Setting: A small diner where things are very calm and laid back, then they drive to a 7-11 and finally head to Bob Arctor’s house. The house is a complete mess with newspapers all over the front lawn, the inside is no better. Barris has set up a little lab inside the house to perform experiments but much of the items are junk.

Character: Charles Freck thinks about going to New Path to help get rid of his addiction to D, he starts thinking about this after he watches Jerry Fabin and his condition. Charles is experiencing for of the side effects from D that Jerry had before. Jim Barris is another friend of Bob Arctor and lives with him. He has a large knowledge of chemistry and the make up of various drugs. He is strange and intelligent, always making sarcastic remarks and screwing with people’s minds. Charles doesn’t know whether Barris is insane or intelligent. Barris appears suspicious of Bob in general while Charles doesn’t think much of it. Arctor realizes that the people at New-Path are even more hard pressed than the secret authorities that he works for. Arctor is easily able to act to get information he needs.

Plot: Charles Freck and Jim Barris meet in a local diner where they discuss various things. Mostly about Substance D and how Charles is thinking of going to rehab in New Path. While eating their meal, Charles talks about wanting to get more D from Donna, Barris then asks if he would like to pay 98 cents to find out how to lay her. Charles agrees but only does it so he can buy from her. Barris explains how using legal materials from 7-11, he can produce 1 gram of cocaine, Charles pays the bill and they head to the store to purchase some Solarcaine.

Barris grabs a plastic bag, fills it with the contents of the can of Solarcaine and proceeds to put it in the freezer. The two converse more about Arctor, who he really is, where he’s actually employed. Charles states that he may just go to New Path right now, but decides against it because he wants to see if the experiment will actually produce cocaine.

Bob had been assigned to enter a New Path residence to look for a dealer posing as an addict. He poses as an addict himself so he can get inside and ask questions about Spade Weeks, his assignment. After the employees treat him like garbage, Arctor decides that finding Weeks is hopeless and leaves.

Theme: When Bob Arctor has to go into New-Path to find Weeks, he has to hide his true identity just so he can get in. The companies don't like the cops snooping around and would actually stall for time until the fugative was able to escape, mostly to get paid off and gain benefits for themselves. It just shows what people are willing to do as long as they get something out of it.