r lip between his teeth and
thought for a moment. "Yes, I see what you mean. Being a lone superman
in a world of ordinary people mightn't be so pleasant."

Colonel Mannheim, who had been sitting silently during the discussion
between the two men, said: "Look, Stanton, I know this is tough.
Actually, it's a lot tougher on you than it is on your brother, because
_you_ have to make the decision. _He_ can't. But I want you to keep it
in mind that there's nothing compulsory in this. Nobody's trying to
force you to do anything."

There was a touch of bitterness in the young man's smile as he looked at
the colonel. "No. You merely remind me of the fact and leave the rest to
my sense of duty."

Colonel Mannheim, recognizing the slightly altered quotation, returned
his smile and gave him the next line. "'Your sense of duty!'"

The bitterness vanished, and the young man's smile became a grin.
"'Don't put it on that footing!'" he quoted back in a melodramatic
voice. "'As I was merciful to you just now, be merciful to me! I implore
you not to insist on the letter of your bond just as the cup of
happiness is at my lips!'"

"'We insist on nothing,'" returned the colonel; "'we content ourselves
with pointing out _your duty_.'"

Dr. Farnsworth had no notion of what the two of them were talking about,
but he kept silent as he noticed the tension fading.

"'Well, you have appealed to my sense of duty,'" the young man
continued, "'and my duty is all too clear. I abhor your infamous
calling; I shudder at the thought that I have ever been mixed up with
it; but duty is before all--at any price I will do my duty.'"

"'Bravely spoken!'" said the colonel. "'Come, you are one of us once
more.'"

"'Lead on. I follow.'"

And the two of them broke out in laughter while Farnsworth looked on in
total incomprehension. His was not the kind of mind that could face a
grim situation with a laugh.

Even after he quit laughing, the smile remained on the young man's face.
"All right, Colonel, you win. We'll go through with it, Martin and I."

"Good!" Mannheim said warmly. "Do you have the papers, Dr. Farnsworth?"

"Right here," Farnsworth said, opening a briefcase that was lying on the
table. He was glad to be back in the conversation again. He took out a
thick sheaf of papers and spread them on the table. Then he handed the
young man a pen. "You'll have to sign at the bottom of each sheet," he
said.

The young man picked up the papers and