"And are you completely happy here?"
"Perfectly happy according to my preternatural state. But I am taught that it might be possible to lose that happiness, and then to seek it vainly through all the ages. I am taught that sickness and ageing and even death could come if this happiness were ever lost. I am taught that on at least one other unfortunate world it has actually been lost."
"Do you consider yourself a knowledgeable man?"
"Yes, since I am the only man, and knowledge is natural to man. But I am further blessed. I have a preternatural intellect."
Then Stark cut in once more: "There must be some one question you could ask him, Father. Some way to settle it. I am becoming nearly convinced."
"Yes, there is a question that will settle it. Adam, old man, how about a game of checkers?"
"This is hardly the time for clowning," said Stark.
"I'm not clowning, Captain. How about it, Adam? I'll give you choice of colors and first move."
"No. It would be no contest. I have a preternatural intellect."
"Well, I beat a barber who was champion of Germantown. And I beat the champion of Morgan County, Tennessee, which is the hottest checker center on Earth. I've played against, and beaten, machines. But I never played a preternatural mind. Let's just set up the board, Adam, and have a go at it."