“Josef’s near frozen and needs your help. He took his favorite ski trail up the mountain.” Seven said these words to Elgren, Josef’s father-in-law, and at the same time he implanted in Elgren’s mind the most pathetic picture of Josef’s predicament. Elgren suddenly swore; his fat stomach rumbled; he leaped to his feet. “I just had the awful thought that Josef’s taken off somewhere,” he squawked. “Where is he, my dumb son-in-law?”

Seeing the commotion safely started, watching the men check for Josef unsuccessfully and then indignantly saddle the horses for rescue, leaving the warmth of the barns for the winter night, Seven returned to Josef. Or rather, he returned the part of him that he’d sent to the house for his mission. To Josef, Seven had been with him all the while.

Seven, however, was worried. Josef believed that he was nearly freezing to death (which he nearly was), and Seven had to let Josef’s beliefs predominate. “I’m dying,” Josef moaned. “No feeling at all in my legs. I’ll never see my firstborn, my son who will grow up to be a fine gentleman.”

Seven was more upset than he wanted to admit. Suppose the rescue party didn’t arrive in time? There was one thing he could do, beliefs or no, he thought. “Close your mental eyes,” he said to Josef. “And you’re going to have a daughter. That is, you are if everything works out the way it’s supposed to.”

“I am delirious,” Josef cried. “I decided I wanted a son, in any case.”

“You and Bianka decided on a girl. And we’re not going to argue about it out here in the snow,” Seven cried. “You’re drunk, besides.”

“I don’t want a boy or a girl,” Josef sighed, filled with self-pity. “I want to be single.”

“Close your mental eyes and keep quiet,” Seven ordered.

“Not on your life,” Josef protested. “I still don’t know if I’m awake or dreaming.”

Seven said calmly, “Look. You always get upset when you come across something you don’t understand. So kindly close your eyes for your own benefit.”

Josef’s mental eyes were terrified. “I don’t know if I’m more afraid of freezing to death, or of your help,” he moaned.

“You haven’t time to wonder about it,” Seven said, and in a flash he transported Josef—physical body, mental body, and all—some three miles further down the hill, to a good clear spot where Elgren and his men with their horses and sleigh would find him quicker and easier. Josef was screaming. “I’m dead, for God’s sake. I’m flying through the air, carried away by demons.” And at the same time, almost slyly, he kept poking his mental body in the ribs, seeing that he was, after all, quite alive.