Transcriber's Note:
A covert FBI psi operative, known only by his code, is stationed in a downtown hotel to monitor a mysterious figure called “the superman.” He can glimpse surface thoughts and sense the red‑tinged emotions of those below, but he has no weapons and is forbidden to call for backup. As the tension builds, he must decide whether to rely on his limited telekinetic abilities or trust the strict guidelines of his superiors.
The story explores the uneasy balance between raw intelligence and physical power, and the moral weight of a job that demands both. The operative wrestles with the idea of using lethal force against a dangerous adversary while his superiors argue that the mere perception of an unstoppable, all‑knowing force will deter future crimes. In this tense, psychological cat‑and‑mouse, the line between heroism and hubris is constantly tested.
Language
en
Duration
~19 minutes (18K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2009-10-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1933–2002
A prolific American science fiction writer, he published novels and stories for decades under his own name and several pseudonyms. He is especially remembered for lively, humorous work and for collaborations with Randall Garrett, including stories about the character John Buckner.
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