arth had been turned
against the Controllers because of the actions of a few megalomaniacs,
it had become obvious that legal steps had to be taken to prevent mob
violence.

It had been Reinhardt himself who had suggested the Penal method to the
UN government. At first, he had simply thought of it as a method to
keep the Controllers alive until he could think of something better. But
when he had discovered, by accident, what a small group of Controllers,
alone in space, could do, he had set up the present machinery.

As soon as a Controller was spotted, a careful frame-up was arranged.
Then, when several had been found, they were arrested in quick
succession and sent to the asteroids.

Always and invariably, they had done what Houston's group had done--the
sane or potentially sane ones had improved themselves tremendously,
while the megalomaniacs had lapsed into catatonia.

"Why couldn't it be done on Earth?" Houston asked.

"We tried it," Reinhardt said. "It didn't work. Safe, on Earth,
surrounded by Normals, a Controller still feels the hatred around him.
He can't open his mind completely. Only the certain knowledge of
impending death, and a complete freedom from the hatred of Normals can
free the mind.

"And that's why you couldn't be told beforehand; if you knew you were
going to be rescued, you wouldn't open up."

Houston nodded. It made sense. "Where are we now?" he asked.

"Antarctica," said Reinhardt. "We've built an outpost here--almost
self-sufficient. When you're in better shape physically, I'll show you
around."

"Do you mean that everyone who's been arrested is here, in Antarctica?"

* * * * *

Reinhardt laughed. "No, not by a long shot. Most of us are back out in
civilization, searching for new, undiscovered Controllers, so that we
can frame them. And, of course, some of us--the insane ones--have died.
They will themselves to die when the going gets too tough."

"Searching for recruits? Then the Group that Dorrine was working for
was--"

Reinhardt shook his head. "No. They were going about it the wrong way,
just as you thought. We picked up the whole lot of them last week;
they're occupying the asteroids now."

"What do you do with the insane catatonics?"

"Put them under hibernene and keep them alive. We hope, someday, to
figure out a method of restoring their sanity. Until then, let them
sleep."

Houston narrowed his eyes. "How long have you known I was