I spent ten minutes verbalizing the basic idea and an hour or so on "equipment"; the longer I go on the more unlikely it all seems. In the end I have maybe two hundred words which acting on instructions I post through a slit in the door. Five minutes later I realize I have forgotten the Time Factor. [Illustration] If the original ship took a year to reach Incognita, it will take at least four months now; therefore it is more than four months since that report was written and will be more than a year before anyone arrives and War may have started already. I sit back and by transition of ideas start to wonder where this ship is heading? We are still at one gee and even on Mass-Time you cannot juggle apparent acceleration and spatial transition outside certain limits; we are not just orbiting but must be well outside the Solar System by now. The speaker announces Everyone will now get some rest; I smell sleep-gas for one moment and have just time to lie down. I guess I was tired, at that. When I wake I feel more cheerful than I have for weeks; analysis indicates I am glad something is _happening_ even if it is another Exam. I dial breakfast but am too restless to eat; I wonder how long this goes on or whether I am supposed to show Initiative and break out; I am examining things with this in mind when the speaker comes to life again. It says, "Ladies and gentlemen. You have not been told whether the problem that you studied yesterday concerned a real situation or an imaginary one. You have all outlined measures which you think would improve the situation described. Please consider, seriously, whether you would be prepared to take part yourself in the application of your plan." Brother. There is no way to tell whether those who say No will be counted cowardly or those who say Yes rash idiots or what, the owner of that voice has his inflections too well trained to give anything away except intentionally. D. J. M'Clare. Not in person but a recording, anyway M'Clare is on Earth surrounded by exam papers. I sit back and try to think, honestly, if that crack-brained notion I wrote out last night were going to be tried in dead earnest, would I take a hand in it? The trouble is, hearing M'Clare's voice has convinced me it is a Test, I don't know whether it is testing my courage or my prudence in fact I might as well toss for it. Heads I am crazy, Tails a defaulter; Tails is what it is. I seize my styler and write the decision down. There is the slit in the door. I twiddle the note and think Well nobody asked for it yet. Suppose it is real, after all? I remember the itchy, sweaty feeling I got yesterday and try to picture really embarking on a thing like this, but I cannot work up any lather today. I begin to picture M'Clare reading my decision not to back up my own idea. I pick up the coin and juggle it around. The speaker remarks When I am quite ready will I please make a note of my decision and post it through the door.