Man of Many Minds

found his hands, his spine and his forehead cold with the sweat of fear. He tried manfully to keep h

uld not stand another minute of it without screaming. Why didn't that monster say something? What kind of torture was this, anyway? And why was he here

back. He caught glimpses of the dozens of communicator studs and plates on the huge metal desk. He saw the bit of scenery showing through the window. He noted the pictures of great Corps heroes that adorned the

rigid attention a full five minutes. The second hand crept around a

nce was mercifully broke

a stupid young man," he said. "I'm

and forced himself to scrutinize

hat do you

. But now the cadet thought he could dete

like this? You know how to

George Hanlon's mind. Did that

fficult to do, because of long disuse of the faculty. But he was amazed both at the ease with which the technique re

at he had done nothing to merit punishment. Indeed, i

mandant's stern face relaxed into a broad

r. At ease, a

hed young cadet gingerly sank onto the front edge o

t understand

u think, Cadet Hanlon, that we would let any man get to w

is hands clutched at his knees in a

lent for mind-reading as a child, and how you suppressed it as you grew older and found how it got you into trouble. We know all about your

d you learn a

wed by myself or my assistants this coming week, to determine their first assignment after graduation.

stiffly. "I'm through with

cally for a moment. "Just what do yo

ned to do, I suppose, si

r the Corps?" The admiral leaned

ay, sir, o

d use all his abilities in his serv

s showed he realized he had b

ctually been able to read another's mind. That's imp

l stormy, but he kept h

assistance to you-and to the Corps. We know you will use that talent wisely, for it has been proven time and again, by test after test, that you are scrupulously honest. You've lost your allowance several times in

never could read from a mind such specific info

. "But at the moment I want to talk very seriously about your assignment. First, however, I must have your

sir, never to reveal anything

High Command to ask you to join the Sec

eath and half-rose from his chair. "The ... the

elieve no one knows anything about its existence outside of the members

boots, as though to see reflected there the answer to this asto

to anything but routine work at first. His mind was a chaotic whirlpool of conjectures. How could he fit into such an organization? Why had he

. "I don't know as I'd make

think, and so do the top men of the Secret Service, who have studied yo

ock, but out of it

, sir, I'l

other thing I haven't told you yet. I couldn't, until after you had agreed to

d he moistened his lips as he sa

mind caught the aura of importance in his manner. "Take your time, and figure carefully a

e added quickly, compassionately, as he saw the look of dismay that whitened the cadet's face. "But we have found over the years that it is the bes

solute nadir. "Not ... not even g

you'll be given private graduation, fo

ny man to pay. It takes guts to withstand, publicly and willingly, the dishonor, the loss of friends and the good will of people who kno

and rasping. The admiral's heart went out to him in sympathy,

ndous service of maintaining peace and security for all mankind of the entire Federation of Planets. Actually, the SS does more to keep that peace than all

looks and attitude of the officer before him, now suddenly not a dr

han he had ever done before. He had come into this room still a boy despit

is life to date-probably in all the years to come. But to lose the respect

rough it, and now felt it worth all the pain and d

ool, to scan all available data for and against each problem

y. "I'll still take it on, sir, if you and the g

of you, my boy. It took real strength of character to make that decision. I'm sure you will never regret

vely. "That part's got me in a blue funk, no fooling. Do

honest pride. "By Snyder, you will, Son, like a thoroughbred!" He went back behind that great

g man st

sence to uphold, with all your abilities, the Inter-Stellar

llegiance to the Inter-Stellar Corps and to the pe

, which Admiral Rogers returned as

nant George Ha

Service, Hanlon. Now, go through that door. There you'll meet your immediate superior officer, who

sir, for e