She said as much to him after he had made her sit beside him on the sofa. “I really didn't mean to do anything wrong. I wanted to leave because I was spoiling the Web for everyone else. The girls all despise me, and there didn't seem to be anything to do except run away.”

“Now just a minute. What do you mean, spoiling the Web?”

She tried to explain her distractions and daydreams.

“Like this, you mean?” He showed her a reading off a psychic potentiometer.

She blushed. “Yes. See that jagged line. That was me. I'm no good and I'll never be an Esper no matter how hard I try. So if l can't be part of the Web what's the use of staying?”

“I could say: What's the point of going? You know you couldn't survive out there alone. But why did you say you'll never be an Esper? Where did you get that curious idea?”

“Look at that psi trace, Warden. My score pulled down the class average. Angela said there had never been one so low. She... “

The Warden put a hand over Ruth's. It was warm and comforting. She looked up in surprise to meet grey eyes that were full of kindness. “You're going to have to believe me when I tell you that you have a very powerful Esper gift. You couldn't have made that trace with nothing. The only problem is that your power is not going in the same direction as most other people's. It's as if a team of horses were pulling a load - you do know what horses are, don't you? - and an elephant was harnessed to pull the load in the other direction. Can you imagine what would happen?”

“They'd cancel each other out. And that's what's happening to the Grade Eight Web. And it's just as bad, isn't it? Since I'm not a Healer or a Communicator or a Teacher or anything useful it would be better for the Great Pattern if you were to let me leave.” She blinked back angry tears.

“Oh my word, what have we been teaching you?” The Warden sprang to his feet and began to walk up and down his office in such an agitated way that Ruth wondered what on earth she had said. He stopped in front of her. “Listen to me, Ruth. The whole purpose of the Ark is to develop a strong people dedicated to peace, justice and loving kindness to their fellow humans. Right?”

She nodded.