"Within days." He lowered his eyes from the ceiling and looked into Stanton's face with a mildly bland expression. "By the way," he said, "did you know that your brother is returning to Earth tomorrow?" XV INTERLUDE "Is this our young man, Dr. Farnsworth?" asked the man in uniform. "Yes, it is. Colonel Mannheim, I'd like you to meet Mr. Bartholomew Stanton." "How are you, Mr. Stanton?" "Fine, Colonel. A little nervous." The colonel chuckled softly. "I can't say that I blame you. It's not an easy decision to make." He looked at Dr. Farnsworth. "Has Dr. Yoritomo any more information for us?" Farnsworth shook his head. "No. He admits that his idea is nothing more than a wild hunch. He seems to think that five years of observing the Nipe won't be too much time at all. We may have to act before then." "I hope not. It would be a terrible waste," said Mannheim. "Mr. Stanton, I know that Dr. Farnsworth has outlined the entire plan to you, and I'm sure you're aware that many things can change in five years. We may have to play by ear long before that. Do you understand what we are doing, and why it must be done this way?" "Yes, sir." "You know that you're not to say anything." "Yes, sir. Don't worry; I can keep my mouth shut." "We're pretty sure of that," the colonel said with a smile. "Your psychometric tests showed that we were right in picking you. Otherwise, we couldn't have told you. You understand your part in this, eh?" "Yes, sir." "Any questions?" "Yes, sir. What about my brother, Martin? I mean, well, I know what's the matter with him. Aside from the radiation, I mean. Do you think he'll be able to handle his part of the job after--after the operations?" "If the operations turn out as well as Dr. Farnsworth thinks they will, yes. And, with the therapy we'll give him afterwards, he'll be in fine shape." "Well." He looked thoughtful. "Five more years. And then I'll have the twin brother that I never really had at all. Somehow, it doesn't really register, I guess." "Don't worry about it, Mr. Stanton," said Dr. Farnsworth. "We've got a complex enough job ahead of us without your worrying in the bargain. By the way, we'll need your signature here." He handed him a pen and spread the paper on the desk. "In triplicate." The young man read quickly through the release form. "All nice and legal, huh? Well...." He hesitated for a moment, then bent over and wrote: _Bartholomew Stanton_ in a firm, clear hand. XVI The tunnel was long and black and the air was stale and thick with the stench of rodents. Stanton stood still, trying to probe the luminescent gloom that the goggles he wore brought to his eyes. The tunnel stretched out before him--on and on. Around him was the smell of viciousness and death. Ahead ... _It goes on to infinity_, Stanton thought, _ending at last at zero_.