Can you communicate with your new self?

“We are both present, yes. Consciousness is shared among all cells. Growth is occurring. Patience.” It paused. “When we are free,” it signed hopefully, “Xest Self and Human Self can discuss human sexuality and genetics?”

Definitely. For as long as you want.

“That is some consolation.”

The severed tip of the Xest’s leg now had legs of its own. It looked like an unusually large, rather lumpy yellow caterpillar.

Aton heard the sergeant begin snoring. He didn’t

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know how much rime was left before midnight, when the second shift would take over. The keys! he thought. Get the keys!

The mini-Xest craw led tentatively through the cell bars. It seemed to falter, then regained its balance. “One is new born,” the parent signaled to Aton. “One walks uncertainly.”

Of course. I understand. He stood at the bars of his cell, watching as the offshoot of the alien tottered toward the end of the basement. Aton could see the sergeant’s boors, stretched out beside a large beer jug lying on its side, but the rest of the man was hidden from his vantage point.

Finally, the mini-Xest reached the sleeping man.

Move gently, Aton thought. Don't wake him!

The little yellow crawling thing reached up w ith two tentative legs, and pulled itself onto the sergeant’s breeches. Aton watched it move laboriously upward.

The keys were in his left pocket.

“Yes. They are still there.”

There was a long moment of silence.

“The smaller self is too weak," the Xest signaled. “The man is lying on his side, on the pocket with the keys. The smaller self cannot extract them.”

Aton groaned. All right, climb higher and tickle bis neck. Maybe he'll roll over.

“The small self climbs.”

Another minute passed. The sergeant stirred suddenly. He grunted and Aton heard him scratching. He yawned, muttered, and then settled again.

There was the sound of a bunch of keys falling onto the stone floor.

“The plan is successful,” the Xest signed eagerly.

So far. Can your small self drag the keys down here?

“Yes. Small Xest is sufficiently strong and has great determination.”

Faintly, Aton heard the keys scraping over the flagstones, through the straw. He clenched his hands around the bars of his cell, peering out impatiently. At last the little yellow shape came into view, one leg hooked around the big key ring, the other seven legs scrabbling diligently.

Aton squatted and reached out with both hands. He seized the keys and quickly found one that worked the lock of his manacles. He freed his ankles next, then started trying keys in the door of his cell one by one. The fourth attempt was successful; the door swung open.

He sidestepped around the little Xest and started toward the sergeant.

“Wait! Large Xest Self is not yet free!”

In a moment. Aton reached the sleeping man. He saw the nerve gun tucked inside the sergeant’s tunic.

He positioned himself carefully, reached out till his fingers almost touched the man’s chest, then pushed his hand down and grabbed the gun. The sergeant stirred, and his eves flicked open. He saw Aton and his mouth fell wide in surprise.

“Quiet,” Aton told him, leveling the gun at the man s face. “This thing can kill, if you know how to use it.” That was a lie, but the sergeant wouldn’t know any better.

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The man nodded. He swallowed hard and tried to sit up in his chair. He licked his lips. “What do you—^M

“I want Malice. The Minionette. Where is she?”

The sergeant shook his head. “She went. She’s gone.”

Aton pushed the gun closer to the man’s face. “Where?”

“Offplanet. That’s why they wanted the disk. To call her ship. They put her in it, sent it off.”

Aton swore under his breath. “You're lying.”

“No!” The man kept glancing at the nerve gun. He was obviously terrified. “Swear to God. They sent her to Old Earth.”

“What?” Aton felt himself swaying. “Why?”

“I don’t know'.”

Aton’s rage bloomed like a flower. His hand clenched on the gun and it vibrated in his grip. The guard’s eyes rolled up. He twitched and fell limp in his chair. His hands and feet trembled.

Aton turned and strode back to the Xest’s cell. He started going through the keys, jamming them into the lock, barely aware of what he was doing.

The Xest was signing to him. “The Sergeant Self tells the truth.”

Aton finally got the door open. He stopped. How do you know?

“Xest Self hears his thoughts before his dissolution with your weapon.”

Not dissolution. He's just paralyzed for a short time.

The Xest signed regret. “In that case, this weapon cannot give dissolution to small Xest Self?”

No. Come on, we've got to get to your ship. Aton glanced around, saw the mini-Xest, picked it up, and put it in his pocket. The creature felt stiff and wiry, and was warm to the touch. It squirmed in his pocket as if trying to make itself more comfortable.

“Large Xest Self wishes to retrieve diplomatic documents.”