Mr. Calhoun finally sighed and got out of his big chair. "Mr. Locke, besides striving for international understanding, we have experimented in the manner you suggest. We released many of our human associates to tell what our science predicts on the basis of probability. A human psychological mechanism defeated us." "Yeah?" Clocker asked warily. "What was that?" "Protective amnesia. They completely and absolutely forgot everything they had learned here." * * * * * Clocker slumped a bit. "I know. I talked to some of these 'cured' catatonics--people you probably sprung because you got all you wanted from them. They didn't remember anything." He braced again. "Look, there has to be a way out. Maybe if you snatch these politicians in all the countries, yank them up here, they couldn't stumble us into a war." "Examine your history," said Dr. Harding sadly, "and you will find that we have done this experimentally. It doesn't work. There are always others, often more unthinking, ignorant, stupid or vicious, ready to take their places." Clocker looked challengingly at every member of the board of directors before demanding, "What are the odds on me remembering?" "You are our first volunteer," said a little man at the side of the table. "Any answer we give would be a guess." "All right, guess." "We have a theory that your psychic censor might not operate. Of course, you realize that's only a theory--" "That ain't all I don't realize. What's it mean?" "Our control, regrettably, is a wrench to the mind. Lifting it results in amnesia, which is a psychological defense against disturbing memories." "I walked into this, don't forget," Clocker reminded him. "I didn't know what I was getting into, but I was ready to take anything." "That," said the little man, "is the unknown factor. Yes, you did submit voluntarily and you were ready to take anything--but were you psychologically prepared for this? We don't know. We _think_ there may be no characteristic wrench--" "Meaning I won't have amnesia?" "Meaning that you _may_ not. We cannot be certain until a test has been made." "Then," said Clocker, "I want a deal. It's Zelda I want; you know that, at any rate. You say you're after a record of us in case we bump ourself off, but you also say you'd like us not to. I'll buy that. I don't want us to, either, and there's a chance that we can stop it together." "An extremely remote one," Mr. Calhoun stated. "Maybe, but a chance. Now if you let me out and I'm the first case that don't get amnesia, I can tell the world about all this. I might be able to steer other guys, scientists and decent politicians, into coming here to get the dope straighter than I could. Maybe that'd give Earth a chance to cop a pardon on getting extinct. Even if it don't work, it's better than hanging around the radio waiting for the results." * * * * *