It was flabbergasting to Comstock and in a strange way that he could not quite understand he felt a little pang of jealousy. He found he would have liked to have had a Helen next to him.... Someone young and brave ... and soft ... and warm ... who smelled like the girl now pressed so close against him. Something of what he was thinking must have communicated itself to the girl for she turned from her beloved and said, "Poor Comstock. It's not as though you were all alone. We're with you!" Then her full-soft lips were pressed on his forehead. The blood pounding into his head made his face flare crimson. Sounds of disgust from the four R.A.'s made him angry instead of upset as they might have. What did they, poor fools, know of the feelings of a rebel? Of a ... hero? The kiss buoyed him up all the way to the House of the Fathers. But then, when the ominous, tall, round building rose up in front of them, and he could see the two circular perispheres at the base of the trylon-like structure, fear returned. In one of the completely round low buildings was the House of the Fathers. The other, on the right hand side, was the meeting place of the Elders. And high above in the very tip of the tall round building was The Grandfather's Retreat. It was awe-inspiring because never before had he been closer to it than a mile and that only on those days sacred to the memory of The Grandfather. The car jolted to a halt right in front of the trylon. The R.A.'s hustled the three of them out of the vehicle. Where were they to be taken? Comstock watched wide-eyed. Their guards took them past the door on the right. So they were not to be taken before the Elders! There was no sign that they were going to be forced over to the left. That meant they were not to go before the Fathers. Instead they were marched through the center door. Breathing became almost impossible for Comstock. They were being taken into The Grandfather's Retreat. Never before had he heard of such a thing happening. But then, of course, never before had anyone challenged The Grandfather. At least not to Comstock's knowledge. Inside the doorway there were broad windows. Through one of them Comstock could see into the room where all the Elders were met in solemn conclave. Their aged incredibly wise faces were heavy with responsibility. All of the seamed faces were turned so that the Elders could see the three who had defied authority. The force of all the red-rimmed eyes staring at Comstock was enough to turn his knees to jelly. Instantly Grundy was at his side, words of encouragement on his lips. He said, "Forget the old codgers. They're so senile they don't even know what's happening."