existence. That man was the one man who "thought." All other men, all other matter, were but imagined props with no actual existence. That man is the one who "thinks!" "You"--and only "you," the person who is reading this--in the whole world. It does not matter what your name might be._  

Clifford Buckmaster knew then the mystery of life, who he was, and why. He no longer concentrated, but his eyes read on:  

_At first glance it would seem that there is a concerted conspiracy to avoid acknowledging this fact. Learned men, acquiring wisdom, come to the brink of the great discovery, and then deftly skirt it, blinding themselves to its evidentness. However, on second thought the reason is obvious. The theory is anarchistic; it carries the seeds of its own futility. If they were ever to admit the truth of it, all reason for everything--their very discovery, their very thoughts--would be futile. So they refuse to recognize it._  

_Your obvious question is, How can I tell you this? Who am I--the writer of this essay? The answer is quite simple. I am merely a figment of your imagination, as is everything else about you!_  

At last he knew. His first sensation was one of awful, empty solitude. He was one creature--alone. Alone in a universe! He was an entity living in a dream world. All about him were the figments of an imagination--presumably his own. And even knowing, he still had no control of events--like a dream that cannot be halted or changed. The people about him were automatons, in fact they possessed no actual substance. Even his own body was but a figment--but he could be hurt! He had experienced the most acute pain, and very probably he could be killed.  

He had, however, little time to brood on it. At that instant in his reflections Gamoll jerked open the library door and walked in.  

"The worst has happened," Gamoll exclaimed. "The security police have caught Oliver."  

"What can we do?" Buckmaster still could not regard Gamoll, or Oliver and his friends, as nonentities.  

"I hate to say this," Gamoll said, "but you'll have to get out. I may be able to help Oliver escape, but I'll be powerless if they learn that I'm connected with the Underground."  

"They probably wouldn't hesitate to kill you also," Buckmaster said.  

"That wouldn't be too important, if my dying would accomplish 

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