In the present case, although the death as Sole Survivor was to come at the hands of the first mate (who really lacked the training for such a position of trust), it would be the best Casting Off available. For the first mate could follow instructions, and Nestir had written the instructions. Nestir intended to remain in the stateroom all day; the hunt would go merrily along without him. When the assembly bell rang, he would still remain in his stateroom. Then, late at night, he would leave. He would slip down to the first mate's stateroom and determine from him where the premature Sole Survivor slept. Then he would find him and Cast him Off in his sleep. And Nestir would be the actual Sole Survivor. Nestir could justify his conduct by virtue of the little known theological clause: _ego bestum alpha todas_. A decision handed down by the High Court of the Prophet (Malin vs the Estate of Kattoa: T & C, '98) nearly a hundred years previously. Nestir had, in his hip pocket, a small vial of slow-acting poison. He would drink it just before Casting the man Off. Then were he not handled the next day by the first mate, he would die the Outcast death, by his own hand. He did not doubt his ability to convince Them at the Reward. It would be difficult, but it was not beyond his ability. Certainly, if no one took the opportunity of Casting him Off as he sat behind the locked door of his room, it wasn't Nestir's fault. The bosun pushed the ventilator grill away and jumped out of the shaft even before it hit the carpet. He landed catlike, his knees bending springily to absorb the shock. He landed directly behind Nestir and pushed the little man against the wall. Nestir struggled out of the wreckage of the chair. "How ... why ... why...?" he said. "Ah-ha," the bosun said. "Fooled ja, didn't I?" The bosun was carrying a thin rapier. "Let's discuss this," Nestir said. "One must go about these things slowly." "Sorry," the bosun said. "My God," said Nestir, "you can't Cast me Off just like that: without any suffering!" "Sorry," the bosun said. "Don't have all day. Spend all day with you, and then what? The more people I can Cast Off before the assembly bell, the better chance I'll have to be the Sole Survivor." "Have you no compassion, man? Can you turn aside from the course of the gentle Prophet?" "Sorry," the bosun said again, sincerely. "I can't stand here all day discussing it." "Ah, me," said Nestir as the bosun drew back from the thrust, "who would have thought that I would be trapped by a religious fanatic?" "Must look out for myself, you know," said the bosun. IX Helen said, "I thought maybe I hit you too hard." "No," John said. "Fortunately not." He had just opened his eyes. He was strapped tightly to the bed. "I appreciate what you're doing," he said. "I know you want to be sure I'm Cast Off right. But honey, do you think it was fair to jump the bell on me like that?"