Avery threw down his cards and walked to the window. Through the bars, there was nothing to be seen but the expanse of sand, glinting in the morning sun, and a cactus plant casting a stubby shadow. He whirled to face the others. "Look, MacPherson," he burst out. "I'm fed up with this game. Snookums Rothman mustn't think about the Project any more, so we mustn't say the naughty word. But we were all in it together at the beginning and there was a while when we were all every bit as scared as he was. Why not tell him we came this morning in case--just in case--he'd heard about the test and was worrying? What's the harm in telling him what the whole university knows? That zero hour is today, this morning, now!" "Shut up, you fool!" said MacPherson. But Rothman glanced at his cards again, then looked up. "When does it begin? What time is it now?" "Don't answer!" shouted MacPherson. "Are you trying to knock him off balance again?" "I will answer!" said Avery. "I'm going to tell him. He scared us silly with his calculations; now let us scare him with some cold facts. It'll do him good. Maybe when the test is over, if he finds--I mean _when_ he finds--he was wrong, he'll be cured." "Yes, and maybe he'll really be crazy." Grabbing Avery fiercely by the arm, MacPherson tried to drag him to the door, but Avery broke away. "Listen, Rothman!" Avery's breath was coming quick and shallow. "Today is the day! Zero hour is eleven o'clock this morning!" * * * * * MacPherson sagged. No one spoke or moved as they all watched Rothman. At last Rothman sighed, once. "What time is it now?" From the door came a scratching sound. MacPherson turned to see Joe, grinning at them through the steel lattice. "How's things?" Joe wanted to know. "Thought I heard a commotion in here. Doc Rothman's not acting up, I hope?" "Everything's under control, Joe," MacPherson assured him. "Just having a friendly game." "Don't cheat while they're watching you," said Joe, and his face disappeared. "Well, the murder's out," said MacPherson. "No use kidding you any longer," Neill said, fanning his cards. "Eleven o'clock this morning. Six o'clock tomorrow morning, Waaku time. But it's just another test. Nothing's going to happen." Avery took off his glasses and began to polish the lenses. "Any idea of a possible chain reaction is ridiculous. As a matter of fact, I recently spent a full week checking the math again myself, so I know. But we knew how you felt about it, Rothman, and we didn't want you to be worrying here all alone, in case you'd found out. That's why we came." Rothman was looking out the window. He did not answer. Slowly MacPherson went back to his chair and picked up his cards. "And now how about playing some poker? Rothman, you opened for a blue. What about you, Neill?" "I'm staying," said Neill, shoving in a chip. "Always was a gambler. I'm going to stay till the cows come home."