mming march
alone--we agree to release your wife and revise our policy completely.
If, on the other hand, as seems more likely--"

"I come back here and go on giving you the inside on racing," Clocker
finished for him. "How much time do I get?"

Dr. Harding turned his hands palm up on the table. "We do not wish to be
arbitrary. We earnestly hope you gain your objective and we shall give
you every opportunity to do so. If you fail, you will know it. So shall
we."

"You're pretty sure I'll get scratched, aren't you?" Clocker asked
angrily. "It's like me telling a jockey he don't stand a chance--he's
whammied before he even gets to the paddock. Anybody'd think do-gooders
like you claim you are would wish me luck."

"But we do!" exclaimed Mr. Calhoun. He shook Clocker's hand warmly and
sincerely. "Haven't we consented to release you? Doesn't this prove our
honest concern? If releasing _all_ our human associates would save
humanity, we would do so instantly. But we have tried again and again.
And so, to use your own professional terminology, we are hedging our
bets by continuing to make our anthropological record until you
demonstrate another method ... if you do."

"Good enough," approved Clocker. "Thanks for the kind word."

The other board members followed and shook Clocker's hand and wished him
well.

Barnes, being last, did the same and added, "You may see your wife, if
you care to, before you leave."

"If I care to?" Clocker repeated. "What in hell do you think I came here
for in the first place?"

* * * * *

Zelda was brought to him and they were left alone in a pleasant reading
room. Soft music came from the walls, which glowed with enough light to
read by. Zelda's lovely face was warm with emotion when she sat down
beside him and put her hands in his.

"They tell me you're leaving, hon," she said.

[Illustration]

"I made a deal, baby. If it works--well, it'll be like it was before,
only better."

"I hate to see you leave. Not just for me," she added as he lit up
hopefully. "I still love you, hon, but it's different now. I used to
want you near me every minute. Now it's loving you without starving for
you. You know what I mean?"

"That's just the control they got on you. It's like that with me, too,
only I know what it is and you don't."

"But the big thing is the project. Why, we're footnotes in history! Stay
here, hon. I'd feel so much better knowing you were he