Charles E. Fritch

“ He'd suffered enough during his lifetime, just for being an android.
It must have been horrible, she thought, having to go through life knowing you're less than human, or at least in having people think that. Even if humans accepted you as an equal (which they didn't, despite any laws) , you'd have to live with the knowledge that you evolved from an artificially produced embryo under conditions simulating normal birth. Artificial growth, she thought disgustedly, like the hydroponic production of vegetables. ”

“ George said.
Her heart sank. She drifted through space watching the lifecraft bear down upon her. In a few seconds it would be close enough, so that the braking rockets—
"George!" she cried. "You're coming too close. I'll be burned by the braking rockets!"
"Accidents happen," George told her. ”

“ George listened carefully and at their names said, "That's us." He took her by the arm. "Better put your helmet in place. There might be a leak."
She nodded, flipping it over her head the way he did, placing the faceplate open so she could talk without using the radio. The way he seemed concerned over her made her feel ashamed she had plotted his death, and yet at the same time it made her feel glad that they had come to some silent understanding in time.
He led the way down the aisle and into the corridor that led to exit two. ”

“ George, she thought, George was planning to—
"I was desperate," George cried, beside her, his eyes pleading. "I was afraid that once we got a divorce you'd tell them about me. But I couldn't go through with it, Silvia: that's what I meant when I said I'd changed my mind."
She listened numbly.
"An interesting situation," the man smiled, "but it's much too late for anybody to change his mind. At your deaths, the organization will collect ten percent of your insurance benefits, plus the insurance covering passengers killed as a result of a spaceship explosion." ”

“ Bennet. I shall. Your husband is an android, and you hate him for that reason and for others."
Silvia gasped. "How did you know? That he's an android, I mean?"
The man smiled. "Our organization has access to a great deal of information; it's an integral part of our business, this information, serving as a springboard for contacting prospective clients like you."
"You mean," she said testily, "you'd like to help me get a divorce?" ”

“ She had to admit to herself, though, now that she was thinking of it, that she would miss the easy living being married to George entailed, even with any alimony she might receive. He was the android version of the old Horatio Alger story, though very few persons knew or even suspected George was not human. The World Congress had passed equalizing laws for androids just as they had for the various races, with the difference that it worked for androids since they had no outward mark of being different from the select group. ”

“ We take ten percent from him, a nominal fee considering the risk involved."
"And what of us?" one of the men passengers demanded.
The man shrugged. "Each of you is married to someone who prefers your insurance money to your companionship. Not a very satisfying thought, is it?"
The woman began to cry softly.
"You'll never get away with this," another of the men said, fists clenching.
"Can you think of any reason why not?" the man said, fondling the weapon in his hand.
I can, Silvia thought; George and I aren't getting caught in our own traps if I can help it. ”

“ But—" She stopped. She was about to say, "But how did you know?" when it suddenly occurred to her that George might have hired this man to find out if she were planning one of those rapid Arcturan separations. She hadn't thought to wonder if he suspected she was planning one. If he knew about her divorce plans, he might take counter measures just for spite; with Arcturan divorce regulations as they were, that would be bad.
She said, "I'm not divorced, Mr...."
"Jones," the man supplied, smiling. "I know that, Mrs. Bennet, but I also know that you're going to Arcturus to obtain one. ”

“ The man waved a vague hand. "The organization is of necessity nameless. However, it is quite effective. In fact, the only way you've heard of us, without realizing it, is through the effects we produce for our clients." ”

“ She knew that with sudden clarity. All the money in the universe would not be worth the life of this—this human beside her. Yes, that was it, android or not, he was as human as anyone she had ever known.
The loudspeaker hummed briefly and a voice said, "In thirty seconds we will enter subspace. All passengers will remain seated until the changeover is complete."
The voice repeated the message, and Silvia thought frantically, we'll be on our way to Arcturus and somewhere along the line the stranger will kill George! ”

“ The voice droned on, telling of the swimming pool, the three-dimensional (off-gravity) tennis rooms, and other diversions designed to get passengers' minds off the fact that they were temporarily stalled in open space.
George appeared in the doorway at one end of the aisle and walked toward her. She gave a small gasp as she saw the stranger come through the doorway behind him. They came down the aisle, and George dropped into his seat. The stranger looked questioningly at her before he passed. She shook her head no. ”