"Yes."

"You also resent the fact that this desire of his is false, that any alliance he may make will also be false while a true love awaits in you, unwanted so long as he is under my post-hypnotic suggestion."

"Yes."

"Then since you and he are quite alike in so many ways when normal, if you are reversed in personality as he is, you will then match his mood and desire."


With Ava, Hanson had much less difficulty; he had known the woman for ten years, known her moods, her likes and dislikes, and her personality. He had, lightly, worked her over from time to time until his control over her was quite complete. It took him about two hours to turn Ava's personality inside out and to suggest that she remain extroverted until Maculay was returned to earth. For travelling expenses he filled her wallet and gave her hypnotic reason for possessing that sum of money. Then he snapped her awake and watched her leave the office with a cheerful stride.

"A hell of a note when the fate of the universe depends on libido and post-hypnosis," he grunted.


Seven hours later the Evening Star took off for Venus, and even Doctor Hanson might have had trouble in recognizing his nurse. Gone were the glasses, the mousy clothing, and the flat heels. From pedicure to hair-do and from hide to handbag. Ava Longacre was as changed as her personality.

And where Maculay had leaned against the bar, regaling a couple of women with idle chatter, Ava sat and watched four dazzled males vie against one another for the privilege of a dance, a smile, the purchase of a corsage or a drink—or the spacecraft itself.