It was a dark and stormy night. It was cold inside the house. It was the ideal atmosphere for a discussion. The other two people in the room could not bear to have it hotter than this. I was sitting with two woollen blankets on.

I knew their story by now. They were an advanced people and had learnt my English before beginning the formal discussion. Some of what they said was hard to believe.

According to them, the human brain would reach the peak of its development and then would slowly dwindle away back to what it was during the middle ages. If what they tell me is true, I have reached that peak and will be recognized as the most intelligent person ever. Well, I have got a test done on my brain and the result is due tomorrow. What they want me to do is to cancel the test and think no more of it.

They tell me of the rapid advances that are possible if I do not cancel the test. I sometimes wonder which side they are on.

"But aren't you affecting the fabric of space-time with this - what you call timely intervention?" I ask.

"The fact that there has been a discussion of this sort - or rather will be a discussion has been - er will be recorded by you."

"What transpired in the discussion - we do not know. We do know that tomorrow you will be famous and according to our calculations, if you do not become famous, even if it means an end to time travel, we believe that it is a better alternative than the end of the human race and all life on earth."

"Let me speak. Even if it were as you say it is, what about life on other planets. If this is as it should be, then why bother to change it?"

"Each race would like itself to be saved from redemption and ours is no exception. Think about it."

"What if, by some quirk of fate, the human race is not destroyed in the present course of events and if an interference is done as you say it should be, the human race should end tomorrow or soon after.?"

"You will have to believe us - in the present course of events, there is absolutely no way in which the human race can be saved. This took our computers a long time to check."

"How does the human race end? How long does it survive?"

"Well, we can't tell you now and there is hardly an hour left."

"How do I know you are not one some paltry people who want immediate success in some venture of yours?"

"We'll come back in forty five minutes."

This certainly seems very absurd. Am I supposed to save the entire human race - or lead it to a quicker death? Which alternative is which? Which is better? As these questions plagued my mind, I made my daily notes in my diary. My father died the previous day and he is forgotten in all this excitement. My father gave me all his personal records - including his brain imprint - where did I leave them? His brain imprint was never studied-even mine was taken at home and the imprint sent to the Center.

My father wanted to recede from public life. He, according to me, was a genius. He never wanted fame. For the past ten years, he sent all his works in my name. I often wondered why we never heard of them - were the people too dumb and would they realise my father's worth long after his death - only time will tell. I liked my father a lot.

A brainwave strikes me and I go into my father's room not knowing why. They are in the adjoining room. I get the urge to look at my father's brain imprint again and remember that I had compared it with mine and found that his was far superior. I wonder if they are telling the truth.

I have his records in my hand, when I hear a sudden sound. Startled, I drop the records and find my brain imprint. As I keep the records back, I find that the two of them are standing next to me. One of them is carrying a newspaper. They ask me,"Will you do it?" Confused, I shout,"No!" The newspaper, obviously unimportant, falls to the floor and reveals an elaborate gun of some sort. The trigger is pulled and I fall down with the newspaper in front of me.

I can read the headline - "Most intelligent person dies mysteriously with a smile". As the newspaper with the date as the next day is plucked away, I smile.