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and belief in wholesome compromise, have more than once been a power on Earth. I am one. Or, at
least, I was one once. But the Zealots rule all Earth now. They are the extreme nationalists, with their
dreams of past rule and future rule. It is against them that the Empire must be protected."
Arvardan frowned. "You refer to the revolt Pola spoke of?"
"Dr. Arvardan," Shekt said grimly, "it's not too easy a job to, convince anyone of such an apparently
ridiculous possibility as Earth conquering the Galaxy, but it's true. I am not physically brave, and I am
most anxious to Eve. You can imagine, then, the immense crisis that must now exist to force me to run the
risk of committing treason with the eye of the local administration already upon me."
"Well," said Arvardan, "if it is that serious, I had better tell you one thing immediately. I will help you all I
can, but only in my own capacity as a Galactic citizen. I have no official standing here, nor have I any
particular influence at the Court or even at the Procurator's Palace. I am exactly what I seem to be-an
archaeologist on a scientific expedition which involves only my own interests. Since you are prepared to
risk treason, hadn't you better see the Procurator about this? He could really do something."
That is exactly what I cannot do, Dr. Arvardan. It is that very contingency against which the Ancients
guard me. When you came to my house this morning I even thought you might be a go-between. I
thought that Ennius suspected."
"He may suspect-I cannot answer for that. But I am not a go-between. I'm sorry. If you insist on making
me your confidant, I can promise to see him for you."
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"Thank you. It is all I ask. That-and to use your good offices to intercede for Earth against too, strong a
reprisal."
"Of course." Arvardan was uneasy. At the moment he was convinced that he was dealing with an elderly
and eccentric paranoiac, perhaps harmless, but thoroughly cracked. Yet he had no choice but to remain,
to listen, and to try to smooth over the gentle insanity-for Pola's sake.
Shekt said, "Dr. Arvardan, you have heard of the Synapsifier? You said so this morning."
"Yes, I did. I read your original article in Physical Reviews. I discussed the instrument with the,
Procurator and with the High Minister."
"With the High Minister?"
"Why, certainly. When I obtained the letter of introduction that you-uh-refused to see, I'm afraid."
"I'm sorry for that. But I wish you had not- What is the extent of your knowledge concerning the
Synapsifier?"
"That it is an interesting failure. It is designed to improve learning capacity. It has succeeded to some
extent on rats, but has failed on human beings."
Shekt was chagrined. "Yes, you could think nothing else from that article. It was publicized as a failure,
and the eminently successful results have been suppressed, deliberately."
"Hmp. A rather unusual display of scientific ethics, Dr. Shekt."
"I admit it. But I am fifty-six, sir, and if you know anything of the customs of Earth, you know that I
haven't long to live."
"The Sixty. Yes, I have heard of it-more than I would have liked, in fact." And he thought wryly-of that
first trip on a Terrestrian stratoliner. "Exceptions are made for noted scientists, among others, I have
heard."
"Certainly. But it is the High Minister and the Council of Ancients who decide on that, and there is no
appeal from their decisions, even to the Emperor. I was told that the price of life was secrecy concerning
the Synapsifier and hard work for its improvement." The older man spread his, hands helplessly. "Could I
know then of the outcome, of the use to which the machine would be put?"
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"And the use?" Arvardan extracted a cigarette from his shirtpocket case and offered one to the other,
which was refused.
"If you'll wait a moment- One by one, after my experiments had reached the point where I felt the
instrument might be safely applied to, human beings, certain of Earth's biologists were treated. In each
case they were men I knew to be in sympathy with the Zealots-the extremists, that is. They all survived,
though secondary effects made themselves shown after a time. One of them was brought back for
treatment eventually. I could not save him. But, in his dying delirium, I found out."
It was close upon midnight. The day had been long and much had happened. But now something stirred
within Arvardan. He said tightly, "I wish you'd get to the point."
Shekt said, "I beg your patience. I must explain thoroughly, if you're to believe me. You, of course,
know of Earth's peculiar environment-its radioactivity-"
"Yes, I have a fair knowledge of the matter."
"And of the effect of this radioactivity upon Earth and its economy?"
"Yes."
"Then I won't belabor the point. I need only say that the incidence of mutation on Earth is greater than in
the rest of the Galaxy. The idea of our enemies that Earthmen are different thus has a certain basis of
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