“At first,” O’Connor said, “I might think of various examples: the actions of a mob, for example, or the demonstrations of the Indian Rope Trick, or perhaps the sale of a useless product through television or through other advertising.” Again his face moved, ever so slightly, in what he obviously believed to be a smile. “The usual name for such a phenomenon is ‘mass hypnotism,’ Mr. Malone,” he said. “But that is not, strictly speaking, a _psi_ phenomenon at all. Studies in that area belong to the field of mob psychology; they are not properly in my scope.” He looked vastly superior to anything and everything that was outside his scope. Malone concentrated on looking receptive and understanding. “Yes?” he said. O’Connor gave him a look that made Malone feel he’d been caught cribbing during an exam, but the scientist said nothing to back up the look. Instead he went on: “I will grant that there may be an amplification of the telepathic faculty in the normal individual in such cases.” “Good,” Malone said doubtfully. “Such an amplification,” O’Connor went on, as if he hadn’t heard, “would account for the apparent—ah—mental linkage that makes a mob appear to act as a single organism during certain periods of—ah— stress.” He looked judicious for a second, and then nodded. “However,” he said, “other than that, I would doubt that there is any psionic force involved.” Malone spent a second or two digesting O’Connor’s reply. “Well,” he said at last, “I’m not sure that’s what I meant. I mean, I’m not sure I meant to ask that question.” He took a breath and decided to start all over. “It’s not like a mob,” he said, “with everybody all doing the same thing at the same time. It’s more like a group of men, all separated, without any apparent connections between any of the men. And they’re all working toward a common goal. All doing different things, but all with the same objective. See?” “Of course I do,” O’Connor said flatly. “But what you’re suggesting—” He looked straight at Malone. “Have you had any experience of this ... phenomenon?” “Experience?” Malone said. “I believe you have had,” O’Connor said. “Such a concept could not have come to you in a theoretical manner. You must be involved with an actual situation very much like the one you describe.” Malone swallowed. “Me?” he said. “Mr. Malone,” O’Connor said. “May I remind you that this is Yucca Flats? That the security checks here are as careful as anywhere in the world? That I, myself, have top-security clearance for many special projects? You do not need to watch your words here.” “It’s not security,” Malone said. “Anyhow, it’s not only security. But things are pretty complicated.” “I assure you,” O’Connor said, “that I will be able to understand even events which you feel are complex.” Malone swallowed again, hard. “I didn’t mean—” he started.