Space For Hire (Seven For Space) by William F Nolan Page A

lies under his direct control. We wouldn't be eating Zubu eggs today were it not for Ronfoster Kane!"
    "I hate Zubu eggs," I said.
    "That is wholly beside the point," said McFarlin.
    "Maybe F. and this Kane are in cahoots," I suggested.
    "I am not familiar with the term."
    "Maybe they're tied together somehow," I said. "F. sent a faxcard from Kane's office, using that address. How do you account for it?"
    The mouse had reached the end of his patience. "I do not have to account for anything," he declared. "But you do, sir. To suggest that Ronfoster Kane is in any way connected with murder is simply outrageous. Why, he developed all of the robot Moonsaints — a most holy and respected group."
    "Whomping up tin saints doesn't make him one," I snapped. "I'm going to have me a little talk with Mr. Kane."
    The mouse shook his head. "Not after Minnie is through with you."
    "Who's Minnie?"
    "She's the key to your future, Mr. Space." The Inspector chuckled softly and stroked his neckfur. His black eyes shone behind the thick glasses. "We shall retain your weapon as a legal curiosity — as you'll have no further use for it."
    "Hey, I don't think —"But the mouse had touched a section of his desk and the floor of the cube suddenly dropped away. "Go in peace!" he said. I felt myself falling into darkness … into unconsciousness. I woke up inside Minnie.

Ten
     
    I was flat on my back on a hard metallic surface. Sitting up was a job without the contra-grav belt, and it took some doing, but I made it, feeling like the fat woman in an Earth circus.
    It was dark but the darkness was shot with eyes — countless winking lights which danced and sparkled from the walls. Sounds filled the chamber; clacking, buzzing, rasping, clicking, giant-bee sounds. And I could smell lubricants and fluids.
    It was a machine, and I was in its bowels.
    But what kind of machine?
    Hello, there, Sam, it said. My name is Minnie.
    Not said. Not aloud. The words were fired directly into my brain; the machine could read thoughts and answer them internally.
    "Why am I in here?" I asked. "And what are you going to do with me?"
    You must not speak aloud , the machine said. Your voice is grating and unpleasant.
    Okay, I'd play Minnie's game. I mentally repeated both questions.
    You are here because you broke the law. You did so because you are mentally defective. As to what I intend to do with you: I intend to cure you.
    How?
    I shall simply erase all aggressive impulses and thoughts from your mind, substituting non-aggressive impulses and thoughts.
    A brainwash. McFarlin had sent me down here for a lousy brain-wash. A crummy little mouse with dyed neck-fur was going to put my thinker on the fritz!
    You see , said Minnie. That's just what we wish to protect you against — angry, violent thoughts regarding inspector McFarlin, Mr. Kane and your other neighbors in the System. Such thoughts can only harm you and those around you. I shall remove them.
    And she did.
    Minnie's interior humming rose to a shriek. I felt metallic vibrations enter my body, my brain. Red and yellow fire seemed to bloom within my head. Colors fireworked before my eyes.
    The vibrations diminished, died away. The fire and the wheeling colors sparked to black inside my skull. I was aware of the normal humming sounds of Minnie's interior.
    I blinked, swallowed, ran my tongue over my dry lips. My heart had been pounding; now the pounding slowed, became regular. My pulse slowed, evened. I sighed.
    How do you feel, Sam?
    Fine, Minnie. I feel just fine.
    That's nice. Isn't it nice to feel fine?
    Everything is nice, I told her. I am nice. You are nice.
    It is nice to be sitting here inside you. It is nice to be visiting your friendly planet. And all mice are nice.
    I chuckled at my little rhyme.
    Are you happy, Sam?
    I am very happy, Minnie.
    And what do you wish to do?
    Nothing at all. I wish to do nothing.
    But every member of the System does something.
    Anything. I'll do anything. I smiled at all of