“She’s trying to seduce him, obviously,” said the observer.

“Obviously,” Control agreed. “But is she aware of what she’s doing or is she acting instinctively? That’s the important question.”

Without turning his head from the screens, the observer answered, “Her pulse rate, neutral activity, EEG, body temperature—they all indicate that she’s excited, but still at the subliminal level. She doesn’t really know what’s going on inside her own glands.”

Control chuckled. “But her body knows. Look at the way she’s rubbing against him. Disgusting.”

“Yes, but she’s not consciously trying to commit the crime. She’s only responding to her own heredity.”

Control muttered something to himself.

“He’s starting to feel it,” the observer noted. “All his indicators are… well, rising.” He grinned, knowing that Control couldn’t see his face.

“I don’t doubt it,” said Control.

“I should warn him,” the observer said.

“No.”

“At least suggest that he take the proper sedation.”

“No!” Control snapped.

“But… I don’t understand. If we allow her to continue like this, then he’ll commit the crime with her.”

“Of course.”

“But it won’t really be his fault,” the observer said.

“No? Whose fault will it be?”

The observer had heard that tone of voice from Control before. It was the last warning sound before an irrevocable trap was sprung.

“I mean to say, sir,” the observer backtracked, “that… well, not every man could maintain his principles under… eh, that kind of treatment.”

Control answered icily, “Either he maintains his principles or he falls. If he falls, it’s his own will, his own volition that caused it.”

The observer shook his head.