"There are no restrictions, no physical limits to the thought potential of the brain. This sleeper here just at my right proves that. He was the first of the sleepers. So he has lain here for almost two million years. Yet, it's been no longer than a second, no longer than no time at all. In dreams there is no time. A moment may be forever. Forever doesn't exist--until you create it. Then you can destroy it with a thought. Strange isn't it?" Amco studied the indicated figure. "He doesn't seem to be very happy about the whole thing." "Why should he be happy? Happiness grows tiring. Then he wills his consciousness into other emotions. He has lived them all. Countless combinations and sub combinations until it becomes an infinity of complexities, beyond computation--even for me. And then after all emotion has been tapped on this world, the sleeper creates in his mind another, and the process repeats itself. And then he may create worlds within worlds within worlds. It is an endless, deathless joy. An eternal newness of sensation. It's the ultimate state, the final goal." Amco stood and looked into the mauve infinity of the hall. Somewhere in the past the Coordinator waited. But why return to him? The City did go on. It wasn't destroyed. There was no need in returning. Why should he go back and miss an eternity of true perfection--the perfect free agency of living? "_You will put me into this final sleep_," he radiated for the robot. The robot stood as though undecided. Then emanated: "I will do it. I will forget their orders to destroy all intruders. You have broken the unbearable pattern of my loneliness, and for that you should receive something in gratitude. I will--" The robot half turned as though to fulfill his answer, then turned back slowly. "On second thought," his mind said, "it isn't what I must do." "Why not," radiated Amco nervously. The robot looked at the sleeping dreamer at his right, and said: "Because it just dawned on me. Why shouldn't _I_ have this pleasure of living the ultimately perfect life? Listen. I'll instruct you so that you can carry out the duties that I have to do now. You can administer to them from now on. And also to me. For a little while anyway." "_You!_" radiated Amco, breaking into vocal speech in his rage. "What makes you think you're entitled to that honor? You were created for a specific purpose--to oversee the sleep of your creators. I'm like them. You're only metal, a machine. No more nonsense. Come." * * * * *