"Ralph," she said, "in my hand I hold a weapon. It is not indirect. It is not subtle. It does not practice deceit. It does not give half-answers. It says 'yes,' and it says 'no'. That's all it says.
"It also gets yes and no answers.
"But don't be afraid of me, Ralph. I'm here to help you!"
He found his voice. "Help me? I need no help! I work alone!"
"Nobody works alone, Ralph. Ask Captain Foshag. Most people run on compulsive commands given them by people who might even be dead. Parents mostly. Positive suggestion. The mind works that way.
"Sometimes people are made to feel they're unhealthy, only they aren't really. Or they're told their eyes are bad. Or that they're superior to other people.
"It's just as if—" she frowned hard as if looking for an example "—as if your parents were sitting inside that smart blonde head of yours, Ralph, and telling you to free the Unterzuyders from their sleep. It's something you feel you have to do.
"But you don't have to, Ralph. I'm here to help you."
He stared at her, stunned.
He drew himself up arrogantly. "Put down that gun, Fayette."