Oley woke up. The strange pretty lady in white was a new experience. Somebody he hadn't seen before. And there seemed to be something wrong with his hand, but Oley hadn't noticed it very much, yet.
"Well, my little Hero's awake! And how are you this morning? Your Momma and Poppa will be in to see you in just a minute."
The pretty lady in white went away, and Oley gazed around the white room with its funny shape, happily recorded the experience, and dozed off again.
Then suddenly he was awakened again. Momma was there; and Poppa. And Sven. But they all seemed different somehow this morning. Momma had been crying, even though she was smiling bravely now. And Poppa seemed to have a new softness that he'd seldom seen before. Sven was looking puzzled.
"I still say, Pop, that he's a genius. He must have known what he was doing."
"Oley," Poppa's voice was husky—gruff, but kinder and softer than usual. "I want you to answer me carefully. But understand that it's all right either way. I just want you to tell me. Why did you put the ice pick through the stove cable? You saved my life, you know. But I'd like to know how you knew how."
Little Oley grinned. His world was peaceful and wonderful now. And all the big adults were bending and leaning down and talking to him.
"Nice neatle," he said. "Big electric. Poppa needed shorts."
Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction January 1964. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note. The word nubilous appears in place of the originally printed nubient.