third: Be celibate. Never again should the males be placed in a position where they could be accused of rape.

fourth: Spend all your time on self-improvement. No one was to waste time with comic books or television, but each should study in his or her own specialty.

fifth: Respect the private property of each member of the family. This was to be most stricdy enforced with regard to the selling of paintings. Anyone was permitted to sell an unsigned painting or one signed “Billy” or “Milligan.” But the private paintings done and signed by Tommy, Danny or Allen were personal, and no one was ever to sell something that did not belong to him or her.

Anyone violating these rules would be banished forever from taking the spot and would be relegated to the shadows with the other undesirables.

Ragen thought about it and asked, “Who are these—what you call—undesirables?”

“Philip and Kevin—both unmistakably antisocial, criminal types—are banished from the spot. ”

“Vat about Tommy? He is antisocial sometimes.”

“Yes,” Arthur agreed, “but Tommy’s belligerency is needed. Some of the younger ones are so obedient that they would harm themselves if a stranger told them to. As long as he does not violate other rules or use his escape talents and lock-picking abilities for criminal purposes, Tommy may take the spot. But I will rattle his cage from time to time to let him know we’re watching him.”

“Vat about me?” Ragen asked. “I am criminal. I am violent and antisocial.”

“There must be no breaking of the law, no crimes.” Arthur said, “even so-called victimless crimes, for any reason.”

“You must realize,” Ragen said, “is always possible for me to be in situation vere crime could be necessary for defense, for survival. Necessity knows no laws.”

Arthur placed the tips of his fingers together for a few moments and considered Ragens argument. Then he nodded. “You will be the exception to the rule. Because of your great strength and power, you alone may have the right to hurt others, but only in self-defense or in defense of women and children. As the protector of the family, you alone may commit victimless crimes or crimes necessary for survival. ”

“Then I accept idea of rules,” Ragen said softly. “But system will not always work. During mix-up periods, people steal time. Then we do not even know—not you, not me, not Allen—vat is happening.”

“True, ” Arthur said, “but we have to do the best we can with what we have. Part of the challenge will be to keep the family stable and prevent those mix-up times.”

“Is difficult. You vill have to communicate this to the others. I do not yet know all of the—how you say?—the family. They come, they go. I am not sure sometimes if one is outside people or one of ours.” .

“That’s natural. It is as it was in the hospital or even in the youth camp. One learns the names of some of the people who live around you and becomes aware of the existence of others. But quite often even outside people don’t communicate with each other although they’re living in close proximity. I will communicate with each of our people and tell them what they need to know.”