In fact, Stan thought, the culture seemed now to be completely self-controlled--self-sustaining. The people were mere cells, who conformed--or were eliminated. Again, he picked up the book, looking casually through its pages. Detail was unimportant here. There was, he realized with a feeling of frustration, only a sort of dull pattern, with no significant detail apparent. * * * * * He awoke a little groggily, looked around the cell, then jumped hastily out of his bunk. Usually he was awake before the bell rang. Pete Karzer was coming back from the washstand. He looked over. "You up, Graham?" he said in his whispery voice. "Hey, you know I'm getting out this morning. Guess you'll want to swap blankets again, huh?" "That's right, too. No use turning in a good blanket, is there?" "Don't make sense." Pete massaged the back of his neck. "Never could figure that swap," he said. "Don't get me wrong, it was real good, being able to sleep warm, but you caught me good when I tried to swipe that blanket of yours. Ain't never seen a guy move so quick. And I ain't so dumb I don't know when I'm licked." He grinned ruefully. "So I'm down, like I been hit with a singlejack. Then you go and hand over a good blanket for that beat thing I been using. How come?" Stan shrugged. "I told you," he said. "Where I come from, it's a lot colder than it is here, so I don't need a blanket. I'd have offered a swap sooner, but I didn't want to look like some greasy doormat." "Wasn't no grease about that swap." Pete grinned and rubbed his neck again. "I found out real quick who was the big man. Where'd you learn that stuff anyway?" "Oh, picked it up--here and there." Stan glanced down at the floor. There would be no point in explaining the intensive close combat training he'd been put through at school. Such training would make no sense to his cellmates. To the good citizens of Kellonia, it would seem horrifyingly illegal. He glanced up again. "You know how it is," he went on. "A guy learns as he goes." Big Carl Marlo swung his legs over the side of his bunk. "Looks like you learned real good," he said. He examined Stan. "Pete tells me about this deal. I kinda miss the action this time, but Pete tells me he's got the blanket and he's all set to plug you good, you should maybe try a hassle. "Only all at once, you're on him. He feels a couple quick ones, then he don't know nothing till next day. You can maybe do things like that any time?" Stan shrugged. "Guy never knows what he can do till he tries. I know a few other tricks, if that's what you mean." Marlo nodded. "Yeah. Know something, kid? Ain't no use you waste your time being no fabricator nurse. You got a good profesh already, know what I mean?" Stan looked at him questioningly.