le doing a staccato dance on the meter face of the machine.
"That tells me everything is operating properly. Mass Psych advises us
never to listen to 'casts. The selections were designed by them for
specific social and intellectual levels. It could cause us to experience
a rather severe emotional disturbance."

A peculiar look came over Bartle's face. "Is there ever a time when all
the machines run at once? That is, when every Echelon home is tuned to
the melopsych tapecasts?"

Pettigill registered surprise. "Why, certainly, Mr. Bartle. Don't you
know Amendment 34206-B specifically states that all Echelon homes must
receive music therapy at 2300 hours every night? Of course, different
tapes to different homes."

"That's what I mean."

"Haven't you been abiding by the directive, Mr. Bartle?"

"I told you I owed my classification to my father's industry. I am
definitely lax in my duties."

Pettigill laughed--almost wickedly, Bartle thought.

"What I'm getting at, is," Bartle continued, "what if the wrong 'casts
were channeled into the various homes?"

"I remind you, sir, I am in charge of the Center and have been for
thirty years. Not even the slightest mistake of that nature has ever
occurred during that time!"

"That, I can believe, Pettigill," Bartle said, his voice edged with
sarcasm. "But, hypothetically, if it were to happen, what would the
reaction be?"

The little man fidgeted with his watch chain. Then he leaned close to
Bartle and said in a barely audible whisper, "This isn't for publication
in your article, is it?"

"You don't think the Government would allow that, do you? No, this is to
satisfy my own curiosity."

"Well, since we're both Mid Echelon--brothers, so to speak--I suppose we
can share a secret. It will be disastrous! I firmly believe it will be
disastrous, Mr. Bartle!" He moved closer to the tall man. "I recall a
secret administrative directive we received here twenty years ago
concerning just that. In essence, it stated that, though music therapy
has its great advantages, if the pattern of performance were broken or
altered, a definite erratic emotional reaction would develop on the part
of the citizens! That was twenty years ago, and I shudder to think what
might be the response now; especially if the 'cast were completely
foreign to the recipient." He gave a little shudder to emphasize the
horror of the occurrence. "It would make psychotics of the entire
citizenry! That's what wou