The Stars My Destination

by Alfred Bester

“I’m going to show you something, Gully.” “What?” “How much I despise you.” Jisbella slapped him thrice. Stung by the blows, Foyle started up furiously. Jisbella picked up a hand mirror and held it before him. “Look at yourself, Gully,” she said quietly. “Look at your face.” He looked. He saw the old tattoo marks flaming blood-red under the skin, turning his face into a scarlet and white tiger mask. He was so chilled by the appalling spectacle that his rage died at once, and simultaneously the mask disappeared. “My God…” he whispered. “Oh my God…” “I had to make you lose your temper to show you,” Jisbella said. “What’s it mean, Jiz? Did Baker goof the job?” “I don’t think so. I think you’ve got scars under the skin, Gully…from the original tattooing and then from the bleaching. Needle scars. They don’t show normally, but they do show, blood red, when your emotions take over and your heart begins pumping blood…when you’re furious or frightened or passionate or possessed… Do you understand?” He shook his head, still staring at his face, touching it in bewilderment. “You said you wished you could carry me in your pocket to stick pins in you when you lose control. You’ve got something better than that, Gully, or worse, poor darling. You’ve got your face.” “No!” he said. “No!” “You can’t ever lose control, Gully. You’ll never be able to drink too much, eat too much, love too much, hate too much… You’ll have to hold yourself with an iron grip.” “No!” he insisted desperately. “It...