, compared the notes beside her to the plan she was working on. She noticed the beautiful people looking at her more furtively than before, and she wondered about this as she made her lines. + 

A tall man rose from his desk in the rear of the office and walked down the aisle to MaryвАЩs table. He surveyed her work, allowing his eyes to travel cautiously from her face to the draft. + 

Mary looked around. + 

вАЬNice job,вАЭ said the man. + 

вАЬThank you, Mr.¬†Willmes.вАЭ + 

вАЬDralich shouldnвАЩt have anything to complain about. That crane should hold the whole damn city.вАЭ + 

вАЬItвАЩs very good alloy, sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬYeah. Say, kid, you got a minute?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬLetвАЩs go into MullinsonвАЩs office.вАЭ + 

The big handsome man led the way into a small cubbyhole of a room. He motioned to a chair and sat on the edge of one desk. + 

вАЬKid, I never was one to beat around the bush. Somebody called in little while ago, gave me some crazy story about you not wanting the Transformation.вАЭ + 

Mary said вАЬOh.вАЭ Daddy had said it would have to happen, some day. This must be what he meant. + 

вАЬI wouldвАЩve told them they were way off the beam, but I wanted to talk to you first, get it straight.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, sir, itвАЩs true. I donвАЩt. I want to stay this way.вАЭ + 

The man looked at Mary and then coughed, embarrassedly. + 

вАЬWhat the hellвБ†вАФexcuse me, kid, butвБ†вАФI donвАЩt exactly get it. You, uh, you saw the psychiatrist?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes sir. IвАЩm not insane. Dr.¬†Hortel can tell you.вАЭ + 

вАЬI didnвАЩt mean anything like that. WellвБ†вАФвАЭ the man laughed nervously. вАЬI donвАЩt know what to say. YouвАЩre still a cub, but you do swell work. Lot of good results, lots of comments from the stations. But, Mr.¬†Poole wonвАЩt like it.вАЭ + 

вАЬI know. I know what you mean, Mr.¬†Willmes. But nothing can change my mind. I want to stay this way and thatвАЩs all there is to it.вАЭ + 

вАЬButвБ†вАФyouвАЩll get old before youвАЩre half through life.вАЭ + 

Yes, she would. Old, like the Elders, wrinkled and brittle, unable to move right. Old. вАЬItвАЩs hard to make you understand. But I donвАЩt see why it should make any difference.вАЭ + 

вАЬDonвАЩt go getting me wrong, now. ItвАЩs not me, but, you know, I donвАЩt own Interplan. I just work here. Mr.¬†Poole likes things running smooth and itвАЩs my job to carry it out. And soon as everybody finds out, things wouldnвАЩt run smooth. ThereвАЩll be a big stink. The dames will start asking questions and talk.вАЭ + 

вАЬWill you accept my resignation, then, Mr.¬†Willmes?вАЭ + 

вАЬSure you wonвАЩt change your mind?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo sir. I decided that a long time ago. And IвАЩm sorry now that I told Mother or anyone else. No sir, I wonвАЩt change my mind.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, IвАЩm sorry, Mary. You been doing awful swell work. Couple of years you could be centralled on one of the asteroids, the way you been working. But if you should change your mind, thereвАЩll always be a job for you here.вАЭ + 

вАЬThank you, sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo hard feelings?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo hard feelings.вАЭ + 

вАЬOkay then. YouвАЩve got till March. And between you and me, I hope by then youвАЩve decided the other way.вАЭ + 

Mary walked back down the aisle, past the rows of desks. Past the men and women. The handsome, model men and the beautiful, perfect women, perfect, all perfect, all looking alike. Looking exactly alike. + 

She sat down again and took up her ruler and pen. + 

Mary stepped into the elevator and descended several hundred feet. At the Second Level she pressed a button and the elevator stopped. The doors opened with another button and the doors to her Unit with still another. + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle sat on the floor by the TV, disconsolate and red-eyed. Her blond hair had come slightly askew and a few strands hung over her forehead. вАЬYou donвАЩt need to tell me. No one will hire you.вАЭ + 

Mary sat beside her mother. вАЬIf you only hadnвАЩt told Mr.¬†Willmes in the first placeвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬWell, I thought he could beat a little sense into you.вАЭ + 

The sounds from the TV grew louder. Mrs.¬†Cuberle changed channels and finally turned it off. + 

вАЬWhat did you do today, Mother?вАЭ Mary smiled. + 

вАЬDo? What can I do, now? Nobody will even come over! I told you what would happen.вАЭ + 

вАЬMother!вАЭ + 

вАЬThey say you should be in the Circuses.вАЭ + 

Mary went into another room. Mrs.¬†Cuberle followed. вАЬHow are we going to live? Where does the money come from now? Just because youвАЩre stubborn on this crazy idea. Crazy crazy crazy! Can I support both of us? TheyвАЩll be firing me, next!вАЭ + 

вАЬWhy is this happening?вАЭ + 

вАЬBecause of you, thatвАЩs why. Nobody else on this planet has ever refused the Transformation. But you turn it down. You want to be ugly!вАЭ + 

Mary put her arms about her motherвАЩs shoulders. вАЬI wish I could explain, IвАЩve tried so hard to. It isnвАЩt that I want to bother anyone, or that Daddy wanted me to. I just donвАЩt want the Transformation.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle reached into the pockets of her blouse and got a purple pill. She swallowed the pill. When the letter dropped from the chute, Mrs.¬†Cuberle ran to snatch it up. She read it once, silently, then smiled. + 

вАЬOh, I was afraid they wouldnвАЩt answer. But weвАЩll see about this now!вАЭ + 

She gave the letter to Mary. + 

In re. your letter of Dec. 3 36. We have carefully examined your complaint and consider that it requires stringent measures. Quite frankly, the possibility of such a complaint has never occurred to this Dept. and we therefore cannot make positive directives at the moment. + 

However, due to the unusual qualities of the matter, we have arranged an audience at Centraldome, Eighth Level, Sixteenth Unit, Jan. 3 37, 23 sharp. Dr.¬†Elph Hortel has been instructed to attend. You will bring the subject in question. + 

Mary let the paper flutter to the floor. She walked quietly to the elevator and set it for Level III. When the elevator stopped, she ran from it, crying, into her room. + 

She thought and remembered and tried to sort out and put together. Daddy had said it, Grandpa had, the books did. Yes, the books did. + 

She read until her eyes burned and her eyes burned until she could read no more. Then Mary went to sleep, softly and without realizing it, for the first time. + 

But the sleep was not peaceful. + 

вАЬLadies and gentlemen,вАЭ said the young-looking, well groomed man, вАЬthis problem does not resolve easily. Dr.¬†Hortel here, testifies that Mary Cuberle is definitely not insane. Drs.¬†Monagh, Prinn and Fedders all verify this judgment. Dr.¬†Prinn asserts that the human organism is no longer so constructed as to create and sustain such an attitude through deliberate falsehood. Further, there is positively nothing in the structure of Mary Cuberle which might suggest difficulties in Transformation. There is evidence for all these statements. And yet we are faced with this refusal. What, may I ask, is to be done?вАЭ + 

Mary looked at a metal table. + 

вАЬWe have been in session far too long, holding up far too many other pressing contingencies. The trouble on Mercury, for example. WeвАЩll have to straighten that out, somehow.вАЭ + 

Throughout the rows of beautiful people, the mumbling increased. Mrs.¬†Cuberle sat nervously, tapping her shoe and running a comb through her hair. + 

вАЬMary Cuberle, you have been given innumerable chances to reconsider, you know.вАЭ + 

Mary said, вАЬI know. But I donвАЩt want to.вАЭ + 

The beautiful people looked at Mary and laughed. Some shook their heads. + 

The man threw up his hands. вАЬLittle girl, can you realize what an issue you have caused? The unrest, the wasted time? Do you fully understand what you have done? Intergalactic questions hang fire while you sit there saying the same thing over and over. DoesnвАЩt the happiness of your Mother mean anything to you?вАЭ + 

A slender, supple woman in a back row cried, вАЬWe want action. Do something!вАЭ + 

The man in the high stool raised his hand. вАЬNone of that, now. We must conform, even though the question is out of the ordinary.вАЭ He leafed through a number of papers on his desk, leaned down and whispered into the ear of a strong blond man. Then he turned to Mary again. вАЬChild, for the last time. Do you reconsider? Will you accept the Transformation?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo.вАЭ + 

The man shrugged his shoulders. вАЬVery well, then. I have here a petition, signed by two thousand individuals and representing all the Stations of Earth. They have been made aware of all the facts and have submitted the petition voluntarily. ItвАЩs all so unusual and IвАЩd hoped we wouldnвАЩt have toвБ†вАФbut the petition urges drastic measures.вАЭ + 

The mumbling rose. + 

вАЬThe petition urges that you shall, upon final refusal, be forced by law to accept the Transformation. And that an act of legislature shall make this universal and binding in the future.вАЭ + 

MaryвАЩs eyes were open, wide. She stood and paused before speaking. + 

вАЬWhy?вАЭ she asked, loudly. + 

The man passed a hand through his hair. + 

Another voice from the crowd, вАЬSeems to be a lot of questions unanswered here.вАЭ + 

And another, вАЬSign the petition, Senator!вАЭ + 

All the voices, вАЬSign it, sign it!вАЭ + 

вАЬBut why?вАЭ Mary began to cry. The voices stilled for a moment. + 

вАЬBecauseвБ†вАФBecauseвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬIf youвАЩd only tell me that. Tell me!вАЭ + 

вАЬWhy, it simply isnвАЩt being done, thatвАЩs all. The greatest gift of all, and what if others should get the same idea? What would happen to us then, little girl? WeвАЩd be right back to the ugly, thin, fat, unhealthy-looking race we were ages ago! There canвАЩt be any exceptions.вАЭ + 

вАЬMaybe they didnвАЩt consider themselves so ugly.вАЭ + 

The mumbling began anew. + 

вАЬThat isnвАЩt the point,вАЭ cried the man. вАЬYou must conform!вАЭ + 

And the voices cried вАЬYesвАЭ loudly until the man took up a pen and signed the papers on his desk. + 

Cheers, applause, shouts. + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle patted Mary on the top of her head. + 

вАЬThere, now!вАЭ she said, happily, вАЬEverything will be all right now. YouвАЩll see, Mary.вАЭ + 

The Transformation Parlor Covered the entire Level, sprawling with its departments. It was always filled and there was nothing to sign and no money to pay and people were always waiting in line. + 

But today the people stood aside. And there were still more, looking in through doors, TV cameras placed throughout the tape machines in every corner. It was filled, but not bustling as usual. + 

Mary walked past the people, Mother and the men in back of her, following. She looked at the people. The people were beautiful, perfect, without a single flaw. + 

All the beautiful people. All the ugly people, staring out from bodies that were not theirs. Walking on legs that had been made for them, laughing with manufactured voices, gesturing with shaped and fashioned arms. + 

Mary walked slowly, despite the prodding. In her eyes, in her eyes, was a mounting confusion; a wide, wide wonderment. + 

The reason was becoming less vague; the fuzzed edges were falling away now. Through all the horrible months and all the horrible moments, the edges fell away. Now it was almost clear. + 

She looked down at her own body, then at the walls which reflected it. Flesh of her flesh, bone of her bone, all hers, made by no one, built by herself or someone she did not know. Uneven kneecaps, making two grinning cherubs when they bent, and the old familiar rubbing together of fat inner thighs. Fat, unshapely, unsystematic Mary. But Mary. + 

Of course. Of course! This was what Daddy meant, what Grandpa and the books meant. What they would know if they would read the books or hear the words, the good, reasonable words, the words that signified more, much more, than any of this. + 

The understanding heaped up with each step. + 

вАЬWhere are these people?вАЭ Mary asked half to herself. вАЬWhat has happened to them and donвАЩt they miss themselves, these manufactured things?вАЭ + 

She stopped, suddenly. + 

вАЬYes! That is the reason. They have all forgotten themselves!вАЭ + 

A curvacious woman stepped forward and took MaryвАЩs hand. The womanвАЩs skin was tinted dark. Chipped and sculptured bone into slender rhythmic lines, electrically created carriage, stance, made, turned out. + 

вАЬAll right, young lady. We will begin.вАЭ + 

They guided Mary to a large, curved leather seat. + 

From the top of a long silver pole a machine lowered itself. Tiny bulbs glowed to life and cells began to click. The people stared. Slowly a picture formed upon the screen in the machine. Bulbs directed at Mary, then redirected into the machine. Wheels turning, buttons ticking. + 

The picture was completed. + 

вАЬWould you like to see it?вАЭ + 

Mary closed her eyes, tight. + 

вАЬItвАЩs really very nice.вАЭ The woman turned to the crowd. вАЬOh yes, thereвАЩs a great deal to be salvaged; youвАЩd be surprised. A great deal. WeвАЩll keep the nose and I donвАЩt believe the elbows will have to be altered at all.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Cuberle looked at Mary and smiled. вАЬNow, it isnвАЩt so bad as you thought, is it?вАЭ she said. + 

The beautiful people looked. Cameras turned, tapes wound. + 

вАЬYouвАЩll have to excuse us now. Only the machines allowed.вАЭ + 

Only the machines. + 

The people filed out. + 

Mary saw the rooms in the mirror. Saw things in the rooms, the faces and bodies that had been left; the woman and the machines and the old young men standing about, adjusting, readying. + 

Then she looked at the picture in the screen. + 

And screamed. + 

A woman of medium height stared back at her. A woman with a curved body and thin legs; silver hair, pompadoured, cut short; full sensuous lips, small breasts, flat stomach, unblemished skin. + 

A strange, strange woman no one had ever seen before. + 

The nurse began to take MaryвАЩs clothes off. + 

вАЬGeoff,вАЭ the woman said, вАЬcome look at this, will you. Not one so bad in years. Amazing that we can keep anything at all.вАЭ + 

The handsome man put his hands in his pockets. + 

вАЬPretty bad, all right.вАЭ + 

вАЬBe still, child, stop making those noises. You know perfectly well nothing is going to hurt.вАЭ + 

вАЬButвБ†вАФwhat will you do with me?вАЭ + 

вАЬThat was all explained to you.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, no, with me, me!вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, you mean the castoffs. The usual. I donвАЩt know exactly. Somebody takes care of it.вАЭ + 

вАЬI want me!вАЭ Mary cried. вАЬNot that!вАЭ She pointed at the screen. + 

Her chair was wheeled into a semi-dark room. She was naked now, and the men lifted her to a table. The surface was like glass, black, filmed. A big machine hung above. + 

Straps. Clamps pulling, stretching limbs apart. The screen with the picture brought in. The men and the woman, more women now. Dr.¬†Hortel in a corner, sitting with his legs crossed, shaking his head. + 

Mary began to cry above the hum of the mechanical things. + 

вАЬShhh. My gracious, such a racket! Just think about your job waiting for you, and all the friends youвАЩll have and how nice everything will be. No more trouble now.вАЭ + 

The big machine hurtling downward. + 

вАЬWhere will I find me?вАЭ Mary screamed, вАЬwhen itвАЩs all over?вАЭ + 

A long needle slid into rough flesh and the beautiful people gathered around the table. + 

They turned on the big machine. + 