capacity we had to erase to put new knowledge in, of course. We'd had a few sad experiences with guys who wanted to know absolutely everything and who went batty from too much EE. To avoid trouble with the law, our operators were strict on that now.

When our sale of science-subjects began to fall off, we switched our advertising to concentrate on art. We made expert knowledge of art all the rage. Sure enough, people came in by thousands to have their science knowledge erased so they could take on a cargo of art.

Carter had worked out advertising that made young people good repeat customers, too. If they didn't feel satisfied in their professions, why not try a new one?

Lots of young lawyers, for instance, would decide they'd rather be doctors. They'd simply come in and have their legal knowledge erased, take on a full course of medical subjects, and hang out a shingle. Maybe two weeks later they'd be back, wanting now to try engineering.

Me, I was on top of the world, literally. I lived in the highest and biggest penthouse in town. And Helen was in the clouds, mainly on account of our new baby boy who had been born a year after we started EE and who was now husky and thriving.

"And little Percival is going to be proud of his father when he attains maturity," I told Helen. "Not only because of my wealth, but because of my erudition."

I really talked like that, by then, for Helen had insisted on me taking a full course in English Grammar soon after we started business. I had also taken all the other advanced EE courses my brain would hold, so that in those days there were few wiser guys than me in the world.

"Yes, dear, it is wonderful to know that Percival can be proud of his parents when he grows up," Helen said happily.

Well, that's all you ever know about the future. For it was the very next morning that the whole thing busted.

It busted when an old guy who looked vaguely professorial came crowding into my office in spite of my four secretaries.

"Are you Peter Purdy, the vice-president of Electro-Education Company?" he asked me.

"Yes, yes, but if you have a knowledge-record to sell you should take it to our Knowledge Purchasing Agent," I told him. "I do not handle details like that."

He just stood and stared at me and 

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