Carson considered it. It seemed to hold up. And 'Hamelin' would have a death certificate as complex as he deserved—not officially, of course, but in the minds of everyone who knew the facts. His death, when it came, would be due directly to the thrombocytopenia which had caused the Re-Ed machine to reject him—and thrombocytopenia is a disease of infants. Unless ye become as little children....
That was a fitting reason for rejection from the new kingdom of Earth: anemia of the newborn.
His pent breath went out of him in a long sigh. He hadn't been aware that he'd been holding it. "It's true," he said softly. "That's the time to pay the piper."
"When?" Mudgett said.
"When?" Carson said, surprised. "Why, before he takes the children away."