Page:Amazing Stories Volume 15 Number 10.djvu/54

54 "There are only two hospitals in all Quenna, and our healing arts are confined almost entirely to surgery, for we have conquered all disease. There are no plagues among us, no harmful bacteria. Our surgery effects the repair of bodies that have suffered from accidents, and it even counteracts the ravages of time."

The scene changed to where three men bent over a prostrate body, their hands working swiftly, using queer instruments.

"This man is more than three hundred years old, according to your standards," Lito went on, "He is being given a new heart for the third time in his life. It is not unusual in Quenna. I am more than fifty years older than the man you see here, and in my lifetime I have come to our surgeons for arteries, and twice for new limbs. But let me show you something—"

Lito led them through a door and consulted with a man. Presently, several other men came into the room, among them one who was evidently a doctor. The doctor quietly took hold of a man's arm, then suddenly he plunged a long blade into the other's chest. The blade came out covered with blood, and drops of blood fell to the floor.

Instantly, the doctor took hold of a long, glass-like needle and inserted it into the gaping wound. When he took it out a moment later, there was no sign of the wound. Not even a scar remained.

"Instantaneous healing of the torn tissues," said Lito. "Complete repair and recovery within a few seconds." The man who had been stabbed smiled at them and followed the others out.

Mike shook himself, and all of a sudden he howled:

"Help! Police! Murder!" His face was turning blue when Sammy clamped a hand over his mouth. The Quennians seemed more distressed than ever. They had been smiling less and less as they observed the two travelers, and the same fear that had been in their eyes when they first waited for the machine to return with these two men, that fear had returned. They waited. until Mike subsided, then, at a sign from Lito, they left the hospital as they had come.

ND now they were back in the jeweled chamber, and the High Priest was staring at them. He spoke a few words to the other Quennians in a strange language and Pyteles answered. Then the High Priest said to the two men;

"Our allotted time is almost gone, and our mission must be given to you. But I speak to you honestly and openly when I tell you that I am tortured by the fear that we are failing. You do not seem to understand what we have shown you—"

Sammy teetered back and forth and blinked at the High Priest.

"Whazzat?" he demanded indignantly. "Who told you that? We know what we saw. Fine show. Best I ever saw. Nothing but miracles. Yessir!" he repeated vehemently. "All miracles. Dazzled. Yessir!"

"Very well," said the High Priest, bowing his head. He seemed to be trying to control himself, summoning additional strength from within himself. "You are our one hope," he said, looking up. "You are also the one hope of your own world, the only possible link between our two worlds. Upon you rests the success or failure of our sacred obligation to the word of Tallu, and the happiness of untold billions of people in your world.

"You have seen a little of what we can do, of what we know. You have seen enough to understand that here is a life with meaning. There are no wars among