place

on you," Aston's

on you," Aston's relieved chuckle sounded genuine. "Oh, say! Did you get the results on that checkup of yours?"
Checkup? Despite himself, Morris lowered the handset and stared at it. Now what was he up to?
"Sure," he said into the phone after a moment. "Why?"
"Oh, just curious. Especially about the EEG. I've been worried about you ever since I heard, Mordecai. In fact, I kind of wish you'd bring it along just so I can be sure you've really got a brain. Hell!" Another chuckle, but Morris heard both tension and hidden meaning in it. "Bring Jayne's, too. We can compare them and show you what a functional brain looks like."
"Okay, why not?" Morris returned, his mind awhirl with confusion and speculation. Either Dick was onto something incredible, or his friend had gone totally off the deep end. At the moment, Morris was hardly prepared to place a bet either way, but he owed Aston the benefit of the doubt . . . however wacko it sounded.
"Great! Jack Rose and I will be waiting for you, M&M," Aston said quietly, and hung up.
Morris sat motionless long enough to hear the high, piercing