"Young and strong," Dr. Lowell approved. "That's what we need on Deneb. Skill is important, but health and youth even more so." "For those who stay," said Dr. Hoyt frostily. "I'm not." Dr. Kalmar felt himself quiver with rage. The wet-nosed pup couldn't talk to Dr. Lowell like that! But Dr. Lowell was saying cheerily, "You seem to have made up your mind to go back. No matter. Some decisions are like egg-shells--made only to be broken. I hope that's what you'll do with yours." "Not a chance," Dr. Hoyt said. He didn't take the arrogant expression off his face even when Miss Dupont looked at him pleadingly. "Then I say let's signal the next ship--" Dr. Kalmar began. Dr. Lowell cut in quickly, "You two have patients to attend to, I see. Don't worry about me. I know my way around this poor little wretch of a building. Not much like Earth hospitals, is it?" He headed for the medical supply room, adding just before he went in, "A lot can be said for small installations. The personal touch, you know." Dr. Kalmar enviously realized how deftly the old man had put the youngster in his place, whereas he would have stood there and slugged it out verbally. Lord, if he could only acquire that awesome wisdom! "Well, back to work," he said, trying to imitate the cheeriness at least. "Sure, let's ruin some more lives," Dr. Hoyt almost snarled. "Leo, _please_!" whispered Miss Dupont imploringly. Five minutes later the two doctors were furiously arguing over a very old man who had been sent by Social Control to have his eyesight strengthened. "You have no right to let anybody dodder around like this!" Dr. Hoyt yelled. "What in hell is Rephysical for if not for such cases?" "You probably think we ought to make him look like 25 again," Dr. Kalmar yelled back. "If that's all you've learned working here--" "Now, now," said Dr. Lowell soothingly. He'd come in unnoticed by either of the men. "Dr. Hoyt is right, of course. We _would_ like to make old people young and some day we'll be able to afford it. But not for some time to come." "Why not?" Dr. Hoyt demanded in a lower tone, visibly flattered by Dr. Lowell's seemingly taking his side. "Rephysical can't actually make anyone young. It can only give the outward appearance of youth and replace obviously diseased parts. But an old body is an old organism; it has to break down eventually. If we give it more vigor than it can endure, it breaks down too soon, much sooner than if we let it age normally. That represents economic loss as well as a humanitarian one." "I don't follow you," Dr. Hoyt said bewilderedly. "Well, our patient used to be a machinist. A good one. Now he's only able to be an oiler. A good one, too, when you improve his eyesight. He can go on doing that for years, performing a useful function. But he'd wear himself out in no time as a machinist again if you de-aged him." "Is that supposed to make sense?" "It does," said Dr. Lowell, "for Deneb."