I Will Fear No Evil (66 page)

“No, the chief of surgery. He’s far more skilled than I am. Dr. Frankel. You met him, he examined you this morning.”

“Did he? It’s slipped my mind. Roberto, I must tell Winnie something very important. It’s about the name of my baby.”

“She knows, dear, she wrote it down. ‘Jacob Eunice, or Eunice Jacob.’ ”

“Oh, good! Then everything’s all right. But tell them to make it quick, Roberto; I never liked waiting around at a beachhead.”

“It’ll be quick, you’ll never notice it. Spinal and a wagonload of barbiturate, Joan.”

“That’s funny, you called me ‘Joan.’ My name’s ‘Johann,’ Doctor. Agnes is going to be all right—she is, isn’t she?”

“Yes, Johann. Agnes—is going to be all right.”

“I told her she would be all right. Doctor, I feel dreamy. If I fall asleep, will you wake me when Agnes goes in to have her baby?”

“Yes, Johann.”

“Thank . . you . . Mrs . . . Wicklund. I didn’t . . know . . could be so . . wonderful.”

“Roberto? Where are you? I can’t see you.”

“Right here, dear.”

“Touch me. Touch my face, I can’t feel anything lower down. Roberto, what I bought was a wonderful year—and I have no regrets. Have they started?”

“Not quite. Do you want to go to sleep, dear?”

“Must I? I’d rather not. I feel sleepy—dreamy and good . . . but I’d rather not go to sleep just yet. It’s on the knees of the gods now, isn’t it? Time to bite the bullet and chin up and all that. But I don’t need that, I’m happy. Come close, dear, I must tell you why. Closer . . can’t talk . . very loud.”

“Clamp! Damn it, Nurse, stay out of my way!”

“Everything always hurts, Roberto—everything. Always. But some things are worth all the hurts. ‘Tie me kangeroo down, mite, tie me kangeroo down!’ That . . wasn’t . . what I meant to say; that’s Jake, he’s singing again. Always sings when he’s happy. Lean very close . . so I can tell you . . before—I sleep. Thank you, Roberto, for letting me welcome you into my body. It is good to touch—to fuck—be fucked. It’s—not good—to be—too much alone. You have blessed me . . with your body, dear. Now I’ll sleep a while if I may . . but first I had to tell you that. Om Mani Padme Hum. Now I lay me down to sleep—”

“Surgeon, she’s failing.”

A baby cried, a world began.

“Heart action dropping!”

(Jake? Eunice?) (Here, Boss! Grab on! There! We’ve got you.) (Is it a boy or a girl?) (Who cares, Johann—it’s a baby! ‘One for all and all for one!’)

An old world vanished and then there was none.

Books by Robert A. Heinlein

ASSIGNMENT IN ETERNITY
THE BEST OF ROBERT HEINLEIN
BETWEEN PLANETS

THE CAT WHO WALKS THROUGH WALLS

CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
DESTINATION MOON
THE DOOR INTO SUMMER
DOUBLE STAR

EXPANDED UNIVERSE: MORE WORLDS OF ROBERT A. HEINLEIN

FARMER IN THE SKY
FARNHAM’S FREEHOLD
FRIDAY
GLORY ROAD
THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH

HAVE SPACE SUIT—WILL TRAVEL

I WILL FEAR NO EVIL
JOB: A COMEDY OF JUSTICE
THE MAN WHO SOLD THE MOON
THE MENACE FROM EARTH
METHUSELAH’S CHILDREN
THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS

THE NOTEBOOKS OF LAZARUS LONG

THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
ORPHANS OF THE SKY

THE PAST THROUGH TOMORROW: “FUTURE HISTORY STORIES”

PODKAYNE OF MARS
THE PUPPET MASTERS
RED PLANET
REVOLT IN 2100
ROCKET SHIP GALILEO
THE ROLLING STONES
SIXTH COLUMN
SPACE CADET
THE STAR BEAST
STARMAN JONES
STARSHIP TROOPERS
STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND
THREE BY HEINLEIN
TIME ENOUGH FOR LOVE
TIME FOR THE STARS
TOMORROW THE STARS (ED.)
TO SAIL BEYOND THE SUNSET
TRAMP ROYALE
TUNNEL IN THE SKY

THE UNPLEASANT PROFESSION OF JONATHAN HOAG

WALDO & MAGIC, INC.

THE WORLDS OF ROBERT A. HEINLEIN