“And without props,” he said. “Yes, I’m trying to get you hooked on something else entirely. I’m trying to get you to do something that I tried and failed at. I’ve told you my motives; that’s only fair. There are a few things that I’m holding back, but if you decide to go along with me on this, then I’ll take you into my full confidence. But if—and this is a big if—if you can get out of your body with any predictability, then we may really be able to prove something.”

I said slowly, “And you’d have a revolutionary paper to deliver, no more resting on your laurels—”

“Exactly.” He didn’t look at all guilty. In fact, he looked quite pleased with himself.

So I went on. “I’d be your prize subject, and still be acting as a psychologist since I’d be studying the subjective mechanisms. And your reputation would ensure publication of our results.”

He was positively beaming.

I said, “I’ve had some doubts about behaviorism, I admit it. But, look: studying the effects of psychedelic drugs is accepted now. It’s almost old hat. Encounter groups are on the rise, and some psychologists are getting interested in various methods of ‘mind control.’ But what you’re talking about smacks of the occult and God knows what else. Do you honestly believe that there’s that much to learn about human consciousness? I have to admit that I’m prejudiced in the other direction—that perception is the result of brain activity and nothing more.”

“All the better,” Ram-Ram said. “Your notes will make that obvious, too; and in the scientific community, that will serve us well. You weren’t a believer of any kind to begin with. Don’t you see? That’s what we’ll say, and it will be true. But we must conduct this work—if we do it—in complete secrecy. If it’s known that we tried and failed, we’ll be considered idiots. And your career won’t be worth two cents. First, if you agree, I want you to study OOB methods.”

“Methods? You mean there are do-it-yourself manuals for that too?” For some reason, the thought sent me into bouts of uncontrollable laughter; probably just my nervous reaction to the whole night’s events, but the mental images aroused by Ram-Ram’s remark were hilarious. In the meantime, his expression went from amusement to outright irritation, which only made me laugh louder.