He saw the flush move up through her face. "Is that the only reason?" "You know it isn't." She knew it. They both knew it and had probably known it for a long time. They had a lot in common, a minority of two. And then he remembered. She wasn't really there in the Midtown with him. She was in Sunny Hill, wherever that was. They couldn't leave inconspicuously together because they weren't together now, and they couldn't get together without the Gang being together too. The rooms, furniture, sounds, everything began to fade. "Goodbye," Lucille said. "Get sick or something," Kane said quickly. "Don't go with the Group to work. Stay there, wherever you are! _Stay there_--" Faintly, her voice came to him out of a kind of melting mask of a face. "I'll try--" Kane was alone in the single room and the door opened. The smiling Staff came in and shut the door. The three of them stood there happily holding their briefcases. "We're happy to report that we have completed your personality breakdown." The word was a bit premature, Kane thought. "What is it?" he asked. "Excellent," the Staff beamed. "You should never have been an astronomer. You took up that profession as a way of escaping from people. Actually, of course, you love people and hate your profession. "Have you determined what I should be if not an astronomer?" "Naturally, it's all in the breakdown." "What is it?" "Generally, you prefer physical work, not mental work. Mental work is a constant strain on your psychological balance. You have done it neurotically to reinforce your need to avoid people." "Physical work? What kind?" "Specifically, it seems that you are best suited for the profession of plumbing." "Plumbing?" Kane said. "Plumbing what?" "Plumbing, the art of pipe-fitting, the study of water mains, sewage lines, and so forth." "Plumbing." Kane said. "Of course, you react antagonistically to it now. But that will be changed." Kane had nothing against plumbers or plumbing. Once, as a kid, he remembered having a long interesting talk with a plumber who was unstopping the kitchen sink. He had fascinating tools, and at that time, Kane had said he would be a plumber when he grew up. But he had also wanted to be any number of other things when he grew up, including an astronomer. Now he had no desire whatsoever to be a plumber. Kane drew the metal bedside table up hard and the edge of it caught number one of the Staff under the chin. Kane attacked, violently. He did it knowing that something more was at stake than his life--his identity. * * * * * Number one fell down on his knees and whimpered. He wasn't hit hard. But he squatted there blubbering as though he had suffered some horrible shock. Numbers two and three gaped as though equally shocked without ever having been hit at all.