"Because," Fred said carefully, "you may have my body, but in my mind I am a Free Diver." "And nothing anyone can say will change that, eh?" "No." "You know," Dr. Howard Sprinnell said reflectively, "you're talking as if you had another body cached away somewhere." "Whoever heard of that?" "Lots of people, Fred. Voodoo zombies, certain Mahayana religious leaders, prehistoric Egyptians--there's quite a well documented tradition. But the great problem has always been to find a leader with the courage to do it scientifically and in the interests of all the people, not just the members of some sect. Give a man the universe to play in and he doesn't mind a few rules as long as he's allowed to play. Finding negative Psis and creating the Divers as an organized official body was easy compared with the task of completing the experiment--_by making one of them revolt_! Nine of the ten before you were too easily satisfied. Diving according to the rules and regulations was enough for them." "Who was the tenth?" "Pat. She was the prettiest and most discontented. I thought I could stir up some fire." "You did." "Ah, good. I am high-Psi, by the way. I seem to feel she's somewhere around here. However ... I can never be a Diver myself, but years ago I formed the theory that a lot of phenomena could be explained by minds reaching out beyond their bodies. Now be careful, Fred. I don't want to _know_. The Security Psis are very real and there are a lot of things I cannot afford to know. I'm a Solar Government servant, remember. But it seemed to me there might conceivably be a life-form somewhere in the universe which used the body as a vehicle for its convenience. I hoped one day the Divers would find such a life-form, and if I made the regulations stiff enough and supplied one or two other irritations, one Diver might decide to make the jump, to revolt and stand on his own feet. Free Divers, you called yourselves, eh? A good name. I don't want to know where your base--your other base--is, Fred. I only want to know there is a group of people willing to serve the Solar Government regardless of time, theoretically for eternity--that's what it amounts to when you work it out. As I say, I'm just a government servant. And thanks, Free Diver." He held out his hand and shook Fred's. "From now on, Fred, you can all come and go as you wish. If you feel like keeping to the security regulations, fine. But I'll make it clear to the Defense Council that there's nothing they can do about it if you don't. Men who don't mind losing their bodies have always been somewhat beyond the power of a government." "On that basis, Doc, I don't mind continuing the way you planned." "Laryngeal transmitter, continue your cover-job and the rest?" "Don't see why not." "Come along then. You're due to be released from jail." Fred followed the doctor into the operating room. * * * * *