"That's different! They'd have to catch us--but they'll _know_ you didn't work!" The full implications of his action had reached her, and her eyes were round with dismay--and wonder. "Why? What made you do it?" "I can't really explain it. Maybe it has something to do with--" For a moment he was withdrawn, searching his own mind. Then he asked, "What do you think about the Merger?" "I don't think about it much," she said slowly. "It doesn't mean anything to you?" She shook her head. "Why should it?" "It's what started me off. But that was just the"--he thought of the firearms in the Historical Museum exhibit--"the trigger. I was trying to be ... _me_." She regarded him apprehensively. "What will they do to you?" He shrugged. "I suppose there's a whole team of computers and technicians somewhere in the Organization that handles these things. I don't imagine I'm the first one." "Don't do anything like that again," she said urgently. "Promise me you won't." He said it to please her, not knowing what he meant to do. The world beneath the surface and inside the cylinders was still unreal. "I promise," he said. Darkness was closing in when they once again circled the wall, looking for the steel door he had wedged open. When they came to it he felt the first real tug of fear. The door seemed tight. He knelt quickly. The heavy weight of the steel had crushed the fabric belt flat--but there was still a narrow opening. The inside latch had not caught. Hiding his relief, he rose and once more took Ann into his arms. "Don't give back that blue outfit," he said. "No," she whispered. "No, Hendley." He kissed her. When he opened the door and took her hand to help her step down, she said, "We should go separately." Surprised, he pondered the suggestion a moment. "I don't think we were noticed. And the museum is open all night. We can just go back--" "It would be safer," she insisted. "I--I'll meet you in front of the museum in five minutes. I can find my way out." He caught the appeal in her voice. And she might be right after all. If they were to use this meeting place again, it was just being sensible to come and go separately. "All right," he said. "You go first." Her hand gave his a convulsive squeeze. She dropped down into the tunnel, her steps ringing faintly on the metal staircase. He waited until the sounds had faded off. The sky was a deep blue now, and a single bright star was visible above the horizon. What must it be like to see the whole span of the sky lit up with stars? Now that he knew the way, he could come out and see. There was nothing to prevent him. There had never been anything but the habit of obedience.