Cave nodded and continued. “I’ve already worked out some of the practical details for putting this into action. There are still a lot of wrinkles, but we can iron them out in time. One of the big problems of present-day _unorganized_ suicide is the mess it causes for the people unfortunate enough to be left behind. There are legal complications; there is occasionally grief in old-fashioned family groups; there is also a general disturbance which, though only social, still tends to leave a bad taste, giving suicide, at least among the reactionaries, a bad name. “Our plan is simple. We will provide at each Center full faculties for those who have listened to Cavesword and have responded to it by taking the better way. There will be a number of comfortable rooms where the suicidalist may receive his friends for a last visit. We’ll provide legal assistance to put his affairs in order. Not everyone of course will be worthy of us. Those who choose death merely to evade responsibility will be censured and restrained. But the deserving, those whose lives have been devoted and orderly, may come to us and receive the gift.” I was appalled; before I could control myself I had said: “But the law! You just can’t let people kill themselves....” “Why not?” Cave looked at me coldly and I saw, in the eyes of the others, concern and hostility. I had anticipated something like this ever since my talk with Paul but I had not thought it would come so swiftly or so boldly. Paul spoke for Cave. “We’ve got the Congress and the Congress will make a law for us. For the time being, though, it _is_ against the present statutes; however, we’ve been assured by our lawyers that there isn’t much chance of their being invoked except perhaps in the remaining pockets of Christianity where we’ll go slow until we do have the necessary laws to protect us.” At that moment the line which had, from the very beginning, been visibly drawn between me and them, became a wall apparent to everyone. Even Clarissa, my usual ally, fearless and sharp, did not speak out. They looked at me, all of them awaiting a sign; even Cave regarded me with curiosity. My hand shook and I was forced to seize the edge of the table to steady myself. The sensation of cold glass and iron gave me a sudden courage. I brought Cave’s life to its end. I turned to him and said, quietly, with all the firmness I could summon: “Then you’ll have to die as well as they, and soon.” There was a shocked silence. Iris shut her eyes. Paul gasped and sat back abruptly in his chair. Cave turned white but he did not flinch. His eyes did not waver. They seized on mine, terrible and remote, full of power; with an effort, I looked past him. I still feared his gaze. “What did you say?” The voice was curiously mild yet it increased rather than diminished the tension. We had reached the crisis, without a plan.