The papers fluttered again and the Custodian spread her hands over them. “Now listen, Ruth,” she said.”And for goodness' sake keep calm. There can be two answers to what is happening to you. Either the song and the paintings, all the rest, have come out of your imagination because you're not having a very happy time growing up and they form a kind of escape world for you.” Ruth shook her head. The papers fluttered. “Or,” the Custodian continued firmly, “there actually exists, outside the Ark, a place of which you are dreaming and drawing, with which you are, in some strange way, In contact.”

“And you believe it could be real?” Ruth looked up in sudden hope.

“Yes.”

“How can you find out?”

There was a silence, broken at last by the Protector. “Friends, I know of only one way of discerning whether these events are real and objective, received through the Esper faculties of Ruth. Or if they are only in her imagination.” He paused and Ruth could feel his fingers suddenly hard, biting into the muscles of her shoulders.

“Yes, Protector?” The other three looked at him.

“Ruth must be put into the Black Hole!”

The Black Hole

RUTH SCREAMED and struggled. Books flew across the Warden's office and slammed into the opposite wall. The Protector's fingers still gripped her shoulders. She felt his psychic strength fight hers and for a moment she exulted in the knowledge that she was stronger than he, that she was winning. But then the energy seemed to drain from her body and she slumped forward.

When she opened her eyes the first thing she was aware of was blackness. She was lying on her back staring up at a black ceiling. She turned her head reluctantly, afraid of what she might see. But there was no doubt. Four black walls sur- rounded her. She raised her head and looked down. The floor was also black.

Obviously the room was lit, but it was so cunningly done that she could not see where the light was coming from. Her throat tightened. The Protector had carried out his threat and put her in the Black Hole. The ultimate punishment on Ark Three. Fragments of stories floated into her mind. “ ... and when they let him out his hair had turned completely white.” “ ... she was there for less than an hour, but when they unlocked the door she was a gibbering idiot!”

Ruth sat up and hugged her knees to her chest, waiting for the horror, whatever it was, to begin. Nothing happened. She listened to the thudding of her heart, which was the only sound, and told herself: I won't let them see that I'm afraid. Whatever it is. Whatever they do. I just won't!