HOW DEEP THE GROOVES By PHILIP JOSE FARMER Illustrated by ADKINS _Until James Carroad performed his experiment, there was one voice inside of each of us that always told the truth. But after Cervus III, there were suddenly two voices. And only one was the voice of conscience._ [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Amazing Stories February 1963. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] Always in control of himself, Doctor James Carroad lowered his voice. He said, "You will submit to this test. We must impress the Secretary. The fact that we're willing to use our own unborn baby in the experiment will make that impression a deeper one." Doctor Jane Carroad, his wife, looked up from the chair in which she sat. Her gaze swept over the tall lean figure in the white scientist's uniform and the two rows of resplendent ribbons and medals on his left chest. She glared into the eyes of her husband. Scornfully, she said, "You did not want this baby. I did, though now I wonder why. Perhaps, because I wanted to be a mother, no matter what the price. Not to give the State another citizen. But, now we're going to have it, you want to exploit it even before it's born, just as...." Harshly, he said, "Don't you know what such talk can lead to?" "Don't worry! I won't tell anyone you didn't desire to add to the State. Nor will I tell anybody how I induced you to have it!" His face became red, and he said, "You will never again mention that to me! Never again! Understand?" Jane's neck muscles trembled, but her face was composed. She said, "I'll speak of that, to you, whenever I feel like it. Though, God knows, I'm thoroughly ashamed of it. But I do get a certain sour satisfaction out of knowing that, once in my life, I managed to break down that rigid self-control. I made you act like a normal man, one able to forget himself in his passion for a woman. Doctor Carroad, the great scientist of the State, really forgot himself then." She gave a short brittle laugh and then settled back in the chair as if she would no longer discuss the matter. But he would not, could not, let her have the last word. He said, "I only wanted to see how it felt to throw off all restraints. That was all--an experiment. I didn't care for it; it was disgusting. It'll never happen again." He looked at his wristwatch and said, "Let's go. We must not make the Secretary wait." She rose slowly, as if the eight months' burden was at last beginning to drain her strength. "All right. But I'm submitting our baby to this experiment only under protest. If anything happens to it, a potential citizen...." He spun around. "A written protest?" "I've already sent it in." "You little fool! Do you want to wreck everything I've worked for?" Tears filled her eyes.