He followed the passageway to the outer lock and stepped out into the asteroid's thin but breathable air. _Hide our thoughts_, his mind urged, _and I will tell you something._ But _It_ was listening. _Two times two is four, two times three is six--what do you want to tell me, mind?--is eight, two times five is--Sammy, careful, careful, careful!--fourteen, two times eight is sixteen--Sammy what? Sammy what, mind!--I don't understand--ty-two, two times twelve is--We can't hide from_ It's _mind--twenty-eight._ _It_ was laughing! Knight's eyes flicked toward the spring where Captain Isaac Hansen was tasting the water. "I know everything, Kent Knight," It chuckled. "I could tell you what your mind is trying to tell you but hide from me." "Do you?" Knight's thought was listless. "Yes." The part that was still Kent Knight, though smothered by the Thing's presence, sighed, and Knight felt himself sigh almost in relief. "No," Kent Knight said, and his lips were smiling. "You don't know what it's trying to tell me, Thing. We'll beat you. It will let me know and you won't know it." "I _will_ know!" The Thing's thought was sharp, almost angry, and it struck again with pain. But Kent Knight had hope again, and the pain didn't matter ... too much.... * * * * * When it was gone, leaving only the echoes behind, Kent Knight raised himself to his feet, walked slowly toward the tiny spring where Captain Hansen was still tasting the water. Captain Hansen, his seamed face beaming, looked up as Knight approached. His blue eyes were sparkling. "We can make millions on this water, Kent! It's the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon sought! Why, look, I've sipped only about three ounces and look at my old hands. They're smooth and young as yours! And my face--see the fresh new skin!" Kent Knight looked at the Captain's hands. They were age-gnarled, the knuckles big against the wizened fingers. Knight looked at the Captain's face. It was lined and rough and _old_. He thought, _Another manifestation of your powers, Thing? Make a man's dream come true? That is the Captain's dream. He wants never to grow old._ But he said, and he actually put feeling into the words, "Why, you look like that picture of your son on your desk, Ike. But hadn't you better be careful? You don't know that water's strength. It might cause irreparable damage to you." "That's right," Captain Hansen agreed. "I'm young enough now, don't you think?" Knight twisted his lips into a smile he didn't feel, turned back toward the ship. Captain Hansen followed him, dancing. _Damn you, Thing!_ _It_ chuckled. Knight leaned against the wall of the spacemen's mess, his eyes searching the crew members eating at the long table. _You can tell which ones still are fighting_ Them. _They are the unhappy ones. But, God, so few of them!_