Working like a sculptor with a cathode in one hand and an anode in the other, Dr. Kalmar began reshaping the girl who stood fixedly in the boxlike chamber. The flesh fled from the cathode and chased after the anode as he broadened the fine nose, thickened the mobile lips, squared the slender jaw and drew out carefully the delicately arched orbital ridges. "I'll leave the curl in her hair," he said. "Every woman needs at least one feature she can be proud of." "You're telling me," Miss Dupont replied. "Synthetic tissue, please." She drew out a tube with a variable nozzle and started working just ahead of him. A spray of high-velocity cells shot through the girl's smooth skin at the neck, shoulders, breasts, hips and legs, forming shapeless lumps that he guided into cords and muscles. The slim figure quickly broadened, grew brawny and competent-looking, the body of a woman who could breed phenomenally while farming alongside her man. Dr. Kalmar racked up the instruments and helped Miss Dupont dress the girl in coveralls and sandals. He felt the pride of craftsmanship when he found that the clothing supplied for her by Social Control exactly fitted her. He injected an antidote to the hypnotic and gave her the standard test for emotional response as her expressionless face cleared to placidity. "Do you know where you are, Avis?" "Yes. Ego Alter and Rephysical." "What have we done to you?" "Changed me to fit my environment." "Do you resent being changed?" "No." She paused and looked worried. "Who's taking care of the crops while I'm here?" "They can wait till you and your parents get back, Avis. Let's show them the change, shall we?" "All right," she said. "I think they'll be proud of me. This is how they always wanted me to be." "And you?" "Oh, I feel much better. As if I don't have to try so hard." [Illustration] "I'm glad, Avis. Miss Dupont, better have a sedative ready when her father sees her. I think he'll need it." "And her mother?" asked the nurse practically. "She'll probably want a drink to celebrate. Give her one." * * * * * Dr. Kalmar's prognosis was correct, only it didn't go far enough. His young assistant from Earth had come scooting out of his disquietingly large quarters and was jittering in the office when they entered. "Is _that_ the pretty girl who was waiting when we came in?" he yelped in outrage. "What have you done to her?" Dr. Kalmar gave the sedative to him instead of Mr. Emery, who was shocked, but had known in advance what to expect. Miss Dupont prepared another sedative quickly, gave Mrs. Emery a celebration drink and moved the family toward the door. "She looks fine, Doctor," the mother said happily. "Avis ought to be a big help around the house and farm from now on." "I'm sure she will," he said. "But she was so lovely!" wept Mr. Emery, though in a rapidly becalming voice as the sedative took effect. The door closed behind them.