Evenly, smoothly, his legs straightened on the bed, his feet digging into the covers and pushing them into a roll at the bottom. He finally lay as he had begun, stretched straight with his hands beside his thighs and his face relaxed. When he spoke, it was in a normal, almost conversational tone. ... _belled out. I like the sound of that bell, it is relaxing. It's a good signal and I'm glad it happens that way. I stand up from the control chair and stretch. I have the strong notion something very pleasant has happened._ _How do you feel? Do you feel strange?_ _No, I feel fine. Everything is fine. I check the instruments, and they show that a Skip has been completed. That's good. I don't--I don't--somehow I can't remember why I wanted to_ ... His voice broke off, puzzled. Colin waited, and in a minute Harkins began to speak again. ... _hear the sound of the Skipdrive. It comforts me. Funny, I don't remember ever hearing it before_ ... _Go back before. Go back. You hear the one minute bell. You can hear the one minute bell and you are ready to make your Skip. You are getting ready to make your Skip._ Harkins snapped upright again and repeated his actions. He shouted and screamed, his body was forced into the foetal position jerkily.... _OH GOD THE STARS THE STARS THE STARS_ Whimpering. _Go forward. You are returning to normal space...._ _I feel fine, everything is fine. I check the instruments_ ... _Go back...._ There was no lessening. Colin's shirt was slick on his body with sweat, his face looked old, older, his breath came in almost imperceptible quaverings, but his voice remained calm and assured, in violent and distinct contrast to the strain that showed plainly as age in his face-- _Move ahead...._ _Move back...._ Twenty-three minutes later, Colin closed his eyes and said: _In ten minutes from this time you will waken feeling refreshed and relaxed, as after a good sleep. You will be alert and fresh when you waken. You will feel as if you have just had a pleasant nap. You will remember nothing of what has happened while you were asleep, but you will feel fresh and relaxed when you waken ten minutes from this time._ He finished the waking-formula mechanically and left the little room. He walked slowly and deliberately to his quarters on the base, as though holding himself rigidly in control. He did not answer Banning's excited questions except to say, "I can't talk about it now." Reaching his room he fell full length on the bed and was asleep nearly before the swaying of the bed had quieted. 5. Several hours later he was again in General Banning's office. "Look," Banning said, "I'm sorry to press this, and I know you took a hell of a beating in there. But we've got to know." Colin nodded morosely. "I know. I'm sorry about the delay." "You looked more dead than alive when you came out."