"The old girl's suggestion was sort of radical, but logical. She suggested that her healers take Burke's head apart first, to see how it was made. Then they could operate on the boss and fix him."
"What?" said Matt.
Tex was having trouble controlling himself. He laughed so hard he strangled, then got hiccoughs and had to be pounded on the back. "Oh, boy!" he finally exploded, tears streaming down his cheeks, "this is wonderful. I can't wait to see Stinky's face. You haven't told him, have you?"
"No."
"Then let me. Dibs on the job."
"I don't think we ought to tell him," objected Oscar. "Why kick him when he's down?"
"Oh, don't be so noble! It won't hurt any to let him know that his social rating is 'guinea pig.' "
"She really hates him, doesn't she?" Matt commented.
"Why shouldn't she?" Tex answered. "A dozen or more of her people dead-do you expect her to regard it as a schoolboy prank?"
"You've both got her wrong," Oscar objected. "She doesn't hate him."