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You may copy it, + give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License <a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">included with this + eBook</a> or online at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a></p></div><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">Title: Status Quo + +Author: Dallas McCord Reynolds + +Release Date: October 26, 2009 [Ebook #30339] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATUS QUO*** +</pre></div> + </div> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + + </div> + + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Status Quo</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">by Dallas McCord Reynolds</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.20em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Illustrated by John Schoenherr</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">Analog Science Fact & Fiction</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">August 1961</p> + </div> + + </div> +<div class="tei tei-body" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page004">[pg 004]</span><a name="Pg004" id="Pg004" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +[Transcriber's Note: This text was produced from Analog Science Fact & +Fiction August 1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed.] +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In his income bracket +and in the suburb in +which he lived, government +employees in the +twenty-five to thirty-five +age group were currently wearing +tweeds. Tweeds were in. Not to wear +tweeds was Non-U. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lawrence Woolford wore tweeds. +His suit, this morning, had first seen +the light of day on a hand loom in +Donegal. It had been cut by a Swede +widely patronized by serious young +career men in Lawrence Woolford's +status group; English tailors were out +currently and Italians unheard of. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Woolford sauntered down the walk +before his auto-bungalow, scowling at +the sportscar at the curb—wrong year, +wrong make. He'd have to trade +it in on a new model. Which was a +shame in a way, he liked the car. +However, he had no desire to get a +reputation as a weird among colleagues +and friends. What was it +Senator Carey MacArthur had said +the other day? Show me a weird and +I'll show you a person who has taken +the first step toward being a Commie. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Woolford slid under the wheel, +dropped the lift lever, depressed gently +the thrust pedal and took off for +downtown Greater Washington. Theoretically, +he had another four days of +vacation coming to him. He wondered +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page006">[pg 006]</span><a name="Pg006" id="Pg006" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +what the Boss wanted. That +was the trouble in being one of the +Boss' favorite trouble shooters, when +trouble arose you wound up in the +middle of it. Lawrence Woolford was +to the point where he was thinking in +terms of graduating out of field work +and taking on a desk job which +meant promotion in status and pay. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He turned over his car to a parker +at the departmental parking lot and +made his way through the entrance +utilized by second-grade departmental +officials. In another year, he told +himself, he'd be using that other +door. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss' reception secretary +looked up when Lawrence Woolford +entered the anteroom where she presided. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hello, Larry,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Hear +they called your vacation short. Darn +shame.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne Polk was a cute little +whizz of efficiency. Like Napoleon +and his army, she knew the name of +every member of the department and +was on a first-name basis with all. +However, she was definitely a weird. +For instance, styles might come and +styles might go, but LaVerne dressed +for comfort, did her hair the way she +thought it looked best, and wore low-heeled +walking shoes on the job. In +fact, she was ready and willing to +snarl at anyone, no matter how kindly +intentioned, who even hinted that +her nonconformity didn't help her +promotion prospects. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Woolford said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Hi, LaVerne. I +think the Boss is expecting me.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That he is. Go right in, Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked after him when he +turned and left her desk. Lawrence +Woolford cut a pleasant figure as thirty +year old bachelors go. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss looked up from some report +on his desk which he'd been +frowning at, nodded to his field man +and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sit down, Lawrence. I'll be +with you in a minute. Please take a +look at this while you're waiting.”</span> He +handed over a banknote. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford took it and found +himself a comfortable chair. He examined +the bill, front and back. It +was a fifty dollar note, almost new. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Finally the Boss, a stocky but impeccable +career bureaucrat of the ultra-latest +school, scribbled his initials +on the report and tossed it into an +Out chute. He said to Woolford, <span class="tei tei-q">“I +am sorry to cut short your vacation, +Lawrence. I considered giving Walter +Foster the assignment, but I think +you're the better choice.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry decided the faint praise routine +was the best tactic, said earnestly +about his closest rival. <span class="tei tei-q">“Walt's a good +man, sir.”</span> And then, <span class="tei tei-q">“What's the +crisis?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What do you think of that fifty?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His trouble shooter looked down at +it. <span class="tei tei-q">“What is there to think about it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss grunted, slid open a desk +drawer and brought forth another bill. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Here, look at this, please.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was another fifty. Larry Woolford +frowned at it, not getting whatever +was going on. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Observe the serial numbers,”</span> the +Boss said impatiently. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They were identical. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Woolford looked up. <span class="tei tei-q">“Counterfeit. +Which one is the bad one?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page007">[pg 007]</span><a name="Pg007" id="Pg007" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That is exactly what we would like +to know,”</span> the Boss said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford stared at his superior, +blinked and then examined the +bills again. <span class="tei tei-q">“A beautiful job,”</span> he said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“but what's it got to do with us, sir? +This is Secret Service jurisdiction, +counterfeiting.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“They called us in on it. They +think it might have international +ramifications.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now they were getting somewhere. +Larry Woolford put the two +bills on the Boss' desk and leaned +back in his chair, waiting. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His superior said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Remember the +Nazis turning out American and +British banknotes during the Second +War?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I was just a kid.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I thought you might have read +about it. At any rate, obviously a government—with +all its resources—could +counterfeit perfectly any currency in +the world. It would have the skills, +the equipment, the funds to accomplish +the task. The Germans turned +out hundreds of millions of dollars +and pounds with the idea of confounding +the Allied financial basics.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And why didn't it work?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The difficulty of getting it into +circulation, for one thing. However, +they did actually use a quantity. For a +time our people were so alarmed that +they wouldn't allow any bills to come +into this country from Mexico except +two-dollar denomination—the one +denomination the Germans hadn't +bothered to duplicate. Oh, they had +the Secret Service in a dither for a +time.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Woolford was frowning. <span class="tei tei-q">“What's +this got to do with our current situation?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It is only a conjecture. +One of those bills is counterfeit +but such an excellent reproduction +that the skill involved is beyond the +resources of any known counterfeiter. +Secret Service wants to know if it +might be coming from abroad, +and, if so, from where. If it's a governmental +project, particularly a Soviet +Complex one, then it comes into +the ken of our particular cloak-and-dagger +department.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, sir.”</span> Woolford said. He got +up and examined the two bills again. +<span class="tei tei-q">“How'd they ever detect that one was +bad?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Pure fortune. A bank clerk with +an all but eidetic memory was going +through a batch of fifties. It's not too +commonly used a denomination, you +know. Coincidence was involved +since in that same sheaf the serial +number was duplicated.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And then?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The reproduction was so perfect +that Secret Service was in an immediate +uproar. Short of the Nazi effort, +there has never been anything like it. +A perfect duplication of engraving +and paper identically the same. The +counterfeiters have even evidently +gone to the extent of putting a certain +amount of artificial wear on the +bills before putting them into circulation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford said, <span class="tei tei-q">“This is out +of my line. How were they able to +check further, and how many more +did they turn up?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page008">[pg 008]</span><a name="Pg008" id="Pg008" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The new I.B.M. sorters help. Secret +Service checked every fifty dollar +bill in every institution in town +both banking and governmental. +Thus far, they have located ten bills +in all.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And other cities?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“None. They've all been passed in +Greater Washington, which is suspicious +in itself. The amount of expense +that has gone into the manufacture +of these bills does not allow +for only a handful of them being +passed. They should be turning up in +number. Lawrence, this reproduction +is such that a pusher could walk into +a bank and have his false currency +changed by any clerk.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Wow,”</span> Larry whistled. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Indeed.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“So you want me to work with Secret +Service on this on the off chance +that the Soviet Complex is doing us +deliberate dirt.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That is exactly the idea, Lawrence. +Get to work, please, and keep in +touch with me. If you need support, +I can assign Walter Foster or some of +the other operatives to assist you. +This might have endless ramifications.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Back in the anteroom, Woolford +said to the Boss' receptionist, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm on +a local job, LaVerne, how about assigning +me a girl?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Can do,”</span> she said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And, look, tell her to get hold of +every available work on counterfeiting +and pile it on my desk.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Right. Thinking of going into +business, Larry?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He grinned down at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's +the idea. Keeping up with the Jones +clan in this man's town costs roughly +twice my income.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne said disapprovingly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then why not give it up? With the +classification you've got a single man +ought to be able to save half +his pay.”</span> She added, more quietly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Or +get married and support a family.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Save half my pay?”</span> Larry snorted. +<span class="tei tei-q">“And get a far out reputation, eh? +No thanks, you can't afford to be a +weird these days.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She flushed—and damn prettily, +Larry Woolford decided. She could be +an attractive item if it wasn't for obviously +getting her kicks out of being +individualistic. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said suddenly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, promise +like a good girl not to make us +conspicuous and I'll take you to the +Swank Room for dinner tonight.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Is that where all the bright young +men currently have to be seen +once or twice a week?”</span> she snapped +back at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Get lost, Larry. Being a +healthy, normal woman I'm interested +in men, but not necessarily in +walking status-symbols.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was his turn to flush, and, he decided +wryly, he probably didn't do it +as prettily as she did. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On his way to his office, he wondered +why the Boss kept her on. +Classically, a secretary-receptionist +should have every pore in place, but +in her time LaVerne Polk must have +caused more than one bureaucratic +eyebrow to raise. Efficiency was probably +the answer; the Boss couldn't +afford to let her go. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page009">[pg 009]</span><a name="Pg009" id="Pg009" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford's office wasn't +much more than a cubicle. He sat +down at the desk and banged a drawer +or two open and closed. He liked +the work, liked the department, but +theoretically he still had several days +of vacation and hated to get back into +routine. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Had he known it, this was hardly +going to be routine. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He flicked the phone finally and +asked for an outline. He dialed three +numbers before getting his subject. +The phone screen remained blank. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hans?”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Lawrence Woolford.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Teutonic accent was heavy, +the voice bluff. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ah, Larry! you need +some assistance to make your vacation? +Perhaps a sinister, exotic young +lady, complete with long cigarette +holder?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“How'd +you know I was on vacation?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other laughed. <span class="tei tei-q">“You know +better than to ask that, my friend.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The vacation is over, +Hans. I need some information.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The voice was more guarded now. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I owe you a favor or two.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't you though? Look, Hans, +what's new in the Russkie camp?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The heartiness was gone. <span class="tei tei-q">“How do +you mean?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Is there anything big stirring? Is +there anyone new in this country +from the Soviet Complex?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well now—”</span> the other's voice +drifted away. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford said impatiently, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look, Hans, let's don't waste time +fencing. You run a clearing agency +for, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">ah</span></em>, information. You're strictly a +businessman, nonpartisan, so to speak. +Fine, thus far our department has +tolerated you. Perhaps we'll continue +to. Perhaps the reason is that we +figure we get more out of your existence +than we lose. The Russkies +evidently figure the same way, the proof +being that you're alive and +have branches in the capitals of every +power on Earth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right, all right,”</span> the German +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Let me think a moment. Can +you give me an idea of what you're +looking for?”</span> There was an undernote +of interest in the voice now. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No. I just want to know if you've +heard anything new anti-my-side, +from the other side. Or if you know +of any fresh personnel recently from +there.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Frankly, I haven't. If you could +give me a hint.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I can't,”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, Hans, +like you say, you owe me a favor or +two. If something comes up, let me +know. Then I'll owe you one.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The voice was jovial again. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's a +bargain, my friend.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +After Woolford had hung up, he +scowled at the phone. He wondered +if Hans Distelmayer was lying. The +German commanded the largest professional +spy ring in the world. It was +possible, but difficult, for anything in +espionage to develop without his having +an inkling. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The phone rang back. It was Steve +Hackett of Secret Service on the +screen. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hackett said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Woolford, you coming +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page010">[pg 010]</span><a name="Pg010" id="Pg010" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +over? I understand you've been +assigned to get in our hair on this +job.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Huh,”</span> Larry grunted. <span class="tei tei-q">“The way I +hear it, your whole department has +given up, so I'm assigned to help you +out of your usual fumble-fingered +confusion.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hackett snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“At any rate, can +you drop over? I'm to work in liaison +with you.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Coming,”</span> Larry said. He hung up, +got to his feet and headed for the +door. If they could crack this thing +the first day, he'd take up that vacation +where it'd been interrupted and +possibly be able to wangle a few +more days out of the Boss to boot. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At this time of day, parking would +have been a problem, in spite of automation +of the streets. He left his +car in the departmental lot and took a +cab. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Counterfeit Division of the +Secret Service occupied an impressive +section of an impressive governmental +building. Larry Woolford +flashed his credentials here and there, +explained to guards and receptionists +here and there, and finally wound up +in Steve Hackett's office which was +all but a duplicate of his own in size +and decor. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett himself was a fairly +accurate carbon copy of Woolford, +barring facial resemblance alone. The +fact was, Steve was almost Lincolnesque +in his ugliness. Career man, +about thirty, good university, crew +cut, six foot, one hundred and seventy, +earnest of eye. He wore Harris tweed. +Larry Woolford made a note of that; +possibly herringbone was coming +back in. He winced at the thought of +a major change in his wardrobe; it'd +cost a fortune. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They'd worked on a few cases together +before when Steve Hackett +had been assigned to the presidential +bodyguard and co-operated well. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve came to his feet and shook +hands. <span class="tei tei-q">“Thought that you were going +to be down in Florida bass fishing this +month. You like your work so well +you can't stay away, or is it a matter +of trying to impress your chief?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“Fine thing. Secret +Service bogs down and they've got to +call me in to clean up the mess.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve motioned him to a chair and +immediately went serious. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you +know anything about pushing queer, +Woolford?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That means passing counterfeit +money, doesn't it? All I know is what's +in the TriD crime shows.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I can see you're going to be a lot +of help. Have you got anywhere at all +on the possibility that the stuff might +be coming from abroad?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Nothing positive,”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are +you people accomplishing anything?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We're just getting underway. +There's something off-trail about this +deal, Woolford. It doesn't fit into +routine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I wouldn't +think so if the stuff is so good not +even a bank clerk can tell the difference.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's not what I'm talking about +now. Let me give you a run down on +standard counterfeiting.”</span> The Secret +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page011">[pg 011]</span><a name="Pg011" id="Pg011" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Service agent pushed back in his +swivel chair, lit a cigarette, and +propped his feet onto the edge of a +partly open desk drawer. <span class="tei tei-q">“Briefly, it +goes like this. Some smart lad gets +himself a set of plates and a platen +press and—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry interrupted, <span class="tei tei-q">“Where does he +get the plates?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That doesn't matter now,”</span> Steve +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Various ways. Maybe he makes +them himself, sometimes he buys them +from a crooked engraver. But +I'm talking about pushing green +goods once it's printed. Anyway, our +friend runs off, say, a million dollars +worth of fives. But he doesn't try to +pass them himself. He wholesales +them around netting, say, fifty thousand +dollars. In other words, he sells +twenty dollars in counterfeit for +one good dollar.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry pursed his lips. <span class="tei tei-q">“Quite a discount.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Um-m-m. But that's safest from +his angle. The half dozen or so distributors +he sold it to don't try to pass +it either. They also are playing it +carefully. They peddle it, at say ten +to one, to the next rung down the +ladder.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And these are the fellows that +pass it, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not even then, usually. These +small timers take it and pass it on at +five to one to the suckers in the trade, +who take the biggest risks. Most of +these are professional pushers of the +queer, as the term goes. Some, however, +are comparative amateurs. Sailors +for instance, who buy with the +idea of passing it in some foreign +port where seamen's money flows +fast.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford shifted in his +chair. <span class="tei tei-q">“So what are you building up +to?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett rubbed the end of +his pug nose with a forefinger in +quick irritation. <span class="tei tei-q">“Like I say, that's +standard counterfeit procedure. We're +all set up to meet it, and do a pretty +good job. Where we have our difficulties +is with amateurs.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Woolford scowled at him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hackett said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Some guy who makes +and passes it himself, for instance. +He's unknown to the stool pigeons, +has no criminal record, does up comparatively +small amounts and dribbles +his product onto the market over +a period of time. We had one old +devil up in New York once who actually +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">drew</span></em> one dollar bills. He was a +tremendous artist. It took us years to +get him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, why go +into all this? We're hardly dealing +with amateurs now.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve looked at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's the +trouble. We are.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Are you batty? Not even your +own experts can tell this product +from real money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I didn't say it was being <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">made</span></em> by +amateurs. It's being <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">pushed</span></em> by amateurs—or +maybe amateur is the better +word.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How do you know?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“For one thing, most professionals +won't touch anything bigger than a +twenty. Tens are better, fives better +still. When you pass a fifty, the person +you give it to is apt to remember +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page012">[pg 012]</span><a name="Pg012" id="Pg012" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +where he got it.”</span> Steve Hackett said +slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Particularly if you give one +as a tip to the <span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">maître d'hôtel</span></span> in a +first-class restaurant. A <span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">maître d'</span></span> holds +his job on the strength of his ability +to remember faces and names.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 30%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p12.png" width="230" height="700" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What else makes you think your +pushers are amateurs?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Amateur,”</span> Hackett corrected. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ideally, a pusher is an inconspicuous +type. The kind of person whose face +you'd never remember. It's never a +teenage girl who's blowing money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was time to stare now, and Larry +Woolford obliged. <span class="tei tei-q">“A teenager!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We've had four descriptions of +her, one of them excellent. Fredrick, +the <span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">maître d'</span></span> over at La Calvados, is +the one that counts, but the others +jibe. She's bought perfume and gloves +at Michel Swiss, the swankiest shop +in town, a dress at Chez Marie—she +passed three fifties there—and a hat +at Paulette's over on Monroe Street.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's another sign of the amateur, +by the way. A competent pusher +buys a small item and gets change +from his counterfeit bill. Our girl's +been buying expensive items, obviously +more interested in the product +than in her change.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“This doesn't seem to make much +sense,”</span> Larry Woolford protested. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You have any ideas at all?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The question is,”</span> Hackett said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“where did she get it? Is she connected +with one of the embassies and +acquired the stuff overseas? If so, that +puts it in your lap again possibly—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The phone rang and Steve flicked +the switch and grumbled, <span class="tei tei-q">“Yeah? +Steven Hackett speaking.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page013">[pg 013]</span><a name="Pg013" id="Pg013" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He listened for a moment then +banged the phone off and jumped to +his feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“Come on, Larry,”</span> he +snapped. <span class="tei tei-q">“This is it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stood, too. <span class="tei tei-q">“Who was that?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Fredrick, over at La Calvados. The +girl has come in for lunch. Let's go!”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +La Calvados was the swankiest +French restaurant in Greater Washington, +a city not devoid of swank +restaurants. Only the upper-echelons +in governmental circles could afford +its tariffs; the clientele was more apt +to consist of business mucky-mucks +and lobbyists on the make. Larry +Woolford had eaten here exactly +twice. You could get a reputation +spending money far beyond your obvious +pay status. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fredrick, the <span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">maître de hôtel</span></span>, however, +was able to greet them both by +name. <span class="tei tei-q">“Monsieur Hackett, Monsieur +Woolford,”</span> he bowed. He obviously +didn't approve of La Calvados being +used as a hangout where counterfeiters +were picked up the authorities. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where is she?”</span> Steve said, looking +out over the public dining room. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fredrick said, unprofessionally agitated, +<span class="tei tei-q">“See here, Monsieur Hackett, +you didn't expect to, ah, arrest the +young lady <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">here</span></em> during our lunch +hour?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve looked at him impatiently. +<span class="tei tei-q">“We don't exactly beat them over the +head with blackjacks, slip the bracelets +on and drag them screaming to +the paddywagon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course not, monsieur, but—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford's chief dined +here several times a week and was +probably on the best of terms with +Fredrick whose decisions on tables +and whose degree of servility had a +good deal of influence on a man's +status in Greater Washington. Larry +said wearily, <span class="tei tei-q">“We can wait until she +leaves. Where is she?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fredrick had taken them to one +side. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Do you see the young lady over +near the window on the park? The +rather gauche appearing type?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was a teenager, all right. A +youngster up to her eyebrows in the +attempt to project sophistication. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you know who she +is?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> Fredrick said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Hardly our +usual clientele.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh?”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“She looks like +money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fredrick said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The dress appears as +though it is of Chez Marie, but she +wears it as though it came from +Klein's. Her perfume is Chanel, but +she has used approximately three +times the quantity one would expect.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's our girl, all right,”</span> Steve +murmured. <span class="tei tei-q">“Where can we keep an +eye on her until she leaves?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why not at the bar here, Messieurs?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why not?”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I could +use a drink.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fredrick cleared his throat. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ah, +Messieurs, that fifty I turned over +you. I suppose it turned out to be +spurious?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve grinned at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Afraid so, +Fredrick. The department is holding +it.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page014">[pg 014]</span><a name="Pg014" id="Pg014" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry took out his wallet. <span class="tei tei-q">“However, +we have a certain leeway on expenses +on this assignment and appreciate +your co-operation.”</span> He +handed two twenties and a ten to the +<span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">maître d'</span></span>. Fredrick bowed low, the +money disappearing into his clothes +magically. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">Merci bien</span></span>, monsieur.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the bar, Steve scowled at his +colleague. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ha!”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why didn't +I think of that first? He'll get +down on his knees and bump his +head each time he sees you in the +joint from now on.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford waggled a finger +at the other. <span class="tei tei-q">“This is a status conscious +town, my boy. Prestige means +everything. When I take over my +Boss' job, maybe we can swing a +transfer and I'll give you a position +suitable to your attainments.”</span> He +pursed his lips judiciously. <span class="tei tei-q">“Although, +come to think of it, that +might mean a demotion from the job +you're holding now.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Vodka martini,”</span> Steve told the +bartender. <span class="tei tei-q">“Polish vodka, of course.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course, sir.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Same for me.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The bartender left and Steve muttered, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I hate vodka.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yeah,”</span> Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“But what're +you going to do in a place like this, +order some weird drink?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve dug into his pocket for +money. <span class="tei tei-q">“We're not going to have to +drink them. Here she comes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She walked with her head held +high, hauteur in every step. Ignoring +the peasants at the tables she passed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Holy smokes,”</span> Steve grunted. +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's a wonder Fredrick let her in.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She hesitated momentarily before +the doorway of the prestige restaurant +allowing the passers-by to realize +she'd just emerged, and then +turned to her right to promenade +along the shopping street. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fifty feet below La Calvados, Steve +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Let's go, Woolford.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One stepped to one elbow, the +other to the other. Steve said quietly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I wonder if we could ask you a few +questions?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her eyebrows went up, <span class="tei tei-q">“I <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">beg</span></em> your +pardon!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve sighed and displayed the +badge pinned to his wallet, keeping +it inconspicuous. <span class="tei tei-q">“Secret Service, +Miss,”</span> he murmured. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, devil,”</span> she said. She looked up +at Larry Woolford, and then back at +Steve. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Among other things, +we're in charge of counterfeit money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She was about five foot four in her +heels, had obviously been on a round +of beauty shops and had obviously +instructed them to glamorize her. It +hadn't come off. She still looked as +though she'd be more at home as +cheerleader of the junior class in +small town high school. She was +honey blond, green-blue of eye, and +had that complexion they seldom +carry even into the twenties. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I ... I don't know what you're +talking about.”</span> Her chin began to +tremble. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said gently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't worry. +We just want to ask you some questions.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well ... like what?”</span> She was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page015">[pg 015]</span><a name="Pg015" id="Pg015" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +going to be blinking back tears in a +moment. At least Larry hoped she'd +blink them back. He'd hate to have +her start howling here in public. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We think you can be of +assistance to the government, and +we'd like your help.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve rolled his eyes upward, but +turned and waved for a street level +cab. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the cab, Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Suppose we +go over to my office, Steve?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“O.K. with me,”</span> Steve muttered, +<span class="tei tei-q">“but by the looks of the young lady +here, I think it's a false alarm from +your angle. She's obviously an American. +What's your name, Miss?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's Zusanette. Well, really, Susan.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Susan what?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I ... I'm not sure I want to tell +you. I ... I want a lawyer.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A lawyer!”</span> Steve snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“You +mean you want the juvenile authorities, +don't you?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, what a mean thing to say,”</span> +she sputtered. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the corridor outside the Boss' +suite of offices, Larry said to Steve, +<span class="tei tei-q">“You take Miss ... ah, Zusanette +to my office, will you Steve. I'll be +there in a minute.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He opened the door to the anteroom +and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“LaVerne, we've got a +girl in my office—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why, Larry!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He glowered at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“A suspect. I +want a complete tape of everything +said. As soon as we're through, have +copies made, at least three or four.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And, who, Mr. Woolford, was +your girl Friday last year?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“This is important, honey. I suppose +you've supplied me with a secretary +but I haven't even met her +yet. Take care of it, will you?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sure enough, Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He followed Steve and the girl to +his office. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Once seated, the girl and Steve in +the only two extra chairs the cubicle +boasted and Larry behind his desk, +he looked at her in what he hoped +was reassurance. <span class="tei tei-q">“Just tell us where +you got the money, Zusanette.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve reached out a hand suddenly +and took her bag from her lap. +She gasped and snatched at it, but +he eluded her and she sat back, her +chin trembling again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve came up with a thick sheaf +of bills, the top ones, at least, all +fifties and tossed them to Larry's +desk. He took out a school pass and +read, <span class="tei tei-q">“Susan Self, Elwood Avenue.”</span> +He looked up at Larry and said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right off Eastern, near Paterson +Park in the Baltimore section of +town, isn't it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said to her, <span class="tei tei-q">“Zusanette, I think +you'd better tell us where you got all +this money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I found it,”</span> she said defiantly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You can't do anything to me if I +simply found it. Anybody can find +money. Finders keepers—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But if it's counterfeit,”</span> Steve interrupted +dryly, <span class="tei tei-q">“it might also be, +finders weepers.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where did you find it, Zusanette?”</span> +Larry said gently. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She tightened her lips, and the +trembling of her chin disappeared. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I ... I can't tell you that. But it's +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page016">[pg 016]</span><a name="Pg016" id="Pg016" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +not counterfeit. Daddy ... my father +said it was as good as any money +the government prints.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That it is,”</span> Steve said sourly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“But it's still counterfeit, which +makes it very illegal indeed to spend, +Miss Self.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked from one of them +to the other, not clear about her position. +She said to Larry, <span class="tei tei-q">“You mean +it's not <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">real</span></em> money?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He kept his tone disarming, but +shook his head, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm afraid not, Zusanette. +Now, tell us, where did you +find it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I can't. I promised”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I see. Then you don't know to +whom it originally belonged?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It didn't belong to anybody.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett made with a disbelieving +whistle. He was taking the +part of the tough, suspicious cop; +Larry the part of the understanding, +sympathetic officer, trying to give the +suspect a break. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Susan Self turned quickly on Steve. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, it didn't. You don't even +know.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I think she's telling the +truth, Steve. Give her a chance. She's +playing fair.”</span> He looked back at the +girl, and frowned his puzzlement. +<span class="tei tei-q">“All money belongs to <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">somebody</span></em> +doesn't it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She had them now. She said superiorly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not necessarily to some<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">body</span></em>. +It can belong to, like, an organization.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve grunted skepticism. <span class="tei tei-q">“I think +we ought to arrest her,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry held up a hand, his face registering +opposition. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll handle this,”</span> +he said sharply. <span class="tei tei-q">“Zusanette is doing +everything she can to co-operate.”</span> He +turned back to the girl. <span class="tei tei-q">“Now, the +question is, what organization did this +money belong to?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked triumphantly at Steve +Hackett. <span class="tei tei-q">“It belonged to the Movement.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They both looked at her. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve said finally, <span class="tei tei-q">“What movement?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She pouted in thought. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's the +only name they call it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Who's they?”</span> Steve snapped nastily. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I ... I don't know.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, you already told +us your father was a member, Zusanette.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her eyes went wide. <span class="tei tei-q">“I did? I +shouldn't have said that.”</span> But she +evidently took him at his word. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said encouragingly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, +we might as well go on. Who else is +a member of this Movement besides +your father?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She shifted in her chair uncomfortably. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I don't know any of their names.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve looked down at the school +pass in his hands. He said to Larry, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'd better make a phone call.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He left. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't worry about him, +Zusanette. Now then, this <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">movement</span></em>. +That's kind of a funny name, isn't it? +What does it mean?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She was evidently glad that the less +than handsome Steve Hackett had +left the room. Her words flowed more +freely. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, Daddy says that they +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page017">[pg 017]</span><a name="Pg017" id="Pg017" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +call it the Movement rather than a +revolution....”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An ice cube manifested itself in +the stomach of Lawrence Woolford. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“... Because people get conditioned, +like, to words. Like revolution. +Everybody is against the word +because they all think of killing and +everything, and, Daddy says, there +doesn't have to be any shooting or +killing or anything like that at all. It +just means a fundamental change in +society. And, Daddy says, take the +word propaganda. Everybody's got to +thinking that it automatically means +lies, but it doesn't at all. It just means, +like, the arguments you use to convince +people that what you stand for +is right and it might be lies or it +might not. And, Daddy says, take the +word socialism. So many people have +the wrong idea of what it means that +the socialists ought to scrap the word +and start using something else to +mean what they stand for.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said gently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Your father is +a socialist?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, no.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He nodded in understanding. <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, +a Communist, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Susan Self was indignant. <span class="tei tei-q">“Daddy +thinks the Communists are strictly +awful, really weird.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett came back into the +office. He said to Larry, <span class="tei tei-q">“I sent a couple +of the boys out to pick him up.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Susan was on her feet, a hand to +mouth. <span class="tei tei-q">“You mean my father! You're +going to arrest him!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said soothingly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sit down, +Zusanette. There's a lot of things +about this that I'm sure your father +can explain.”</span> He said to Steve, <span class="tei tei-q">“She +tells me that the money belonged to +a movement. A revolutionary movement +which doesn't use the term +revolutionary because people react +unfavorably to that word. It's not +Commie.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Susan said indignantly, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's American, +not anything foreign!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“Let's get back to +the money. What's this movement doing +with a lot of counterfeit bills and +where did you find them?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She evidently figured she'd gone +too far now to take a stand. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's not +Daddy's fault,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“He took me +to headquarters twice.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where's headquarters?”</span> Larry said +trying to keep his voice soothing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well ... I don't know. Daddy +was awfully silly about it. He tied his +handkerchief around my eyes near +the end. But the others complained +about me anyway, and Daddy got awfully +mad and said something about +the young people of the country participating +in their emancipation and +all, but the others got mad too, and +said there wasn't any kind of help I +could do around headquarters anyway, +and I'd be better off in school. +Everybody got awfully mad, but after +the second time Daddy promised not +to take me to headquarters any more.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But where did you find the money, +Zusannette?”</span> Larry said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“At headquarters. There's tons and +tons of it there.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry cleared his throat and said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“When you say tons and tons, you +mean a great deal of it, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She was proudly definite. <span class="tei tei-q">“I mean +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page018">[pg 018]</span><a name="Pg018" id="Pg018" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +tons and tons. A ton is two thousand +pounds.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look, Zusanette,”</span> Larry said reasonably. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I don't know how much +money weighs, exactly, but let's say a +pound would be, say, a thousand bills.”</span> +He took up a pencil and scribbled on +a pad before him. <span class="tei tei-q">“A pound of fifties +would be $50,000. Then if you multiply +that by 2,000 pounds to make a +ton, you'd have $100,000,000. And +you say there's tons and tons?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And that's just the fifties,”</span> Susan +said triumphantly. <span class="tei tei-q">“So you can see +the two little packages I picked up +aren't really important at all. It's just +like I found them.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I don't think there's quite a thousand +bills in a pound,”</span> Steve said weakly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“How much other money +is there?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, piles. Whole rooms. Rooms +after rooms. And hundred dollar bills, +and twenties, and fives, and tens—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, Zusanette, +I don't think you're in any position to be +telling us whoppers. This whole story +doesn't make much sense, does it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her mouth tightened. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm not going +to say anything more until Daddy +gets here, anyway,”</span> she said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Which was when the phone rang. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I have an idea that's for me,”</span> +Steve said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The screen lit up and LaVerne Polk +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Call for Steve Hackett, Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry pushed the phone around so +Steve could look into it. LaVerne +flicked off and was replaced by a +stranger in uniform. Steve said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yeah?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cop said, <span class="tei tei-q">“He's flown the coop, +sir. Must have got out just minutes +before we arrived. Couldn't have taken +more than a suitcase. Few papers +scattered around the room he used +for an office.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Susan gasped, <span class="tei tei-q">“You mean Daddy?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett rubbed a hand over +his flattened nose. <span class="tei tei-q">“Holy Smokes,”</span> he +said. He thanked the cop and flicked +off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look Zusanette, everything's +going to be all right. Nothing +will happen to you. You say you managed +to pick up two packets of all +this money they have at headquarters. +O.K. So you thought it wouldn't be +missed and you've always wanted to +spend money the way you see the +stars do on TriD and in the movies.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked at him, taken back. +<span class="tei tei-q">“How did you know?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said dryly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I've always wanted +to myself. But I would like to know +one more thing. The Movement. +What was it going to do with all this +money?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That evidently puzzled her. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +Professor said they were going to +spend it on chorus girls. I guess ... +I guess he was joking or something. +But Daddy and I'd just been up to +New York and we saw those famous +precision dancers at the New Roxy +Theatre and all and then when we got +back the Professor and Daddy were +talking and I heard him say it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve said, carefully, <span class="tei tei-q">“Professor +who?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Susan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Just the Professor. +That's all we ever call him.”</span> Her chin +went to trembling still again. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page019">[pg 019]</span><a name="Pg019" id="Pg019" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry summed it up for the Boss +later. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His chief scoffed his disbelief. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +child is full of dreams, Lawrence. It +comes from seeing an over-abundance +of these TriD shows. I have a girl the +same age. I don't know what is happening +to the country. They have no +sense of reality.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, +she might be full of nonsense, but she +did have the fifties, and she's our only +connection with whoever printed +them whether it's a movement to +overthrow the government, or what.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said tolerantly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Movement, +indeed. Obviously, her father +produced them and she purloined a +quantity before he was ready to attempt +to pass them. Have you a run +down on him yet?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Susan Self says her father, Ernest +Self, is an inventor. Steve Hackett is +working on locating him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He's an inventor indeed. Evidently, +he has invented a perfect counterfeiting +device. However, that is the +Secret Service's headache, not ours. +Do you wish to resume that vacation +of yours, Lawrence?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His operative twisted his face in a +grimace. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sure, I do, but I'm not happy +about this, sir. What happens if there +really is an organization, a +Movement, like she said? That brings +it back under our jurisdiction, anti-subversion.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other shook his head tolerantly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“See here, Lawrence, when you begin +scheming a social revolution you +can't plan on an organization composed +of a small number of persons +who keep their existence secret. In +spite of what a good many persons +seem to believe, revolutions are not +accomplished by handfuls of conspirators +hiding in cellars and eventually +overthrowing society by dramatically +shooting the President, or King, or +Czar, or whoever. Revolutions are +precipitated by masses of people. +People who have ample cause to be against +whatever the current government happens to be. Usually, +they are on the point of actual +starvation. Have you ever read Machiavelli?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Niccolo Machiavelli was currently +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">the thing</span></em> to read. Larry said with a +certain dignity, <span class="tei tei-q">“I've gone through +<span class="tei tei-q">‘The Prince,’</span> the <span class="tei tei-q">‘Discourses’</span> and currently +I'm amusing myself with his +<span class="tei tei-q">‘History of Florence.’</span> ”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Anybody who can amuse himself +reading Machiavelli,”</span> the Boss said +dryly, <span class="tei tei-q">“has a macabre sense of humor. +At any rate, what I was alluding to was +where he stated that the Prince cannot +rule indefinitely in the face of the +active opposition of his people. +Therefore, the people always get a +government that lies within the limits +of their tolerance. It may be on +one edge or the other of their limits +of tolerance—but it's always within +their tolerance zone.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry frowned and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, +what's your point, sir?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said patiently, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm just +observing that cultures aren't overthrown +by little handfuls of secret +conspirators. You might eliminate a +few individuals in that manner, in +other words change the personnel of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page020">[pg 020]</span><a name="Pg020" id="Pg020" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the government, but you aren't going +to alter a socio-economic system. That +can't be done until your people have +been pushed outside their limits of +tolerance. Very well then. A revolutionary +organization must get out +and propagandize. It has got to convince +the people that they are being +pushed beyond endurance. You +have got to get the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">masses</span></em> to moving. You +have to give speeches, print newspapers, +books, pamphlets, you have +got to send your organizers out to intensify +interest in your program.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I see what you mean. +If this so-called Movement actually +existed it couldn't expect to get anywhere +as long as remained secret.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss nodded. <span class="tei tei-q">“That is correct. +The <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">leaders</span></em> of a revolutionary movement +might be intellectuals, social +scientists, scholars—in fact they usually +are—take our own American +Revolution with Jefferson, Madison, +Franklin, Washington. Or the French +Revolution with Robespierre, Danton, +Marat, Engels and Lenin. All were +well educated intellectuals from +the middle class. But the revolution itself, +once it starts, comes from below, +from the mass of people pushed beyond +tolerance.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It came to Lawrence Woolford that +his superior had achieved to his +prominent office not through any +fluke. He knew what he was talking +about. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss wound it up. <span class="tei tei-q">“If there was +such an organization as this Movement, +then this department would +know about it. You don't keep a +revolutionary movement secret. It +doesn't make sense to even try. Even +if it is forced underground, it makes +as much noise as it can.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His trouble shooter cleared his +throat. <span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose you're right, sir.”</span> +He added hesitantly. <span class="tei tei-q">“We could always +give Susan Self a few drops of +Scop-Serum, sir.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss scowled disapprovingly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You know how the Supreme Court +ruled on that, Lawrence. And particularly +since the medics revealed its effect +on reducing sexual inhibitions. +No, Mr. Hackett and Secret Service +will have to get the truth out of the +girl by some other means. At any +rate, it is out of our hands.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry came to his feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, then, +I'll resume my vacation, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His chief took up a report from his +desk an frowned at it, his attention +already passing to other matters. He +grunted, <span class="tei tei-q">“Clear it with LaVerne, +please. Tell her I said to take another +week to make up for our intruding +on you in this manner.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the back of his head, Larry +Woolford had misgivings. For one +thing, where had the kid, who on the +face of her performance was no great +brain even as sixteen or seventeen +old's go, picked up such ideas as the +fact that people developed prejudices +against words like revolution and +propaganda? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +However, he was clear of it now. +Let Steve Hackett and his people take +over. He, Lawrence Woolford, was +due for a quick return to Astor, Florida +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page021">[pg 021]</span><a name="Pg021" id="Pg021" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and the bass fishing on the +St. John's River. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He stopped at LaVerne's desk and +gave her his address to be, now that +his vacation was resumed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said, smiling up at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Right. +The boss already told me to get in +touch with Secret Service and let +them know we're pulling out. What +happened to Susan Self?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry looked at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“How'd you +know about Susan?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her tone was deprecating. <span class="tei tei-q">“Remember? +You had me cut some +tapes on you and that hulking Steve +Hackett grilling the poor kid.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Poor kid, yet. With +her tastes for living-it-up, and that +father she has, she'll probably spend +the rest of her life getting in Steve's +hair as a counterfeit pusher.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What are they going to do with +her? She's just a child.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The agent shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“I feel sorry +for her, too, LaVerne. Steve's got her +in a suite at the Greater Washington +Hilton, until things are cleared up. +They don't want the newspapers to +get wind of this until they've got that +inventor father of hers and whatever +he's cooked up to turn out perfect +reproductions of Uncle Sam's money. +Look, I won't be leaving until tomorrow. +What'd you say we go out on +the town tonight?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why, Larry Woolford! How nice +of you to ask me. Poor Little, Non-U +me. What do you have in mind? I +understand Mort Lenny's at one of +the night clubs.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry winced. <span class="tei tei-q">“You know what +he's been saying about the administration.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She smiled sweetly at him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, we could take in +the Brahms concert, then—”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page022">[pg 022]</span><a name="Pg022" id="Pg022" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Do you like Brahms? I go for +popular music myself. Preferably the +sort of thing they wrote back in the +1930s. Something you can dance to, +something you know the words to. +Corny, they used to call it. Remember +<span class="tei tei-q">‘Sunny Side of the Street,’</span> and <span class="tei tei-q">‘Just +the Way You Look Tonight’</span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry winced again. He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, +I admit, I don't go for concerts either +but it doesn't hurt you to—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I know,”</span> she said sweetly. <span class="tei tei-q">“It +doesn't hurt for a bright young bureaucrat +to be seen at concerts.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How about Dixieland?”</span> he said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's all the thing now.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I like corn. Besides, my wardrobe +is all out of style. Paris, London, and +Rome just got in a huddle a couple of +weeks ago and antiquated everything +I own. You wouldn't want to be seen +with a girl a few weeks out of date, +would you?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, now, LaVerne, get off my +back.”</span> He thought about it. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, +you must have <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">something</span></em> you could +wear.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Get out of here, you vacant minded +conformist! I <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">like</span></em> Mort Lenny, he +makes me laugh; I <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">hate</span></em> vodka martinis, +they give me sour stomach; I +don't <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">like</span></em> the current women's styles, +nor the men's either.”</span> LaVerne spun +back to her auto-typer and began to +dictate into it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry glared down at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“All +right. O.K. What <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">do</span></em> you like?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She snapped back irrationally, <span class="tei tei-q">“I +like what <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">I</span></em> like.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He laughed at her in ridicule. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This time she glared at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“That +makes more sense than you're capable +of assimilating, Mr. Walking Status +Symbol. My likes and dislikes aren't +dictated by someone else. If I like +corny music, I'll listen to it and the +devil with Brahms or Dixieland or +anything else that somebody else tells +me is all the thing!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He turned on his heel angrily. +<span class="tei tei-q">“O.K., O.K., it takes all sorts to make a +world, weirds and all.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“One more label to hang on people,”</span> +she snarled after him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Everything's +labels. Be sure and never +come to any judgments of your own!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What a woman! He wondered why +he'd ever bothered to ask her for a +date. There were so many women in +this town you waded through them, +and here he was exposing himself to +be seen in public with a girl everybody +in the department knew was as +weird as they came. It didn't do your +standing any good to be seen around +with the type. He wondered all over +again why the Boss tolerated her as +his receptionist-secretary. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He got his car from the parking lot +and drove home at a high level. Ordinarily, +the distance being what it +was, he drove in the lower and slower +traffic levels but now his frustration +demanded some expression. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Back at his suburban auto-bungalow, +he threw all except the high +priority switch and went on down +into his small second cellar den. He +didn't really feel like a night on the +town anyway. A few vodka martinis +under his belt and he'd sleep late and +he wanted to get up in time for an +early start for Florida. Besides, in that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page023">[pg 023]</span><a name="Pg023" id="Pg023" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +respect he agreed with the irritating +wench. Vermouth was never meant to +mix with Polish vodka. He wished +that Sidecars would come back. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In his den, he shucked off his jacket, +kicked off his shoes and shuffled into +Moroccan slippers. He went over to +his current reading rack and scowled +at the paperbacks there. His culture +status books were upstairs where they +could be seen. He pulled out a western, +tossed it over to the cocktail table +that sat next to his chair, and then +went over to the bar. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Up above in his living room, he +had one of the new autobars. You +could dial any one of more than thirty +drinks. Autobars were all the rage. +The Boss had one that gave a selection +of a hundred. But what difference +did it make when nobody but +eccentric old-timers or flighty blondes +drank anything except vodka martinis? +He didn't like autobars anyway. +A well mixed drink is a personal +thing, a work of competence, instinct +and art, not something measured to +the drop, iced to the degree, shaken +or stirred to a mathematical formula. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Out of the tiny refrigerator he +brought a four-ounce cube of frozen +pineapple juice, touched the edge +with his thumbnail and let the ultra +thin plastic peel away. He tossed the +cube into his mixer, took up a bottle +of light rum and poured in about +two ounces. He brought an egg from +the refrigerator and added that. An +ounce of whole milk followed and a +teaspoon of powdered sugar. He +flicked the switch and let the conglomeration +froth together. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He poured it into a king-size +highball glass and took it over to his +chair. Vodka martinis be damned, he +liked a slightly sweet long drink. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He sat down in the chair, picked up +the book and scowled at the cover. He +ought to be reading that Florentine +history of Machiavelli's, especially if +the Boss had got to the point where +he was quoting from the guy. But the +heck with it, he was on vacation. He +didn't think much of the Italian diplomat +of the Renaissance anyway; +how could you be that far back without +being dated? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He couldn't get beyond the first +page or two. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And when you can't concentrate +on a Western, you just can't concentrate. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He finished his drink, went over to +his phone and dialed <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Department of +Records</span></span> and then <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Information</span></span>. When +the bright young thing answered, he +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'd like the brief on an Ernest +Self who lives on Elwood Avenue, +Baltimore section of Greater Washington. +I don't know his code number.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She did things with switches and +buttons for a moment and then +brought a sheet from a delivery chute. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Do you want me to read it to you, +sir?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No, I'll scan it,”</span> Larry said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her face faded to be replaced by +the brief on Ernest Self. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was astonishingly short. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Records</span></span> +seemed to have slipped up on this occasion. +A rare occurrence. He considered +requesting the full dossier, then +changed his mind. Instead he dialed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page024">[pg 024]</span><a name="Pg024" id="Pg024" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the number of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Sun-Post</span></span> and +asked for its science columnist. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam Sokolski's puffy face eventually +faded in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said to him sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“You +drink too much. You can begin to see +the veins breaking in your nose.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam looked at him patiently. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“How'd you like to +come over and toss back a few tonight?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm working. I thought you were +on vacation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry sighed. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“O.K., +so you can't take a night off and lift a +few with an old buddy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. Anything else, Larry?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes. Look, have you ever heard of +an inventor named Ernest Self?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sure I've heard of him. Covered a +hassle he got into some years ago. A +nice guy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'll bet,”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“What does he +invent, something to do with printing +presses, or something?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Printing presses? Don't you remember +the story about him?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Brief me,”</span> Larry said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well—briefly does it—it got out a +couple of years ago that some of our +rocketeers had bought a solid fuel formula +from an Italian research outfit +for the star probe project. Paid them +a big hunk of Uncle's change for it. +So Self sued.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You're being <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">too</span></em> brief. +What d'ya mean, he sued? Why?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Because he claimed he'd submitted +the same formula to the same +agency a full eighteen months earlier +and they'd turned him down.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Had he?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Probably.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry didn't get it. <span class="tei tei-q">“Then why'd +they turn him down?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, the government +boys had a good alibi. Crackpots turn +up all over the place and you have to +brush them off. Every cellar scientist +who comes along and says he's got a +new super-fuel developed from old +coffee grounds can't be given the welcome +mat. Something was wrong +with his math or something and they +didn't pay much attention to him. +Wouldn't even let him demonstrate +it. But it was the same formula, all +right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford was scowling. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Something wrong with his math? +What kind of a degree does he have?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam grinned in memory. <span class="tei tei-q">“I got a +good quote on that. He doesn't have +any degree. He said he'd learned to +read by the time he'd reached high +school and since then he figured +spending time in classrooms was a +matter of interfering with his education.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No wonder they turned him down. +No degree at all. You can't get anywhere +in science like that.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The courts rejected his +suit but he got a certain amount of +support here and there. Peter Voss, +over at the university, claims he's one +of the great intuitive scientists, whatever +that is, of our generation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Who said that?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Professor Voss. Not that it makes +any difference what he says. Another +crackpot.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +After Sam's less than handsome face +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page025">[pg 025]</span><a name="Pg025" id="Pg025" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was gone from the phone, Larry +walked over to the bar with his empty +glass and stared at the mixer for several +minutes. He began to make himself +another flip, but cut it short in +the middle, put down the ingredients +and went back to the phone to dial +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Records</span></span> again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He went through first the brief and +then the full dossier on Professor +Peter Luther Voss. Aside from his +academic accomplishments, particularly +in the fields of political economy +and international law, and the dozen +or so books accredited to him, there +wasn't anything particularly noteworthy. +A bachelor in his fifties. No +criminal record of any kind, of course, +and no military career. No known political +affiliations. Evidently a strong +predilection for Thorstein Veblen's +theories. And he'd been a friend of +Henry Mencken back when that old +nonconformist was tearing down contemporary +society seemingly largely +for the fun involved in the tearing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the face of it, the man was no +radical, and the term <span class="tei tei-q">“crackpot”</span> +which Sam had applied was hardly +called for. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford went back to the +bar and resumed the job of mixing +his own version of a rum flip. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But his heart wasn't in it. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Professor</span></span>, +Susan had said. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Before he'd gone to bed the night +before, Larry Woolford had ordered a +seat on the shuttle jet for Jacksonville +and a hover-cab there to take +him to Astor, on the St. Johns River. +And he'd requested to be wakened in +ample time to get to the shuttleport. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But it wasn't the saccharine pleasant +face of the Personal Service operator +which confronted him when he +grumpily answered the phone in the +morning. In fact, the screen remained +blank. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry decided that sweet long +drinks were fine, but that anyone who +took several of them in a row needed +to be candied. He grumbled into the +phone, <span class="tei tei-q">“All right, who is it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A Teutonic voice chuckled and +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You're going to have to decide +whether or not you're on vacation, my +friend. At this time of day, why aren't +you at work?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford was waking up. He +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“What can I do for you, Distelmayer?”</span> +The German merchant-of-espionage +wasn't the type to make +personal calls. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Have you forgotten so soon, my +friend?”</span> the other chuckled. <span class="tei tei-q">“It was I +who was going to do you a favor.”</span> He +hesitated momentarily, before adding, +<span class="tei tei-q">“In possible return for future—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yeah, yeah,”</span> Larry said. He was +fully awake now. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The German said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“You +asked if any of your friends from, ah, +abroad were newly in the country. +Frol Eivazov has recently appeared on +the scene.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Eivazov! In various respects, Larry +Woolford's counterpart. Hatchetman +for the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Chrezvychainaya Komissiya</span></span>. +Woolford had met him on occasion +when they'd both been present at international +summit meetings, busily +working at counter-espionage for +their respective superiors. Blandly +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page026">[pg 026]</span><a name="Pg026" id="Pg026" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +shaking hands with each other, blandly +drinking toasts to peace and international +co-existence, blandly sizing +each other up and wondering if it'd +ever come to the point where one +would <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">blandly</span></em> treat the other to a +hole in the head, possibly in some +dark alley in Havana or Singapore, +Leopoldville or Saigon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said sharply, <span class="tei tei-q">“Where is he? +How'd he get in the country?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“My friend, my friend,”</span> the German +grunted good-humoredly. <span class="tei tei-q">“You +know better than to ask the first question. +As for the second, Frol's command +of American-English is at least +as good as your own. Do you think +his <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Komissiya</span></span> less capable than your +own department and unable to do +him up suitable papers so that he +could be, perhaps, a <span class="tei tei-q">‘returning tourist’</span> +from Europe?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford was impatient with +himself for asking. He said now, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +not important. If we want to locate +Frol and pick him up, we'll probably +not have too much trouble doing it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I wouldn't think so,”</span> the other +said humorously. <span class="tei tei-q">“Since 1919, when +they were first organized, the so-called +Communists in this country, +from the lowest to the highest echelons, +have been so riddled with police +agents that a federal judge in New +England once refused to prosecute a +case against them on the grounds that +the party was a United States government +agency.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry was in no frame of mind for +the other's heavy humor. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, +Hans,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“what I want to know +is what Frol is over here for.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course you do,”</span> Hans Distelmayer +said, unable evidently to keep +note of puzzlement from his voice. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Larry,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I assume your people +know of the new American underground.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">What</span></em> underground?”</span> Larry +snapped. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The professional spy chief said, his +voice strange, <span class="tei tei-q">“The Soviets seem to +have picked up an idea somewhere, +possibly through their membership in +this country, that something is abrewing +in the States. That a change is +being engineered.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stared at the blank phone +screen. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What kind of a change?”</span> he said +finally. <span class="tei tei-q">“You mean a change to the +Soviet system?”</span> Surely not even the +self-deluding Russkies could think it +possible to overthrow the American +socio-economic system in favor of the +Soviet brand. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No, no, no,”</span> the German chuckled. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course not. It's not of their +working at all.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then what's Frol Eivazov's interest, +if they aren't engineering it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Distelmayer rumbled his characteristic +chuckle with humor. <span class="tei tei-q">“My dear +friend, don't be naive. Anything that +happens in America is of interest to +the Soviets. There is delicate peace +between you now that they have +changed their direction and are occupying +themselves largely with the +economic and agricultural development +of Asia and such portions of +the world as have come under their +hegemony, and while you put all efforts +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page027">[pg 027]</span><a name="Pg027" id="Pg027" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +into modernizing the more backward +countries among your satellites.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said automatically, <span class="tei tei-q">“Our allies +aren't satellites.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The spy-master went on without +contesting the statement. <span class="tei tei-q">“There is +immediate peace but surely governmental +officials on both sides keep +careful watch on the internal developments +of the other. True, the current +heads of the Soviet Complex +would like to see the governments of +all the Western powers changed—but +only if they are changed in the direction +of communism. They are hardly +interested in seeing changes made +which would strengthen the West in +the, ah, Battle For Men's Minds.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry snorted his disgust. <span class="tei tei-q">“What +sort of change in government would +strengthen the United States in—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The German interrupted smoothly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Evidently, that's what Frol seems to +be here for, Larry. To find out more +about this movement and—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“This <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what</span></em>?”</span> Larry blurted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The term seems to be <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">movement</span></em>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford held a long silence +before saying, <span class="tei tei-q">“And Frol is actually +here in this country to buck this ... +this movement.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not necessarily,”</span> the other said +impatiently. <span class="tei tei-q">“He is here to find out +more about it. Evidently Peking and +Moscow have heard just enough to +make them nervous.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You have anything +more, Hans?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm afraid that's about it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right,”</span> Larry said. He added +absently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Thanks, Hans.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Thank me some day with deeds, +not with words,”</span> the German chuckled. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford looked at his watch +and grimaced. He was either going to +get going now or forget about doing +any fishing in Florida this afternoon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Grudgingly, he dialed the phone +company's Personal Service and said +to the impossibly cheerful blonde +who answered, <span class="tei tei-q">“Where can I find +Professor Peter Voss who teaches +over at the University in Baltimore? I +don't want to talk with him, just want +to know where he'll be an hour from +now.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +While waiting for his information, +he dressed, deciding inwardly that he +hated his job, the department in +which he was employed, the Boss and +Greater Washington. On top of that, +he hated himself. He'd already been +taken off this assignment, why couldn't +he leave it lay? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The blonde rang him back. Professor +Peter Voss was at home. He had +no classes today. She gave him the +address. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford raised his car from +his auto-bungalow in the Brandywine +suburb and headed northwest at a +high level for the old Baltimore section +of the city. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor's house, he noted, +was of an earlier day and located on +the opposite side of Paterson Park +from Elwood avenue, the street on +which Susan Self and her father had +resided. That didn't necessarily hold +significance, the park was a large one +and the Professor's section a well-to-do +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page028">[pg 028]</span><a name="Pg028" id="Pg028" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +neighborhood, while Self's was +just short of a slum these days. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He brought his car down to street +level, and parked before the scholar's +three-story, brick house. Baltimore-like, +it was identical to every +other house in the block; Larry wondered +vaguely how anybody ever +managed to find his own place when +it was very dark out. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was an old-fashioned bell at +the side of the entrance and Larry +Woolford pushed it. There was no +identification screen in the door, evidently +the inhabitants had to open up +to see who was calling, a tiring chore +if you were on the far side of the +house and the caller nothing more +than a salesman. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was obviously the Professor himself +who answered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He was in shirtsleeves, tieless and +with age-old slippers on his stockingless +feet. He evidently hadn't bothered +to shave this morning and he +held a dog-earred pamphlet in his +right hand, his forefinger tucked in it +to mark his place. He wore thick-lensed, +gold-rimmed glasses through +which he blinked at Larry Woolford +questioningly, without speaking. Professor +Peter Voss was a man in his +mid fifties, and, on the face of it, +couldn't care less right now about his +physical appearance. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A weird, Larry decided immediately. +He wondered at the University, +one of the nation's best, keeping on +such a figure. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Professor Voss?”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Lawrence +Woolford.”</span> He brought forth +his identification. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor blinked down at it. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I see,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Won't you come +in?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The house was old, all right. From +the outside, quite acceptable, but the +interior boasted few of the latest +amenities which made all the difference +in modern existence. Larry was +taken back by the fact that the phone +which he spotted in the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">entrada</span></span> hadn't +even a screen—an old model for +speaking only. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor noticed his glance +and said dryly, <span class="tei tei-q">“The advantages of +combining television and telephone +have never seemed valid to me. In my +own home, I feel free to relax, as you +can observe. Had I a screen on my +phone, it would be necessary for me +to maintain the same appearance as I +must on the streets or before my +classes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry cleared his throat without +saying anything. This was a weird +one, all right. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The living room was comfortable +in a blatantly primitive way. Three or +four paintings on the walls which +were probably originals, Larry decided, +and should have been in museums. +Not an abstract among them. +A Grant Wood, a Marin, and that +over there could only be a Grandma +Moses. The sort of things you might +keep in your private den, but hardly to +be seen as culture symbols. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The chairs were large, of leather, +and comfortable and probably belonged +to the period before the Second +War. Peter Voss, evidently, was +little short of an exhibitionist. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor took up a battered +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page029">[pg 029]</span><a name="Pg029" id="Pg029" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +humidor. <span class="tei tei-q">“Cigar?”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Manila. +Hard to get these days.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A cigar? Good grief, the man +would be offering him a chaw of tobacco +next. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Thanks, no,”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I smoke +a pipe.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I see,”</span> the Professor said, lighting +his stogie. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you really like a pipe? +Personally, I've always thought the +cigar by far the most satisfactory +method of taking tobacco.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What can you say to a question like +that? Larry ignored it, as though it +was rhetorical. Actually, he smoked +cigarettes in the privacy of his den. A +habit which was on the proletarian +side and not consistent with his status +level. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said, to get things under way, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Professor Voss, what is an intuitive +scientist?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor exhaled blue smoke, +shook out the old-time kitchen match +with which he'd lit it, and tossed the +matchstick into an ashtray. <span class="tei tei-q">“Intuitive +scientist?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You once called Ernest Self a +great intuitive scientist.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, Self. Yes, indeed. What is he +doing these days?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said wryly, <span class="tei tei-q">“That's what I +came to ask you about.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor was puzzled. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm +afraid you came to the wrong place, +Mr. Woolford. I haven't seen Ernest +for quite a time. Why?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Some of his researches seem to +have taken him rather far afield. Actually, +I know practically nothing +about him. I wonder if you could fill +me in a bit.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Peter Voss looked at the ash on the +end of his cigar. <span class="tei tei-q">“I really don't know +the man that well. He lives across the +park. Why don't—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He's disappeared,”</span> Larry said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor blinked. <span class="tei tei-q">“I see,”</span> he +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“And in view of the fact that you +are a security officer, I assume under +strange circumstances.”</span> Larry Woolford +said nothing and the Professor +sank back into his chair and pursed +his lips. <span class="tei tei-q">“I can't really tell you much. +I became interested in Self two or +three years ago when gathering materials +for a paper on the inadequate +manner in which our country rewards +its inventors.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I've heard about his suit +against the government.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor became more animated. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ha!”</span> he snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“One example +among many. Self is not alone. +Our culture is such that the genius is +smothered. The great contributors to +our society are ignored, or worse.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford was feeling his +way. Now he said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I was under +the impression that American +free enterprise gave the individual +the best opportunity to prove himself +and that if he had it on the ball +he'd get to the top.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Were you really?”</span> the Professor +said snappishly. <span class="tei tei-q">“And did you know +that Edison died a comparatively poor +man with an estate somewhere in the +vicinity of a hundred thousand dollars? +An amount that might sound +like a good deal to you or me, +but, when you consider his contributions, +shockingly little. Did you know +that Eli Whitney realized little, if +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page030">[pg 030]</span><a name="Pg030" id="Pg030" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +anything, from the cotton gin? Or +that McCormick didn't invent the +reaper but gained it in a dubious +court victory? Or take Robert Goddard, +one of the best examples of +modern times. He developed the basics +of rocket technology—gyroscopic +stabilizers, fuel pumps, self-cooling +motors, landing devices. He died in +1945 leaving behind twenty-two volumes +of records that proved priceless. +What did he get out of his researches? +Nothing. It was fifteen years later +that his widow won her suit against +the government for patent infringements!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 60%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p30.png" width="700" height="531" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry held up a hand. <span class="tei tei-q">“Really,”</span> he +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“My interest is in Ernest Self.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor relaxed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry. I'm +afraid I get carried away. Self, to get +back to your original question, is a +great intuitive scientist. Unfortunately +for him, society being what it is +today, he fits into few grooves. Our +educational system was little more +than an irritation to him and consequently +he holds no degrees. Needless +to say, this interfered with his +gaining employment with the universities +and the large corporations +which dominate our country's research, +not to mention governmental +agencies.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ernest Self holds none of the status +labels that count. The fact that he +is a genius means nothing. He is supposedly +qualified no more than to +hold a janitor's position in laboratories +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page031">[pg 031]</span><a name="Pg031" id="Pg031" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +where his inferiors conduct experiments +in fields where he is a +dozenfold more capable than they. +No one is interested in his genius, +they want to know what status labels +are pinned to him. Ernest has no respect +for labels.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford figured he was +picking up background and didn't +force a change of subject. <span class="tei tei-q">“Just what +do you mean by intuitive scientist?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's a term I have used loosely,”</span> +the Professor admitted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Possibly a +scientist who makes a break-through +in his field, destroying formerly held +positions—in Self's case, without the +math, without the accepted theories to +back him. He finds something that +works, possibly without knowing why +or how and by using unorthodox analytical +techniques. An intuitive scientist, +if I may use the term, is a +thorn in the side of our theoretical +physicists laden down with their burden +of a status label but who are +themselves short of the makings of a +Leonardo, a Newton, a Galileo, or +even a Nicholas Christofilos.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm afraid that last name escapes +me,”</span> Larry said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Similar to Self's case and Robert +Goddard's,”</span> Voss said, his voice bitter. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Although his story has a better ending. +Christofilos invented the strong-focusing +principle that made possible +the multi-billion-volt particle accelerators +currently so widely used in +nuclear physics experimentation. +However, he was nothing but a Greek +elevator electrical system engineer +and the supposed experts turned him +down on the grounds that his math +was faulty. It seems that he submitted +the idea in straight-algebra terms instead +of differential equations. He finally +won through after patenting the +discovery and rubbing their noses in +it. Previously, none of the physics +journals would publish his paper—he +didn't have the right status labels to +impress them.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, almost with amusement, +<span class="tei tei-q">“You seem to have quite a phobia +against the status label, as you call it. +However, I don't see how as complicated +a world as ours could get +along without it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor snorted his contempt. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tell me,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“to which +class do you consider yourself to +belong?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose +individuals in my bracket are +usually thought of as being middle-middle +class.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And you have no feeling of revolt +in having such a label hung on you? +Consider this system for a moment. +You have lower-lower, middle-lower, +and upper-lower; then you have lower-middle, +middle-middle, upper-middle; +then you have lower-upper, +middle-upper, and finally we achieve +to upper-upper class. Now tell me, +when we get to that rarified category, +who do we find? Do we find an Einstein, +a Schweitzer, a Picasso; outstanding +scientists, humanitarians, the +great writers, artists and musicians of +our day? Certainly not. We find ultra-wealthy +playboys and girls, a former +king and his duchess who eke out +their income by accepting fees to attend +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page032">[pg 032]</span><a name="Pg032" id="Pg032" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +parties, the international born +set, bearers of meaningless feudalistic +titles. These are your upper-upper +class!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry laughed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“You think +it funny? Let me give you another +example of our status label culture. I +have a friend whom I have known +since childhood. I would estimate +that Charles has an I.Q. of approximately +90, certainly no more. His +family, however, took such necessary +steps as were needed to get Charles +through public school. No great matter +these days, you'll admit, although +on occasion he needed a bit of tutoring. +On graduation, they recognized +that the really better schools might be +a bit difficult for Charles so he was +entered in a university with a good +name but without—shall we say?—the +highest of scholastic ratings. +Charles plodded along, had some +more tutoring, probably had his thesis +ghosted, and eventually graduated. At +that point an uncle died and left +Charles an indefinite amount to be +used in furthering his education to +any extent he wished to go. Charles, +motivated probably by the desire to +avoid obtaining a job and competing +with his fellow man, managed to +wrangle himself into a medical school +and eventually even graduated. Since +funds were still available, he continued +his studies abroad, largely in +Vienna.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor wound it up. <span class="tei tei-q">“Eventually, +he ran out of schools, or his +uncle's estate ran out—I don't know +which came first. At any rate, my +friend Charles, laden down with status +labels, is today practicing as a psychiatrist +in this fair city of ours.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stared at him blankly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor said snappishly, <span class="tei tei-q">“So +any time you feel you need to have +your brains unscrambled, you can go +to his office and expend twenty-five +dollars an hour or so. His reputation +is of the highest.”</span> The Professor +grunted his contempt. <span class="tei tei-q">“He doesn't +know the difference between an aspirin +tablet and a Rorschach test.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford stirred in his chair. +<span class="tei tei-q">“We seem to have gotten far off the +subject. What has this got to do with +Self?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor seemed angry. <span class="tei tei-q">“I repeat, +I'm afraid I get carried away on +this subject. I'm in revolt against a +culture based on the status label. It +eliminates the need to judge a man +on his merits. To judge a person by +the clothes he wears, the amount of +money he possesses, the car he drives, +the neighborhood in which he lives, +the society he keeps, or even his ancestry, +is out of the question in a vital, +growing society. You wind up with +nonentities as the leaders of your nation. +In these days, we can't afford it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He smiled suddenly, rather elfishly, +at the security agent. <span class="tei tei-q">“But admittedly, +this deals with Self only as one of +many victims of a culture based on +status labels. Just what is it you +wanted to know about Ernest?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“When you knew him, evidently +he was working on rocket fuels. Have +you any idea whether he later developed +a method of producing perfect +counterfeit?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page033">[pg 033]</span><a name="Pg033" id="Pg033" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Ernest Self? +Surely you are jesting.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said unhappily, <span class="tei tei-q">“Then here's +another question. Have you ever heard +him mention belonging to a movement, +or, I think, he might word it +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Movement</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Movement?”</span> the Professor said +emptily. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Evidently a revolutionary group +interested in the overthrow of the +government.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good heavens,”</span> the Professor said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Just a moment, Mr. Woolford. You +interrupted me just as I was having +my second cup of coffee. Do you +mind if I—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Certainly not,”</span> Woolford shook +his head. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I simply can't get along until after +my third cup,”</span> the Professor said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You just wait a moment and I'll +bring the pot in here.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He left Larry to sit in the combined +study and living room while he +shuffled off in his slippers to the +kitchen. Larry Woolford decided that +in his school days he'd had some far +out professors himself, but it would +really be something to study under +this one. Not that the old boy didn't +have some points, of course. Almost +all nonconformists base their particular +peeves on some actuality, but in +this case, what was the percentage? +How could you buck the system? +Particularly when, largely, it worked. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor returned with an +old-fashioned coffeepot, two cups, +and sugar and cream on a tray. He put +them on a side table and said to Larry, +<span class="tei tei-q">“You'll join me? How do you take +it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry still had the slightest of +hang-overs from his solitary drinking +of the night before. <span class="tei tei-q">“Thanks. Make +it black,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor poured, served, then +did up a cup for himself. He sat back +in his chair and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Now, where +were we? Something about a revolutionary +group. What has that to do +with counterfeiting?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry sipped the strong coffee. <span class="tei tei-q">“It +seems there might be a connection.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor shook his head. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +hard to imagine Ernest Self being +connected with a criminal pursuit.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said carefully, <span class="tei tei-q">“Susan seemed +to be of the opinion that you knew +about a large amount of counterfeit +currency that this Movement had on +hand and that you were in favor of +spending it upon chorus girls.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor gaped at him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry chuckled uncomfortably. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Professor Voss said finally, his +voice very even, <span class="tei tei-q">“My dear sir, I am +afraid that I evidently can be of little +assistance to you.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Admittedly, it doesn't seem to +make much sense.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Susan—you mean that little sixteen +year old?—said <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">I</span></em> was in favor of +spending counterfeit money on chorus +girls?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said unhappily, <span class="tei tei-q">“She used the +term <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">the Professor</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And why did you assume that the +title must necessarily allude to me? +Even if any of the rest of the fantastic +story was true.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“In my profession, Professor +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page034">[pg 034]</span><a name="Pg034" id="Pg034" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Voss, we track down every +possible clue. Thus far, you are the +only professor of whom we know +who was connected with Ernest Self.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Voss said stiffly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I can only say, sir, +that in my estimation Mr. Self is a +man of the highest integrity. And, in +addition, that I have never spent a +penny on a chorus girl in my life and +have no intention of beginning, counterfeit +or otherwise.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford decided that he +wasn't doing too well and that he'd +need more ammunition if he was going +to return to this particular attack. +He was surprised that the old boy +hadn't already ordered him from the +house. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He finished the coffee preparatory +to coming to his feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“Then you +think it's out of the question, Ernest +Self belonging to a revolutionary organization?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor protested. <span class="tei tei-q">“I didn't +say that at all. Mr. Self is a man of +ideals. I can well see him belonging +to such an organization.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford decided he'd better +hang on for at least a few more +words. <span class="tei tei-q">“You don't seem to think, +yourself, that a subversive organization +is undesirable in this country.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor's voice was reasonable. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Isn't that according to what it +means to subvert?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You know what I mean,”</span> Woolford +said in irritation. <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't usually +think of revolutionists, even when +they call themselves simply members +of a <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">movement</span></em>, as exactly idealists.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then you're wrong,”</span> the Professor +said definitely, pouring himself another +cup of coffee. <span class="tei tei-q">“History bears out +that almost invariably revolutionists +are men of idealism. The fact that +they might be either right or wrong in +their revolutionary program is beside +the point.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford began to say, <span class="tei tei-q">“Are +you sure that you aren't interested in +this <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">move—</span></em>”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But it was then that the knockout +drops hit him. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He came out of the fog feeling +nausea and with his head splitting. +He groaned and opened one eye experimentally. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett, far away, said, <span class="tei tei-q">“He's +snapping out of it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry groaned again, opened the +other eye and attempted to focus. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What happened?”</span> he muttered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Now that's an original question,”</span> +Steve said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford struggled up into a +sitting position. He'd been stretched +out on a couch in the Professor's combined +living room and study. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett, his hands on his +hips, was looking down at him sarcastically. +There were two or three others, +one of whom Larry vaguely remembered +as being a Secret Service +colleague of Steve's, going about and +in and out of the room. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, his fingers pressing into +his forehead, <span class="tei tei-q">“My head's killing me. +Damn it, what's going on?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve said sarcastically, <span class="tei tei-q">“You've +been slipped a mickey, my cloak and +dagger friend, and the bird has flown.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You mean the Professor? He's a +bird all right.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page035">[pg 035]</span><a name="Pg035" id="Pg035" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Humor we get, yet,”</span> Hackett said, +his ugly face scowling. <span class="tei tei-q">“Listen, I +thought you people had pulled out of +this case.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry sat up and swung his two feet +around to the floor. <span class="tei tei-q">“So did I,”</span> he +moaned, <span class="tei tei-q">“but there were two or three +things that bothered me and I thought +I'd tidy them up before leaving.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You tidied them up all right,”</span> +Steve grumbled. <span class="tei tei-q">“This Professor Voss +was practically the only lead I've been +able to discover. An old friend of +Self's. And you allowed him to get +away before we even got here.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of Hackett's men came up and +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Not a sign of him, Steve. He +evidently burned a few papers, +packed a suitcase, and took off. His +things look suspiciously as though he +was ready to go into hiding at a moment's +notice.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve growled to him, <span class="tei tei-q">“Give the +place the works. He's probably left +some clues around that'll give us a +line.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other went off and Steve Hackett +sat down in one of the leather +chairs and glowered at Larry Woolford. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Listen,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“what did you +people want with Susan Self?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry shook his head for clarity and +looked at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Susan? What are you +talking about? You don't have any +aspirin, do you?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No. What'd you mean, what am I +talking about? You called Betsy +Hughes and then sent a couple of +men over to pick the Self kid up.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Who's Betsy Hughes?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve shook his head. <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't +know what kind of knockout drops +the old boy gave you, but they sure +worked. Betsy's the operative we had +minding Susan Self over in the +Greater Washington Hilton. About +an hour ago you got her on the phone, +said your department wanted to question +Susan, and that you were sending +two men over to pick her up. The two +men turned up with an order from +you, and took the girl.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stared at him. Finally he said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“What time is it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“About two o'clock.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I came into this house +in the morning, talked to the Professor +for about half an hour and then +was silly enough to let him give me +some loaded coffee. He was such a +weird old buzzard that it never occurred +to me he might be dangerous. +At any rate, I've been unconscious for +several hours. I <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">couldn't've</span></em> called this +Betsy Hughes operative of yours.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was Steve Hackett's turn to +stare. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You mean your department doesn't +have Susan Self?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not so far as I know. The Boss told +me yesterday that we were pulling +out, that it was all in your hands. +What would we want with Susan?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, great,”</span> Steve snarled. <span class="tei tei-q">“There +goes our last contact. Ernest Self, +Professor Voss, and now Susan Self; +they've all disappeared.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look,”</span> Larry said unhappily, <span class="tei tei-q">“let's +get me some aspirin and then let's go +and see my chief. I have a sneaking +suspicion our department is back on +this case.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve snorted sarcastically. <span class="tei tei-q">“If you +can foul things up this well when +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page036">[pg 036]</span><a name="Pg036" id="Pg036" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +you're off the case, God only knows +what you'll accomplish using your +facilities on an all-out basis.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Whoever +we are working against evidently +isn't short of resources. Abducting +that young lady was no simple matter.”</span> +The career diplomat worked his +lips in and out, in all but a pout. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford, who'd taken time +out to go home, shower, change +clothes and medicate himself out of +his dope induced hangover, sat across +the desk from him, flanked by Steve +Hackett. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“It would +seem that I was in error. That our +young Susan Self was not spouting +fantasy. There evidently actually is an +underground movement interested in +changing our institutions.”</span> He stirred +in his chair and his scowl went deeper. +<span class="tei tei-q">“And evidently working on a basis +never conceived of by subversive +organizations of the past. The fact +that they have successfully remained +secret even to this department is the +prime indication that they are attempting +to make their revolutionary +changes in a unique manner.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The trouble is, we +don't even know what it is they +want.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“However,”</span> his superior said slowly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“we are beginning to get inklings.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett said, <span class="tei tei-q">“What inklings, +sir? This sort of thing might be routine +for you people, but my field is +counterfeit. I, frankly, don't know +what it's all about.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss looked at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“We have +a clue or two, Mr. Hackett. For one +thing, we know that this Movement +of ours has no affiliations with the +Soviet Complex, nor, so far as we +know, any foreign element whatsoever. +If we take Miss Self's word, it is +strictly an American phenomenon. +From what little we know of Ernest +Self and Peter Voss they might be in +revolt against some of our current institutions +but there is no reason to +believe them, ah, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">un-American</span></em> in the +usually accepted sense of the word.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The two younger men looked at +him as though he was joking. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He shook his heavy head negatively. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Actually, what do we have on +this so-called Movement thus far? +Aside from treating Lawrence, here, +to some knockout drops—and let us +remember that Lawrence was present +in the Professor's home without a +warrant—all we have is the suspicion +that they have manufactured a quantity +of counterfeit.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">quantity</span></em> is right,”</span> Steve Hackett +blurted. <span class="tei tei-q">“If we're to accept what that +Self kid told us, they have a few billion +dollars worth of perfect bills on +hand.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A strange amount for counterfeiters +to produce,”</span> The Boss said uncomfortably. +<span class="tei tei-q">“That is what puzzles +me. Any revolutionary movement +needs funds. Remember Stalin as a +young man? He used to be in charge +of the Bolshevik gang which robbed +banks to raise funds for their underground +newspapers. But a billion dollars? +What in the world can they expect +to need that amount for?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page037">[pg 037]</span><a name="Pg037" id="Pg037" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, you keep talking as +though these characters were a bunch +of idealistic do-gooders bleeding for +the sake of the country. Actually, +from what we know, they're nothing +but a bunch of revolutionists.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss was shaking his head. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You're not thinking clearly, Lawrence. +Revolution, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">per se</span></span>, is not illegal +in the United States. Our Constitution +was probably the first document +of its kind which allowed for +its own amendment. The men who +wrote it provided for changing it +either slightly or <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">in toto</span></span>. Whenever +the majority of the American people +decide completely to abandon the +Constitution and govern themselves +by new laws, they have the right to do +it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then what's the whole purpose of +this department, sir?”</span> Larry argued. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why've we been formed to combat +foreign and domestic subversion?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His chief sighed. <span class="tei tei-q">“You shouldn't +have to ask that, Lawrence. The present +government cannot oppose the +will of the majority if it votes, by +constitutional methods, to make any +changes it wishes. But we can, and +do, unmask the activities of anyone +trying to overthrow the government +by force and violence. Any culture +protects itself against that.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What are we getting at, sir?”</span> +Steve Hackett said, impatiently. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm trying to +point out that so far as my department +is concerned, thus far we have +little against this Movement. Secret +Service may have, what with this +wholesale counterfeiting, even though +thus far they seem to have made no +attempt to pass the currency they +have allegedly manufactured. We +wouldn't even know of it, weren't it +for our young Susan pilfering an +amount.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, desperately, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, you +just pointed out a few minutes ago +that this Movement is a secret organization +trying to make changes in +some unique manner. In short, they +don't figure on using the ballot to put +over their revolution. That makes +them as illegal as the Commies, doesn't +it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said, <span class="tei tei-q">“That's the difficulty; +we don't know what they want. +From your conversations with Susan +Self and especially Professor Voss, +evidently they think the country +needs some basic changes. What these +changes are, and how they expect to +accomplish them, we don't know. Unless +a foreign government is involved, +or unless they plan to alter our institutions +by violence, this department +just doesn't have much jurisdiction.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve Hackett snorted, <span class="tei tei-q">“Secret Service +does! If those bales of money the +Self kid told us about are ever put +into circulation, there'll be hell to +pay.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss sighed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well,”</span> he said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Lawrence can continue on the assignment. +If it develops in such manner +as to indicate that this department +is justified in further investigation, +we'll put more men on it. Meanwhile, +it is obviously more a Secret +Service matter. I am sorry to intrude +upon your vacation again, Lawrence.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page038">[pg 038]</span><a name="Pg038" id="Pg038" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On awakening in the morning, Larry +Woolford stared glumly at the +ceiling for long moments before +dragging himself from bed. This was, +he decided, the strangest assignment +he'd ever been on. In his day he'd +trekked through South America, +Common Europe, a dozen African +states, and even areas of Southern +Asia, combatting Commie pressures +here, fellow-traveler organizations +there, disrupting plots hatched in the +Soviet Complex in the other place. +On his home grounds in the United +States he'd covered everything from +out and out Soviet espionage, to exposing +Communist activities of complexions +from the faintest of pinks to +the rosiest Trotskyite red. But, he decided +he'd never expected to wind up +after a bunch of weirds whose sole +actionable activity to date seemed to +be the counterfeiting of a fantastic +amount of legal tender which thus far +they were making no attempt to pass. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He got out of bed and went +through the rituals of showering, +shaving and clothing, of coffee, sausage, +and eggs, toast and more +coffee. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What amazed Larry Woolford was +the shrug-it-off manner in which the +Boss seemed to accept this underground +Movement and its admitted +subversive goals—whatever they +were. Carry the Boss' reasoning to its +ultimate and subversion was perfectly +all right, just as it didn't involve +force and violence. If he was in his +chief's position, he would have +thrown the full resources of the department +into tracking down these +crackpots. As it was, he, Larry Woolford +was the only operative on the +job. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He needed a new angle on which +to work. Steve Hackett was undoubtedly +handling the tracing down of +the counterfeit with all the resources +of the Secret Service. Possibly there +was some way of detecting the source +of the paper they'd used. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He finished his final cup of coffee +in the living room and took up the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page039">[pg 039]</span><a name="Pg039" id="Pg039" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +pipe he was currently breaking in. +He loaded it automatically from a +humidor and lit it with his pocket +lighter. Three drags, and he tossed it +back to the table, fumbled in a drawer +and located a pack of cigarettes. +Possibly his status group was currently +smoking British briars in public, +but, let's face it, he hated the confounded +things. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He sat down before the phone and +dialed the offices of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Sun-Post</span></span> and +eventually got Sam Sokolski who this +time beat him to the punch. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You shouldn't drink +alone. Listen, Larry, why don't you +get in touch with Alcoholics Anonymous. +It's a great outfit.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You ought to know,”</span> Larry growled. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look, Sam, as science columnist for +that rag you work for you probably +come in touch with a lot of eggheads.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Laddy-buck, you have said it,”</span> +Sam said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Fine. Now look, what I want to +know is have you ever heard—even +the slightest of rumors—about an organization +called the Movement?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What'd'ya mean, slightest of rumors? +Half the weirds I run into are +interested in the outfit. Get two or +three intellectuals, scientists, technicians, +or what have you, together and +they start knocking themselves out on +the pros and cons of the Movement.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford stared at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are +you kidding, Sam?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other was mystified. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why +should I kid you? As a matter of fact, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page040">[pg 040]</span><a name="Pg040" id="Pg040" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +I was thinking of doing a column one +of these days on Voss and this Movement +of his.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Voss</span></em> and this movement of his!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sure,”</span> Sam said, <span class="tei tei-q">“he's the top +leader.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, great,”</span> Larry growled. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, +Sam, eventually there is probably a +story in this for you. Right now, +though, we're trying to keep the lid on +it. Could you brief me a little on this +Movement? What are they trying to +put over?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I seem to spend half my time +briefing you in information any semi-moron +ought to be up on,”</span> Sam said +nastily. <span class="tei tei-q">“However, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">briefly</span></em>, they're in +revolt against social-label judgments. +They think it's fouling up the country +and that eventually it'll result in +the Russkies passing us in all the +fields that really count.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I keep running into this term,”</span> +Larry complained. <span class="tei tei-q">“What do you +mean, social-label judgments, and +how can they possibly louse up the +country?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I was present a month or +so ago when Voss gave an informal +lecture to a group of twenty or so. +Here's one of the examples he used.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Everybody today wants to be rated +on a (1) personal, or, (2) social-label +basis, depending on which basis +is to his greatest advantage. The Negro +who is a no-good, lazy, obnoxious +person demands to be accepted because +Negroes should not be discriminated +against. The highly competent, +hard working, honest and productive +Negro wants to be accepted because +he is hard-working, honest and productive—and +should be so accepted.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“See what I mean? This social-label +system is intended to relieve the +individual of the necessity of judging, +and the consequences of being +judged. If you have poor judgment, +and are forced to rely on your own +judgment, you're almost sure to go +under. So persons of poor judgment +support our social-label system. If +you're a louse, and are correctly +judged as being a louse, you'd prefer +that the social dictum <span class="tei tei-q">‘Human beings +are never lice’</span> should apply.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“What in the devil's +this got to do with the race between +this country and the Russkies?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said patiently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Voss and the +Movement he leads contend that a +social-label system winds up with incompetents +running the country in all +fields. Often incompetent scientists +are in charge of our research; incompetent +doctors, in charge of our +health; incompetent politicians run +our government; incompetent teachers, +laden with social-labels, teach our +youth. Our young people are going to +college to secure a degree, not an +education. It's the label that counts, +not the reality.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Voss contends that it's getting +progressively worse. That we're sinking +into an equivalent of a ritual-taboo, +tribal social-like situation. This +is the system the low-level human being +wants, yearns for and seeks. A +situation in which no one's judgment +is of any use. Then <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">his</span></em> lack of judgment +is no handicap.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“According to members of the +Movement, today the tribesman type +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page041">[pg 041]</span><a name="Pg041" id="Pg041" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +is seeking to reduce civilization back +to ritual-taboo tribalism wherein no +one man's judgment is of any value. +The union wants advancement based +on seniority, not on ability and judgment. +The persons with whom you +associate socially judge you by the +amount of money you possess, the +family from which you come, the degrees +you hold, by social-labels—not +by your proven abilities. Down with +judgment! is the cry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It sounds awfully weird to me,”</span> +Larry grumbled in deprecation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“There's a lot of +sense in it. What the Movement +wants is to develop a socio-economic +system in which judgment produces +a maximum advantage.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“What gets me is that +you talk as though half the country +was all caught up in debating this +Movement. But I haven't even heard +of it, neither has my department +chief, nor any of my colleagues, so far +as I know. Why isn't anything about +it in the papers or on the TriD?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“As a matter of +fact, I took in Mort Lenny's show the +other night and he made some cracks +about it. But it's not the sort of thing +that's even meant to become popular +with the man in the street. To put it +bluntly, Voss and his people aren't +particularly keen about the present +conception of the democratic ideal. +According to him, true democracy +can only be exercised by peers and +society today isn't composed of peers. +If you have one hundred people, +twenty of them competent, intelligent +persons, eighty of them untrained, +incompetent and less than intelligent, +then it's ridiculous to have +the eighty dictate to the twenty.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry looked accusingly at his long-time +friend. <span class="tei tei-q">“You know, Sam, you +sound as though you approve of all +this.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said patiently, <span class="tei tei-q">“I listen to it +all, Larry my boy. I think Voss makes +a lot of sense. There's only one drawback.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And that is?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How's he going to put it over? +This social-label system the Movement +complains about was bad +enough ten years ago. But look how +much worse it is today. It's a progressive +thing. And, remember, it's to the +benefit of the incompetent. Since the +incompetent predominates, you're going +to have a hard time starting up a +system based on judgment and ability.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry thought about it for a moment. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, I'm working, Larry. +Was there anything else?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You wouldn't know +where I could get hold of Voss, +would you?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“At his home, I imagine, or at the +University.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He's disappeared. We're looking +for him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam laughed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Gone underground, +eh? The old boy is getting romantic.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Does he have any particular +friends who might be putting him +up?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sam thought about it. <span class="tei tei-q">“There's +Frank Nostrand. You know, that rocket +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page042">[pg 042]</span><a name="Pg042" id="Pg042" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +expert who was fired when he got +in the big hassle with Senator McCord.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When Sam Sokolski had flicked off, +Larry stared at the vacant phone +screen for a long moment, assimilating +what the other had told him. He +was astonished that an organization +such as the Movement could have +spread to the extent it evidently had +through the country's intellectual circles, +through the scientifically and +technically trained, without his department +being keenly aware of it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 60%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p42.png" width="700" height="430" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One result, he decided glumly, of +labeling everything contrary to the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">status quo</span></span> as <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">weird</span></em> and dismissing it +with contempt. Admittedly, that +would have been his own reaction +only a week ago. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Suppose that he'd been at a cocktail +party, and had drifted up to a group +who were arguing about social-label +judgments and the need to develop a +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">movement</span></em> to change society's use of +them. The discussion would have +gone in one ear, out the other, and he +would have muttered inwardly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Weirds,”</span> and have drifted on to get +himself another vodka martini. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry snorted and dialed the Department +of Records. He'd never +heard of Frank Nostrand before, so he +got Information. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The bright young thing who answered +seemed to have a harried expression +untypical of Records employees. +Larry said to her, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'd like the +brief on a Mr. Frank Nostrand who is +evidently an expert on rockets. The +only other thing I know about him is +that he recently got in the news as the +result of a controversy with Senator +McCord.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Just a moment, sir,”</span> the bright +young thing said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She touched buttons and reached +into a delivery chute. When her eyes +came up to meet his again, they were +more than ever harried. They were +absolutely confused. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Mr. Franklin Howard Nostrand,”</span> +she said, <span class="tei tei-q">“currently employed by +Madison Air as a rocket research technician.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That must be him,”</span> Larry said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm in a hurry, Miss. What's his +background?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her eyes rounded. <span class="tei tei-q">“It says ... it +says he's an Archbishop of the Anglican +Church.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford looked at her. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked back, pleadingly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry scowled and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“His university +degrees, please.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her eyes darted to the report and +she swallowed. <span class="tei tei-q">“A bachelor in Home +Economics, sir.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look here, Miss, how could a +Home Economics degree result in his +becoming either an Archbishop or a +rocket technician?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm sorry, sir. That's what it says.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry was fuming but there was no +point in taking it out on this junior +employee of the Department of Records. +He snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“Just give me his +address, please.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said agonizingly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, it says, +Lhasa, Tibet.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A red light flicked at the side of +his phone and he said to her, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll call +you back. I'm getting a priority call.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page043">[pg 043]</span><a name="Pg043" id="Pg043" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He flicked her off, and flicked the +incoming call in. It was LaVerne Polk. +She seemed to be on the harried side, +too. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Larry,”</span> she said, <span class="tei tei-q">“you better get +over here right away.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's up, LaVerne?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“This Movement,”</span> she said, <span class="tei tei-q">“it +seems to have started moving! The +Boss says to get over here soonest.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The top of his car was retracted. +Larry Woolford slammed down the +walk of his auto-bungalow and vaulted +over the side and into the seat. He +banged the start button, dropped the +lift lever, depressed the thrust pedal +and took off at maximum acceleration. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He took the police level for maximum +speed and was in downtown +Greater Washington in flat minutes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +So the Movement had started moving. +That could mean almost anything. +It was just enough to keep him +stewing until he got to the Boss and +found out what was going on. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He turned his car over to a parker +and made his way to the entrance +utilized by the second-grade department +officials. In another year, or at +most two, he told himself all over +again, he'd be using that other door. +He had an intuitive feeling that if he +licked this current assignment it'd be +the opening wedge he needed and +he'd wind up in a status bracket +unique for his age. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne looked up when he hurried +into her anteroom. She evidently +had two or three calls going on at +once, taking orders from one phone, +giving them in another. Something +was obviously erupting. She didn't +speak to him, merely nodded her head +at the inner office. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the Boss' office were six or eight +others besides Larry's superior. Their +expressions and attitudes ran from +bewilderment to shock. They weren't +the men you'd expect to have such reactions. +At least not those that Larry +Woolford recognized. Three of them, +Ben Ruthenberg, Bill Fraina and +Dave Moskowitz were F.B.I. men +with whom Larry had worked on occasion. +One of the others he recognized +as being a supervisor with the +C.I.A. Walt Foster, Larry's rival in the +Boss' affections, was also present. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss growled at him, <span class="tei tei-q">“Where +in the heavens have you been, Lawrence?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Following our leads on this so-called +Movement, sir,”</span> Larry told him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's going on?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ruthenberg, the Department of +Justice man, grunted sour amusement. +<span class="tei tei-q">“So-called Movement, isn't exactly +the correct phrase. It's a Movement, +all right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Please dial Records +and get your dossier, Lawrence. That'll +be the quickest way to bring you +up on developments.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mystified, but already with a growing +premonition, Larry dialed Records. +Knowing his own classification +code, he had no need of Information +this time. He got the hundred-word +brief and stared at it as it filled the +screen. The only items really correct +were his name and present occupation. +Otherwise his education was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page044">[pg 044]</span><a name="Pg044" id="Pg044" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +listed as grammar school only. His +military career had him ending the +war as a General of the Armies, and +his criminal career record included +four years on Alcatraz for molesting +small children. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Blankly, he faded the brief and +dialed his full dossier. It failed to +duplicate the brief, but that was no +advantage. This time he had an M.D. +degree from Johns Hopkins, but his +military career listed him as a dishonorable +discharge from the navy where +he'd served in the steward department. +His criminal record was happily +nil, but his religion was listed as +Holy Roller. Political affiliations had +him down as a member of the Dixiecrats. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The others were looking at him, +most of them blankly, although there +were grins on the faces of Moskowitz +and the C.I.A. man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Moskowitz said, <span class="tei tei-q">“With a name +like mine, yet, they have me a Bishop +of the Orthodox Greek Catholic +Church.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“What's it all about?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ruthenberg said unhappily, <span class="tei tei-q">“It +started early this morning. We don't +know exactly when as yet.”</span> Which +didn't seem to answer the question. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't get it. Obviously, +the Records department is fouled +up in some manner. How, and why?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How, we know,”</span> the Boss rumbled +disgustedly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why is another matter. +You've spent more time than anyone +else on this assignment, Lawrence. +Perhaps you can tell us.”</span> He grabbed +up a pipe from his desk, tried to light +it noisily, noticed finally that it held +no tobacco and threw it to the desk +again. <span class="tei tei-q">“Evidently, a large group of +these Movement individuals either already +worked in Records or wriggled +themselves into key positions in the +technical end of the department. +Now they've sabotaged the files.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We've caught most of them already,”</span> +one of the F.B.I. men growled, +<span class="tei tei-q">“but damn little good that does us at +this point.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The C.I.A. supervisor made a gesture +indicating that he gave it all up. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not only here but in Chicago and +San Francisco as well. All at once. +Evidently perfectly rehearsed. Personnel +records from coast to coast are +bollixed. Why?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I think I know +that now. Yesterday, I wouldn't have +but I've been picking up odds and +ends.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They all looked at him. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry sat down and ran a hand back +through his hair. <span class="tei tei-q">“The general idea is +to change the country's reliance on +social-label judgments.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“On <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what</span></em>,”</span> the Boss barked. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“On one person judging another +according to social-labels. Voss and +the others—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Who did you say?”</span> Ruthenberg +snapped. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Voss. Professor Peter Voss from +the University over in Baltimore section. +He's the ring leader.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ruthenberg snapped to Fraina, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Get on the phone and send out a +pick-up order for him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fraina was on his feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“What +charge, Ben?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page045">[pg 045]</span><a name="Pg045" id="Pg045" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ben Ruthenberg snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Rape, +or something. Get moving, we'll figure +out a charge later. The guy's a +fruitcake.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said wearily, <span class="tei tei-q">“He's evidently +gone into hiding. I've been trying to +locate him. He managed to slip me +some knockout drops and got away +yesterday.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss looked at him in disgust. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ruthenberg said evenly, <span class="tei tei-q">“We've +had men go into hiding before. Get +going, Fraina.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fraina left the office and the others +looked back to Larry. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said, <span class="tei tei-q">“About this social-label +nonsense—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“They think the country +is going to pot because of it. People +hold high office or places of responsibility +not because of superior intelligence, +or even acquired skill, but because +of the social-labels they've accumulated, +and these can be based on +something as flimsy—from the Movement's +viewpoint—as who your +grandparents were, what school you +attended, how much seniority you +have on the job, what part of town +you live in, or what tailor cuts your +clothes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Their expressions ran from scowls +and frowns to complete puzzlement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Walt Foster grumbled, <span class="tei tei-q">“What's all +this got to do with sabotaging the +country's Records tapes?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't have the +complete picture, but one thing is +sure. It's going to be harder for a +while to base your opinions on a +quick hundred-word brief on a man. +Yesterday, an employer, considering +hiring somebody, could dial the man's +dossier, check it, and form his opinions +by the status labels the would-be +employee could produce. Today, he's +damn well going to have to exercise +his own judgment.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne's face lit up the screen on +the Boss' desk and she said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Those +two members of the Movement who +were picked up in Alexandria are +here, sir.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Send them in,”</span> the Boss rumbled. +He looked at Larry. <span class="tei tei-q">“The F.B.I. managed +to arrest almost everyone directly +involved in the sabotage.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The two prisoners seemed more +amused than otherwise. They were +young men, in their early thirties—well +dressed and obviously intelligent. +The Boss had them seated side +by side and glared at them for a long +moment before speaking. Larry and +the others took chairs in various parts +of the room and added their own +stares to the barrage. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Your situation is +an unhappy one, gentlemen.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the two shrugged. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You can, ah, hedge +your bets, by co-operating with us. It +might make the difference between a +year or two in prison—and life.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of them grinned and then +yawned. <span class="tei tei-q">“I doubt it,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss tried a slightly different +tack. <span class="tei tei-q">“You have no reason to maintain +a feeling of obligation to Voss +and the others. You have obviously +been abandoned. Had they any feeling +for you there would have been +more efficacious arrangements for +your escape.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page046">[pg 046]</span><a name="Pg046" id="Pg046" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The more articulate of the two +shrugged again. <span class="tei tei-q">“We were expendable,”</span> +he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“However, it won't be +long before we're free again.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You think so?”</span> Ruthenberg +grunted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The revolutionist looked at him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, I do,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Six months from +now and we'll be heroes since by that +time the Movement will have been a +success.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Just because +you deranged the Records? Why +that's but temporary.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not so temporary as you think,”</span> +the technician replied. <span class="tei tei-q">“This country +has allowed itself to get deeply +enmeshed in punch-card and tape records. +Oh, it made sense enough. +With the population we have, and the +endless files that result from our +ultra-complicated society, it was simply +a matter finally of developing a +standardized system of records for the +nation as a whole. Now, for all practical +purposes, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">all</span></em> of our records these +days are kept with the Department of +Records, confidential as well as public +records. Why should a university, +for instance, keep literally tons of +files, with all the expense and space +and time involved, when it can merely +file the same records with the governmental +department and have them +safe and easily available at any time? +Now, the Movement has completely +and irrevocably destroyed almost all +files that deal with the social-labels to +which we object. An excellent first +step, in forcing our country back into +judgment based on ability and intelligence.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“First step!”</span> Larry blurted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The two prisoners looked at him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right,”</span> the quieter of the two +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“This is just the first step.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't kid yourselves,”</span> Ben Ruthenberg +snapped at them. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's also the +last!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The two members of the Movement +grinned at him. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When the others had gone, the +Boss looked at Larry Woolford. He +said sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“When this department +was being formed, I doubt anyone +had in mind this particular type of +subversion, Lawrence.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry grunted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Give me a good +old-fashioned Commie, any time. +Look, sir, what are the Department of +Justice boys going to do with those +prisoners?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hold them on any of various +charges. We've conflicted with the +F.B.I. in the past on overlapping +jurisdiction, but thank heavens for +them now. Their manpower is needed.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry leaned forward. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, we +ought to take all members of the +Movement we've already arrested, feed +them a dose of Scop-Serum, and +pressure them to open up on the organization's +operations.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His superior looked at him, waiting +for him to continue. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said urgently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Those two we +just had in here thought the whole +thing was a big joke. The first step, +they called it. Sir, there's something +considerably bigger than this cooking. +Uncle Sam might pride himself +on the personal liberties guaranteed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page047">[pg 047]</span><a name="Pg047" id="Pg047" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +by this country, but unless we break +this organization, and do it fast, +there's going to be trouble that will +make this fouling of the records look +like the minor matter those two jokers +seemed to think it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss thought about that. He +said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Lawrence, the Supreme +Court ruled against the use of Scop-Serum. +Not that it is over efficient, +anyway. Largely, these so-called truth +serums don't accomplish much more +than to lower resistance, slacken natural +inhibitions, weaken the will.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sure,”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“But give a man +a good dose of Scop-Serum and he'd +betray his own mother. Not because +he's helpless to tell a lie, but because +under the influence of the drug he +figures it just isn't important enough +to bother about. Sir, Supreme Court +or not, I think those two ought to be +given Scop-Serum along with all other +Movement members we've picked +up.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss was shaking his head. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Lawrence, these men are not wide-eyed +radicals picked up in a street +demonstration. They're highly respected +members of our society. +They're educators, scientists, engineers, +technicians. Anything done to +them is going to make headlines. +Those that were actually involved in +the sabotage will have criminal +charges brought against them, but +they're going to get a considerable +amount of publicity, and we're going +to be in no position to alienate any of +their constitutional rights.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stood up, approached his +chief's desk and leaned over it urgently. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, that's fine, but we've got +to move and move fast. Something's +up and we don't even know what! +Take that counterfeit money. From +Susan Self's description, there's actually +billions of dollars worth of it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, come now, Lawrence. The +child exaggerated. Besides, that's a +problem for Steven Hackett and the +Secret Service, we have enough on +our hands as it is. Forget about the +counterfeit, Lawrence. I think I shall +put you in complete control of field +work on this, to co-operate in liaison +with Ben Ruthenberg and the F.B.I. +So far as we're concerned, the counterfeit +angle belongs to Secret Service, +we're working on subversion, +and until the Civil Liberties Union or +whoever else proves otherwise, we'll +consider this Movement an organization +attempting to subvert the country +by illegal means.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford made a hard decision +quickly. He was shaking his +head. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, I'd rather you gave the administrative +end to someone else and +let me continue in the field. I've got +some leads—I think. If I get bogged +down in interdepartmental red tape, +and in paper work here at headquarters, +I'll never get to the heart of this +and I'm laying bets that we either +crack this within days or there are going +to be some awfully big changes +in this country.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss glared at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“You +mean you're refusing this assignment, +Woolford. Confound it, don't you +realize it's a promotion?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry was worriedly dogged. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, +I'd rather stay in the field.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page048">[pg 048]</span><a name="Pg048" id="Pg048" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Very well,”</span> the other snapped disgustedly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I hope you deliver some +results, Woolford, otherwise I am +afraid I won't feel particularly happy +about your somewhat cavalier rejection +of this opportunity.”</span> He flicked +on the phone and snapped to LaVerne +Polk, <span class="tei tei-q">“Miss Polk, locate Walter +Foster for me. He is to take over our +end of this Movement matter.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, sir,”</span> and her +face was gone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss looked up, still scowling. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What are you waiting for, Woolford?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, sir,”</span> Larry said. It was just +coming home to him now, what he'd +done. There possibly went his yearned +for promotion in the department. +There went his chance of an upgrading +in status. And Walt Foster, of all +people, in his place. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At LaVerne's desk, Larry stopped +off long enough to say, <span class="tei tei-q">“Did you ever +assign that secretary to me?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne shook her head at him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“She's come and gone, Larry. She sat +around for a couple of days, after seeing +you not even once, and then I +gave her another assignment.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, bring her back again, will +you? I want her to do up briefs for +me on all the information we accumulate +on the Movement. It'll be coming +in from all sides now. From the +Press, from those members we've arrested, +from our F.B.I. pals, now that +they're interested, and so forth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'll give you Irene Day,”</span> LaVerne +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Where are you off to +now, Larry?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Probably a wild goose chase,”</span> Larry +growled. <span class="tei tei-q">“Which reminds me. Do +me a favor, LaVerne. Call Personal +Service and find out where Frank +Nostrand is. He's some kind of rocket +technician at Madison Air Laboratories. +I'll be in my office.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Frank Nostrand,”</span> LaVerne said +briskly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Will do, Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Back in his own cubicle, Larry +stood for a moment in thought. He +was increasingly aware of the uncomfortable +feeling that time was running +out on them. That things were +coming to a dangerous head. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He stared down at the dozen or +more books and pamphlets that his +never seen secretary had heaped up +for him. Well, he certainly didn't have +time for them now. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He sat down at the desk and dialed +an inter-office number. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The harassed looking face of Walter +Foster faded in. On seeing Larry +Woolford he growled accusingly, <span class="tei tei-q">“My +pal. You've let them dump this +whole thing into my lap.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry grinned at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Better you +than me, old buddy. Besides, it's a +promotion. Pull this off and you'll be +the Boss' right-hand man.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's a laugh,”</span> Foster said. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's a +madhouse. This Movement gang is +as weird as they come.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I bleed for you,”</span> Larry said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“However, here's a tip. Frol Eivazov, +of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Chrezvychainaya Komissiya</span></span> is +somewhere in the country.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Frol Eivazov!”</span> Foster blurted. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What've the Commies got to do with +this? Is this something the Boss +knows about?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page049">[pg 049]</span><a name="Pg049" id="Pg049" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Haven't had time to go into it +with him,”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“However, it +seems that friend Frol is here to find +out what the Movement is all about. +Evidently the big boys in Peking +and Moscow are nervous about any +changes that might take place over +here. I suggest you have him picked +up, Walt.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 30%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p49.png" width="210" height="700" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Walt Foster said, <span class="tei tei-q">“O.K. I'll put +some people on it. Maybe the F.B.I. +can help.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry flicked off as he saw the red +priority light on his phone shining. +He pushed it and LaVerne's face +faded in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said, <span class="tei tei-q">“This Franklin Nostrand +you wanted to know about. He's evidently +working at the laboratories +over in Newport News, Larry. He'll +be on the job until five this afternoon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Fine,”</span> he said. Larry grinned at +her. <span class="tei tei-q">“When are we going to have +that date, LaVerne?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She made a face. <span class="tei tei-q">“Some day when +the program involves having fun instead +of parading around in the right +places, driving the right model car, +dressed in exactly the right clothes, +and above all associating with the +right people.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was his turn to grimace. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm beginning +to think you ought to sign up +with Voss and this Movement of his. +You'd be right at home with his +weirds.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She stuck out her tongue at him, +and flicked off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at the empty screen and +chuckled. He had half a mind to get a +record of their conversation, strip out +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page050">[pg 050]</span><a name="Pg050" id="Pg050" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +just the section where she'd stuck out +her tongue, and then play it back to +her. She'd be taken aback by being +confronted by her own image making +faces at her. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As he made his way to the parking +lot for his car, something in their +conversation nagged at him, but he +couldn't put his finger on it. He considered +the girl, all over again. She +had almost all the qualities he looked +for. She was attractive, without being +overly so. He disliked women out of +the ordinarily beautiful, it became too +much to live up to. She was sharp, +but not objectionably so. Not to the +point of giving you an inferiority +complex. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But, Holy Smokes, she'd never do +as a career man's wife. He could just +see the Boss' ultraconservative better +half inviting them to dinner. It +would happen exactly once, never +again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He obtained his car, lifted it to one +of the higher levels and headed for +Newport News. It was a half-hour +trip and he wasn't particularly expectant +of results. The tip Sam Sokolski +had given him, wasn't much to +go by. Evidently, Frank Nostrand was +a friend of the Professor's but that +didn't necessarily mean he was connected +with the movement, or that he +knew Voss' whereabouts. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He might have saved himself the +trip. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The bird had flown again. Not +only was Frank Nostrand not at the +Madison Air Laboratories, but he +wasn't at home either. Larry Woolford, +mindful of his departmental +chief's words on the prestige these +people carried, took a full hour in acquiring +a search warrant before breaking +into the Nostrand home. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nostrand was supposedly a bachelor, +but the auto-bungalow, similar to +Larry Woolford's own, showed signs +of double occupancy, and there was +little indication that the guest had +been a woman. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Disgruntled, Larry Woolford dialed +the offices, asked for Walt Foster. It +took nearly ten minutes before his +colleague faded in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm up to my eyebrows, Larry. +What'd you want?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry gave him Frank Nostrand's +address. <span class="tei tei-q">“This guy's disappeared, +Walt.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“So?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He was a close friend of Professor +Voss. I got a warrant to search his +house. It shows signs that he had a +guest. Possibly it was the Professor. +Do you want to get some of the boys +down here to go through the place? +Possibly there's some clue to where +they took off for. The Professor's on +the run and he's no professional at +this. If we can pick <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">him</span></em> up, I've got a +sneaking suspicion we'll have the so-called +Movement licked.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Walt Foster slapped a hand to his +face in anguish. <span class="tei tei-q">“You knew where +the Professor was hiding, and you +tried to pick him up on your own and +let him get away. Why didn't you +discuss this with either the Boss or +me? I'm in charge of this operation! +I would have had a dozen men down +there. You've fouled this up!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stared at him. Already Walt +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page051">[pg 051]</span><a name="Pg051" id="Pg051" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Foster was making sounds like an +enraged superior. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry, Walt. I +came down here on a very meager +tip. I didn't really expect it to pan +out.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, in the future, clear with +either me or the Boss before running +off half cocked into something, Woolford. +Yesterday, you had this whole +assignment on your own. Today, it's +no longer a minor matter. Our department +has fifty people on it. The +F.B.I. must have five times as many +and that's not even counting the Secret +Service's interest. It's no longer +your individual baby.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry,”</span> Larry repeated mildly. +Then, <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't imagine you've got +hold of Frol Eivazov yet?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other was disgusted. <span class="tei tei-q">“You +think we're magicians? We just put +out the call for him a few hours ago. +He's no amateur. If he doesn't want +to be picked up, he'll go to ground +and we'll have our work cut out for us +finding him. I can't see that it's particularly +important anyway.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Maybe you're right,”</span> Larry said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“But you never know. He might +know things we don't. See you later.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Walt Foster stared at him for a +moment as though about to say something, +but then tightened his lips and +faded off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry looked at the phone screen +for a moment. <span class="tei tei-q">“Did that phony expect +me to call him <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">sir</span></em>,”</span> he muttered. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The next two days dissolved into +routine. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Frustrated, Larry Woolford spent +most of his time in his office digesting +developments, trying to find a new +line of attack. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For want of something else, he put +his new secretary, a brightly efficient +girl, as style and status conscious as +LaVerne Polk wasn't, to work typing +up the tapes he'd had cut on Susan +Self and the various phone calls he'd +had with Hans Distelmayer and Sam +Sokolski. From memory, he dictated +to her his conversation with Professor +Peter Voss. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He carefully read the typed sheets +over and over again. He continually +had the feeling in this case that there +were loose ends dangling around. +Several important points he should be +able to put his finger upon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the morning of the third day he +dialed Steve Hackett and on seeing +the other's worried, pug-ugly face +fade in on the phone, decided that if +nothing else the Movement was undermining +the United States government +by dispensing ulcers to its employees. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“What is it Woolford? +I'm as busy as a whirling dervish +in a revolving door.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“This is just the glimmer of an +idea, Steve. Look, remember that conversation +with Susan, when she described +her father taking her to +headquarters?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“So?”</span> Steve said impatiently. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Remember her description of +headquarters?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Go on,”</span> Steve rapped. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What did it remind you of?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What are you leading to?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page052">[pg 052]</span><a name="Pg052" id="Pg052" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“This is just a hunch,”</span> Larry persisted, +<span class="tei tei-q">“but the way she described the +manner in which her father took her +to headquarters suggests they're in +the Greater Washington area.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve was staring at him disgustedly. +How obvious could you get? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry hurried on. <span class="tei tei-q">“What's the biggest +business in this area, Steve?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Government.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Right. And the way she described +headquarters of the Movement, was +rooms, after rooms, after rooms into +which they'd stored the money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said urgently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Steve, I think +in some way the Movement has taken +over some governmental buildings, or +storage warehouse. Possibly some +older buildings no longer in use. It +would be a perfect hideout. Who +would expect a subversive organization +to be in governmental buildings? +All they'd need would be a few +officials here and there who were on +their side and—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve said wearily, <span class="tei tei-q">“You couldn't +have thought of this two days ago.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry cut himself off sharply, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We found their headquarters. +One of their members +cracked. Ben Ruthenberg of the +F.B.I. found he had a morals rap +against him some years ago and scared +him into talking by threats of exposure. +At any rate, you're right. They +had established themselves in some +government buildings going back to +Spanish-American War days. We've +arrested eight or ten officials that +were involved.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But the money?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The money was gone,”</span> Steve said +bitterly. <span class="tei tei-q">“But Susan was right. There +had evidently been room after room +of it, stacked to the ceiling. Literally +billions of dollars. They'd moved out +hurriedly, but they left kicking around +enough loose hundreds, fifties, twenties, +tens and fives to give us an idea. +Look, Woolford, I thought you'd +been pulled off this case and that +Walt Foster was handling it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm beginning +to think so, too. They're evidently not +even bothering to let me know about +developments like this. See you later, +Steve.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other's face faded off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford looked across the +double desk at Irene Day. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look,”</span> he +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“when you're offered a promotion, +take it. If you don't, someone +else will and you'll be out in the +cold.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Irene Day said brightly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I've always +know that, sir.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at her. The typical eager +beaver. Sharp as a whip. Bright as a +button. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll bet you have,”</span> he muttered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I beg your pardon, Mr. Woolford?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The phone lit as LaVerne said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Boss wants to talk to you, Larry.”</span> +Her face faded and Larry's superior +was scowling at him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“Did you get anything +on this medical records thing, +Woolford?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Medical records?”</span> Larry said +blankly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss grunted in deprecation. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page053">[pg 053]</span><a name="Pg053" id="Pg053" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No, I suppose you haven't. I wish +you would snap into it, Woolford. I +don't know what has happened to you +of late. I used to think that you were +a good field man.”</span> He flicked off +abruptly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry dialed LaVerne Polk. <span class="tei tei-q">“What +in the world was the Boss just talking +about, LaVerne? About medical records?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne said, frowning, <span class="tei tei-q">“Didn't +you know? The Movement's been at +it again. They've fouled up the records +of the State Medical Licensing +bureaus, at the same time sabotaging +the remaining records of most, if not +all, of the country's medical schools. +They struck simultaneously, throughout +the country.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at her, expressionlessly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We've caught several +hundred of those responsible. It's +the same thing. Attack of the social-label. +From now on, if a man tells you +he's an Ear, Eye and Throat specialist, +you'd better do some investigation +before letting him amputate your +tongue. You'd better use your judgment +before letting <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">any</span></em> doctor you +don't really know about, work on +you. It's a madhouse, Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford, for long moments +after LaVerne had broken the connection, +stared unseeingly at his secretary +across from him until she stirred. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He brought his eyes back to the +present. <span class="tei tei-q">“Another preliminary move, +not the important thing, yet. Not the +big explosion they're figuring on. +Where have they taken that money, +and why?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Irene Day blinked at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't +know, I'm sure, sir.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Get me Mr. Foster on +the phone, Irene.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When Walt Foster's unhappy face +faded in, Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Walt did you +get Frol Eivazov?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Eivazov?”</span> the other said impatiently. +<span class="tei tei-q">“No. We haven't spent much +effort on it. I think this hunch of +yours is like the other ones you've +been having lately, Woolford. Frol +Eivazov was last reported by our operatives +as being in North Korea.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It wasn't a hunch,”</span> Larry said +tightly. <span class="tei tei-q">“He's in this country on an +assignment dealing with the Movement.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, that's your opinion,”</span> Foster +said snappishly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm busy, Woolford. +See here, at present you're under +my orders on this job. In the way +of something to do, instead of sitting +around in that office, why don't you +follow up this Eivazov thing yourself?”</span> +He considered it a moment. +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's an order, Woolford. Even if +you don't locate him, it'll keep you out +of our hair.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +After the other was gone, Larry +Woolford leaned back in his chair, +his face flushed as though the other +had slapped it. In a way, he had. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Miss Day, dial +me Hans Distelmayer. His offices are +over in the Belmont Building.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As always, the screen remained +blank as the German spy master +spoke. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Hans, I want to talk to +Frol Eivazov.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ah?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page054">[pg 054]</span><a name="Pg054" id="Pg054" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I want to know where I can find +him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The German's voice was humorously +gruff. <span class="tei tei-q">“My friend, my friend.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said impatiently, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm not interested +in arresting him at this time. +I want to talk to him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other said heavily. <span class="tei tei-q">“This goes +beyond favors, my friend. On the face +of it, I am not in business for my +health. And what you ask is dangerous +from my viewpoint. You realize +that upon occasion my organization +does small tasks for the Soviets....”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ha!”</span> Larry said bitterly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“... And,”</span> the German continued, +unruffled, <span class="tei tei-q">“it is hardly to my interest +to gain the reputation of betraying +my sometimes employers. +Were you on an assignment in, say, +Bulgaria or Hungary, would you +expect me to betray you to the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Chrezvychainaya Komissiya</span></span>?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not unless somebody paid you +enough to make it worth while,”</span> +Larry said dryly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Exactly,”</span> the espionage chief said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look,”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Send your bill +to this department, Hans. I've been +given carte blanche on this matter +and I want to talk to Frol. Now, +where is he?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The German chuckled heavily. +<span class="tei tei-q">“At the Soviet Embassy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What! You mean they've got the +gall to house their top spy right in—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Distelmayer interrupted him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Friend Eivazov is currently accredited +as a military attaché and quite +correctly. He holds the rank of colonel, +you know. He entered this country +quite legally, the only precaution +taken was to use his second name, +Kliment, instead of Frol, on his papers. +Evidently, your people passed +him by without a second look. Ah, I +understand he went to the trouble of +making some minor changes in his +facial appearance.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We'll expect your bill, Distelmayer,”</span> +Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Good-by.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He got up and reached for his hat, +saying to Irene Day, <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't know +how long I'll be gone.”</span> He added, +wryly, <span class="tei tei-q">“If either Foster or the Boss +try to get in touch with me, tell them +I'm carrying out orders.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He drove over to the Soviet Embassy, +parked his car directly before +the building. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The American plainclothesmen +stationed near the entrance, gave him +only a quick onceover as he passed. +Inside the gates, the impassive Russian +guards didn't bother to flicker an +eyelid. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the reception desk in the immense +entrada, he identified himself. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'd like to see Colonel Frol Eivazov.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I am afraid—”</span> the clerk began +stiffly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose you have him on the +records as Kliment Eivazov.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The clerk had evidently touched a +concealed button. A door opened and +a junior embassy official approached +them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry restated his desire. The other +began to open his mouth in denial, +then shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“Just a moment,”</span> he +said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He was gone a full twenty minutes. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page055">[pg 055]</span><a name="Pg055" id="Pg055" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +When he returned, he said +briefly, <span class="tei tei-q">“This way, please.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Frol Eivazov was in an inner office, +in full uniform. He came to his +feet when Larry Woolford entered +and said to the clerk, <span class="tei tei-q">“That will be +all, Vova.”</span> He was a tall man, as +Slavs go, but heavy of build and +heavy of face. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He shook hands with Larry. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +been a long time,”</span> he said in perfect +English. <span class="tei tei-q">“That conference in Warsaw, +wasn't it? Have a chair, Mr. +Woolford.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry took the offered chair and +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“How in the world did you expect +to get by with this nonsense? +We'll have you declared <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">persona non +grata</span></span> in a matter of hours.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's not important,”</span> Eivazov +shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“I have found what I came +to find. I was about to return to report +any way.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We won't do anything to hinder +you, colonel,”</span> Larry said dryly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Eivazov snapped his fingers. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +all amusing,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“In our country +we would quickly deal with this +Movement nonsense. You Americans +with your pseudo-democracy, your +labels without reality, your—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said wearily, <span class="tei tei-q">“Please, Frol, I +promise not to convert you if you +promise not to convert me. Needless +to say, my department isn't happy +about your presence in this country. +You'll be watched from now on. +We've been busy with other matters....”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Here the Russian laughed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“... Or we'd already have flushed +you.”</span> He allowed his voice to go +curious. <span class="tei tei-q">“We've wondered about your +interest in this phase of our internal +affairs.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Russian agent let his facade +slip over farther, his heavy lips sneering. +<span class="tei tei-q">“We are interested in all phases +of your antiquated socio-economic +system, Mr. Woolford. In the present +peaceful economic competition between +East and West, we would simply +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">loathe</span></em> to see anything happen to +your present culture.”</span> He hesitated +deliberately. <span class="tei tei-q">“If you can call it a +culture.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, unprovoked, <span class="tei tei-q">“If I understand +you correctly, you are not in +favor of the changes the Movement +advocates.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Russian shrugged hugely. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +doubt if they are possible of achievement. +The organization is a sloppy +one. Revolutionary? Nonsense,”</span> he +scoffed. <span class="tei tei-q">“They have no plans to +change the government. No plans for +overthrowing the regime. Ultimately, +what this country needs is true +Communism. This so-called Movement +doesn't have that as its eventual +goal. It is laughable.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, interestedly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Then perhaps +you'll tell me what little you've +found out about the group.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why not?”</span> The Russian pursed +his lips. <span class="tei tei-q">“They are composed of impractical +idealists. Scientists, intellectuals, +a few admitted scholars and +even a few potential leaders. Their +sabotage of your Department of Records +was an amusing farce, but, +frankly, I have been unable to discover +the purpose of their interest in +rockets. For a time I contemplated +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page056">[pg 056]</span><a name="Pg056" id="Pg056" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the possibility that they had a scheme +to develop a nuclear bomb, and to +explode it over Greater Washington +in the belief that in the resulting +confusion they might seize power. +But, on the face of it their membership +is incapable of such an effort.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Their interest in rockets?”</span> Larry +said softly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, as you've undoubtedly discovered, +half the rocket technicians of +your country seem to have joined +with them. We got the tip through”</span>—the +Russian cleared his throat—<span class="tei tei-q">“several +of our converts who happen +to be connected with your space +efforts groups.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Is that so?”</span> Larry said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I wondered +what you thought about their +interest in money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was the other's turn to look +blank. <span class="tei tei-q">“Money?”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. Large quantities of +money.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Russian said, frowning, <span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose +most citizens in your capitalist +countries are interested largely in +money. One of your basic failings.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Driving back to the office, Larry +Woolford let it pile up on him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ernest Self had been a specialist in +solid fuel for rockets. When Larry +had questioned Professor Voss that +worthy had particularly stressed his +indignation at how Professor Goddard, +the rocket pioneer, had been +treated by his contemporaries. Franklin +Nostrand had been employed as a +technician on rocket research at Madison +Air Laboratories. It was too darn +much for coincidence. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And now something else that had +been nagging away at the back of his +mind suddenly came clear. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Susan Self had said that she and +her father had seen the precision +dancers at the New Roxy Theater in +New York and later the Professor +had said they were going to spend +the money on chorus girls. Susan had +got it wrong. The Rockettes—the +precision chorus girls. The Professor +had said they were going to spend +the money on <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">rockets</span></em>, and Susan had +misunderstood. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But billions of dollars expended on +rockets? How? But, above all, to +what end? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If he'd only been able to hold onto +Susan, or her father; or to Voss or +Nostrand, for that matter. Someone +to work on. But each had slipped +through his fingers. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Which brought something else up +from his subconscious. Something +which had been tugging at him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the office, Irene Day was packing +her things as he entered. Packing +as though she was leaving for good. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What goes on?”</span> Larry growled. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm going to be needing you. Things +are coming to a head.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said, a bit snippishly, Larry +thought, <span class="tei tei-q">“Miss Polk, in the Boss' office, +said for you to see her as soon as +you came in, Mr. Woolford.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He made his way to LaVerne's office, +his attention actually on the ideas +churning in his mind. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked up when he entered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The Boss wanted to +see me?”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page057">[pg 057]</span><a name="Pg057" id="Pg057" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne ducked her head, as +though embarrassed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Not exactly, +Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He gestured with his thumb in the +direction of his own cubicle office. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Irene just said you wanted me.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne looked up into his face. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Boss and Mr. Foster, too, are +boiling about your authorizing that +Distelmayer man to bill this department +for information he gave you. +The Boss hit the roof. Something +about the Senate Appropriations +Committee getting down on him if it +came out that we bought information +from professional espionage agents.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It was information we +needed, and Foster gave me the go +ahead on locating Frol Eivazov. Maybe +I'd better see the Boss.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't think he +wants to see you, Larry. They're up +to their ears in this Movement thing. +It's in the papers <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">now</span></em> and nobody +knows what to do next. The President +is going to make a speech on TriD, +and the Boss has to supply the information. +His orders are for you to +resume your vacation. To take a +month off and then see him when +you get back.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry sank down into a chair. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +see,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“And at that time he'll +probably transfer me to janitor service.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Larry,”</span> LaVerne said, almost impatiently, +<span class="tei tei-q">“why in the world didn't +you take that job Walt Foster has +now when the Boss offered it to +you?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Because I'm stupid, I suppose,”</span> +Larry said bitterly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I thought I could +do more working alone than at an administrative +post tangled in red tape +and bureaucratic routine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry, Larry.”</span> She sounded +as though she meant it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stood up. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, tonight I'm +going to hang one on, and tomorrow +it's back to Florida.”</span> He said in a +rush, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look LaVerne, how about that +date we've been talking about for six +months or more?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked up at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“I can't +stand vodka martinis.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Neither can I,”</span> he said glumly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And I don't get a kick out of +prancing around, a stuffed shirt +among fellow stuffed shirts, at some +goings-on that supposedly improves +my culture status.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said <span class="tei tei-q">“At the house I have +every known brand of drinkable, and +a stack of ... what did you call it? ... corny +music. We can mix our +own drinks and dance all by ourselves.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She tucked her head to one side +and looked at him suspiciously. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are +your intentions honorable?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We can even discuss that later,”</span> +he said sourly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She laughed. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's a date, Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He picked her up after work, and +they drove to his Brandywine auto-bungalow, +largely quiet the whole +way. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At one point she touched his hand +with hers and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It'll work out, +Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yeah,”</span> he said sourly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I've put +ten years into ingratiating myself +with the Boss. Now, overnight, he's +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page058">[pg 058]</span><a name="Pg058" id="Pg058" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +got a new boy. I suppose there's some +moral involved.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When they pulled up before his +auto-bungalow, LaVerne whistled appreciatively. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Quite a neighborhood +you're in.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He grunted. <span class="tei tei-q">“A good address. +What our friend Professor Voss +would call one more status symbol, +one more social-label. For it I pay +about fifty per cent more rent than +my budget can afford.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He ushered her inside and took her +jacket. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look,”</span> he said, indicating his +living room with a sweep of hand. +<span class="tei tei-q">“See that volume of Klee reproductions +there next to my reading chair? +That proves I'm not a weird. Indicates +my culture status. Actually, my +appreciation of modern art doesn't go +any further than the Impressionists. +But don't tell anybody. See those +books up on my shelves. Same thing. +You'll find everything there that +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">ought</span></em> to be on the shelves of any ambitious +young career man.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked at him from the side of +her eyes. <span class="tei tei-q">“You're really soured, Larry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Come along,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I want to +show you something.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He took her down the tiny elevator +to his den. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How hypocritical can you get?”</span> +he asked her. <span class="tei tei-q">“This is where I really +live. But I seldom bring anyone here. +Wouldn't want to get a reputation as +a weird. Sit down, LaVerne, I'll make +a drink. How about a Sidecar?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She sank onto the couch, kicked her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page059">[pg 059]</span><a name="Pg059" id="Pg059" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +shoes off and slipped her feet under +her. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'd love one,”</span> she said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His back to her, he brought brandy +and cointreau from his liquor cabinet, +lemon and ice from the tiny refrigerator. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What?”</span> LaVerne said mockingly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“No auto-bar?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Upstairs with the rest of the status +symbols,”</span> Larry grunted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He put her drink before her and +turned and went to the record player. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“In the way of corny music, how do +you like that old-timer, Nat Cole?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“King Cole? Love him,”</span> LaVerne +said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The strains of <span class="tei tei-q">“For All We Know”</span> +penetrated the room. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry sat down across from her, finished +half his drink in one swallow. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm beginning to wonder whether +or not this Movement doesn't have +something,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She didn't answer that. They sat in +silence for a while, appreciating the +drink. Nat Cole was singing <span class="tei tei-q">“The +Very Thought of You”</span> now. Larry got +up and made two more cocktails. This +time he sat next to her. He leaned his +head back on the couch and closed +his eyes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Finally he said softly, <span class="tei tei-q">“When Steve +Hackett and I were questioning Susan, +there was only one other person +who knew that we'd picked her up. +There was only one person other +than Steve and me who could have +warned Ernest Self to make a getaway. +Later on, there was only one +person who could have warned Frank +Nostrand so that he and the Professor +could find a new hideout.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said sleepily, <span class="tei tei-q">“How long have +you known about that, darling?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A while,”</span> Larry said, his own voice +quiet. <span class="tei tei-q">“I figured it out when I also decided +how Susan Self was spirited +out of the Greater Washington Hilton, +before we had the time to question +her further. Somebody who had +access to tapes made of me while I +was making phone calls cut out a section +and dubbed in a voice so that +Betsy Hughes, the Secret Service matron +who was watching Susan, was +fooled into believing it was I ordering +the girl to be turned over to the two +Movement members who came to +get her.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +LaVerne stirred comfortably and +let her head sink onto his shoulder. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You're so warm and ... comfortable,”</span> +she said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said softly, <span class="tei tei-q">“What does the +Movement expect to do with all that +counterfeit money, LaVerne?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She stirred against his shoulder, as +though bothered by the need to talk. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Give it all away,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Distribute +it all over the country and +destroy the nation's social currency.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It took him a long moment to assimilate +that. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What have the rockets to do with +it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She stirred once again, as though +wishing he'd be silent. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's how it +will be distributed. About twenty +rockets, strategically placed, each with +a <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">warhead</span></em> of a couple of tons of +money. Fired to an altitude of a couple +of hundred miles and then the +money is spewed out. In falling, it +will be distributed over cities and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page060">[pg 060]</span><a name="Pg060" id="Pg060" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +countryside, everywhere. Billions +upon billions of dollars worth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, so softly as hardly to be +heard, <span class="tei tei-q">“What will that accomplish?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Money is the greatest social-label +of them all. The Professor believes +that through this step the Movement +will have accomplished its purpose. +That people will be forced to utilize +their judgment, rather than depend +upon social-labels.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry didn't follow that, but he had +no time to go further now. He said, +still evenly soft, <span class="tei tei-q">“And when is the +Movement going to do this?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +La Verne moved comfortably. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +trucks go out to distribute the money +tonight. The rockets are waiting. The +firing will take place in a few days.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And where is the Professor now?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where the money and the trucks +are hidden, darling. What difference +does it make?”</span> LaVerne said sleepily. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And where is that?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“At the Greater Washington +Trucking Corporation. It's owned by +one of the Movement's members.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said. <span class="tei tei-q">“There's a password. What +is it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Judgment.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry Woolford bounced to his feet. +He looked down at her, then over at +the phone. In three quick steps he +was over to it. He grasped its wires +and yanked them from the wall, silencing +it. He slipped into the tiny +elevator, locking the door to the den +behind him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As the door slid closed, her voice +wailed, still sleepily husky, <span class="tei tei-q">“Larry, +darling, where are you—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He ran down the walk of the house, +vaulted into the car and snapped on +its key. He slammed down the lift +lever, kicked the thrust pedal and +was thrown back against the seat by +the acceleration. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Even while he was climbing, he +flicked on the radio-phone, called +Personal Service for the location of +the Greater Washington Trucking +Corporation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fifteen minutes later, he parked a +block away from his destination, noting +with satisfaction that it was still +an hour or more to go until dark. His +intuition, working doubletime now, +told him that they'd probably wait until +nightfall to start their money-laden +trucks to rolling. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He hesitated momentarily before +turning on the phone and dialing the +Boss' home address. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When the other's face faded in, it +failed to display pleasure when the +caller's identity was established. His +superior growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“Confound it, +Woolford, you know my privacy is to +be respected. This phone is to be +used only in extreme emergency.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, sir,”</span> Larry said briskly. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +the Movement—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other's face darkened still further. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You're not on that assignment +any longer, Woolford. Walter Foster +has taken over and I'm sympathetic to +his complaints that you've proven +more a hindrance than anything +else.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry ignored his words, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, I've +tracked them down. Professor Voss is +at the Greater Washington Trucking +Corporation garages here in the Alexandria +section of town. Any moment +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page061">[pg 061]</span><a name="Pg061" id="Pg061" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +now, they're going to start distribution +of all that counterfeit money on +some scatterbrain plan to disrupt the +country's exchange system.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Suddenly alert, the department +chief snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“Where are you, Woolford?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Outside the garages, sir. But I'm +going in now.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You stay where you are,”</span> the other +snapped. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll have every department +man and every Secret Service man in +town over there within twenty minutes. +You hang on. Those people are +lunatics, and probably desperate.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Inwardly, Larry Woolford grinned. +He wasn't going to lose this opportunity +to finish up the job with him on +top. He said flatly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sir, we can't +chance it. They might escape. I'm going +in!”</span> He flicked off the set, dialed +again and raised Sam Sokolski. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sam,”</span> he said, his voice clipped. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I've cornered the Movement's leader +and am going in for the finish. Maybe +some of you journalist boys better get +on over here.”</span> He gave the other the +address and flicked off before there +were any questions. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From the dash compartment he +brought a heavy automatic, and +checked the clip. He put it in his hip +pocket and left the car and walked +toward the garages. Time was running +out now. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He strode into the only open door, +without shift of pace. Two men were +posted nearby, neither of them truckmen +by appearance. They looked at +him in surprise. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry clipped out, <span class="tei tei-q">“The password +is <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Judgment</span></em>. I've got to see Professor +Voss immediately.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of them frowned questioningly, +but the other was taken up with +the urgency in Woolford's voice. He +nodded with his head. <span class="tei tei-q">“He's over +there in the office.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now ignoring them completely, +Larry strode past the long rows of +sealed delivery vans toward the office. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He pushed the door open, entered +and closed it behind him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Professor Peter Voss was seated at +a paper-littered desk. There was a cot +with an army blanket in a corner of +the room, some soiled clothing and +two or three dirty dishes on a tray. +The room was being lived in, obviously. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the agent's entry, the little man +looked up and blinked in distress +through his heavy lenses. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“You're under arrest, +Voss.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The professor was obviously dismayed, +but he said in as vigorous a +voice as he could muster, <span class="tei tei-q">“Nonsense! +On what charge?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Counterfeiting, among many. +Your whole scheme has fallen apart, +Voss. You and your Movement, so-called, +are finished.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The professor's eyes darted, left, +right. To Larry Woolford's surprise, +the Movement's leader was alone in +here. Undoubtedly, he was awaiting +others, drivers of the trucks, technicians +involved in the rockets, other +subordinates. But right now he was +alone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If Woolford correctly diagnosed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page062">[pg 062]</span><a name="Pg062" id="Pg062" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the situation, Voss was playing for +time, waiting for the others. Good +enough, so was Larry Woolford. Had +the Professor only known it, a shout +would have brought at least two followers +and the government agent +would have had his work cut out for +him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Woodford played along. <span class="tei tei-q">“Just what +is this fantastic scheme of yours for +raining down money over half the +country, Voss? The very insanity of it +proves your whole outfit is composed +of a bunch of nonconformist weirds.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor was indignant—and +stalling for time. He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Nonconformists +is correct! He who conforms +in an incompetent society is an incompetent +himself.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stood, his legs apart and +hands on hips. He shook his head in +simulated pity at the angry little man. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's all this about raining money +down over the country?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't you see?”</span> the other said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The perfect method for disrupting +our present system of social-labels. +With billions of dollars, perfect counterfeit, +strewing the streets, the fields, +the trees, available for anyone to pick +up, all social currency becomes worthless. +Utterly unusable. And it's no use +to attempt to print more with another +design, because we can duplicate +it as well. Our experts are the +world's best, we're not a group of +sulking criminals but capable, trained, +dedicated men.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Very well! We will have made it +absolutely impossible to have any +form of mass-produced social currency.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry stared at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“It would completely +foul the whole business system! +You'd have chaos!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“At first. Private individuals, once +the value of money was seen to be +zero, would have lost the amount of +cash they had on hand. But banks +and such institutions would lose little. +They have accurate records that +show the actual values they held at +the time our money rains down.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry was bewildered. <span class="tei tei-q">“But what +are you getting at? What do you expect +to accomplish?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor, on his favorite subject, +said triumphantly, <span class="tei tei-q">“The only +form of currency that can be used +under these conditions is the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">personal</span></em> +check. It's not mass produced, and +mass-production can't duplicate it. +It's immune to the attack. Business +has to go on, or people will starve—so +personal checks will have to replace +paper money. Credit cards and +traveler's checks won't do—we can +counterfeit them, too, and will, if +necessary. Realize of course that hard +money will still be valid, but it can't +be utilized practically for any but +small transactions. Try taking enough +silver dollars to buy a refrigerator +down to the store with you.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But what's the purpose?”</span> Larry +demanded, flabbergasted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Isn't it obvious? Our whole Movement +is devoted to the destruction of +social-label judgments. It's all very +well to say: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">You should not judge +your fellow men</span></span> but when it comes to +accepting another man's personal +check, friend, you damn well have to! +The bum check artist might have a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page063">[pg 063]</span><a name="Pg063" id="Pg063" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +field day to begin with—but only to +begin with.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry shook his head in exasperation. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You people are a bunch of +anarchists,”</span> he accused. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> the Professor denied. <span class="tei tei-q">“Absolutely +not. We are the antithesis of +the anarchist. The anarchist says, <span class="tei tei-q">‘No +man is capable of judging another.’</span> +We say, <span class="tei tei-q">‘Each man must judge his fellow, +must demand proper evaluation +of him.’</span> To judge a man by his +clothes, the amount of money he +owns, the car he drives, the neighborhood +in which he lives, or the society +he keeps, is out of the question in a +vital culture.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, whether +or not you're right, Voss, you've lost. +This place is surrounded. My men +will be breaking in shortly.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Voss laughed at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Nonsense. +All you've done is prevent us from +accomplishing this portion of our +program. What will you do after my +arrest? You'll bring me to trial. Do +you remember the Scopes' Monkey +Trial back in the 1920s which became +a world appreciated farce and +made Tennessee a laughingstock? +Well, just wait until you get <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">me</span></em> into +court backed by my organization's resources. +We'll bring home to every +thinking person, not only in this +country, but in the world, the fantastic +qualities of our existing culture. +Why, Mr.-Secret-Agent-of-Anti-Subversive-Activity +you aren't doing me +an injury by giving me the opportunity +to have my day in court. You're +doing me a favor. Newspapers, radios, +TriD will give me the chance to expound +my program in the home of +every thinking person in the world.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was a fiery dedication in the +little man's eyes. <span class="tei tei-q">“This will be my +victory, not my defeat!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There were sounds now, coming +from the other rooms—the garages. +Some shouts and scuffling. Faintly, +Larry Woolford could hear Steve +Hackett's voice. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He was staring at the Professor, his +eyes narrower. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor was on his feet. He +said in defiant triumph, <span class="tei tei-q">“You think +that you'll win prestige and honor as +a result of tracking the Movement +down, don't you, Mr. Woolford? +Well, let me tell you, you won't! In +six months from now, Mr. Woolford, +you'll be a laughingstock.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That did it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You're under arrest. +Turn around with your back to me.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Professor snorted his contempt, +turned his back and held up +his hands, obviously expecting to be +searched. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In a fluid motion, Larry Woolford +drew his gun and fired twice. The +other with no more than a grunt of +surprise and pain, stumbled forward +to his knees and then to the floor, his +arms and legs akimbo. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The door broke open and Steve +Hackett, gun in hand, burst in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Woolford!”</span> he barked. <span class="tei tei-q">“What's +up?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry indicated the body on the +floor. <span class="tei tei-q">“There you are, Steve,”</span> he said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The head of the counterfeit ring. He +was trying to escape. I had to shoot +him.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page064">[pg 064]</span><a name="Pg064" id="Pg064" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Behind Steve Hackett crowded Ben +Ruthenberg of the F.B.I. and behind +him half a dozen others of various +departments. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss came pushing his way +through. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He glared down at the Professor's +body, then up at Larry Woolford. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good work, Lawrence,”</span> he +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“How did you bring it off?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry replaced the gun in his holster +and shrugged modestly. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +Polk girl gave me the final tip-off, +sir. I gave her some Scop-Serum in a +drink and she talked. Evidently, she +was a member of the Movement.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Boss was nodding wisely. <span class="tei tei-q">“I've +had my eye on her, Lawrence. An obvious +weird. But we will have to suppress +that Scop-Serum angle.”</span> He +slapped his favorite field man on the +arm jovially. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, boy, this means +promotion, of course.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry grinned. <span class="tei tei-q">“Thanks, sir. All in +a day's work. I don't think we'll +have much trouble with the remnants +of this Movement thing. The pitch is +to treat them as counterfeiters, not +subversives. Try them for that. Their +silly explanations of what they were +going to do with the money will never +be taken seriously.”</span> He looked down +at the small corpse. <span class="tei tei-q">“Particularly now +that their kingpin is gone.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A new wave of agents, F.B.I. men +and prisoners washed into the room +and Steve Hackett and Larry were for +a moment pushed back into a corner +by themselves. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Steve looked at him strangely and +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There's one thing I'd like to +know: Did you really have to shoot +him, Woolford?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Larry brushed it off. <span class="tei tei-q">“What's the +difference? He was as weird as they +come, wasn't he?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE END +</p> +</div> +</div> +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-back" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgfooter" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATUS QUO*** +</pre><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader1" id="rightpageheader1"></a><a name="pgtoc2" id="pgtoc2"></a><a name="pdf3" id="pdf3"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Credits</span></h1><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">October 26, 2009 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name"> + Produced by Greg Weeks, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + </span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader4" id="rightpageheader4"></a><a name="pgtoc5" id="pgtoc5"></a><a name="pdf6" id="pdf6"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This file should be named + 30339-h.html or + 30339-h.zip.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This and all associated files of various formats will be found + in: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/3/3/30339/" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span><span style="font-size: 90%">/dirs/3/0/3/3/30339/</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old + editions will be renamed.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that + no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the + Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United + States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. + Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this + license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. 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