a certain very
specific future toward which we are all moving. This future is built out
of the discoveries they have made about the Universe. It is made of the
system of mathematics they have developed, which exclude Dr. Silvers'
cherished Legrandian Equations. It excludes the world in which exist Dr.
Carmen's series of unique compounds.

"The Rykes have built a wonderful, workable world of serenity, beauty,
scientific consistency, and economic adjustment. They have eliminated
enormous amounts of chaos which Earthmen continue to suffer.

"But we do not want what the Rykes have obtained--if we have to pay
their price for it."

"Then you are complete fools," said Markham. "Fortunately, you cannot
and will not speak for all of Earth."

Hockley paced back and forth a half dozen steps, his eyes on the floor.
"I think we do--and can--speak for all our people," he said. "Remember,
I said that all men are scientists in the final analysis. I am very
certain that no Earthman who truly understood the situation would want
to face the future which the Rykes hold out to us."

"And why not?" demanded Markham.

"Because there are too many possible futures. We refuse to march down a
single narrow trail to _the_ golden future. That's what the Rykes would
have us do. But they are wrong. It would be like taking a trip through a
galaxy at speeds faster than light--and claiming to have seen the
galaxy. What the Rykes have obtained is genuine and good, but what they
have not obtained is perhaps far better and of greater worth."

"How can you know such an absurd thing?"

"We can't--not for sure," said Hockley. "Not until we go there and see
for ourselves, step by step. But we aren't going to be confined to the
Rykes' narrow trail. We are going on a broad path to take in as many
byways as we can possibly find. We'll explore every probability we come
to, and look behind every bush and under every pebble.

"We will move together, the thousands and the millions of us,
simultaneously, interacting with one another, exchanging data. Most
certainly, many will end up in blind alleys. Some will find data that
seems the ultimate truth at one point and pure deception at another. Who
can tell ahead of time which of these multiple paths we should take?
Certainly not the Rykes, who have bypassed most of them!

"It doesn't matter that many paths lead to failure--not as long as we
remain in communication with each other. In the end we will find the