At first we talked of Spokane. She identified mountains and indicated hidden villages with an emphasis on places which sharply recalled Cave. Not until we had turned off the main highway into a country road, dark with fir and spruce, did she ask me about Paul. “He’s very busy getting the New Year’s debut ready. He’s also got a set of offices for the company in Los Angeles and he’s engaged me to write an introduction to Cave ... but I suppose you knew that when he wired you I was coming.” “It was my idea.” “My coming? or the introduction?” “Both. I talked to him about it just before we came up here.” “And I thought he picked it out of the air while listening to me majestically place Cave among the philosophers.” Iris smiled. “Paul’s not obvious. He enjoys laying traps and, as long as they’re for one’s own good, he’s very useful.” “Implying he could be destructive?” “Immensely. So be on your guard even though I don’t think he’ll harm any of us.” “How is Cave?” “I’m worried, Gene. He hasn’t got over that accident. He talks about it continually.” “But the man didn’t die.” “It would be better if he did ... as it is there’s a chance of a lawsuit against Cave for damages.” “But he has no money.” “That doesn’t prevent them from suing. Worst of all, though, would be the publicity. The whole thing has depressed John terribly. It was all I could do to keep him from announcing to the press that he had almost done the old man a favor.” “You mean by killing him?” Iris nodded, quite seriously. “That’s actually what he believes and the reason why he drove on.” “I’m glad he said nothing like that to the papers.” “But it’s true; his point of view _is_ exactly right.” “Except that the old man might regard the situation in a different light and, in any case, he was badly hurt and did not receive Cave’s gift of death.” “Now you’re making fun of John.” She frowned and drove fast on the empty road. “I’m doing no such thing. I’m absolutely serious. There’s a moral problem involved which is extremely important and if a precedent is set too early, a bad one like this, there’s no predicting how things will turn out.” “You mean the ... the gift as you call it should only be given voluntarily?” “Exactly ... _if_ then, and only in extreme cases. Think what might happen if those who listened to Cave decided to make all their friends and enemies content by killing them.” “Well, I wish you’d talk to him.” She smiled sadly. “I’m afraid I don’t always see things clearly when I’m with him. You know how he is ... how he convinces.” “I’ll talk to him tactfully. I’ve also got to get a statement of belief from him.” “But you have it already. We all have it.” “Then I’ll want some moral application of it. We have so much ground to cover yet.” “There’s the farm, up there on the hill.” A white frame building stood shining among elms on a low hill at the foot of blue sharp mountains. She turned up a dirt road and, in silence, we arrived at the house.