The days that followed were hazy; they kept him drugged because his energetic nature would have prevented rapid healing. And it was four days after the operation that they gave him a quick shot of counter-drug that brought him out of the fog immediately. There were people there. Don Channing, Walt Franks, Wes Farrell, and Dr. Hansen. "Hello," he said, looking up with a wry smile. "How many car-washings do I owe you?" "Plenty, brother. I tinkered for three hours over that frame of yours. Why did they have to run through an engineering change when they got to hanging your appendix in? I had to dig for it." "That's the trouble with this system," Keg mumbled to Don. "He'll get the same credit for tinkering with me as he would for removing the cat's appendix." "Well, you're worth the same as any cat," grinned Walt. "Thanks," grunted Keg. "Don't tell me that you guys were worried?" "Nope. We came to give you a hunk of something interesting. Wes Farrell hauled it out of space, electrons, and considerable high-powered theory. _Identium._ Corrosion-proof, inert, malleable but hard enough for coins, and you can roll it out into ten-thousandths sheets and use it for paper money. But don't ever put it into a duplicator. It'll blow the top right off of your roof if you do. There's our medium of exchange, Keg." "Now," breathed Keg, "we can all get back to normal. Thanks, fellows." "The government is making the stuff in reams," said Don. "It won't be too long before you'll be able to pay Hansen what he's really worth, as well as the rest of your crew. But in spite of this trinket, Life has still made a big change. I can foresee the four-hour week right now." "It's here and been here for some time," said Keg. "But--Hey! Linna!" Keg's wife entered. She was clad in hospital whites and was carrying a tray. "Hello, Keg," she said solemnly. Keg hadn't heard that tone of voice for years. "What happened?" he asked. "Someone had to help. I was doing nothing and so I pitched in to help Dr. Hansen when he worked on you. He said I did fine." "Linna is a good nurse's aid," responded Hansen. "Mind if we keep her on a bit?" "Not if she minds staying." "I want to, Keg," she said quietly. "With Marie wearing a platinum-mounted diamond tiara to dust the house, and Briggs coming to work in a limousine--imagine the idea of a butler's chauffeur!--and as you said, people eating from gold plates and using iridium tableware, there's nothing to get long-nosed about but one's inventiveness, talent, or uniqueness." "Linna, you're an ace," grinned Keg. He smiled up at her and said, while waving the sheet of Identium before their faces, "Do me a job, Linna. Go out and buy me back the spaceline." "Huh?" blurted Channing, Franks and Hansen. "What for?"