on between the theory and the
mysterious disappearances.

And perhaps he wouldn't. If he did he might go the final step and
realize what was going to happen to him. Fred hoped that wouldn't
happen. He didn't want his victim to be conscious of being a victim.

"You _are_ intelligent, Fred," Curt probed, "to be able to master such
an advanced theory." He glanced at his watch. "It's getting pretty late.
I'll tell you what. After school tomorrow drop down to my office. We'll
come out for dinner here together."

"Say! That'd be swell!" Fred enthused. "I'll get right to bed so I can
get enough sleep." He leaped up and called, "Mom! I'm going to bed now."
He winked broadly at Curt to let him know he was getting out of his way
so they could be alone together a few minutes.

And that was that. The die was cast, and all that remained was to try
and use it to make progress, rather than letting it be just another
disappearance that pointed to nothing constructive.

There was no way of telling how fast it would work. The next afternoon
and evening there was little to provide an indication, other than an
occasional look that came over Curt for moments at a time.

A date was made for Saturday. It was to be a picnic in the country. That
meant skipping Friday. Fred violently objected, but Curt and his mother
overrode his objections. So in the end it had to be Saturday, unless
Curt disappeared before then.

He didn't.

* * * * *

But ten minutes before school was out Friday a note was brought into the
classroom from the principal's office. Curt had called to ask Fred to
come to his office directly from school.

Torn between excited anticipation that the psychiatrist had made an
important discovery, and fear that the man would have vanished before he
could get to him, Fred ran from the school building and caught the bus.

At Curt's office the receptionist smiled and told him to go right in.
His sigh of relief was genuine. Curt was sitting at his desk.

"Come in, son," he said.

There were the amenities. "How did school go today?" "Okay." "Anything
happen?" Fred waited impatiently. Then: "I've been thinking a lot about
your father's theory, Fred, and I would like to ask a few questions--if
it won't upset you."

"Of course not!" Fred said.

"Okay, here's a question," Curt said. "Or rather, a statement. You can
answer yes or no. You believe the theory is at the root of the
disappearances, tha