As It is doing to me. Huh-uh, his mind whispered cautiously, you don't trap me that easily. Knight strode toward the cubicle door.
He followed the passageway to the outer lock and stepped out into the asteroid's thin but breathable air. Hide our thoughts, his mind urged, and I will tell you something. But It was listening. Two times two is four, two times three is six—what do you want to tell me, mind?—is eight, two times five is—Sammy, careful, careful, careful!—fourteen, two times eight is sixteen—Sammy what? Sammy what, mind!—I don't understand—ty-two, two times twelve is—We can't hide from It's mind—twenty-eight.
It was laughing! Knight's eyes flicked toward the spring where Captain Isaac Hansen was tasting the water.
"I know everything, Kent Knight," It chuckled. "I could tell you what your mind is trying to tell you but hide from me."
"Do you?" Knight's thought was listless. "Yes." The part that was still Kent Knight, though smothered by the Thing's presence, sighed, and Knight felt himself sigh almost in relief.
"No," Kent Knight said, and his lips were smiling. "You don't know what it's trying to tell me, Thing. We'll beat you. It will let me know and you won't know it."
"I will know!" The Thing's thought was sharp, almost angry, and it struck again with pain. But Kent Knight had hope again, and the pain didn't matter ... too much....
When it was gone, leaving only the echoes behind, Kent Knight raised himself to his feet, walked slowly toward the tiny spring where Captain Hansen was still tasting the water.
Captain Hansen, his seamed face beaming, looked up as Knight approached. His blue eyes were sparkling. "We can make millions on this water, Kent! It's the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon sought! Why, look, I've sipped only about three ounces and look at my old hands. They're smooth and young as yours! And my face—see the fresh new skin!"