"First, we can assume that he has not succeeded, and that his claims are lies. We know that from our practical experience as Scanners. The Pain of Space is only part of Scanning" (_But the essential part, the basis of it all_, thought Martel.) "and we can rest assured that Stone cannot solve the problem of Space Discipline." "That tripe again," whispered Chang, unheard save by Martel. "The Space Discipline of our Confraternity has kept High Space clean of war and dispute. Sixty-eight disciplined men control all High Space. We are removed by our oath and our haberman status from all Earthly passions. "Therefore, if Adam Stone has conquered the Pain of Space, so that Others can wreck our Confraternity and bring to Space the trouble and ruin which afflicts Earths, I say that Adam Stone is wrong. If Adam Stone succeeds, Scanners live in Vain! "Secondly, if Adam Stone has not conquered the Pain of Space, he will cause great trouble in all the Earths. The Instrumentality and the Subchiefs may not give us as many habermans as we need to operate the ships of Mankind. There will be wild stories, and fewer recruits and, worst of all, the Discipline of the Confraternity may relax if this kind of nonsensical heresy is spread around. "Therefore, if Adam Stone has succeeded, he threatens the ruin of the Confraternity and should die. "I move the death of Adam Stone." And Vomact made the sign, _The Honorable Scanners are pleased to vote_. 4 Martel grabbed wildly for his beltlight. Chang, guessing ahead, had his light out and ready; its bright beam, voting No, shone straight up at the ceiling. Martel got his light out and threw its beam upward in dissent. Then he looked around. Out of the forty-seven present, he could see only five or six glittering. Two more lights went on. Vomact stood as erect as a frozen corpse. Vomact's eyes flashed as he stared back and forth over the group, looking for lights. Several more went on. Finally Vomact took the closing stance: _May it please the Scanners to count the vote_. Three of the older men went up on the rostrum with Vomact. They looked over the room. (Martel thought: _These damned ghosts are voting on the life of a real man, a live man! They have no right to do it. I'll tell the Instrumentality!_ But he knew that he would not. He thought of Luci and what she might gain by the triumph of Adam Stone: the heartbreaking folly of the vote was then almost too much for Martel to bear.) All three of the tellers held up their hands in unanimous agreement on the sign of the number: Fifteen against. Vomact dismissed them with a bow of courtesy. He turned and again took the stance, _I am the Senior and take Command_.