Dr. Harding hissed on his glasses and wiped them thoughtfully, an adopted mannerism, obviously, because he seemed to see as well without them. "You have a point, Mr. Locke, but it would mean losing your contribution to our archives." "Well, which is more important?" Clocker argued. "Would you rather have my record than have us save ourself?" "Both," said Mr. Calhoun. "We see very little hope of your success, while we regard your knowledge as having important sociological significance. A very desirable contribution." The others agreed. "Look, I'll come back if I lame out," Clocker desperately offered. "You can pick me up any time you want. But if I make headway, you got to let Zelda go, too." "A reasonable proposition," said Dr. Harding. "I call for a vote." They took one. The best Clocker could get was a compromise. "We will lift our control," Mr. Calhoun said, "for a suitable time. If you can arouse a measurable opposition to racial suicide--_measurable_, mind you; we're not requiring that you reverse the lemming march alone--we agree to release your wife and revise our policy completely. If, on the other hand, as seems more likely--" "I come back here and go on giving you the inside on racing," Clocker finished for him. "How much time do I get?" Dr. Harding turned his hands palm up on the table. "We do not wish to be arbitrary. We earnestly hope you gain your objective and we shall give you every opportunity to do so. If you fail, you will know it. So shall we." "You're pretty sure I'll get scratched, aren't you?" Clocker asked angrily. "It's like me telling a jockey he don't stand a chance--he's whammied before he even gets to the paddock. Anybody'd think do-gooders like you claim you are would wish me luck." "But we do!" exclaimed Mr. Calhoun. He shook Clocker's hand warmly and sincerely. "Haven't we consented to release you? Doesn't this prove our honest concern? If releasing _all_ our human associates would save humanity, we would do so instantly. But we have tried again and again. And so, to use your own professional terminology, we are hedging our bets by continuing to make our anthropological record until you demonstrate another method ... if you do." "Good enough," approved Clocker. "Thanks for the kind word." The other board members followed and shook Clocker's hand and wished him well. Barnes, being last, did the same and added, "You may see your wife, if you care to, before you leave." "If I care to?" Clocker repeated. "What in hell do you think I came here for in the first place?" * * * * * Zelda was brought to him and they were left alone in a pleasant reading room. Soft music came from the walls, which glowed with enough light to read by. Zelda's lovely face was warm with emotion when she sat down beside him and put her hands in his. "They tell me you're leaving, hon," she said. [Illustration] "I made a deal, baby. If it works--well, it'll be like it was before, only better."