The Stars My Destination

by Alfred Bester

“Fourmyle is Foyle. You know that. I know you know.” “But I never—” “No, you never told me. You’re magnificent. Keep faith with me the same way, Jisbella.” “Then how did you find out?” “Foyle slipped.” “How?” “The name.” “Fourmyle of Ceres? He bought the Ceres company.” “But Geoffrey Fourmyle?” “He invented it.” “He thinks he invented it. He remembered it. Geoffrey Fourmyle is the name they use in the megalomania test down in Combined Hospital in Mexico City. I used the Megal Mood on Foyle when I tried to open him up. The name must have stayed buried in his memory. He dredged it up and thought it was original. That tipped me.” “Poor Gully.” Dagenham smiled. “Yes, no matter how we defend ourselves against the outside we’re always licked by something from the inside. There’s no defense against betrayal, and we all betray ourselves.”