Badge of Infamy

ri

Christmas snowstorm had driven in every bum who could steal or beg the price of admission, and the long rows of cots

gaunt features and sunken cheeks. He looked ten years older than his scant thirty-two, and there were the beginnings of a snarl at the corners of his mouth. Clothes that had once been expensive were wrinkled and

surroundings registered on his eyes, and he stared suspiciously at the other cots. But there was

is attention, even over the snoring of the others. It was a l

s well fed and clean-shaven, but his face was gray with sickness. He was writ

ach?" Feldm

y caused by the absence of gravity out in space, but it could be brought on later from abuse of the weakened intern

earing the intestines out of him, and the paroxysms were coming faster. His

asping drag on it. He smoked the remainder himself, letting the harsh tobacco burn against his lungs and si

hen the young punk looked up at him. "You'

't pay for doctors every time some wino wants to th

ds in an hour," Feldman insisted.

treat yourself if you wanta play doctor. Go

t himself. He started to turn back, hesitated, and finally faced the kid again

looked up, studied Feldman with surprised curiosity and growing contem

olling another cigarette in hands that shook. The sick man was approaching delirium now, and the moans were mi

not too late to save him. Hot water and skillful massage could interrupt the p

gas chamber! There'd be no mercy for his second offense against Lobby laws. If the spaceman lived, Feldman might get off with a flogging-that was

t of the word. But it wasn't for him. A p

arder without liberal supplies of hot water, but the massage was the really important treatment. It was the tremblin

ired. Probably he had been another idealist who had wound up defeated, content to leave things u

"Too late. The best I can do is ease his pain. Th

conal. Feldman watched, his guts tightening sympathetically for the shock that would be to the sic

or a moment, and then he shrugged. "Well, I'll make

ey came to rest on Feldman. He frowned

look something like your pictu

his name. I don't even know why he wasn't cyanotic

gged and nodded to the attendant. "Well, go through his things.

out a pair of shoes, half a bottle of cheap rum, a wallet and a bronze space t

were several bills, all of large denominations. He turned the ticket over and began filling in the death certif

y the doctor felt he had scored a point. He tossed the space

voice was indignant. "Hey, w

lation and dislike. He took a dollar bill from the wallet. "That's right," he admitted. "Th

lar onto Feldman's cot. "There's your fee, pariah." He

e no longer could afford pride. Grimly, he pocketed the bill, staring at the face of the dead man. It looked back sightlessly, now showing a faint speckling of tiny do

before the attendant made trouble. His eyes rested on the shoes of the dead man-sturdy boots that would last for anoth

ne on. His fingers found the bronze ticket. He turned it over, considering it. He wasn't ready to fraud his identity

be no work shoveling snow, he realized. This would melt before the day was over. Feldman hunched the suitcoat up, shiver

t had been two days since his last real meal, and the dollar burned in his pocket. But he

nd he passed through the hunger spell. He rolled another smo

His undirected feet had led him much too far uptown, following old habits. This was the Medical Lobby building, wher

lk down those steps as if he were still a man. But each step had drained his resolution, until

and the tired old general practitioners filing in and out. One o

stmas!" he

policeman watching him, and he knew it was time to mov

the synthetics to which his metabolism had been switched. No shop would

red from the corner of his

i! T

pely figure and her red hair glistened in the lights of the street. Her snub nose and determined mouth weren't the current fashion, b

Feldman once, and n

stopped before the driver noticed his clothes. He picked up the bag Chris dropped and swung it

ous, even to a pariah, when his homage suited her. She

he cab door shut and shouted something to the driver. The cab too

in his hand. It was his luc

hat topped the building. Your health is our business! Then the great symbol of the health business faded behind him, and he stumbled on, sucking incessa

he year 2100 on the p