'There's no doubt about it, Remler," Feric said, "you've worked wonders."
Glowing with well-deserved pride, Remler led Feric through the extreme left-hand doorway, and into a small cubicle where two SS men armed with submachine guns and truncheons snapped to instant attention and saluted smartly at the sight of the Supreme Commander. In the floor of the cubicle was a dramhole; a water-hose was attached to a spigot projecting from a wall. The concrete floor was nevertheless stained a subtle reddish-brown.
"Thus far, we've uncovered only a few thousand Doms,"
Remler said. "However, SS scientists are very close to developing a specific test for the Dominator genotype. As it is, I'm afraid that some Doms do escape with the more ordinary mongrels and mutants."
Feric returned the salutes of the SS exterminators and nodded to Remler. "When a foolproof specific test has been developed, it will be a relatively simple matter to reprocess the sterilees and thus expunge the last Dominator gene from the face of Heldon."
"At any rate, the problem will be solved in the next generation one way or the other," Remler pointed out.
Remler led Feric through the far door of the extermination chamber, across a corridor, and into a large room filled with grinning, excited Helder queued up before a wall of storage bins to receive their new certificates of genetic purity and^their street clothes.
Before the SS Commandant could make a move to call 170
for a salute, Feric was noticed and a slightly ragged massed chant of "Hail Jaggar!" accompanied by somewhat individualistic saluting broke out among these exuberant folk. This was followed by over a minute of spontaneous cheering.
Feric could not help breaking into a grin himself as he saluted in return. These Helder had good cause for rejoicing—they had passed the new stringent genetic tests and had been readmitted to the communion of true humanity.
Feric was deeply moved by their infectious joyousness; it renewed his iron determination to insure that true humans and only true humans inherited the future of the world.
Next Remler conducted him across the corridor again and into a long rectangular room that was obviously his pride and joy. The portal leading from the main processing area debouched directly in front of a counter behind which stood five SS genetic analysts, tall blond specimens all. Beyond this battery of genetic experts was an SS
doctor equipped with all sorts of precision medical paraphernalia. The rear of the room was occupied by a series of desks at which sat tall, blond young men busily writing in test booklets under the supervision of an SS captain.
The sense of patriotic fervor and excitement in this room was all but palpable, for here those inmates who had given indication in the general testing were given the opportunity to pass the incredibly stringent genetic, somatic, mental, and patriotic rigors of the SS entrance examination.
At the sight of Feric, everyone in the room snapped to rigid attention, saluted, and roared "Hail Jaggar!" Feric saluted briefly in reply, and then indicated with a motion of his hand that the solemn testing should be carried out without taking note of his presence by further demonstra-tions. He himself led Remler out of the room through a side door, for these lads deserved to have their attention undivided at a time like this, and certainly the presence of their Supreme Commander at such a moment could hardly be called undistracting!
As he stepped through the doorway, Feric found himself confronting a queue of white-faced, stricken-looking specimens. SS men armed with truncheons and submachine guns guarded this line of unfortunates at regular intervals. At the head of the line stood an SS major with a clipboard and a scriber; beyond him were two doorways.
As Peric entered, he heard this functionary addressing 171
the grim-faced Helder at the head of (he line, a decent-looking specimen by superficial appearence.
"It is my duty to inform you that you have failed to entirely measure up to the standards of the pure human genotype. You have two options: exile from the Fatherland forever or sterilization. Which do you choose?"
The fellow hesitated a moment; Feric spied tears in his eyes. Then suddenly Feric's presence was noted and everyone—SS men and sour-faced inmates alike—snapped out Party salutes and shouted "Hail Jaggar!" with a vigor and enthusiasm that left nothing to be desired. Feric was deeply touched by such a demonstration of racial solidarity, coming as it did from those called upon to sacrifice their hope of future progeny for the good of the Fatherland.
A moment later, the Holder at the front of the line squared his shoulders, clicked his heels, came to attention^
and replied to the SS major clearly and firmly: "I choose sterilization for the good of the Fatherland!" He then gave a letter-perfect Party salute and marched resolutely through the right-hand doorway.
