nter of a man's mind
... why, the picture is a classic one. Del Rio himself, Holzinger or any
of the others could not describe a better."

"Yet all this was done to draw your attention, to fix it on what I have
to tell you," Jonas said, shifting his feet again. "I am no wizard, but
a man who may do certain things. And here is my proof: you may do the
same yourself."

The silence was a long one, and at the end of it Knupf rose. He walked
to the door of the room and opened it, and the bald-headed guard came
in. "He has tried to tempt me to pact with Satan," the Inquisitor said.

"But--"

"Take him away."

* * * * *

Some day, Jonas thought, back in his cell, there would be a method of
controlling minds that did not require the willing co-operation of the
two parties. Some day the man who reads minds would be more than a
passive onlooker.

But the talent was new; it needed practice, it needed training.

The cell grew dark as night came, and the dampness seemed to increase.
Jonas heard squeaking and thought of the rats, but he couldn't even
summon up enough energy to try for them. He sat crosslegged in a corner
of the cell and closed his eyes.

He sighed once, deeply. This was what a hero came to, he told himself.
This was the end of heroics and playing a lone hand. Why, if he had it
to do over again, he would--

"You would do exactly the same thing," Claerten's voice said.

Jonas grinned suddenly, and sat straighter. "I should have known you'd
be getting into contact sooner or later," he thought.

"I try to keep track of all our men," Claerten thought. "In a case like
yours, I try harder."

"My foolishness," Jonas thought, "sometimes works to my benefit."

Claerten's thought was wry. "If you hadn't got impatient and tried to
hurry things," his voice said in Jonas' mind, "you wouldn't be back in
your cell now. There is a time and a place for your disclosure--"

"Another day in here would have driven me out of my wits," Jonas
thought.

"Better out of your wits than dead," Claerten thought.

Jonas sighed.

"However," Claerten went on, "there is still a way out for you. I have
read the situation in your mind, and your next move will have to be
rather more spectacular than usual."

"So long as it works," Jonas said, "I will be satisfied."

"It will work," Claerten said. "At least--I think it will."

Another day dragged by. Jonas put in his time alternately going over th