particular gene combination and there were all sorts of speculations as to which gene combination that was."
"I suspect that there are many possible types that would satisfy."
"And I suspect that if you are consulting your intuition here, you are correct But there were also those who insisted that one gene, or one small related group of genes, was of particular importance to the combination so that you might speak of an Intuition Gene. . . . Then the whole thing collapsed."
"As I said."
"But before it collapsed," Denison went on, "there had been attempts to alter genes to increase the intensity of Intuitionism and there were those who insisted that some success had been achieved. The altered genes entered the gene pool, I'm positive, and if you happened to inherit - Were any of your grandparents involved in the program?"
"Not as far as I know," said Selene, "but I can't rule it out. One of them might have been, for all I can say. . . . If you don't mind, I'm not going to investigate the matter. I don't want to know."
"Perhaps not. The whole field grew fearfully unpopular with the general public and anyone who can be considered the product of genetic engineering would not exactly be greeted gladly . . . Intuitionism, they said, for instance, was inseparable from certain undesirable characteristics."
Selene said, "Surely, I don't rouse your envy and hatred?"
"I don't think so. What about Neville, though?"
Selene was silent.
Denison said, "By the time you got to Neville, you were well-known as an Intuitionist, I suppose."
"Not well known, I would say. Some physicists suspected it, I'm sure. However, they don't like to give up credit here any more than on Earth, and I suppose they convinced themselves, more or less, that whatever I had said to them was just a meaningless guess. But Barron knew, of course."
"I see." Denison paused.
Selene's lips twitched. "Somehow I get the feeling that you want to say: 'Oh, that's why he bothers with you.' "
"No, of course not, Selene. You're quite attractive enough to be desired for your own sake."
"I think so, too, but every little bit helps and Barron was bound to be interested in my Intuitionism. Why shouldn't he be? Only he insisted I keep my job as tourist guide. He said I was an important natural resource of the Moon and he didn't want Earth monopolizing me the way they monopolized the synchrotron."
"An odd thought. But perhaps it was that the fewer who knew of your Intuitionism, the fewer would suspect your contribution to what would otherwise be put to his sole credit."
"Now you sound like Barron himself!"
"Do I? And is it possible he gets rather annoyed with you when your Intuitionism is working particularly well."
Selene shrugged. "Barron is a suspicious man. We all have our faults."
"Is it wise to be alone with me, then?"
Selene said, sharply, "Now don't get hurt because I defend him. He doesn't really suspect the possibility of sexual misbehavior between us. You're from Earth. In fact, I might as well tell you he encourages our companionship. He thinks I can learn from you."
"And have you?" asked Denison, coldly.
"I have. . . . Yet though that may be his chief reason for encouraging our friendship, it isn't mine."
"What's yours?"
"As you well know," said Selene, "and as you want to hear me say, I enjoy your company. Otherwise, I could get what I want in considerably less time."
"All right, Selene. Friends?"
"Friends! Absolutely."
"What have you learned from me, then? May I know?"
"That would take awhile to explain. You know that the reason we can't set up a Pump Station anywhere we want to is that we can't locate the para-Universe, even though they can locate us. That might be because they are much more intelligent or much more technologically advanced than we are - "
"Not necessarily me same thing," muttered Denison.
"I know. That's why I put in the 'or.' But it might also be that we are neither particularly stupid nor particularly backward. It might be something as simple as the fact that they offer the harder target. If the strong nuclear interaction is stronger in the para-Universe, they'd