diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/30339-tei.tei')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30339-tei.tei | 7629 |
1 files changed, 7629 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/30339-tei.tei b/old/30339-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9eca634 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30339-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,7629 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd" [ + +<!ENTITY u5 "http://www.tei-c.org/Lite/"> + +]> + +<TEI.2 lang="en"> +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>Status Quo</title> + <author><name reg="Reynolds, Dallas McCord">Dallas McCord Reynolds</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1">Edition 1</edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date>October 26, 2009</date> + <idno type="etext-no">30339</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and + with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + Created electronically. + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en"></language> + <language id="fr"></language> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2009-19-26">October 26, 2009</date> + <respStmt> + <name> + Produced by Greg Weeks, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + </name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .boxed { x-class: boxed } + .shaded { x-class: shaded } + .rules { x-class: rules; rules: all } + .indent { margin-left: 2 } + .bold { font-weight: bold } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + </pgStyleSheet> + + <pgCharMap formats="txt.iso-8859-1"> + <char id="U0x2014"> + <charName>mdash</charName> + <desc>EM DASH</desc> + <mapping>--</mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2003"> + <charName>emsp</charName> + <desc>EM SPACE</desc> + <mapping> </mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2026"> + <charName>hellip</charName> + <desc>HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS</desc> + <mapping>...</mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> +</pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> + <front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader" /> + </div> + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">Status Quo</p> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">by Dallas McCord Reynolds</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">Illustrated by John Schoenherr</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Analog Science Fact & Fiction</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">August 1961</p> + </div> + + </front> +<body> + +<pb n='004'/><anchor id='Pg004'/> + +<div> + +<p> +[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> +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> +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> +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> +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 +<pb n='006'/><anchor id='Pg006'/> +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> +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> +The Boss' reception secretary +looked up when Lawrence Woolford +entered the anteroom where she presided. +<q>Hello, Larry,</q> she said. <q>Hear +they called your vacation short. Darn +shame.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +Woolford said, <q>Hi, LaVerne. I +think the Boss is expecting me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That he is. Go right in, Larry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +The Boss looked up from some report +on his desk which he'd been +frowning at, nodded to his field man +and said, <q>Sit down, Lawrence. I'll be +with you in a minute. Please take a +look at this while you're waiting.</q> He +handed over a banknote. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry decided the faint praise routine +was the best tactic, said earnestly +about his closest rival. <q>Walt's a good +man, sir.</q> And then, <q>What's the +crisis?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What do you think of that fifty?</q> +</p> + +<p> +His trouble shooter looked down at +it. <q>What is there to think about it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss grunted, slid open a desk +drawer and brought forth another bill. +<q>Here, look at this, please.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was another fifty. Larry Woolford +frowned at it, not getting whatever +was going on. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Observe the serial numbers,</q> the +Boss said impatiently. +</p> + +<p> +They were identical. +</p> + +<p> +Woolford looked up. <q>Counterfeit. +Which one is the bad one?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='007'/><anchor id='Pg007'/> + +<p> +<q>That is exactly what we would like +to know,</q> the Boss said. +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford stared at his superior, +blinked and then examined the +bills again. <q>A beautiful job,</q> he said, +<q>but what's it got to do with us, sir? +This is Secret Service jurisdiction, +counterfeiting.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They called us in on it. They +think it might have international +ramifications.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Now they were getting somewhere. +Larry Woolford put the two +bills on the Boss' desk and leaned +back in his chair, waiting. +</p> + +<p> +His superior said, <q>Remember the +Nazis turning out American and +British banknotes during the Second +War?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I was just a kid.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And why didn't it work?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Woolford was frowning. <q>What's +this got to do with our current situation?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, sir.</q> Woolford said. He got +up and examined the two bills again. +<q>How'd they ever detect that one was +bad?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And then?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford said, <q>This is out +of my line. How were they able to +check further, and how many more +did they turn up?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='008'/><anchor id='Pg008'/> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And other cities?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Wow,</q> Larry whistled. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Indeed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Back in the anteroom, Woolford +said to the Boss' receptionist, <q>I'm on +a local job, LaVerne, how about assigning +me a girl?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Can do,</q> she said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And, look, tell her to get hold of +every available work on counterfeiting +and pile it on my desk.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Right. Thinking of going into +business, Larry?</q> +</p> + +<p> +He grinned down at her. <q>That's +the idea. Keeping up with the Jones +clan in this man's town costs roughly +twice my income.</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne said disapprovingly, +<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.</q> She added, more quietly, <q>Or +get married and support a family.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Save half my pay?</q> Larry snorted. +<q>And get a far out reputation, eh? +No thanks, you can't afford to be a +weird these days.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +Larry said suddenly, <q>Look, promise +like a good girl not to make us +conspicuous and I'll take you to the +Swank Room for dinner tonight.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Is that where all the bright young +men currently have to be seen +once or twice a week?</q> she snapped +back at him. <q>Get lost, Larry. Being a +healthy, normal woman I'm interested +in men, but not necessarily in +walking status-symbols.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was his turn to flush, and, he decided +wryly, he probably didn't do it +as prettily as she did. +</p> + +<p> +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> + +<pb n='009'/><anchor id='Pg009'/> + +<p> +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> +Had he known it, this was hardly +going to be routine. +</p> + +<p> +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> +<q>Hans?</q> he said. <q>Lawrence Woolford.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Teutonic accent was heavy, +the voice bluff. <q>Ah, Larry! you need +some assistance to make your vacation? +Perhaps a sinister, exotic young +lady, complete with long cigarette +holder?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford growled, <q>How'd +you know I was on vacation?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other laughed. <q>You know +better than to ask that, my friend.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>The vacation is over, +Hans. I need some information.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The voice was more guarded now. +<q>I owe you a favor or two.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don't you though? Look, Hans, +what's new in the Russkie camp?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The heartiness was gone. <q>How do +you mean?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Is there anything big stirring? Is +there anyone new in this country +from the Soviet Complex?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well now—</q> the other's voice +drifted away. +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford said impatiently, +<q>Look, Hans, let's don't waste time +fencing. You run a clearing agency +for, <emph>ah</emph>, 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>All right, all right,</q> the German +said. <q>Let me think a moment. Can +you give me an idea of what you're +looking for?</q> There was an undernote +of interest in the voice now. +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Frankly, I haven't. If you could +give me a hint.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I can't,</q> Larry said. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The voice was jovial again. <q>It's a +bargain, my friend.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +The phone rang back. It was Steve +Hackett of Secret Service on the +screen. +</p> + +<p> +Hackett said, <q>Woolford, you coming +<pb n='010'/><anchor id='Pg010'/> +over? I understand you've been +assigned to get in our hair on this +job.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Huh,</q> Larry grunted. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Hackett snorted. <q>At any rate, can +you drop over? I'm to work in liaison +with you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Coming,</q> 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> +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> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +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> +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> +Steve came to his feet and shook +hands. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry growled, <q>Fine thing. Secret +Service bogs down and they've got to +call me in to clean up the mess.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve motioned him to a chair and +immediately went serious. <q>Do you +know anything about pushing queer, +Woolford?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That means passing counterfeit +money, doesn't it? All I know is what's +in the TriD crime shows.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nothing positive,</q> Larry said. <q>Are +you people accomplishing anything?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We're just getting underway. +There's something off-trail about this +deal, Woolford. It doesn't fit into +routine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford said, <q>I wouldn't +think so if the stuff is so good not +even a bank clerk can tell the difference.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's not what I'm talking about +now. Let me give you a run down on +standard counterfeiting.</q> The Secret +<pb n='011'/><anchor id='Pg011'/> +Service agent pushed back in his +swivel chair, lit a cigarette, and +propped his feet onto the edge of a +partly open desk drawer. <q>Briefly, it +goes like this. Some smart lad gets +himself a set of plates and a platen +press and—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry interrupted, <q>Where does he +get the plates?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That doesn't matter now,</q> Steve +said. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry pursed his lips. <q>Quite a discount.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And these are the fellows that +pass it, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford shifted in his +chair. <q>So what are you building up +to?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve Hackett rubbed the end of +his pug nose with a forefinger in +quick irritation. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Woolford scowled at him. +</p> + +<p> +Hackett said, <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 +<emph>drew</emph> one dollar bills. He was a +tremendous artist. It took us years to +get him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford said, <q>Well, why go +into all this? We're hardly dealing +with amateurs now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve looked at him. <q>That's the +trouble. We are.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Are you batty? Not even your +own experts can tell this product +from real money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I didn't say it was being <emph>made</emph> by +amateurs. It's being <emph>pushed</emph> by amateurs—or +maybe amateur is the better +word.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How do you know?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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 +<pb n='012'/><anchor id='Pg012'/> +where he got it.</q> Steve Hackett said +slowly, <q>Particularly if you give one +as a tip to the <foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>maître d'hôtel</foreign> in a +first-class restaurant. A <foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>maître d'</foreign> holds +his job on the strength of his ability +to remember faces and names.</q> +</p> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p12.png' rend='width: 30%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What else makes you think your +pushers are amateurs?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Amateur,</q> Hackett corrected. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was time to stare now, and Larry +Woolford obliged. <q>A teenager!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>We've had four descriptions of +her, one of them excellent. Fredrick, +the <foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>maître d'</foreign> 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This doesn't seem to make much +sense,</q> Larry Woolford protested. +<q>You have any ideas at all?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The question is,</q> Hackett said, +<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—</q> +</p> + +<p> +The phone rang and Steve flicked +the switch and grumbled, <q>Yeah? +Steven Hackett speaking.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='013'/><anchor id='Pg013'/> + +<p> +He listened for a moment then +banged the phone off and jumped to +his feet. <q>Come on, Larry,</q> he +snapped. <q>This is it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stood, too. <q>Who was that?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Fredrick, over at La Calvados. The +girl has come in for lunch. Let's go!</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +Fredrick, the <foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>maître de hôtel</foreign>, however, +was able to greet them both by +name. <q>Monsieur Hackett, Monsieur +Woolford,</q> he bowed. He obviously +didn't approve of La Calvados being +used as a hangout where counterfeiters +were picked up the authorities. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where is she?</q> Steve said, looking +out over the public dining room. +</p> + +<p> +Fredrick said, unprofessionally agitated, +<q>See here, Monsieur Hackett, +you didn't expect to, ah, arrest the +young lady <emph>here</emph> during our lunch +hour?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve looked at him impatiently. +<q>We don't exactly beat them over the +head with blackjacks, slip the bracelets +on and drag them screaming to +the paddywagon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course not, monsieur, but—</q> +</p> + +<p> +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, <q>We can wait until she +leaves. Where is she?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Fredrick had taken them to one +side. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do you see the young lady over +near the window on the park? The +rather gauche appearing type?</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was a teenager, all right. A +youngster up to her eyebrows in the +attempt to project sophistication. +</p> + +<p> +Steve said, <q>Do you know who she +is?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No,</q> Fredrick said. <q>Hardly our +usual clientele.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh?</q> Larry said. <q>She looks like +money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Fredrick said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's our girl, all right,</q> Steve +murmured. <q>Where can we keep an +eye on her until she leaves?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why not at the bar here, Messieurs?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why not?</q> Larry said. <q>I could +use a drink.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Fredrick cleared his throat. <q>Ah, +Messieurs, that fifty I turned over +you. I suppose it turned out to be +spurious?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve grinned at him. <q>Afraid so, +Fredrick. The department is holding +it.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='014'/><anchor id='Pg014'/> + +<p> +Larry took out his wallet. <q>However, +we have a certain leeway on expenses +on this assignment and appreciate +your co-operation.</q> He +handed two twenties and a ten to the +<foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>maître d'</foreign>. Fredrick bowed low, the +money disappearing into his clothes +magically. <q><foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>Merci bien</foreign>, monsieur.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At the bar, Steve scowled at his +colleague. <q>Ha!</q> he said. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford waggled a finger +at the other. <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.</q> He +pursed his lips judiciously. <q>Although, +come to think of it, that +might mean a demotion from the job +you're holding now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Vodka martini,</q> Steve told the +bartender. <q>Polish vodka, of course.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course, sir.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>Same for me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The bartender left and Steve muttered, +<q>I hate vodka.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yeah,</q> Larry said, <q>But what're +you going to do in a place like this, +order some weird drink?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve dug into his pocket for +money. <q>We're not going to have to +drink them. Here she comes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She walked with her head held +high, hauteur in every step. Ignoring +the peasants at the tables she passed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Holy smokes,</q> Steve grunted. +<q>It's a wonder Fredrick let her in.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +Fifty feet below La Calvados, Steve +said, <q>Let's go, Woolford.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One stepped to one elbow, the +other to the other. Steve said quietly, +<q>I wonder if we could ask you a few +questions?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her eyebrows went up, <q>I <emph>beg</emph> your +pardon!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve sighed and displayed the +badge pinned to his wallet, keeping +it inconspicuous. <q>Secret Service, +Miss,</q> he murmured. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, devil,</q> she said. She looked up +at Larry Woolford, and then back at +Steve. +</p> + +<p> +Steve said, <q>Among other things, +we're in charge of counterfeit money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +<q>I ... I don't know what you're +talking about.</q> Her chin began to +tremble. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said gently, <q>Don't worry. +We just want to ask you some questions.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well ... like what?</q> She was +<pb n='015'/><anchor id='Pg015'/> +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> +Larry said, <q>We think you can be of +assistance to the government, and +we'd like your help.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve rolled his eyes upward, but +turned and waved for a street level +cab. +</p> + +<p> +In the cab, Larry said, <q>Suppose we +go over to my office, Steve?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>O.K. with me,</q> Steve muttered, +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It's Zusanette. Well, really, Susan.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Susan what?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I ... I'm not sure I want to tell +you. I ... I want a lawyer.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A lawyer!</q> Steve snorted. <q>You +mean you want the juvenile authorities, +don't you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, what a mean thing to say,</q> +she sputtered. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +In the corridor outside the Boss' +suite of offices, Larry said to Steve, +<q>You take Miss ... ah, Zusanette +to my office, will you Steve. I'll be +there in a minute.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He opened the door to the anteroom +and said, <q>LaVerne, we've got a +girl in my office—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why, Larry!</q> +</p> + +<p> +He glowered at her. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And, who, Mr. Woolford, was +your girl Friday last year?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sure enough, Larry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He followed Steve and the girl to +his office. +</p> + +<p> +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. <q>Just tell us where +you got the money, Zusanette.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +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, <q>Susan Self, Elwood Avenue.</q> +He looked up at Larry and said, +<q>That's right off Eastern, near Paterson +Park in the Baltimore section of +town, isn't it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said to her, <q>Zusanette, I think +you'd better tell us where you got all +this money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I found it,</q> she said defiantly. +<q>You can't do anything to me if I +simply found it. Anybody can find +money. Finders keepers—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But if it's counterfeit,</q> Steve interrupted +dryly, <q>it might also be, +finders weepers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where did you find it, Zusanette?</q> +Larry said gently. +</p> + +<p> +She tightened her lips, and the +trembling of her chin disappeared. +<q>I ... I can't tell you that. But it's +<pb n='016'/><anchor id='Pg016'/> +not counterfeit. Daddy ... my father +said it was as good as any money +the government prints.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That it is,</q> Steve said sourly. +<q>But it's still counterfeit, which +makes it very illegal indeed to spend, +Miss Self.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She looked from one of them +to the other, not clear about her position. +She said to Larry, <q>You mean +it's not <emph>real</emph> money?</q> +</p> + +<p> +He kept his tone disarming, but +shook his head, <q>I'm afraid not, Zusanette. +Now, tell us, where did you +find it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I can't. I promised</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I see. Then you don't know to +whom it originally belonged?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It didn't belong to anybody.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +Susan Self turned quickly on Steve. +<q>Well, it didn't. You don't even +know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>I think she's telling the +truth, Steve. Give her a chance. She's +playing fair.</q> He looked back at the +girl, and frowned his puzzlement. +<q>All money belongs to <emph>somebody</emph> +doesn't it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She had them now. She said superiorly. +<q>Not necessarily to some<emph>body</emph>. +It can belong to, like, an organization.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve grunted skepticism. <q>I think +we ought to arrest her,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +Larry held up a hand, his face registering +opposition. <q>I'll handle this,</q> +he said sharply. <q>Zusanette is doing +everything she can to co-operate.</q> He +turned back to the girl. <q>Now, the +question is, what organization did this +money belong to?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She looked triumphantly at Steve +Hackett. <q>It belonged to the Movement.</q> +</p> + +<p> +They both looked at her. +</p> + +<p> +Steve said finally, <q>What movement?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She pouted in thought. <q>That's the +only name they call it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Who's they?</q> Steve snapped nastily. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I ... I don't know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>Well, you already told +us your father was a member, Zusanette.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her eyes went wide. <q>I did? I +shouldn't have said that.</q> But she +evidently took him at his word. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said encouragingly, <q>Well, +we might as well go on. Who else is +a member of this Movement besides +your father?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She shifted in her chair uncomfortably. +<q>I don't know any of their names.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve looked down at the school +pass in his hands. He said to Larry, +<q>I'd better make a phone call.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He left. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>Don't worry about him, +Zusanette. Now then, this <emph>movement</emph>. +That's kind of a funny name, isn't it? +What does it mean?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She was evidently glad that the less +than handsome Steve Hackett had +left the room. Her words flowed more +freely. <q>Well, Daddy says that they +<pb n='017'/><anchor id='Pg017'/> +call it the Movement rather than a +revolution....</q> +</p> + +<p> +An ice cube manifested itself in +the stomach of Lawrence Woolford. +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said gently, <q>Your father is +a socialist?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, no.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He nodded in understanding. <q>Oh, +a Communist, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Susan Self was indignant. <q>Daddy +thinks the Communists are strictly +awful, really weird.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve Hackett came back into the +office. He said to Larry, <q>I sent a couple +of the boys out to pick him up.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Susan was on her feet, a hand to +mouth. <q>You mean my father! You're +going to arrest him!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said soothingly, <q>Sit down, +Zusanette. There's a lot of things +about this that I'm sure your father +can explain.</q> He said to Steve, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Susan said indignantly, <q>It's American, +not anything foreign!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve growled, <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She evidently figured she'd gone +too far now to take a stand. <q>It's not +Daddy's fault,</q> she said. <q>He took me +to headquarters twice.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where's headquarters?</q> Larry said +trying to keep his voice soothing. +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But where did you find the money, +Zusannette?</q> Larry said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>At headquarters. There's tons and +tons of it there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry cleared his throat and said, +<q>When you say tons and tons, you +mean a great deal of it, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She was proudly definite. <q>I mean +<pb n='018'/><anchor id='Pg018'/> +tons and tons. A ton is two thousand +pounds.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Look, Zusanette,</q> Larry said reasonably. +<q>I don't know how much +money weighs, exactly, but let's say a +pound would be, say, a thousand bills.</q> +He took up a pencil and scribbled on +a pad before him. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And that's just the fifties,</q> Susan +said triumphantly. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I don't think there's quite a thousand +bills in a pound,</q> Steve said weakly. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>How much other money +is there?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, piles. Whole rooms. Rooms +after rooms. And hundred dollar bills, +and twenties, and fives, and tens—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her mouth tightened. <q>I'm not going +to say anything more until Daddy +gets here, anyway,</q> she said. +</p> + +<p> +Which was when the phone rang. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have an idea that's for me,</q> +Steve said. +</p> + +<p> +The screen lit up and LaVerne Polk +said, <q>Call for Steve Hackett, Larry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry pushed the phone around so +Steve could look into it. LaVerne +flicked off and was replaced by a +stranger in uniform. Steve said, +<q>Yeah?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The cop said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Susan gasped, <q>You mean Daddy?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve Hackett rubbed a hand over +his flattened nose. <q>Holy Smokes,</q> he +said. He thanked the cop and flicked +off. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She looked at him, taken back. +<q>How did you know?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said dryly, <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +That evidently puzzled her. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve said, carefully, <q>Professor +who?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Susan said, <q>Just the Professor. +That's all we ever call him.</q> Her chin +went to trembling still again. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<pb n='019'/><anchor id='Pg019'/> + +<p> +Larry summed it up for the Boss +later. +</p> + +<p> +His chief scoffed his disbelief. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford said mildly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss said tolerantly, <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Susan Self says her father, Ernest +Self, is an inventor. Steve Hackett is +working on locating him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +His operative twisted his face in a +grimace. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other shook his head tolerantly. +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Niccolo Machiavelli was currently +<emph>the thing</emph> to read. Larry said with a +certain dignity, <q>I've gone through +<q>The Prince,</q> the <q>Discourses</q> and currently +I'm amusing myself with his +<q>History of Florence.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Anybody who can amuse himself +reading Machiavelli,</q> the Boss said +dryly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry frowned and said, <q>Well, +what's your point, sir?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss said patiently, <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 +<pb n='020'/><anchor id='Pg020'/> +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 <emph>masses</emph> 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss nodded. <q>That is correct. +The <emph>leaders</emph> 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +The Boss wound it up. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His trouble shooter cleared his +throat. <q>I suppose you're right, sir.</q> +He added hesitantly. <q>We could always +give Susan Self a few drops of +Scop-Serum, sir.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss scowled disapprovingly. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry came to his feet. <q>Well, then, +I'll resume my vacation, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +His chief took up a report from his +desk an frowned at it, his attention +already passing to other matters. He +grunted, <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.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +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 +<pb n='021'/><anchor id='Pg021'/> +and the bass fishing on the +St. John's River. +</p> + +<p> +He stopped at LaVerne's desk and +gave her his address to be, now that +his vacation was resumed. +</p> + +<p> +She said, smiling up at him. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry looked at her. <q>How'd you +know about Susan?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her tone was deprecating. <q>Remember? +You had me cut some +tapes on you and that hulking Steve +Hackett grilling the poor kid.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry snorted. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What are they going to do with +her? She's just a child.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The agent shrugged. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry winced. <q>You know what +he's been saying about the administration.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She smiled sweetly at him. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>Look, we could take in +the Brahms concert, then—</q> +</p> + +<pb n='022'/><anchor id='Pg022'/> + +<p> +<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 +<q>Sunny Side of the Street,</q> and <q>Just +the Way You Look Tonight</q>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry winced again. He said, <q>Look, +I admit, I don't go for concerts either +but it doesn't hurt you to—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I know,</q> she said sweetly. <q>It +doesn't hurt for a bright young bureaucrat +to be seen at concerts.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How about Dixieland?</q> he said. +<q>It's all the thing now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, now, LaVerne, get off my +back.</q> He thought about it. <q>Look, +you must have <emph>something</emph> you could +wear.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Get out of here, you vacant minded +conformist! I <emph>like</emph> Mort Lenny, he +makes me laugh; I <emph>hate</emph> vodka martinis, +they give me sour stomach; I +don't <emph>like</emph> the current women's styles, +nor the men's either.</q> LaVerne spun +back to her auto-typer and began to +dictate into it. +</p> + +<p> +Larry glared down at her. <q>All +right. O.K. What <emph>do</emph> you like?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She snapped back irrationally, <q>I +like what <emph>I</emph> like.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He laughed at her in ridicule. +</p> + +<p> +This time she glared at him. <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!</q> +</p> + +<p> +He turned on his heel angrily. +<q>O.K., O.K., it takes all sorts to make a +world, weirds and all.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>One more label to hang on people,</q> +she snarled after him. <q>Everything's +labels. Be sure and never +come to any judgments of your own!</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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 +<pb n='023'/><anchor id='Pg023'/> +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> +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> +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> +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> +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> +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> +He couldn't get beyond the first +page or two. +</p> + +<p> +And when you can't concentrate +on a Western, you just can't concentrate. +</p> + +<p> +He finished his drink, went over to +his phone and dialed <hi rend='italic'>Department of +Records</hi> and then <hi rend='italic'>Information</hi>. When +the bright young thing answered, he +said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She did things with switches and +buttons for a moment and then +brought a sheet from a delivery chute. +<q>Do you want me to read it to you, +sir?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No, I'll scan it,</q> Larry said. +</p> + +<p> +Her face faded to be replaced by +the brief on Ernest Self. +</p> + +<p> +It was astonishingly short. <hi rend='italic'>Records</hi> +seemed to have slipped up on this occasion. +A rare occurrence. He considered +requesting the full dossier, then +changed his mind. Instead he dialed +<pb n='024'/><anchor id='Pg024'/> +the number of the <hi rend='italic'>Sun-Post</hi> and +asked for its science columnist. +</p> + +<p> +Sam Sokolski's puffy face eventually +faded in. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said to him sourly, <q>You +drink too much. You can begin to see +the veins breaking in your nose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam looked at him patiently. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>How'd you like to +come over and toss back a few tonight?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm working. I thought you were +on vacation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry sighed. <q>I am,</q> he said. <q>O.K., +so you can't take a night off and lift a +few with an old buddy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right. Anything else, Larry?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes. Look, have you ever heard of +an inventor named Ernest Self?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sure I've heard of him. Covered a +hassle he got into some years ago. A +nice guy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'll bet,</q> Larry said. <q>What does he +invent, something to do with printing +presses, or something?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Printing presses? Don't you remember +the story about him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Brief me,</q> Larry said. +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>You're being <emph>too</emph> brief. +What d'ya mean, he sued? Why?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Had he?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Probably.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry didn't get it. <q>Then why'd +they turn him down?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford was scowling. +<q>Something wrong with his math? +What kind of a degree does he have?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam grinned in memory. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No wonder they turned him down. +No degree at all. You can't get anywhere +in science like that.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Who said that?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Professor Voss. Not that it makes +any difference what he says. Another +crackpot.</q> +</p> + +<p> +After Sam's less than handsome face +<pb n='025'/><anchor id='Pg025'/> +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 +<hi rend='italic'>Records</hi> again. +</p> + +<p> +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> +On the face of it, the man was no +radical, and the term <q>crackpot</q> +which Sam had applied was hardly +called for. +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford went back to the +bar and resumed the job of mixing +his own version of a rum flip. +</p> + +<p> +But his heart wasn't in it. <hi rend='italic'>The Professor</hi>, +Susan had said. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +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> +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, <q>All right, who is it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +A Teutonic voice chuckled and +said, <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford was waking up. He +said, <q>What can I do for you, Distelmayer?</q> +The German merchant-of-espionage +wasn't the type to make +personal calls. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Have you forgotten so soon, my +friend?</q> the other chuckled. <q>It was I +who was going to do you a favor.</q> He +hesitated momentarily, before adding, +<q>In possible return for future—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yeah, yeah,</q> Larry said. He was +fully awake now. +</p> + +<p> +The German said slowly, <q>You +asked if any of your friends from, ah, +abroad were newly in the country. +Frol Eivazov has recently appeared on +the scene.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Eivazov! In various respects, Larry +Woolford's counterpart. Hatchetman +for the <hi rend='italic'>Chrezvychainaya Komissiya</hi>. +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 +<pb n='026'/><anchor id='Pg026'/> +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 <emph>blandly</emph> treat the other to a +hole in the head, possibly in some +dark alley in Havana or Singapore, +Leopoldville or Saigon. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said sharply, <q>Where is he? +How'd he get in the country?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My friend, my friend,</q> the German +grunted good-humoredly. <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 <foreign rend='italic'>Komissiya</foreign> less capable than your +own department and unable to do +him up suitable papers so that he +could be, perhaps, a <q>returning tourist</q> +from Europe?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford was impatient with +himself for asking. He said now, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I wouldn't think so,</q> the other +said humorously. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry was in no frame of mind for +the other's heavy humor. <q>Look, +Hans,</q> he said, <q>what I want to know +is what Frol is over here for.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course you do,</q> Hans Distelmayer +said, unable evidently to keep +note of puzzlement from his voice. +<q>Larry,</q> he said, <q>I assume your people +know of the new American underground.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><emph>What</emph> underground?</q> Larry +snapped. +</p> + +<p> +The professional spy chief said, his +voice strange, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stared at the blank phone +screen. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What kind of a change?</q> he said +finally. <q>You mean a change to the +Soviet system?</q> 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> +<q>No, no, no,</q> the German chuckled. +<q>Of course not. It's not of their +working at all.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then what's Frol Eivazov's interest, +if they aren't engineering it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Distelmayer rumbled his characteristic +chuckle with humor. <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 +<pb n='027'/><anchor id='Pg027'/> +into modernizing the more backward +countries among your satellites.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said automatically, <q>Our allies +aren't satellites.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The spy-master went on without +contesting the statement. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry snorted his disgust. <q>What +sort of change in government would +strengthen the United States in—</q> +</p> + +<p> +The German interrupted smoothly, +<q>Evidently, that's what Frol seems to +be here for, Larry. To find out more +about this movement and—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This <emph>what</emph>?</q> Larry blurted. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The term seems to be <emph>movement</emph>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford held a long silence +before saying, <q>And Frol is actually +here in this country to buck this ... +this movement.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not necessarily,</q> the other said +impatiently. <q>He is here to find out +more about it. Evidently Peking and +Moscow have heard just enough to +make them nervous.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>You have anything +more, Hans?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm afraid that's about it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>All right,</q> Larry said. He added +absently, <q>Thanks, Hans.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Thank me some day with deeds, +not with words,</q> the German chuckled. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +Grudgingly, he dialed the phone +company's Personal Service and said +to the impossibly cheerful blonde +who answered, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +The blonde rang him back. Professor +Peter Voss was at home. He had +no classes today. She gave him the +address. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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 +<pb n='028'/><anchor id='Pg028'/> +neighborhood, while Self's was +just short of a slum these days. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +It was obviously the Professor himself +who answered. +</p> + +<p> +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> +A weird, Larry decided immediately. +He wondered at the University, +one of the nation's best, keeping on +such a figure. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Professor Voss?</q> he said. <q>Lawrence +Woolford.</q> He brought forth +his identification. +</p> + +<p> +The Professor blinked down at it. +<q>I see,</q> he said. <q>Won't you come +in?</q> +</p> + +<p> +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 <foreign rend='italic'>entrada</foreign> hadn't +even a screen—an old model for +speaking only. +</p> + +<p> +The Professor noticed his glance +and said dryly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry cleared his throat without +saying anything. This was a weird +one, all right. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +The Professor took up a battered +<pb n='029'/><anchor id='Pg029'/> +humidor. <q>Cigar?</q> he said. <q>Manila. +Hard to get these days.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A cigar? Good grief, the man +would be offering him a chaw of tobacco +next. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Thanks, no,</q> Larry said. <q>I smoke +a pipe.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I see,</q> the Professor said, lighting +his stogie. <q>Do you really like a pipe? +Personally, I've always thought the +cigar by far the most satisfactory +method of taking tobacco.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +He said, to get things under way, +<q>Professor Voss, what is an intuitive +scientist?</q> +</p> + +<p> +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. <q>Intuitive +scientist?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You once called Ernest Self a +great intuitive scientist.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, Self. Yes, indeed. What is he +doing these days?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said wryly, <q>That's what I +came to ask you about.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor was puzzled. <q>I'm +afraid you came to the wrong place, +Mr. Woolford. I haven't seen Ernest +for quite a time. Why?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Peter Voss looked at the ash on the +end of his cigar. <q>I really don't know +the man that well. He lives across the +park. Why don't—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He's disappeared,</q> Larry said. +</p> + +<p> +The Professor blinked. <q>I see,</q> he +said. <q>And in view of the fact that you +are a security officer, I assume under +strange circumstances.</q> Larry Woolford +said nothing and the Professor +sank back into his chair and pursed +his lips. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>I've heard about his suit +against the government.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor became more animated. +<q>Ha!</q> he snorted. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford was feeling his +way. Now he said mildly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Were you really?</q> the Professor +said snappishly. <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 +<pb n='030'/><anchor id='Pg030'/> +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!</q> +</p> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p30.png' rend='width: 60%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +Larry held up a hand. <q>Really,</q> he +said. <q>My interest is in Ernest Self.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor relaxed. <q rend='pre'>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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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 +<pb n='031'/><anchor id='Pg031'/> +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.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Larry Woolford figured he was +picking up background and didn't +force a change of subject. <q>Just what +do you mean by intuitive scientist?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It's a term I have used loosely,</q> +the Professor admitted. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm afraid that last name escapes +me,</q> Larry said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Similar to Self's case and Robert +Goddard's,</q> Voss said, his voice bitter. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, almost with amusement, +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor snorted his contempt. +<q>Tell me,</q> he said, <q>to which +class do you consider yourself to +belong?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford shrugged. <q>I suppose +individuals in my bracket are +usually thought of as being middle-middle +class.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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 +<pb n='032'/><anchor id='Pg032'/> +parties, the international born +set, bearers of meaningless feudalistic +titles. These are your upper-upper +class!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry laughed. +</p> + +<p> +The Professor snapped, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor wound it up. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stared at him blankly. +</p> + +<p> +The Professor said snappishly, <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.</q> The Professor +grunted his contempt. <q>He doesn't +know the difference between an aspirin +tablet and a Rorschach test.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford stirred in his chair. +<q>We seem to have gotten far off the +subject. What has this got to do with +Self?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor seemed angry. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He smiled suddenly, rather elfishly, +at the security agent. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='033'/><anchor id='Pg033'/> + +<p> +The Professor said, <q>Ernest Self? +Surely you are jesting.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said unhappily, <q>Then here's +another question. Have you ever heard +him mention belonging to a movement, +or, I think, he might word it +<hi rend='italic'>The Movement</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Movement?</q> the Professor said +emptily. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Evidently a revolutionary group +interested in the overthrow of the +government.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good heavens,</q> the Professor said. +<q>Just a moment, Mr. Woolford. You +interrupted me just as I was having +my second cup of coffee. Do you +mind if I—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Certainly not,</q> Woolford shook +his head. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I simply can't get along until after +my third cup,</q> the Professor said. +<q>You just wait a moment and I'll +bring the pot in here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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, +<q>You'll join me? How do you take +it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry still had the slightest of +hang-overs from his solitary drinking +of the night before. <q>Thanks. Make +it black,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +The Professor poured, served, then +did up a cup for himself. He sat back +in his chair and said, <q>Now, where +were we? Something about a revolutionary +group. What has that to do +with counterfeiting?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry sipped the strong coffee. <q>It +seems there might be a connection.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor shook his head. <q>It's +hard to imagine Ernest Self being +connected with a criminal pursuit.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said carefully, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor gaped at him. +</p> + +<p> +Larry chuckled uncomfortably. +</p> + +<p> +Professor Voss said finally, his +voice very even, <q>My dear sir, I am +afraid that I evidently can be of little +assistance to you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Admittedly, it doesn't seem to +make much sense.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Susan—you mean that little sixteen +year old?—said <emph>I</emph> was in favor of +spending counterfeit money on chorus +girls?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said unhappily, <q>She used the +term <hi rend='italic'>the Professor</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>In my profession, Professor +<pb n='034'/><anchor id='Pg034'/> +Voss, we track down every +possible clue. Thus far, you are the +only professor of whom we know +who was connected with Ernest Self.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Voss said stiffly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +He finished the coffee preparatory +to coming to his feet. <q>Then you +think it's out of the question, Ernest +Self belonging to a revolutionary organization?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor protested. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford decided he'd better +hang on for at least a few more +words. <q>You don't seem to think, +yourself, that a subversive organization +is undesirable in this country.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor's voice was reasonable. +<q>Isn't that according to what it +means to subvert?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You know what I mean,</q> Woolford +said in irritation. <q>I don't usually +think of revolutionists, even when +they call themselves simply members +of a <emph>movement</emph>, as exactly idealists.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then you're wrong,</q> the Professor +said definitely, pouring himself another +cup of coffee. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford began to say, <q>Are +you sure that you aren't interested in +this <emph>move—</emph></q> +</p> + +<p> +But it was then that the knockout +drops hit him. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +He came out of the fog feeling +nausea and with his head splitting. +He groaned and opened one eye experimentally. +</p> + +<p> +Steve Hackett, far away, said, <q>He's +snapping out of it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry groaned again, opened the +other eye and attempted to focus. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What happened?</q> he muttered. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Now that's an original question,</q> +Steve said. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +Larry said, his fingers pressing into +his forehead, <q>My head's killing me. +Damn it, what's going on?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve said sarcastically, <q>You've +been slipped a mickey, my cloak and +dagger friend, and the bird has flown.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You mean the Professor? He's a +bird all right.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='035'/><anchor id='Pg035'/> + +<p> +<q>Humor we get, yet,</q> Hackett said, +his ugly face scowling. <q>Listen, I +thought you people had pulled out of +this case.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry sat up and swung his two feet +around to the floor. <q>So did I,</q> he +moaned, <q>but there were two or three +things that bothered me and I thought +I'd tidy them up before leaving.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You tidied them up all right,</q> +Steve grumbled. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One of Hackett's men came up and +said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve growled to him, <q>Give the +place the works. He's probably left +some clues around that'll give us a +line.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other went off and Steve Hackett +sat down in one of the leather +chairs and glowered at Larry Woolford. +<q>Listen,</q> he said, <q>what did you +people want with Susan Self?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry shook his head for clarity and +looked at him. <q>Susan? What are you +talking about? You don't have any +aspirin, do you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Who's Betsy Hughes?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve shook his head. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stared at him. Finally he said, +<q>What time is it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>About two o'clock.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <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 <emph>couldn't've</emph> called this +Betsy Hughes operative of yours.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was Steve Hackett's turn to +stare. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You mean your department doesn't +have Susan Self?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, great,</q> Steve snarled. <q>There +goes our last contact. Ernest Self, +Professor Voss, and now Susan Self; +they've all disappeared.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Look,</q> Larry said unhappily, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve snorted sarcastically. <q>If you +can foul things up this well when +<pb n='036'/><anchor id='Pg036'/> +you're off the case, God only knows +what you'll accomplish using your +facilities on an all-out basis.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The Boss said slowly, <q>Whoever +we are working against evidently +isn't short of resources. Abducting +that young lady was no simple matter.</q> +The career diplomat worked his +lips in and out, in all but a pout. +</p> + +<p> +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> +The Boss said sourly, <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.</q> He stirred +in his chair and his scowl went deeper. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>The trouble is, we +don't even know what it is they +want.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>However,</q> his superior said slowly, +<q>we are beginning to get inklings.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve Hackett said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss looked at him. <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, <emph>un-American</emph> in the +usually accepted sense of the word.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The two younger men looked at +him as though he was joking. +</p> + +<p> +He shook his heavy head negatively. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A <emph>quantity</emph> is right,</q> Steve Hackett +blurted. <q>If we're to accept what that +Self kid told us, they have a few billion +dollars worth of perfect bills on +hand.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A strange amount for counterfeiters +to produce,</q> The Boss said uncomfortably. +<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?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='037'/><anchor id='Pg037'/> + +<p> +Larry said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss was shaking his head. +<q>You're not thinking clearly, Lawrence. +Revolution, <hi rend='italic'>per se</hi>, 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 <hi rend='italic'>in toto</hi>. 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then what's the whole purpose of +this department, sir?</q> Larry argued. +<q>Why've we been formed to combat +foreign and domestic subversion?</q> +</p> + +<p> +His chief sighed. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What are we getting at, sir?</q> +Steve Hackett said, impatiently. +</p> + +<p> +The Boss shrugged. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, desperately, <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve Hackett snorted, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss sighed. <q>Well,</q> he said, +<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.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='038'/><anchor id='Pg038'/> + +<p> +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> +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> +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> +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> +He finished his final cup of coffee +in the living room and took up the +<pb n='039'/><anchor id='Pg039'/> +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> +He sat down before the phone and +dialed the offices of the <hi rend='italic'>Sun-Post</hi> and +eventually got Sam Sokolski who this +time beat him to the punch. +</p> + +<p> +Sam said, <q>You shouldn't drink +alone. Listen, Larry, why don't you +get in touch with Alcoholics Anonymous. +It's a great outfit.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You ought to know,</q> Larry growled. +<q>Look, Sam, as science columnist for +that rag you work for you probably +come in touch with a lot of eggheads.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Laddy-buck, you have said it,</q> +Sam said. +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford stared at him. <q>Are +you kidding, Sam?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other was mystified. <q>Why +should I kid you? As a matter of fact, +<pb n='040'/><anchor id='Pg040'/> +I was thinking of doing a column one +of these days on Voss and this Movement +of his.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><emph>Voss</emph> and this movement of his!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sure,</q> Sam said, <q>he's the top +leader.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, great,</q> Larry growled. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I seem to spend half my time +briefing you in information any semi-moron +ought to be up on,</q> Sam said +nastily. <q>However, <emph>briefly</emph>, 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I keep running into this term,</q> +Larry complained. <q>What do you +mean, social-label judgments, and +how can they possibly louse up the +country?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam said, <q rend='pre'>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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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 <q>Human beings +are never lice</q> should apply.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>What in the devil's +this got to do with the race between +this country and the Russkies?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam said patiently, <q rend='pre'>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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>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 <emph>his</emph> lack of judgment +is no handicap.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>According to members of the +Movement, today the tribesman type +<pb n='041'/><anchor id='Pg041'/> +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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It sounds awfully weird to me,</q> +Larry grumbled in deprecation. +</p> + +<p> +Sam shrugged. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam said mildly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry looked accusingly at his long-time +friend. <q>You know, Sam, you +sound as though you approve of all +this.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam said patiently, <q>I listen to it +all, Larry my boy. I think Voss makes +a lot of sense. There's only one drawback.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And that is?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry thought about it for a moment. +</p> + +<p> +Sam said, <q>Look, I'm working, Larry. +Was there anything else?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>You wouldn't know +where I could get hold of Voss, +would you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>At his home, I imagine, or at the +University.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He's disappeared. We're looking +for him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam laughed. <q>Gone underground, +eh? The old boy is getting romantic.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Does he have any particular +friends who might be putting him +up?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sam thought about it. <q>There's +Frank Nostrand. You know, that rocket +<pb n='042'/><anchor id='Pg042'/> +expert who was fired when he got +in the big hassle with Senator McCord.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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 rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p42.png' rend='width: 60%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +One result, he decided glumly, of +labeling everything contrary to the +<hi rend='italic'>status quo</hi> as <emph>weird</emph> and dismissing it +with contempt. Admittedly, that +would have been his own reaction +only a week ago. +</p> + +<p> +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 +<emph>movement</emph> to change society's use of +them. The discussion would have +gone in one ear, out the other, and he +would have muttered inwardly, +<q>Weirds,</q> and have drifted on to get +himself another vodka martini. +</p> + +<p> +Larry snorted and dialed the Department +of Records. He'd never +heard of Frank Nostrand before, so he +got Information. +</p> + +<p> +The bright young thing who answered +seemed to have a harried expression +untypical of Records employees. +Larry said to her, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Just a moment, sir,</q> the bright +young thing said. +</p> + +<p> +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> +<q>Mr. Franklin Howard Nostrand,</q> +she said, <q>currently employed by +Madison Air as a rocket research technician.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That must be him,</q> Larry said. +<q>I'm in a hurry, Miss. What's his +background?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her eyes rounded. <q>It says ... it +says he's an Archbishop of the Anglican +Church.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford looked at her. +</p> + +<p> +She looked back, pleadingly. +</p> + +<p> +Larry scowled and said, <q>His university +degrees, please.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her eyes darted to the report and +she swallowed. <q>A bachelor in Home +Economics, sir.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Look here, Miss, how could a +Home Economics degree result in his +becoming either an Archbishop or a +rocket technician?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm sorry, sir. That's what it says.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry was fuming but there was no +point in taking it out on this junior +employee of the Department of Records. +He snapped, <q>Just give me his +address, please.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She said agonizingly, <q>Sir, it says, +Lhasa, Tibet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A red light flicked at the side of +his phone and he said to her, <q>I'll call +you back. I'm getting a priority call.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='043'/><anchor id='Pg043'/> + +<p> +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> +<q>Larry,</q> she said, <q>you better get +over here right away.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What's up, LaVerne?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This Movement,</q> she said, <q>it +seems to have started moving! The +Boss says to get over here soonest.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +He took the police level for maximum +speed and was in downtown +Greater Washington in flat minutes. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +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> +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> +The Boss growled at him, <q>Where +in the heavens have you been, Lawrence?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Following our leads on this so-called +Movement, sir,</q> Larry told him. +<q>What's going on?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruthenberg, the Department of +Justice man, grunted sour amusement. +<q>So-called Movement, isn't exactly +the correct phrase. It's a Movement, +all right.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss said, <q>Please dial Records +and get your dossier, Lawrence. That'll +be the quickest way to bring you +up on developments.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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 +<pb n='044'/><anchor id='Pg044'/> +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> +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> +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> +Moskowitz said, <q>With a name +like mine, yet, they have me a Bishop +of the Orthodox Greek Catholic +Church.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>What's it all about?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruthenberg said unhappily, <q>It +started early this morning. We don't +know exactly when as yet.</q> Which +didn't seem to answer the question. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>I don't get it. Obviously, +the Records department is fouled +up in some manner. How, and why?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How, we know,</q> the Boss rumbled +disgustedly. <q>Why is another matter. +You've spent more time than anyone +else on this assignment, Lawrence. +Perhaps you can tell us.</q> 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. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We've caught most of them already,</q> +one of the F.B.I. men growled, +<q>but damn little good that does us at +this point.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The C.I.A. supervisor made a gesture +indicating that he gave it all up. +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said slowly, <q>I think I know +that now. Yesterday, I wouldn't have +but I've been picking up odds and +ends.</q> +</p> + +<p> +They all looked at him. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Larry sat down and ran a hand back +through his hair. <q>The general idea is +to change the country's reliance on +social-label judgments.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>On <emph>what</emph>,</q> the Boss barked. +</p> + +<p> +<q>On one person judging another +according to social-labels. Voss and +the others—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Who did you say?</q> Ruthenberg +snapped. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Voss. Professor Peter Voss from +the University over in Baltimore section. +He's the ring leader.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruthenberg snapped to Fraina, +<q>Get on the phone and send out a +pick-up order for him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Fraina was on his feet. <q>What +charge, Ben?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='045'/><anchor id='Pg045'/> + +<p> +Ben Ruthenberg snorted. <q>Rape, +or something. Get moving, we'll figure +out a charge later. The guy's a +fruitcake.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said wearily, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss looked at him in disgust. +</p> + +<p> +Ruthenberg said evenly, <q>We've +had men go into hiding before. Get +going, Fraina.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Fraina left the office and the others +looked back to Larry. +</p> + +<p> +The Boss said, <q>About this social-label +nonsense—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Their expressions ran from scowls +and frowns to complete puzzlement. +</p> + +<p> +Walt Foster grumbled, <q>What's all +this got to do with sabotaging the +country's Records tapes?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry shrugged. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne's face lit up the screen on +the Boss' desk and she said, <q>Those +two members of the Movement who +were picked up in Alexandria are +here, sir.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Send them in,</q> the Boss rumbled. +He looked at Larry. <q>The F.B.I. managed +to arrest almost everyone directly +involved in the sabotage.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +The Boss said, <q>Your situation is +an unhappy one, gentlemen.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One of the two shrugged. +</p> + +<p> +The Boss said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One of them grinned and then +yawned. <q>I doubt it,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +The Boss tried a slightly different +tack. <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.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='046'/><anchor id='Pg046'/> + +<p> +The more articulate of the two +shrugged again. <q>We were expendable,</q> +he said. <q>However, it won't be +long before we're free again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You think so?</q> Ruthenberg +grunted. +</p> + +<p> +The revolutionist looked at him. +<q>Yes, I do,</q> he said. <q>Six months from +now and we'll be heroes since by that +time the Movement will have been a +success.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss snorted. <q>Just because +you deranged the Records? Why +that's but temporary.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not so temporary as you think,</q> +the technician replied. <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, <emph>all</emph> 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>First step!</q> Larry blurted. +</p> + +<p> +The two prisoners looked at him. +<q>That's right,</q> the quieter of the two +said. <q>This is just the first step.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don't kid yourselves,</q> Ben Ruthenberg +snapped at them. <q>It's also the +last!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The two members of the Movement +grinned at him. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +When the others had gone, the +Boss looked at Larry Woolford. He +said sourly, <q>When this department +was being formed, I doubt anyone +had in mind this particular type of +subversion, Lawrence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry grunted. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry leaned forward. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His superior looked at him, waiting +for him to continue. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said urgently, <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 +<pb n='047'/><anchor id='Pg047'/> +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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss thought about that. He +said slowly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sure,</q> Larry said. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss was shaking his head. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stood up, approached his +chief's desk and leaned over it urgently. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford made a hard decision +quickly. He was shaking his +head. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss glared at him. <q>You +mean you're refusing this assignment, +Woolford. Confound it, don't you +realize it's a promotion?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry was worriedly dogged. <q>Sir, +I'd rather stay in the field.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='048'/><anchor id='Pg048'/> + +<p> +<q>Very well,</q> the other snapped disgustedly, +<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.</q> He flicked +on the phone and snapped to LaVerne +Polk, <q>Miss Polk, locate Walter +Foster for me. He is to take over our +end of this Movement matter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne said, <q>Yes, sir,</q> and her +face was gone. +</p> + +<p> +The Boss looked up, still scowling. +<q>What are you waiting for, Woolford?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, sir,</q> 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> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +At LaVerne's desk, Larry stopped +off long enough to say, <q>Did you ever +assign that secretary to me?</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne shook her head at him. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'll give you Irene Day,</q> LaVerne +said. <q>Where are you off to +now, Larry?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Probably a wild goose chase,</q> Larry +growled. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Frank Nostrand,</q> LaVerne said +briskly. <q>Will do, Larry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +He sat down at the desk and dialed +an inter-office number. +</p> + +<p> +The harassed looking face of Walter +Foster faded in. On seeing Larry +Woolford he growled accusingly, <q>My +pal. You've let them dump this +whole thing into my lap.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry grinned at him. <q>Better you +than me, old buddy. Besides, it's a +promotion. Pull this off and you'll be +the Boss' right-hand man.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's a laugh,</q> Foster said. <q>It's a +madhouse. This Movement gang is +as weird as they come.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I bleed for you,</q> Larry said. +<q>However, here's a tip. Frol Eivazov, +of the <hi rend='italic'>Chrezvychainaya Komissiya</hi> is +somewhere in the country.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Frol Eivazov!</q> Foster blurted. +<q>What've the Commies got to do with +this? Is this something the Boss +knows about?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='049'/><anchor id='Pg049'/> + +<p> +<q>Haven't had time to go into it +with him,</q> Larry said. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p49.png' rend='width: 30%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +Walt Foster said, <q>O.K. I'll put +some people on it. Maybe the F.B.I. +can help.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +She said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Fine,</q> he said. Larry grinned at +her. <q>When are we going to have +that date, LaVerne?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She made a face. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was his turn to grimace. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She stuck out her tongue at him, +and flicked off. +</p> + +<p> +He looked at the empty screen and +chuckled. He had half a mind to get a +record of their conversation, strip out +<pb n='050'/><anchor id='Pg050'/> +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> +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> +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> +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> +He might have saved himself the +trip. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +Disgruntled, Larry Woolford dialed +the offices, asked for Walt Foster. It +took nearly ten minutes before his +colleague faded in. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm up to my eyebrows, Larry. +What'd you want?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry gave him Frank Nostrand's +address. <q>This guy's disappeared, +Walt.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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 <emph>him</emph> up, I've got a +sneaking suspicion we'll have the so-called +Movement licked.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Walt Foster slapped a hand to his +face in anguish. <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!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stared at him. Already Walt +<pb n='051'/><anchor id='Pg051'/> +Foster was making sounds like an +enraged superior. +</p> + +<p> +He said mildly, <q>Sorry, Walt. I +came down here on a very meager +tip. I didn't really expect it to pan +out.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sorry,</q> Larry repeated mildly. +Then, <q>I don't imagine you've got +hold of Frol Eivazov yet?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other was disgusted. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Maybe you're right,</q> Larry said. +<q>But you never know. He might +know things we don't. See you later.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Walt Foster stared at him for a +moment as though about to say something, +but then tightened his lips and +faded off. +</p> + +<p> +Larry looked at the phone screen +for a moment. <q>Did that phony expect +me to call him <emph>sir</emph>,</q> he muttered. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The next two days dissolved into +routine. +</p> + +<p> +Frustrated, Larry Woolford spent +most of his time in his office digesting +developments, trying to find a new +line of attack. +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +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> +Steve growled, <q>What is it Woolford? +I'm as busy as a whirling dervish +in a revolving door.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So?</q> Steve said impatiently. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Remember her description of +headquarters?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Go on,</q> Steve rapped. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What did it remind you of?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What are you leading to?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='052'/><anchor id='Pg052'/> + +<p> +<q>This is just a hunch,</q> Larry persisted, +<q>but the way she described the +manner in which her father took her +to headquarters suggests they're in +the Greater Washington area.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve was staring at him disgustedly. +How obvious could you get? +</p> + +<p> +Larry hurried on. <q>What's the biggest +business in this area, Steve?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Government.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Right. And the way she described +headquarters of the Movement, was +rooms, after rooms, after rooms into +which they'd stored the money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said urgently, <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—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve said wearily, <q>You couldn't +have thought of this two days ago.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry cut himself off sharply, +<q>Eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Steve said, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But the money?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The money was gone,</q> Steve said +bitterly. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said sourly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other's face faded off. +</p> + +<p> +Larry Woolford looked across the +double desk at Irene Day. <q>Look,</q> he +said, <q>when you're offered a promotion, +take it. If you don't, someone +else will and you'll be out in the +cold.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Irene Day said brightly, <q>I've always +know that, sir.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He looked at her. The typical eager +beaver. Sharp as a whip. Bright as a +button. <q>I'll bet you have,</q> he muttered. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I beg your pardon, Mr. Woolford?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The phone lit as LaVerne said, +<q>The Boss wants to talk to you, Larry.</q> +Her face faded and Larry's superior +was scowling at him. +</p> + +<p> +He snapped, <q>Did you get anything +on this medical records thing, +Woolford?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Medical records?</q> Larry said +blankly. +</p> + +<p> +The Boss grunted in deprecation. +<pb n='053'/><anchor id='Pg053'/> +<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.</q> He flicked off +abruptly. +</p> + +<p> +Larry dialed LaVerne Polk. <q>What +in the world was the Boss just talking +about, LaVerne? About medical records?</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne said, frowning, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He looked at her, expressionlessly. +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne said, <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 <emph>any</emph> doctor you +don't really know about, work on +you. It's a madhouse, Larry.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Larry Woolford, for long moments +after LaVerne had broken the connection, +stared unseeingly at his secretary +across from him until she stirred. +</p> + +<p> +He brought his eyes back to the +present. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Irene Day blinked at him. <q>I don't +know, I'm sure, sir.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>Get me Mr. Foster on +the phone, Irene.</q> +</p> + +<p> +When Walt Foster's unhappy face +faded in, Larry said, <q>Walt did you +get Frol Eivazov?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Eivazov?</q> the other said impatiently. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It wasn't a hunch,</q> Larry said +tightly. <q>He's in this country on an +assignment dealing with the Movement.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, that's your opinion,</q> Foster +said snappishly. <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?</q> +He considered it a moment. +<q>That's an order, Woolford. Even if +you don't locate him, it'll keep you out +of our hair.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +Larry said slowly, <q>Miss Day, dial +me Hans Distelmayer. His offices are +over in the Belmont Building.</q> +</p> + +<p> +As always, the screen remained +blank as the German spy master +spoke. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>Hans, I want to talk to +Frol Eivazov.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='054'/><anchor id='Pg054'/> + +<p> +<q>I want to know where I can find +him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The German's voice was humorously +gruff. <q>My friend, my friend.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said impatiently, <q>I'm not interested +in arresting him at this time. +I want to talk to him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other said heavily. <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....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ha!</q> Larry said bitterly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>... And,</q> the German continued, +unruffled, <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 +<hi rend='italic'>Chrezvychainaya Komissiya</hi>?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not unless somebody paid you +enough to make it worth while,</q> +Larry said dryly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Exactly,</q> the espionage chief said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Look,</q> Larry said. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The German chuckled heavily. +<q>At the Soviet Embassy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What! You mean they've got the +gall to house their top spy right in—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Distelmayer interrupted him. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We'll expect your bill, Distelmayer,</q> +Larry said. <q>Good-by.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He got up and reached for his hat, +saying to Irene Day, <q>I don't know +how long I'll be gone.</q> He added, +wryly, <q>If either Foster or the Boss +try to get in touch with me, tell them +I'm carrying out orders.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He drove over to the Soviet Embassy, +parked his car directly before +the building. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +At the reception desk in the immense +entrada, he identified himself. +<q>I'd like to see Colonel Frol Eivazov.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am afraid—</q> the clerk began +stiffly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I suppose you have him on the +records as Kliment Eivazov.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The clerk had evidently touched a +concealed button. A door opened and +a junior embassy official approached +them. +</p> + +<p> +Larry restated his desire. The other +began to open his mouth in denial, +then shrugged. <q>Just a moment,</q> he +said. +</p> + +<p> +He was gone a full twenty minutes. +<pb n='055'/><anchor id='Pg055'/> +When he returned, he said +briefly, <q>This way, please.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Frol Eivazov was in an inner office, +in full uniform. He came to his +feet when Larry Woolford entered +and said to the clerk, <q>That will be +all, Vova.</q> He was a tall man, as +Slavs go, but heavy of build and +heavy of face. +</p> + +<p> +He shook hands with Larry. <q>It's +been a long time,</q> he said in perfect +English. <q>That conference in Warsaw, +wasn't it? Have a chair, Mr. +Woolford.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry took the offered chair and +said, <q>How in the world did you expect +to get by with this nonsense? +We'll have you declared <hi rend='italic'>persona non +grata</hi> in a matter of hours.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It's not important,</q> Eivazov +shrugged. <q>I have found what I came +to find. I was about to return to report +any way.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We won't do anything to hinder +you, colonel,</q> Larry said dryly. +</p> + +<p> +Eivazov snapped his fingers. <q>It's +all amusing,</q> he said. <q>In our country +we would quickly deal with this +Movement nonsense. You Americans +with your pseudo-democracy, your +labels without reality, your—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said wearily, <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....</q> +</p> + +<p> +Here the Russian laughed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>... Or we'd already have flushed +you.</q> He allowed his voice to go +curious. <q>We've wondered about your +interest in this phase of our internal +affairs.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Russian agent let his facade +slip over farther, his heavy lips sneering. +<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 +<emph>loathe</emph> to see anything happen to +your present culture.</q> He hesitated +deliberately. <q>If you can call it a +culture.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, unprovoked, <q>If I understand +you correctly, you are not in +favor of the changes the Movement +advocates.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Russian shrugged hugely. <q>I +doubt if they are possible of achievement. +The organization is a sloppy +one. Revolutionary? Nonsense,</q> he +scoffed. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, interestedly, <q>Then perhaps +you'll tell me what little you've +found out about the group.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why not?</q> The Russian pursed +his lips. <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 +<pb n='056'/><anchor id='Pg056'/> +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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Their interest in rockets?</q> Larry +said softly. +</p> + +<p> +<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</q>—the +Russian cleared his throat—<q>several +of our converts who happen +to be connected with your space +efforts groups.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Is that so?</q> Larry said. <q>I wondered +what you thought about their +interest in money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was the other's turn to look +blank. <q>Money?</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right. Large quantities of +money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Russian said, frowning, <q>I suppose +most citizens in your capitalist +countries are interested largely in +money. One of your basic failings.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Driving back to the office, Larry +Woolford let it pile up on him. +</p> + +<p> +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> +And now something else that had +been nagging away at the back of his +mind suddenly came clear. +</p> + +<p> +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 <emph>rockets</emph>, and Susan had +misunderstood. +</p> + +<p> +But billions of dollars expended on +rockets? How? But, above all, to +what end? +</p> + +<p> +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> +Which brought something else up +from his subconscious. Something +which had been tugging at him. +</p> + +<p> +At the office, Irene Day was packing +her things as he entered. Packing +as though she was leaving for good. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What goes on?</q> Larry growled. +<q>I'm going to be needing you. Things +are coming to a head.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She said, a bit snippishly, Larry +thought, <q>Miss Polk, in the Boss' office, +said for you to see her as soon as +you came in, Mr. Woolford.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +He made his way to LaVerne's office, +his attention actually on the ideas +churning in his mind. +</p> + +<p> +She looked up when he entered. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>The Boss wanted to +see me?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='057'/><anchor id='Pg057'/> + +<p> +LaVerne ducked her head, as +though embarrassed. <q>Not exactly, +Larry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He gestured with his thumb in the +direction of his own cubicle office. +<q>Irene just said you wanted me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne looked up into his face. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>It was information we +needed, and Foster gave me the go +ahead on locating Frol Eivazov. Maybe +I'd better see the Boss.</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne said, <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 <emph>now</emph> 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry sank down into a chair. <q>I +see,</q> he said, <q>And at that time he'll +probably transfer me to janitor service.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Larry,</q> LaVerne said, almost impatiently, +<q>why in the world didn't +you take that job Walt Foster has +now when the Boss offered it to +you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Because I'm stupid, I suppose,</q> +Larry said bitterly. <q>I thought I could +do more working alone than at an administrative +post tangled in red tape +and bureaucratic routine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She said, <q>Sorry, Larry.</q> She sounded +as though she meant it. +</p> + +<p> +Larry stood up. <q>Well, tonight I'm +going to hang one on, and tomorrow +it's back to Florida.</q> He said in a +rush, <q>Look LaVerne, how about that +date we've been talking about for six +months or more?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She looked up at him. <q>I can't +stand vodka martinis.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Neither can I,</q> he said glumly. +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She tucked her head to one side +and looked at him suspiciously. <q>Are +your intentions honorable?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We can even discuss that later,</q> +he said sourly. +</p> + +<p> +She laughed. <q>It's a date, Larry.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +He picked her up after work, and +they drove to his Brandywine auto-bungalow, +largely quiet the whole +way. +</p> + +<p> +At one point she touched his hand +with hers and said, <q>It'll work out, +Larry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yeah,</q> he said sourly. <q>I've put +ten years into ingratiating myself +with the Boss. Now, overnight, he's +<pb n='058'/><anchor id='Pg058'/> +got a new boy. I suppose there's some +moral involved.</q> +</p> + +<p> +When they pulled up before his +auto-bungalow, LaVerne whistled appreciatively. +<q>Quite a neighborhood +you're in.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He grunted. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He ushered her inside and took her +jacket. <q>Look,</q> he said, indicating his +living room with a sweep of hand. +<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 +<emph>ought</emph> to be on the shelves of any ambitious +young career man.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She looked at him from the side of +her eyes. <q>You're really soured, Larry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come along,</q> he said. <q>I want to +show you something.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He took her down the tiny elevator +to his den. +</p> + +<p> +<q>How hypocritical can you get?</q> +he asked her. <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?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She sank onto the couch, kicked her +<pb n='059'/><anchor id='Pg059'/> +shoes off and slipped her feet under +her. <q>I'd love one,</q> she said. +</p> + +<p> +His back to her, he brought brandy +and cointreau from his liquor cabinet, +lemon and ice from the tiny refrigerator. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What?</q> LaVerne said mockingly. +<q>No auto-bar?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Upstairs with the rest of the status +symbols,</q> Larry grunted. +</p> + +<p> +He put her drink before her and +turned and went to the record player. +</p> + +<p> +<q>In the way of corny music, how do +you like that old-timer, Nat Cole?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>King Cole? Love him,</q> LaVerne +said. +</p> + +<p> +The strains of <q>For All We Know</q> +penetrated the room. +</p> + +<p> +Larry sat down across from her, finished +half his drink in one swallow. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm beginning to wonder whether +or not this Movement doesn't have +something,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +She didn't answer that. They sat in +silence for a while, appreciating the +drink. Nat Cole was singing <q>The +Very Thought of You</q> 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> +Finally he said softly, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She said sleepily, <q>How long have +you known about that, darling?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A while,</q> Larry said, his own voice +quiet. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +LaVerne stirred comfortably and +let her head sink onto his shoulder. +<q>You're so warm and ... comfortable,</q> +she said. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said softly, <q>What does the +Movement expect to do with all that +counterfeit money, LaVerne?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She stirred against his shoulder, as +though bothered by the need to talk. +<q>Give it all away,</q> she said. <q>Distribute +it all over the country and +destroy the nation's social currency.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It took him a long moment to assimilate +that. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What have the rockets to do with +it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She stirred once again, as though +wishing he'd be silent. <q>That's how it +will be distributed. About twenty +rockets, strategically placed, each with +a <emph>warhead</emph> 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 +<pb n='060'/><anchor id='Pg060'/> +countryside, everywhere. Billions +upon billions of dollars worth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, so softly as hardly to be +heard, <q>What will that accomplish?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry didn't follow that, but he had +no time to go further now. He said, +still evenly soft, <q>And when is the +Movement going to do this?</q> +</p> + +<p> +La Verne moved comfortably. <q>The +trucks go out to distribute the money +tonight. The rockets are waiting. The +firing will take place in a few days.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And where is the Professor now?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where the money and the trucks +are hidden, darling. What difference +does it make?</q> LaVerne said sleepily. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And where is that?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>At the Greater Washington +Trucking Corporation. It's owned by +one of the Movement's members.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He said. <q>There's a password. What +is it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Judgment.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +As the door slid closed, her voice +wailed, still sleepily husky, <q>Larry, +darling, where are you—</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +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> +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> +He hesitated momentarily before +turning on the phone and dialing the +Boss' home address. +</p> + +<p> +When the other's face faded in, it +failed to display pleasure when the +caller's identity was established. His +superior growled, <q>Confound it, +Woolford, you know my privacy is to +be respected. This phone is to be +used only in extreme emergency.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, sir,</q> Larry said briskly. <q>It's +the Movement—</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other's face darkened still further. +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry ignored his words, <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 +<pb n='061'/><anchor id='Pg061'/> +now, they're going to start distribution +of all that counterfeit money on +some scatterbrain plan to disrupt the +country's exchange system.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly alert, the department +chief snapped, <q>Where are you, Woolford?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Outside the garages, sir. But I'm +going in now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You stay where you are,</q> the other +snapped. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Inwardly, Larry Woolford grinned. +He wasn't going to lose this opportunity +to finish up the job with him on +top. He said flatly, <q>Sir, we can't +chance it. They might escape. I'm going +in!</q> He flicked off the set, dialed +again and raised Sam Sokolski. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sam,</q> he said, his voice clipped. +<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.</q> He gave the other the +address and flicked off before there +were any questions. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +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> +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> +Larry clipped out, <q>The password +is <emph>Judgment</emph>. I've got to see Professor +Voss immediately.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One of them frowned questioningly, +but the other was taken up with +the urgency in Woolford's voice. He +nodded with his head. <q>He's over +there in the office.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Now ignoring them completely, +Larry strode past the long rows of +sealed delivery vans toward the office. +</p> + +<p> +He pushed the door open, entered +and closed it behind him. +</p> + +<p> +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> +At the agent's entry, the little man +looked up and blinked in distress +through his heavy lenses. +</p> + +<p> +Larry snapped, <q>You're under arrest, +Voss.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The professor was obviously dismayed, +but he said in as vigorous a +voice as he could muster, <q>Nonsense! +On what charge?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Counterfeiting, among many. +Your whole scheme has fallen apart, +Voss. You and your Movement, so-called, +are finished.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +If Woolford correctly diagnosed +<pb n='062'/><anchor id='Pg062'/> +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> +Woodford played along. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor was indignant—and +stalling for time. He said, <q>Nonconformists +is correct! He who conforms +in an incompetent society is an incompetent +himself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stood, his legs apart and +hands on hips. He shook his head in +simulated pity at the angry little man. +<q>What's all this about raining money +down over the country?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don't you see?</q> the other said. +<q rend='pre'>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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Very well! We will have made it +absolutely impossible to have any +form of mass-produced social currency.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry stared at him. <q>It would completely +foul the whole business system! +You'd have chaos!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry was bewildered. <q>But what +are you getting at? What do you expect +to accomplish?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor, on his favorite subject, +said triumphantly, <q>The only +form of currency that can be used +under these conditions is the <emph>personal</emph> +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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But what's the purpose?</q> Larry +demanded, flabbergasted. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Isn't it obvious? Our whole Movement +is devoted to the destruction of +social-label judgments. It's all very +well to say: <hi rend='italic'>You should not judge +your fellow men</hi> but when it comes to +accepting another man's personal +check, friend, you damn well have to! +The bum check artist might have a +<pb n='063'/><anchor id='Pg063'/> +field day to begin with—but only to +begin with.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry shook his head in exasperation. +<q>You people are a bunch of +anarchists,</q> he accused. +</p> + +<p> +<q>No,</q> the Professor denied. <q>Absolutely +not. We are the antithesis of +the anarchist. The anarchist says, <q>No +man is capable of judging another.</q> +We say, <q>Each man must judge his fellow, +must demand proper evaluation +of him.</q> 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry said sourly, <q>Well, whether +or not you're right, Voss, you've lost. +This place is surrounded. My men +will be breaking in shortly.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Voss laughed at him. <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 <emph>me</emph> 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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +There was a fiery dedication in the +little man's eyes. <q>This will be my +victory, not my defeat!</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +He was staring at the Professor, his +eyes narrower. +</p> + +<p> +The Professor was on his feet. He +said in defiant triumph, <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +That did it. +</p> + +<p> +Larry said, <q>You're under arrest. +Turn around with your back to me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Professor snorted his contempt, +turned his back and held up +his hands, obviously expecting to be +searched. +</p> + +<p> +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> +The door broke open and Steve +Hackett, gun in hand, burst in. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Woolford!</q> he barked. <q>What's +up?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry indicated the body on the +floor. <q>There you are, Steve,</q> he said. +<q>The head of the counterfeit ring. He +was trying to escape. I had to shoot +him.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='064'/><anchor id='Pg064'/> + +<p> +Behind Steve Hackett crowded Ben +Ruthenberg of the F.B.I. and behind +him half a dozen others of various +departments. +</p> + +<p> +The Boss came pushing his way +through. +</p> + +<p> +He glared down at the Professor's +body, then up at Larry Woolford. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good work, Lawrence,</q> he +said. <q>How did you bring it off?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry replaced the gun in his holster +and shrugged modestly. <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.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Boss was nodding wisely. <q>I've +had my eye on her, Lawrence. An obvious +weird. But we will have to suppress +that Scop-Serum angle.</q> He +slapped his favorite field man on the +arm jovially. <q>Well, boy, this means +promotion, of course.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry grinned. <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.</q> He looked down +at the small corpse. <q>Particularly now +that their kingpin is gone.</q> +</p> + +<p> +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> +Steve looked at him strangely and +said, <q>There's one thing I'd like to +know: Did you really have to shoot +him, Woolford?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Larry brushed it off. <q>What's the +difference? He was as weird as they +come, wasn't he?</q> +</p> + +<p> +THE END +</p> +</div> +</body> +<back rend="page-break-before: right"> + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter" /> + </div> +</back> +</text> +</TEI.2> |