elf into a sitting
position before a large white space on the wall. When Watkins did
nothing, it gestured angrily with its goad. He pressed more keys. It
jerked its head around and stared at the white space.

Accidentally he discovered that by pressing with his calves on certain
pedals below the stool he could maneuver the seat to either side. The
gadget began to intrigue him.

He had never played any musical instrument, but had always had a quiet
desire to produce music. He couldn't hear this organ's sounds, but he
could go through the motions with fervor. He did.

The boss scientist gazed raptly at the wall screen; was it concentrating
on what he played? Did his random selection of keys indicate something
to it, something about his mental powers or emotions or--what?

Or was it possible that the playing produced images or colors on the
blank space? He craned his neck, but could distinguish nothing. Pounding
on, he called over his shoulder, "Come here, somebody!"

No one answered. Pushing keys at random, he turned to look for them.
Each of them was doing something under the supervision of a twelve-foot
beast, except for Summersby, who was still examining the door. "Hey,
High-pockets!" he yelled, knowing the big man hated the nickname, but
not giving a damn. "Summersby! Come here!"

"What is it?" said Summersby in a moment, standing below his seat.

"Take a squint at that screen the old boy's gaping at. I want to know
what the devil I'm doing."

Summersby walked over and stood beside the scientist.

"What's happening?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing at all?"

"Well, the screen's mottled gray and white, and the pattern's swirling
slowly; but that's all."

"Is it particularly beautiful?" asked Watkins.

"No. It's hardly distinguishable."

* * * * *

Sliding right and left on the bar, striking first one and then another
of the manuals, Watkins said to Summersby, "What do you figure these
scientists are, anyway?"

"Mammals," said the big man.

"I suppose so--"

"They have navels. They weren't hatched."

"Oh." Watkins hadn't noticed that. "Where are we, then?"

"I don't know."

Another scientist wandered over and sat down beside the first. Shortly
they seemed to get in each other's way, and there was a lot of shoving
and squawking. At last one of them hit the other in the face with an
open hand. Then they were rolling on the floor, snatching at one
another's hair and pummel