The large screen sprang into life as Nicole flipped a switch. She recognized the World War Two room almost immediately. The back wall, covered with a huge enlargement of Pearl Harbor and the battleship Arizona billowing clouds of dark smoke filled the screen. She pushed some buttons and zoomed the lens in on the nearest display case.

“Can he see the camera?” the Major asked.

“No, not unless he looks closely,” Travis responded. “It’s hidden in a heating vent, but we had to make a small hole for the lens.”

“He’s been in that room twice since it was installed,” Nicole added. “He hasn’t ever given any hint that he’s seen it.”

“Here he comes,” Shirley called, watching the board. Then she typed rapidly on her terminal to keep Clayne informed.

“Look,” Travis said, pointing. “He’s got a screwdriver in his hand.”

“Well, you were exactly right, Nicole,” the Major said with a trace of sadness. “I was half hoping you weren’t.”

“So was I,” she answered softly.

“Keep me posted on the readings from his implantation,” he commanded, then turned to watch.

On the screen they saw Eric pause for a moment at the entrance to the War Room, then move swiftly to the case.

“Pain response at the point-zero-four level,” Nicole called.

“Ah,” Travis said, “so he’s already starting to feel it. And he hasn’t even started on the case yet.”

“Pain response at point-zero-eight-five,” Nicole intoned as Eric knelt down next to the case and took a screwdriver from his pocket. “Going up—point-zero-nine-six.”

“Zero-nine-six!” the Major echoed. “How can he stand it?”

“Look!” Travis was nearly shouting as he pointed at the screen. “You can see him trembling. Look at his hands.”

Nicole looked, then glanced away quickly. “Pain level holding steady,” she said, staring at the computer console.

Suddenly Eric leaped to his feet, took one lurching step away from the case, then doubled over, retching violently.

“That’s more like it,” the Major exulted. “Did he really think he could ignore his implantation?”

“Pain response dropping, point-zero-six-two.” She watched as Eric slowly straightened. Give it up! she urged him silently, but he turned slowly and lifted the screwdriver again. “Pain level climbing again.”

“If he can override those feelings,” the Major said, a little awed by the sight of the figure kneeling down again at the back of the display case, “then we’ve got to implant him at a Stage Three level immediately.”

“Well,” Travis said, “he’s not giving up. There goes the last clamp. In a moment we’ll know what he’s got his eye on.”

“He just jumped to point-two-five milliamps,” Nicole said.

“That’s incredible!” the Major exclaimed. “Look at him. He can barely work the screwdriver, he’s shaking so badly.”

“He’s got the back free!” Shirley cried, momentarily forgetting that she was Clayne’s eyes and ears.