efore they rejected his favorite piece of
research.

Hockley arose early, eager but cautious, his senses open for further
evidence of disaffection springing up. He joined the group of chemists
once more for the morning lecture. The spirit of the group was markedly
higher than when he first met with them. They had been inspired by what
the Rykes had shown them, but in addition their own sense of judgment
had been brought out of suspension.

The Ryke lecturer began inscribing on the board an enormous organic
formula, using conventions of Earth chemistry for the benefit of his
audience. He explained at some length a number of transformations which
it was possible to make in the compound by means of high intensity
fields.

Almost at once, one of the younger chemists named Dr. Carmen, was on his
feet exclaiming excitedly that one of the transformation compounds was a
chemical on which he had conducted an extensive research. He had
produced enough to know that it had a multitude of intriguing
properties, and now he was exuberant at the revelation of a method of
producing it in quantity and also further transforming it.

At his sudden enthusiasm the lecturer's face took on what they had come
to recognize as a very dour look. "That series of transformations has no
interest for us," he said. "I merely indicated its existence to show one
of the possibilities which should be avoided. Over here you see the
direction in which we wish to go."

"But you never saw anything with properties like that!" Carmen
protested. "It goes through an incredible series of at least three
crystalline-liquid phase changes with an increase in pressure alone. But
with proper control of heat it can be kept in the crystalline phase
regardless of pressure. It is closely related to a drug series with
anesthetic properties, and is almost sure to be valuable in--"

The Ryke lecturer cut him off sharply. "I have explained," he said, "the
direction of transformation in which we are interested. Your concern is
not with anything beyond the boundaries which our study has proven to be
the direct path of research and study."

"Then I should abandon research on this series of chemicals?" Carmen
asked with a show of outward meekness.

The Ryke nodded with pleasure at Carmen's submissiveness. "That is it
precisely. We have been over this ground long ago. We know where the
areas of profitable study lie. You will be told what to observe and what
to ignore. How c