It lay in Tim's mind like a closed book of infinite detail, always available for his use. Some passages were called upon frequently for their information, but only a very few were called upon merely because Tim wished to feel their texture. Those very few were, for the most part, those that contained Arthur Bret.
Many decades ago, Tim had come to Bretworld while Arthur Bret was still alive. Madam Nora had come with him, but after they entered into orbit about Bretworld, Bentley Bret soared upward in his small ship to meet them and was brought aboard. By then, he was a rather gnarled man of middle age.
He looked at Nora with faintly hostile eyes and said, "You cannot see him, madam."
And Nora, who had been weeping, said, "Why not?"
"He does not wish it, madam, and I must respect his wis
