"Now, Jim," Davies began hesitantly, "don't take on. It isn't so bad. You'll be a better man for it, you know. You'll prob'ly gain weight and everything. Now, Jim--" Shoemaker wasn't listening. His eyes were rigid and glassy, his jaw lax. Slowly he began to tremble. He slumped over and hit the deck with a thud, still jerking. "Good Lord!" exploded Burford. "What is it?" Hale demanded. "Mitchel's reaction," said Burford. "Hasn't happened twice in thirty years. I never thought--" "Is it dangerous, Charley?" "Lord, yes. Wait till I get the handbook." Shoemaker heard his quick steps, then pages being riffled. When he thought it was safe, Shoemaker sneaked a look out of one eye. The other two men were pressed close to Burford, staring over his shoulders. Their backs were to him, but he kept jerking his body occasionally anyway, just to be on the safe side. "Treatment," said Burford hoarsely, "extended rest on soft diet, diathermy, u. v. irradiation, hourly injection of--Hell, we can't do that. We haven't got half the stuff." "What happens if he don't get it, Charley?" said Davies nervously. "I mean to say, how long--" Burford flipped pages. "General debility, progressing rapidly, followed by heart stoppage and death after four to ten weeks." "Oh, my," said Davies. "What'll we do, Charley? I mean--" "Wait a minute, here. Are you sure he's got what you think?" asked Hale skeptically. "How do you know he's not faking?" "Faking!" said Burford. "Well--he's got all the symptoms." He riffled pages. "Immediate unconsciousness, violent tremors--oh-oh. Look at this." The two heads craned forward eagerly. There was a moment of silence, and then Hale giggled. "Well, if he does _that_, I'll believe you!" "Yes," said Davies seriously, "but, if he's unconscious, how can he--" Burford glanced at the handbook again. "He should be coming to any time now," he said loudly. "When he does, we'll know for sure." * * * * * Shoemaker grinned to himself. He knew that section of the Medical Handbook by heart. _Patient remains unconscious and cannot_ be roused for twenty minutes to one-half hour.... He kept his eyes closed and waited, jerking occasionally, for what he judged was a good twenty minutes, then another five for good measure. When he opened them again, he saw Davies' anxious face a few inches away, flanked by Burford's and Hale's. "He's coming out of it!" said Burford. "How do you feel, old man?" "Wha--?" said Shoemaker. "You've had a little stroke," said Burford mendaciously. "Help me get him up.... You'll be all right, Jim, but you've got to do just as we tell you." "Poisoned me," Shoemaker gasped, suffering himself to be hoisted limply erect. "No, no," Davies protested. "We're trying to help you, Jimmy boy. Just go with Charley, that's right. Here, take this bottle, Charley." Even Shoemaker was a little startled by what followed.