om Earth a longer time but the
real loss is not being able to think on Earth Central once a day. As
you know, it's a funny civilization here anyway. As yet, there's no
local telepathic Central but all Active Communicators are permitted
to think in on Earth Central once a day--except for the big shots
who can even telepath social engagements to each other by way of
Earth! Privileged but a pretty dull crowd anyway.

Oh yes, another exception to the general ration, Suspendeds like me.
Funny thing about that, seems to me there are more Suspended from
the Earth System all the time. Maybe I'm imagining it.

As lovingly as ever, your son, Ted. (NO. _More_ than ever!)

Rhoda really went to pieces for a while after that letter but, oddly
enough, all recriminations soon stopped. She began going into the city
every day and after each visit seemed a little calmer for having done
so.

* * *

Finally Connor could no longer remain silent about it. But by now all
conversations had to be broached by tactful beating around the bush so
he began by saying he had decided to take a lower level job in the
metropolis.

Rhoda was not surprised. "I know. A good idea but I think you should
wait a while longer and do something else first."

That made him suspicious. "Are you developing a new kind of unblockable
ESP? How'd you know?"

"No," she laughed. "Some day we will maybe and people will use it better
this time. But right now I'm just going by what I see. You've been
studying Max and I knew you were bound to get restless." She became
thoughtful. "What you really want to know, though, is what I've been
doing in the city. Well, at first I did very little. I kept ending up in
theatres where we Suspendeds can go. That gave a little relief. But
since Ted's letter it's been different. I finally got up the courage to
see Dr. Newbridge."

"Newbridge!"

"Connor, he's a great man. You should see him too."

"My mind may have smaller scope outside the System but what's left of it
isn't cracking, Rhoda." Working himself into a spasm of righteous rage,
he stalked out into the garden and tried to convince himself he was
calmly studying the rose bushes' growth. But Sheila and Tony Williams
came down the lane that skirted the garden and, as their eyes moved
haughtily past him, his rage shifted its focus. He came back into the
house and remained in sullen silence.

Rhoda went on as if th