"Who would bother with what isn't safe? Everyone knows down to the last nerve tremor the consequences of really good stimulants. We've seen it, smella- and feela-visioned it through social indoctrination procedures to the point where no one would dare. All we can do is stick to the legally permissible alkaloid-heightened caffein derivatives." "Suppose I told you there is something new, something perfect _and_ safe?" "I'd say gaga again, sheer lunacy!" "All right, just listen." He recounted their experiences on the asteroid and, despite himself, Neilson began to show real interest. "And you have a capsule?" "Yes, want to try a fleck? That's all you need, I think." "Oh no!" Neilson exclaimed. "Not until I've run the tests." "Well, that's what I'm here for. You're a biochemist, you have all the equipment." * * * * * Cramer looked disdainfully at the man. The type was common enough--probably knew next to nothing about his specialty. But--and this was what made it doubly revolting--he didn't have to know in order to be an expert. Good equipment could do _all_ the work in most cases. Neilson waved languidly toward his other guests, mumbling, "See you shortly," and let the pair through a series of golden rooms to his Analyzer Laboratory. There he took the capsule from Hartley and placed it in a cryogenic tester similar to the one aboard the _Solar Pioneer_. After temperature adjustments were made, tiny filament hands began lifting out specimen flecks and shifting them to various test sections. "Odd stuff," murmured Neilson as he surveyed the preliminary sheet punched out by the reporting machine. "It's a living organism and--and it's _silicon_-based! That's a real weird one. Its biological action in the human body wouldn't be like any narcotic, completely new. Can't read the next stuff--ah, here's the translation--heightened hormone discharges, not one of which is detrimental. Metabolic cycle of bacteria somewhere between three and four hours." "The spin period for the asteroid! This stuff's likely to be available hundreds of places in the asteroid belt, wherever the spin period's in that range. Might have an endless supply because in its native habitat it reappears after the heating phase even though something in the human body destroys it permanently." Now summaries were being pumped out more rapidly and Neilson was scanning them with unwonted speed. "Fleck dose too small for _any_ endocrine upset. None for musculature either. Gastro-intestinal negative. Bone Marrow negative. Ten minutes after entering the body this stuff dissolves completely into _lower_ elements! Physiologically non-habit-forming. Hartley, if this gives all the pleasure you claim it's the answer to our wildest prayers. I will try a fleck." As soon as he inhaled the infinitesimal dosage he began grinning at the pair in speechless wonder. Hartley joined him and offered to set a bit up for Cramer.