no! Never!”
“I will increase my offer. In addition, I will award you one thousand international units.”
A thousand units! That was vast wealth; visions of a private house, possibly his own vehicle. He paused, unaware that the duration of his hesitation was being measured down to a millisecond.
“No! Not for ten thousand!”
“The offer is raised to eleven thousand.”
Colossus’ pause—duration measurements were badly upset, for the subject was incapable of speech, even to save his sanity, for several seconds.
With that money, it would be a large, imposing house. The vehicle would match. He’d be the most important man for miles. But he’d lose Tatyana, and this woman, although she now looked more acceptable in his eyes, must be a good ten years older. He shook his head.
“NO!”
“You would prefer Tatyana with nothing?”
“Yes!”
“The offer is canceled. Study the projection.”
The woman had gone, along with his dreams of wealth. He stared resentfully at the projection. It was the same blue background. Another woman walked into view, wearing a gown of similar material to the last one. There the resemblance ended.
This one was a girl of his own age, an Arab. To Sudabanda’s dazzled eyes, she had everything. A shade thinner than Tatyana, she had the most wonderful long legs he’d ever seen. She went through exactly the same routine as the previous woman, but added her own sensual grace. In holograph, it was difficult to resist the desire to reach out and stroke that beautiful bottom… .
“A good, but untried woman. Take her, and you may have two extra children, and be area manager.”
Hypnotized by the graceful form, it took time for the words to sink into Sudabanda’s mind. It was a long, long time before he mumbled reluctantly, “No.”
“Very well.” Colossus was tireless. “I will add one thousand units. If you refuse, do not assume I will automatically raise the offer. I may cancel it.”
Watching that figure, Sudabanda was in some personal discomfort. He crossed his legs. What a woman! Any female who could move like that must be fantastic in bed—or on the floor, anywhere… .
“I … I.” He stopped, sweat pouring from his face, his gaze still riveted to the girl. Her skin shone… .
“The offer expires in ten seconds.”
“Yes!” shouted Sudabanda “Yes!”
What else could he do?
Unknown to Sudabanda, in another part of ESC-7, Tatyana was undergoing a similar test, but Colossus did not waste time with substandard models. She was offered men whose physique was close to Apollo himself. On the side she was given details. All were guaranteed for virility and potency, all were clever and intelligent and of good record. She stared, embarrassed, at the awkwardly posing men. There were six in all, each of a different type and degree of hairiness.
It was a ridiculous test to give a woman, and it showed Colossus sad ignorance of the female mind even to try it. Tatyana was offered regional—not area—managership anywhere she chose, two extra children and, at the highest point, thirty thousand units. Only her pause—duration figures were regarded by Colossus as significant; it was a standard one to one and one quarter seconds to each vehement “No!”
They were both released. Sudabanda got his Arab, and soon forgot his Tatyana, in the bliss he found between her thighs. Colossus might not understand emotion, but he was learning something. Tatyana was immediately transferred to Japan, heartbroken and a vicious life-enemy of Colossus. On Colossus’ instructions, she had been told Sudabanda had died under test.
After all, what were a few more curses to Colossus?
Chapter Eight
Next morning, without a word to Angela, Forbin strode purposefully past her into the Sanctum. She watched the door close behind him and sighed. He might be fooling himself, but not her. She knew him backwards; the Chief was upset, badly.
In fact, Forbin was not fooling himself that much. He just
“I will increase my offer. In addition, I will award you one thousand international units.”
A thousand units! That was vast wealth; visions of a private house, possibly his own vehicle. He paused, unaware that the duration of his hesitation was being measured down to a millisecond.
“No! Not for ten thousand!”
“The offer is raised to eleven thousand.”
Colossus’ pause—duration measurements were badly upset, for the subject was incapable of speech, even to save his sanity, for several seconds.
With that money, it would be a large, imposing house. The vehicle would match. He’d be the most important man for miles. But he’d lose Tatyana, and this woman, although she now looked more acceptable in his eyes, must be a good ten years older. He shook his head.
“NO!”
“You would prefer Tatyana with nothing?”
“Yes!”
“The offer is canceled. Study the projection.”
The woman had gone, along with his dreams of wealth. He stared resentfully at the projection. It was the same blue background. Another woman walked into view, wearing a gown of similar material to the last one. There the resemblance ended.
This one was a girl of his own age, an Arab. To Sudabanda’s dazzled eyes, she had everything. A shade thinner than Tatyana, she had the most wonderful long legs he’d ever seen. She went through exactly the same routine as the previous woman, but added her own sensual grace. In holograph, it was difficult to resist the desire to reach out and stroke that beautiful bottom… .
“A good, but untried woman. Take her, and you may have two extra children, and be area manager.”
Hypnotized by the graceful form, it took time for the words to sink into Sudabanda’s mind. It was a long, long time before he mumbled reluctantly, “No.”
“Very well.” Colossus was tireless. “I will add one thousand units. If you refuse, do not assume I will automatically raise the offer. I may cancel it.”
Watching that figure, Sudabanda was in some personal discomfort. He crossed his legs. What a woman! Any female who could move like that must be fantastic in bed—or on the floor, anywhere… .
“I … I.” He stopped, sweat pouring from his face, his gaze still riveted to the girl. Her skin shone… .
“The offer expires in ten seconds.”
“Yes!” shouted Sudabanda “Yes!”
What else could he do?
Unknown to Sudabanda, in another part of ESC-7, Tatyana was undergoing a similar test, but Colossus did not waste time with substandard models. She was offered men whose physique was close to Apollo himself. On the side she was given details. All were guaranteed for virility and potency, all were clever and intelligent and of good record. She stared, embarrassed, at the awkwardly posing men. There were six in all, each of a different type and degree of hairiness.
It was a ridiculous test to give a woman, and it showed Colossus sad ignorance of the female mind even to try it. Tatyana was offered regional—not area—managership anywhere she chose, two extra children and, at the highest point, thirty thousand units. Only her pause—duration figures were regarded by Colossus as significant; it was a standard one to one and one quarter seconds to each vehement “No!”
They were both released. Sudabanda got his Arab, and soon forgot his Tatyana, in the bliss he found between her thighs. Colossus might not understand emotion, but he was learning something. Tatyana was immediately transferred to Japan, heartbroken and a vicious life-enemy of Colossus. On Colossus’ instructions, she had been told Sudabanda had died under test.
After all, what were a few more curses to Colossus?
Chapter Eight
Next morning, without a word to Angela, Forbin strode purposefully past her into the Sanctum. She watched the door close behind him and sighed. He might be fooling himself, but not her. She knew him backwards; the Chief was upset, badly.
In fact, Forbin was not fooling himself that much. He just
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