"So they have contacted you?"
"Yes," he replied bitterly.
The machine said: "What's the use of lying?"
Priscilla threw back her head and laughed. "Joel, are you in communication with the Ganelons?"
"Ganelons?" he said, "What are they?"
The machine said: "How did she know that? Ye gods, she'll pull everything out of me. Make my mind a blank. Don't think about Tamis. Don't....
"Who's Tamis?" Priscilla asked.
"She's forgotten," the machine said in surprise. "No. She didn't know the girl's name; just that she was a Ganelon. Wow, what a horrible, uncontrollable thing a person's mind is. Multiplication tables. Two times two is four.... Damn! I can't remember the multiplication tables!"
"Joel," said Priscilla, "I'm going to make you my bodyguard."
"Bodyguard!" echoed Joel and the machine together. "Hell fire...." He shut his mouth. The machine went, "Glug—glug—bubble—glug. Out damned spot! Out, I say! One: Two: Why, then 'tis time to do't...."