f in the application of your
plan."

Brother.

There is no way to tell whether those who say No will be counted
cowardly or those who say Yes rash idiots or what, the owner of that
voice has his inflections too well trained to give anything away
except intentionally.

D. J. M'Clare.

Not in person but a recording, anyway M'Clare is on Earth surrounded
by exam papers.

I sit back and try to think, honestly, if that crack-brained notion I
wrote out last night were going to be tried in dead earnest, would I
take a hand in it?

The trouble is, hearing M'Clare's voice has convinced me it is a Test,
I don't know whether it is testing my courage or my prudence in fact I
might as well toss for it.

Heads I am crazy, Tails a defaulter; Tails is what it is.

I seize my styler and write the decision down.

There is the slit in the door.

I twiddle the note and think Well nobody asked for it yet.

Suppose it is real, after all?

I remember the itchy, sweaty feeling I got yesterday and try to
picture really embarking on a thing like this, but I cannot work up
any lather today.

I begin to picture M'Clare reading my decision not to back up my own
idea.

I pick up the coin and juggle it around.

The speaker remarks When I am quite ready will I please make a note
of my decision and post it through the door.

I go on flipping the coin up and presently it drops on the floor, it
is Heads this time.

Tossing coins is a pretty feeble way to decide.

I drop the note on the floor and take another sheet and write "YES.
Lysistrata Lee."

Using that name seems to make it more legal.

I slip the paper in the slit and poke till it falls through on the
other side of the door.

I am suddenly immensely hungry and dial breakfast all over again.

* * * * *

Just as I finish M'Clare's voice starts once more.

"It's always the minor matters that cause the most difficulty. The
timing of this announcement has cost me as much thought as any aspect
of the arrangements. The trouble is that however honest you are--and
your honesty has been tested repeatedly--and however strong your
imagination--about half of your training has been devoted to
developing it--you can't possibly be sure, answering a hypothetical
question, that you are giving the answer you would choose if you knew
it was asked in dead earnest.

"Those of you who answered the question in the negative are out of
this. They have been