"That? Oh, that's just a catch-all phrase. Your courses will depend on such things as your D or R classifications--" "It makes me laugh a little," Smith admitted. "But they've classified me as a receptive. I guess they know what they're doing. Still--" "You think you're strong, eh?" "Well, I didn't see anyone in the registrar's room who would worry me very much in a fight." "Society is sophisticated, Smith. There's more to strength than mere brawn. What sort of psi-powers have they cultivated on the planet Earth?" * * * * * In a general sense, but in a general sense only, Smith knew what she meant. "Well, there's hypnotism, and some people play at telepathy and clairvoyance. Nothing much, really." "That isn't much, my friend." "Why? What else is there?" Smith smiled for the first time. "I didn't know--" He shook his head, suddenly, to clear it. He felt tilted. He looked and he saw that everything was straight, but still he felt tilted. He tried to right himself, and down he went. On his stomach he lay, his legs twisted under him a little. Foolishly, he tried to get up. He couldn't. "There's that." The girl laughed. "Suggestion without the need for hypnotism." Smith stood up, said, "I see what you mean." "Think so?" It began to rain. A brisk wind came up abruptly, and off in the distance Smith heard the roar of thunder. It came closer. Still closer. Like in a straight line. Smith watched the lightnings prance. "We'd better get back to the school!" he cried. He didn't think she could hear his voice above the thunder. He started to shout again, but lightning crackled before his eyes. Between him and the girl. Something rumbled, and Smith started to fall. They had been blasted off the crag, and now they hurtled down through the sheets of hot rain.... "Feel yourself," the girl told him. The huge crimson sun still sat on the horizon. The air was hot and warm and Smith was dry. "Suggestion," she smiled again. "Most of us have it to some degree, but we of Bortinot have it still more. Still think you should be a dominant?" "Well--" The girl's face swam before his eyes. Lovely. Smith took a step forward, reached out and placed his big hands on her shoulders. "Well what?" She was smiling. "What's your name?" "Geria." His lips were big and hers were little, if full. He quivered as he kissed her. "I love you, Geria." "I know it," she said. * * * * * "The reason I went outside to watch the sea," Smith said, "was because I didn't know how to get to room 4027. I didn't want to ask anyone, not after--" "That makes sense. I'll take you, Smith. I'm just down the hall from you, anyway." "Thank you, Geria." Smith wondered how he knew her name was Geria. Nice name. "What happened after I thought there was a storm, Geria?" Smith suppressed a smile. "Oh, nothing much. I just planted another suggestion in your mind. For now you've forgotten, but you will remember. Shall we go?"