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word so dear, yet so futile to him now. He felt a little shaky, with a panic creeping into every reach of his vital self. Every nerve in his body felt some pain, some numbness, fear. He was in the throes of one dying, yet he was living. He needed more than “physician,” more than his former self. He needed another person, his other half, who was heir to the same despair, but who gave that despair a hue of glamour, a note of infinity. m1 1 1 i 1 vod Then a blessed numbness enveloped his body. In it he was more alive and responsive to sights and sounds about him, but unable to move. Haziness was all about him. Was he dying? he asked himself. If he could only see that one person who would give him courage, whose face would render him glad no matter what was to be! He looked wanly toward the table where the 1 ‘ awd young teacher sat with her fiancé. But she was not there. She was walking toward Adam, deep concern showing in her lovely face. She was approaching him rapidly, walking with a speed that denoted urgency, all the while looking steadily into his eyes, and Adam knew she had assumed the role of nurse. Adam, physician, was now Adam, patient. With graceful haste, she put a pellet in his glass and filled it with water. As it fizzed and bubbled she put it to his lips. Her eyes remained on him while she both appraised his condition and responded to his need for affection. Both felt drawn toward each other, meeting in spirit at that indiscernible place where tides meet momentarily. Adam, the earth physician, accepted in warm comfort the fact that he was in the hands of a better physician, a unique nurse, average in her world, but resplendent by earth standards. In his moment of distress, this exquisite being had rescued him. There was no doubt in his mind; he knew now the painful sublimity there would be in loving a woman. In a moment the nectar began to take effect. Adam regained toc we revo . yoroudt wd control of himself, while his nurse explained what had happened. “The first nectar, which Vega gave you, had almost worn 85 LANDING ABOARD ANDROMEDA