"Yesterday. You left the door open."
"Yes. I'm staying there for a while." Joe changed the subject quickly.
"What's the matter with your leg?"
"I had polio."
"Polio? You were sick?"
"Yes, I was very sick, but I didn't die, so I was very lucky. I only
had my leg get so I can't use it."
"Only that, eh?" Joe mused and seemed intensely interested in the
brace. "What a crude conception of efficiency," and when Biddy asked
what? he said, "Oh nothing. May I look at that mechanism?"
"You mean my brace?"
"Yes."
Biddy came close and the man concentrated on the brace. Except that
Biddy thought he was more interested in her leg. His hands were very
gentle and then he looked up suddenly and said, "How would you like to
see the things I have inside the cave, child?"
"You can call me Biddy if you want to. My name is Ruth but Biddy's my
nickname."
"It's a nice one. Let's go inside."
Joe had a small thing on his shirt and it was only when he reached up
and touched it and the door of the cave swung open that Biddy noticed
the peculiar way he was dressed. And it was strange, she thought, that
she hadn't even seen the tight-fitting silver colored shirt and the
pants that were silver too and almost like skin they were so tight to
his legs. But even in noticing them now, Biddy didn't say anything
because they really weren't strange at all. Not when Joe wore them.
Joe took her hand and led her into the cave. He said, "Now don't be
afraid. None of this is made to hurt little girls."
"What's it for?"
"It's called a primary relay station."
"Like our space station?"
"No--not exactly. This station hasn't any guns. At least it hasn't the
kind of guns you know about."
"I'm glad. I'm afraid of atom and hydroshells. They kill people and
poison them and make them suffer."
"This station doesn't do that. It reaches out into space and brings in
all kinds of power. It's a magnet, you might say."
"What are you going to do with the power you bring in, Joe?"
"Now that's a very interesting question." Joe smiled. "Maybe we'll
tickle little girls with it."