"I don't want to wait," you reply. "I want to know the truth now."

"Very well." Angus beckons you closer. "The U-TY have taught us how to speak in thought waves, but we will never understand more than a tenth of what they know. They have studied the Earth for more than one thousand years, hoping to find the path to Ultima, the planet of paradise. But they have given up, and are preparing to leave for their home planet, hundreds of light-years away.

"Is there really a planet of paradise?" you ask. "Yes, there truly is," Angus replies. "But the U-TY have not found it yet, for there is no way to reach Ultima by making a choice or following directions."

"Is there any chance I can return to my own home?"

"I wish I knew. I only know that pleading with the U-TY is useless. Perhaps, just perhaps, if you are willing to pretend that you are crazy, they might decide you're unsuitable for the zoo. They might let you go, but I warn you, the U-TY are unpredictable."

Should you pretend to be crazy? The plan might work. On the other hand, the aliens communicate with thought waves. They are highly advanced. Suppose they can tell that you're just pretending. What would they do then?

~ If you decide to pretend to be crazy,

< GO TO CHAPTER 51 >

~ If you know you can't,

< GO TO CHAPTER 53 >