Thompson said bitterly, ‘I didn’t think you’d commit such an enormity, Janie. I could kill you for that.’
‘You know how,’ said Janie pleasantly.
Hip turned slowly to Janie. The thought came closer, or he went high and faster than it was going. It was as if his fingers actually rounded a curve, got a barest of purchases.
If Baby, the heart and core, the ego, the repository of all this new being had ever been or done or thought—if Baby could be replaced, then Homo Gestalt was immortal!
And with a rush, he had it. He had it all.
He said evenly, ‘ I asked Baby if he could be replaced; if his memory banks and computing ability could be transferred.’
‘Don’t tell him that!’ Janie screamed.
Thompson had slipped into his complete, unnatural stillness. At last he said, ‘Baby said yes. I already know that. Janie, you knew that all along, didn’t you?’
She made a sound like a gasp or a small cough.
Thompson said, ‘And you never told me. But of course, you wouldn’t. Baby can’t talk to me; the next one might. I can get the whole thing from the Lieutenant, right now. So go ahead with the dramatics. I don’t need you, Janie.’