For some reason, the first thing Bill Walden did when he became conscious of his surroundings was to look out the great window for the flock of birds. But they were gone.
Bill looked at Major Grey and said, "What are you going to do?"
The officer ran his hand back through his whitening hair, but he looked at Bill without wavering. "You will be erased."
Bill began to shake his head. "There is something wrong," he said.
"Bill...." the major began.
"There is something wrong," Bill repeated hopelessly. "Why must we be split so there is always something missing in each of us? Why must we be stupefied with drugs that keep us from knowing what we should feel? I was trying to live a better life. I did not want to hurt anyone."
"But you did hurt others," Major Grey said bluntly. "You would do so again if allowed to function in your own way in this society. Yet it would be insufferable to you to be hospitalized. You would be shut off forever from searching for another Clara Manz. And—there is no one else for you, is there?"
Bill looked up, his eyes cringing as though they stared at death. "No one else?" he asked vacantly. "No one?"
The two orderlies lifted him up by his arms, almost carrying him into the operating room. His feet dragged helplessly. He made no resistance as they lifted him onto the operating table and strapped him down.