Shoemaker swallowed. "Now you get the water," Burford said, and held the glass to his lips. Shoemaker drank, meekly.
Burford stood up. "Well," he said uncertainly, "that's that." Davies let go of Shoemaker and eased out from under him. Then he stood beside Burford and Hale, and all three looked down at Shoemaker.
There were real tears in Shoemaker's eyes--from having his nose pinched in Burford's vise-like grip--and his face looked drawn. Slowly, like an old man, he got to his feet, walked to the table and sat down.
"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.
"Mitchel's reaction," said Burford. "Hasn't happened twice in thirty years. I never thought--"
"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--"