EASY DOES IT
BY E. G. VON WALD
Hal was stranded in the wilderness with
a beautiful girl, and it was surprisingly
enjoyable—while his conditioning was off.
But, after all, how uncivilized can one get?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Worlds of If Science Fiction, May 1955.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Hal Webber leaned back in the soft Formair Executive's seat. Althoughhe twisted and shifted his position restlessly, he received the samesensation of perfect, comfortable support no matter which way hesat in it. Which was only natural, of course. Formair was the bestsuspend-field furniture manufactured.
As he squirmed about, he had a faint, puzzled frown on his face, and inhis stomach he felt a lurking sensation of unaccustomed tension. Halsimply could not understand it.
There was a faint humming sound, as the door panel slid back. Hisfather entered the office.
"Well Hal," the old man murmured softly with a placid smile ofsatisfaction. "We've done it."
"Done what? Oh, you mean the new coloration process?"
"Yes. It will quintuple the net value of the family fortune within ayear. We may be the richest people in the world then."
"That's nice," Hal said mildly.
His father flicked a finger across a sensitive spot on the front of thedesk and relaxed as a perfect Formair attendant's chair sprang intoexistence to fit his gross, soft body.
"Yes indeed," he said with a mild sigh. "It's been a long, long timethat we've been working for that. Worked mighty hard, too."
"That's right," murmured Hal, a little more forcefully than necessary."Splendid."
His father's eyebrows rose at the unusual emphasis, but he was muchtoo cultured to question the point. He continued along the lines ofthe conversation already started. "We'll have to do something forBruchner. He has been of tremendous assistance on that project. Did itpractically all by himself. He is a very intelligent man, even if he isan Outlander."
"Bruchner," said Hal with mild irritation. "All I hear around herelately is Bruchner. What is he, anyway? Nothing but a savage."
"Eh?" said his father softly, raising his eyebrows again in politeinquiry.
"If Bruchner is such a brilliant fellow, why doesn't he take theTreatment and become civilized? I sometimes get a little tired of anemployee who tells me I'm wrong all the time."
"But he is almost always right when he makes such statements, Hal,"Webber pointed out mildly. "For instance, just the other day I askedhim about the color range to be used with the new process on theFormair Skydome. He stated flatly that blue was a normal color for sky.Just like that. I was a little startled, of course, at his lack ofcourtesy. But after I thought it over a while, blue did seem to be anice color for sky."
"Aaa, blue," Hal muttered. "What's wrong with the green we've alwaysused in the past?"
Mr. Webber sighed and squirmed a little to get the chair into a morecomfortable fit. Attendant's chairs were not quite as comfortableas the Executive type, even if they were Formair. Then he cocked aneyebrow and looked at his son with mild concern. "Hal, my boy, what'sthe trouble? I've never seen you so completely upset in all my life."
"I feel funny," murmured Hal. "As a matter of fact, I feel awful. Maybethere's some connection."
"Ill," the old man nodded agreeably. "Yes, I thought you looked it whenI came in here. Some