"Oh. And that's why you were holding me down, and wanting to tie me up?" "For a moment it looked as though you were a dangerous maniac," admitted Joe. "You can't blame us for not taking chances." "Of course not...." The young man drew a hand across his forehead. "I certainly must have had a real blow. I just don't remember a thing. You say I own a Mercury, but it means nothing to me. I know a Mercury is a car, for instance, but that's about all. I seem to know how to talk, what pancakes should taste like ... except that I'm almost willing to wager that I never tasted any as good as these before." "Thank you," said Mother, beaming. "I shouldn't wonder if your past way of life would all fit into place in your mind, and even though you might not regain full memory, you'd be able to take up where you left off. When you get back to your family...." The young man shook his head. "I don't think I've got a family. It just doesn't register. Not like the pancakes, or that a Mercury is a car...." Joe got to his feet. "Come on, Dad, let's get the tractor and get that Mercury out. Once our friend here knows who he is, maybe he can remember the details, and be on his way." The young man got to his feet eagerly. "Yes, let's go. I do have a burning curiosity, and you can hardly blame me, can you?" He turned to Pearl's mother. "I want to thank you for your hospitality, and I want you to know I'll never forget those pancakes, no matter what else I've forgotten!" He turned to Pearl, bowed slightly. "It has been nice meeting you, and those lovely children of yours." Joe led the way out the kitchen door and waved back at Pearl. "Don't worry about a thing," he said. "I'll be back just as soon as we get our friend out of the sand." * * * * * Later, Joe sat in the living room, and he was surrounded by three human question marks. "The children are up at Aunt Margie's," said Pearl. "And now you'd better tell us what all this is about?" "It's simple," said Joe. "The Devil has a case of amnesia. As long as he has it, we're safe. If he recovers his memory, we may be in for it again. But I have a feeling he won't recover it--perhaps not for a thousand years." "Not for a thousand years?" asked Dad. "How do you figure that?" "Well, in the first place, the Devil isn't gone. That is, he didn't suddenly leave the body of that young man, as you all seem to think." "How do you know that?" asked Pearl. "Easy. I killed the mouse." "The mouse?" "Yes. The Devil traded places originally with a mouse, and then traded places with this young man. But the mouse was dead, so the mouse's body was empty of a mouse, if I make myself clear. Thus, the mouse is still the young man, and always will be. The Devil will be the young man, because his own body is dead. That is, he'll be the young man until he recovers his memory, if he ever does, and then he could be anybody. I hope it never happens."