"John, you have been using a modification of Tremaine's gadget on yourself. I can only say that you are ambitious to the foolhardy stage. No good will come of it." "Where is the danger? I care nothing for sterility. I only hope to become as intelligent as you are." "If that were all," smiled Gerd, "I would look the other way. But again--I could not. For I am responsible for every Terran in the eyes of my superiors. I must try to protect even those who attempt mental suicide. Along that line lies oblivion, Wanniston." "You do all right," snapped the financier. "I," smiled Gerd Lel Rayne, "was ... born to this. I used nothing to enhance my ... native intellect." "What's wrong with it, though? I can do without progeny." "Civilization can not." "Civilization will know nothing--" "They will find out. I regret that I tried to dissuade you. In showing you the error of continuing this line of research, I gave you the hint that opened the corridor to you. That was a mistake. "Be that as it may," continued Gerd, "I must now try to show you more of the future. You are slowly gaining in power, Wanniston, and you will eventually become the most hated man on Terra." "A shame, I'm sure," snorted Wanniston. "That attitude will cause you grief," admonished Gerd Lel Rayne. "You should use power wisely, not use it in sharpering your associates out of their rights." "I've never cheated--" "Not legally. But is it right for a man to set up traps? Is it good and moral for one of your present mental ability to figure the tertiary causes and effects and apply them to time limits? Not only do you make profit, Wanniston, but you set up your contracts so that you inevitably get forfeit-money as well. You think deeper and plan better--" "And to the winner goes the spoils," laughed Wanniston. "I should lower myself to their level for the sake of helping them? Not I, Gerd Lel Rayne. I am your equal, and you know it." "I know it. Yet I am not overly avaricious. I am comfortable, doing my job as best I can. I am unique, perhaps, but I do that which I am best fitted for, and I am helping civilization." Wanniston smiled. "Tremaine wanted galactic power for Terra. Tremaine wanted the ultimate for mankind. He was a complete altruist, I believe. He wanted to raise the whole world to your level." "An admirable idea, lacking in certain phases of which he could know nothing. Certain phases, Wanniston, of which you are equally ignorant!" "I shall find out. I shall, if necessary, surpass you, Gerd." "Quite possible," smiled the emissary. "Quite possible. The capacity of the brain is almost limitless. My race uses more than yours, Wanniston. Eventually we will fill ours more and more as the centuries pass. But remember that we are as much on the way up as your race is. No one should move too fast." "Why?" "Because, that way leads to--oblivion." "Again, why?"