"Dangerous?" Joe stared at him. "Of course not. Remember how I
explained it?"
"I--uh--my memory--" Burke subsided.
She closed her eyes and smiled. Joe threw the switch. She'd have
knowledge; she'd have the memory of her past few days of existence as
his alter ego. She'd have volition.
The contact clock took over. Her eyes remained closed, but her smile
began to fade as the second hand moved around and around the big,
contact-studded dial.
Joe was smiling, though she wasn't. Joe was filled with a sense of his
own creative power, his own inventive genius and gratification at the
worried frown on the face of the imbecile Burke.
* * * * *
Then the clock stopped and there was a buzz; the meters dropped to
zero. Alice opened her eyes. For the first time, as a _person_, she
opened her eyes.
Her smile was back. But she was looking at Burke. Looking at Burke and
smiling!
"Baby," she said.
Burke looked puzzled, but definitely pleased. In all Burke's adult
life, no female had ever looked at him like that.
Joe said tolerantly, "You're a little confused yet, Alice. _I'm_ your
husband."
"You?" She stared at him. "Do you think I've forgotten you? Do you
think I don't know you, after living inside your brain, almost? You
_monster_, you egocentric, selfish, humorless walking equation. You're
not my husband and I'd like to see you prove that you are."
Now it was only Burke who smiled. "By George," he said, "that's right.
There's no wedding on record, is there, Joe?"
"Wedding?" Joe repeated blankly. "I made her. I created her. Of course
there's no--"
"Of course, of course, of course," Alice shrilled. "That's all you
know. You're the original 'of course' kid. Things aren't that certain,
Junior. I've known you just long enough and just well enough to detest
you." Now she pointed at Burke. "_That's_ what I want. That's my kind
of man."
Burke gulped and grinned, nodded. "To coin a phrase, you said it,
kiddo." He smiled at Joe. "I'll run her right down to the Center and
get her registered, and take out an intent option. I guess we can't
fight fate, Joe, can we?"