Part 9 (1/2)

”I see,” Barrent said. ”Then you sell drugs.”

”Not at all!” Arkdragen said. ”Nothing so simple, nothing so crude. In ancient times on Earth, men administered drugs to themselves. The dreams which resulted were necessarily random in nature. You never knew what you would dream about, or for how long. You never knew if you would have a dream or a nightmare, a horror or a delight. This uncertainty has been removed from the modern Dream Shop. Nowadays, our drugs are carefully measured, mixed, and metered for each individual. There is an absolute precision in dream-making, ranging from the Nirvana-like calm of Black Slipper through the multicolored hallucinations of peyotl and tri-narcotine, to the s.e.xual fantasies induced by nace and morphine, and at last to the memory-resurrecting dreams of the carmoid group.”

”It's the memory-resurrecting dreams I'm interested in,” Barrent said.

Arkdragen frowned. ”I wouldn't recommend it for a first visit.”

”Why not?”

”Dreams of Earth are apt to be more unsettling than any imaginary productions. It's usually advisable to build up a tolerance for them. I would advise a nice little s.e.xual fantasy for your first visit. We have a special sale on s.e.xual fantasies this week.”

Barrent shook his head. ”I think I'd prefer the real thing.”

”You wouldn't,” the a.s.sistant manager said, with a knowing smile.

”Believe me, once one becomes accustomed to vicarious s.e.x experiences, the real thing is pallid by comparison.”

”Not interested,” Barrent said. ”What I want is a dream about Earth.”

”But you haven't built up a tolerance!” Arkdragen said. ”You aren't even addicted.”

”Is addiction necessary?”

”It's important,” Arkdragen told him, ”as well as being inescapable. All our drugs are habit-forming, as the law requires. You see, to really appreciate a drug, you must build up a need for it. It heightens pleasure enormously, to say nothing of the increase in toleration.

That's why I suggest that you begin with--”

”I want a dream about Earth,” Barrent said.

”Very well,” Arkdragen said grudgingly. ”But we will not be responsible for any traumas which accrue.”

He led Barrent into a long pa.s.sageway. It was lined with doors, and behind some of them Barrent could hear dull moans and gasps of pleasure.

”Experiencers,” Arkdragen said, without further explanation. He took Barrent to an open room near the end of the corridor. Within sat a cheerful-looking bearded man in a white coat reading a book.

”Good evening, Doctor Wayn,” Arkdragen said. ”This is Citizen Barrent.

First visit. He insists upon an Earth dream.” Arkdragen turned and left.

”Well,” the doctor said, ”I guess we can manage that.” He put down his book. ”Just lie down over there, Citizen Barrent.”

In the center of the room was a long, adjustable table. Above it hung a complicated-looking instrument. At the end of the room were gla.s.s-sided cabinets filled with square jars; they reminded Barrent of his antidotes.

He lay down. Doctor Wayn put him through a general examination, then a specific check for suggestibility, hypnotic index, reactions to the eleven basic drug groups, and susceptibility to tetanic and epileptic seizures. He jotted down his results on a pad, checked his figures, went to a cabinet, and began mixing drugs.

”Is this likely to be dangerous?” Barrent asked.

”It shouldn't be,” Doctor Wayn said. ”You appear healthy enough. Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating. Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of c.u.mulative allergic reactions. Can't help that sort of thing. And then there are the traumas, which sometimes result in insanity and death. They form an interesting study in themselves. And some people get stuck in their dreams and are unable to be extricated. I suppose that could be cla.s.sified as a form of insanity, although actually it isn't.”

The doctor had finished mixing his drugs. He was loading a hypodermic with the mixture. Barrent was having serious doubts about the advisability of the whole thing.

”Perhaps I should postpone this visit,” he said. ”I'm not sure that I--”

”Don't worry about a thing,” the doctor said. ”This is the finest Dream Shop on Omega. Try to relax. Tight muscles can result in tetanic convulsions.”