"What crazy things have you been doing since I've been gone?" Tendal 13 asked. Arvid 6 sighed. "After what you just said I guess it wouldn't amuse you, although it has me. They got to me right after the accident before I had a chance to collect my wits, dematerialize or anything--you said we shouldn't dematerialize in front of anybody." "That's right." "Well, I didn't know what to do. I could see they thought I was drunk, so I was. But they had a blood sample before I could manufacture any alcohol in my blood, although I implanted a memory in them that I reeked of it." He laughed. "I fancy they're thoroughly confused." "And you're thoroughly amused, no doubt. Have they questioned you?" "At great length. They had a psychiatrist in to see me. He was a queer fellow with the most stupid set of questions and tests I ever saw." "And you amused yourself with him." "I suppose you'd think so." "Who do you tell them you are?" "John Smith. A rather prevalent name here, I understand. I manufactured a pasteboard called a social security card and a driver's license--" "Never mind. It's easy to see you've been your own inimitable self. Believe me, if I ever get back to the Ultroom I hope I never see you again. And I hope I'll never leave there again though I'm rejuvenated through a million years." "Was Kanad's life germ transferred all right this time?" Tendal 13 shook his head. "I haven't heard. The transfers are getting more difficult all the time. In 1609, you'll remember, it was a case of pneumonia for the two-year-old. A simple procedure. It wouldn't work here. Medicine's too far along." He produced a notebook. "The last jump was 342 years, a little more than average. The next ought to be around 2250. Things will be more difficult than ever there, probably." "Do you think Kanad will be angry about all this?" "How would you like to have to go through all those birth processes, to have your life germ knocked from one era to the next?" "Frankly, I didn't think he'd go back so far." "If it had been anybody but Kanad nobody'd ever have thought of going back after it. The life germ of the head of the whole galactic system who came to the Ultroom to be transplanted to a younger body--and then sending him back beyond his original birth date--" Tendal 13 got up and commenced his pacing again. "Oh, I suppose Kanad's partly to blame, wanting rejuvenating at only 300 years. Some have waited a thousand or more or until their bones are like paper." "I just wonder how angry Kanad will be," Arvid muttered. _HB92167. Ultroom Error. Tendal 13. Arvid 6. Kanad transfer out of 1951 complete. Next Kanad transfer ready. 2267. Phullam 19, son of Orla 39 and Rhoda R, 22H Level M, Hemisphere B, Quadrant 3, Sector I. Arrive his 329th Day._ _TB92167_ * * * * * Arvid 6 rose from the cot and the two men faced each other.