"You rang and I answered." "I'm sure I rang right," Connor insisted. "I just got a wrong party." "You just weren't concentrating, Connor." "Don't you hand me that too," he grumbled. Stunned, Connor looked about at his fellow passengers. Three men, more shabbily dressed, were unsmilingly reading books. They
were fellow pariahs, Suspended for one reason or another from
paraNormal privileges. Then he shuddered. Her eyes
were red and puffed. "I tried to reach you," she sobbed. "Oh, you already know. Well, we can manage, you know, honey. Stunned, he fell back into a chair. "Not you, too, darling!" she cried. "It wasn't my fault at all." It's about tonight's game." Her expression turned stony and she said, "I
wanted you to know the game is off." Unbelieving, Rhoda watched her go. she exclaimed. He withdrew his hands from his face. "Get used to it," she repeated dully. The first time
since the boys left that they didn't call us at six." "By now," she went on, "they know
what's happened. he
demanded. "Nothing, Connor." "Maybe not. "One more year of such delights." "If we can stand the ostracism." "We can." Suddenly he was all angry determination. "Me too, but I kept thinking it was my own fault." He was angry all over again. "That ends my sad day," Connor sighed. Being on the outside has its compensations." But you must
have faith it will be so." He glanced at the card which said, _John Newbridge, Doctor at Mind, 96th
Level, Harker Building, Appointments by Writing Only_. "I have no doubt," he muttered. "He's very helpful," she said. "You're a good girl," he said huskily. I'll have my wife call--write to you so you can visit us before we have
to come into the city." Then, choking with emotion, she turned
and hurried away. she exploded. Until, weeping, she rushed upstairs once more. As
you know, it's a funny civilization here anyway. As lovingly as ever, your son, Ted. (NO. Rhoda was not surprised. "I know. "No," she laughed. "What you really want to know, though, is what I've been
doing in the city. Well, at first I did very little. That gave a little relief. Newbridge." "Connor, he's a great man. You should see him too." "Yes. And he's explained why to me. Connor shuddered. He slapped his knee. "All right,
I'll go with you tomorrow. The first is
dissatisfaction with your life. "Right. Well, there aren't many anomalies like me but we do exist. But I was a fluke." I, though, could see the System was
not all-powerful." Connor exploded. His wife tried to calm him. "Listen, dear, then decide." But the success was too
complete. "You
see, it's very slowly breaking down. As things are, our projection attempts are always
blocked." He said, "I'd like to come back. "More than welcome to come again," Newbridge grinned. she laughed. But, unlike the paraNormals, each was different and
it was impossible to see deeply into them. Then, as he rounded a corner, he was suddenly face to face with his new
enemy. "ParaNormal until a few months ago," he nodded. "Tough change to
make, I guess." He glanced down the application
again. Always a
shortage there." The perfect form of
security." They
were shouting wordless sounds at each other, floundering about as they
did so. "I don't like it," Rhoda said. I'll have to go into hiding soon." Connor protested. He took out an envelope. asked Rhoda. But maybe later." "Sounds overly melodramatic to me," Connor said when they were outside. She was
trembling and found it difficult to talk. "Don't--don't go in," she
stuttered. "No help now." He gave me a list of names." "I know, Mr. Newman, I know them by heart." Rhoda broke in. "Come on, get in! As it skirted the great Park, he pointed at Central Tower. All were Suspendeds. "We'll miss him," he said, then turned abruptly on Connor. "Robotics," he answered. Then he put it down again. Connor squared his shoulders. Dr.
Newbridge saw it all coming, you did too." "Not quite," Crane sighed. "Exactly," Crane replied. "I'll put it this way," Crane explained. But
they are dying _inside_ it.