[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Amazing StoriesApril-May 1953. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that theU.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"Wanta know what's wrong with women these days? Spoiled! Thewhole kit and kaboodle of 'em. They want to sing in nightclubs and hookup with some millionaire and wear beautiful clothes. Housework issomething for gadgets to take care of, with maids to run the gadgets.Afraid to get a few calluses on their dainty hands!
"We got a way to handle that on Deneb. A girl gets highfalutin upthere, the Doc puts her in the Ego Alter room. Thicken up her ankles alittle, take some of the sparkle out of her eyes and hair, and you get awoman fit to pull a plow!"
Hold it, Madam! H. L. Gold said that; not us. Personally, we likegirls—not Percherons!
If there was one thing Dr. Kalmar hated, and there were many, it washaving a new assistant fresh from a medical school on Earth. They alwayswanted to change things. They never realized that a planet develops itsown techniques to meet its own requirements, which are seldom similar tothose of any other world. Dr. Kalmar never got along with his assistantsand he didn't expect to get along with this young Dr. Hoyt who wascoming in on the transfer ship from Vega.
Dr. Kalmar had been trained on Earth himself, of course, but hewistfully remembered how he had revered Dr. Lowell when he had beenLowell's assistant. He'd known that his own green learning was no matchfor Dr. Lowell's wisdom and experience after 30 years on Deneb, and hehad avidly accepted his lessons.
Why, he grumbled to himself on his way to the spaceport to meet theunknown whippersnapper, why didn't Earth turn out young doctors the wayit used to? They ought to have the arrogance knocked out of them beforethey left medical school. That's what must have happened to him, becausehis attitude had certainly been humble when he landed.
The spaceport was jammed, naturally. Ship arrivals were infrequentenough to bring everybody from all over the planet who was not on dutyat the farms, mines, factories, freight and passenger jets and all therest of the busy activities of this comparatively new colony. Theybrought their lunches and families and stood around to watch. Dr. Kalmarwent to the platform.
The ship sat down on a mushroom of fire that swiftly became a flamingpancake and then was squashed out of existence.
"I'm waiting for a shipment of livestock," enthused the man standingnext to Dr. Kalmar.
"You're lucky," the doctor said. "They can't talk back."
The man looked at him sympathetically. "Meeting a female?"
"Gabbier and more annoying," said Dr. Kalmar, but he didn't elaborateand the man, with the courtesy of the frontier, did not pry for anexplanation.
Livestock and freight came down on one elevator and passengers came downanother. Slidewalks carried the cargo to Sterilization and travelers tothe greeting platform. Dr. Kalmar felt his shoulders droop. The man withthe medical bag had to be Dr. Hoyt and he was even more brisk, erect andmuscular than Dr. Kalmar had expected, with a superior and inquisitivelook that made the last assistant, unbearable as he'd been, seem astractable as one of the arriving cows.
Dr. Hoyt spotted him instantly and came striding over to grab his handin a grip like an ore-crusher. "You're Dr. Kalmar. Glad to know you. I'msure we'll get along fine together. Miserable trip. Had to change shipsfour times to get here. Hope the food's better than shipboard slop. Gota nice hospital to work in? Do I live in or out?"
Dr. Kalmar was grudgingly forced to say rapidly, "Right. Likewise. Ih