"Hello, Moira," I said.

"Hello, baby."

"I thought you were mad at me."

"That was a couple of weeks ago," she said. "I don't stay mad that long." After a moment, she said, "You certainly look helpless in that bed." Then she said: "My mother died the other day."

"I'm sorry."

"Cut it out," she said. "Why should you be sorry? She was just waiting, I guess. She was going to outlast him. When she heard about him, there wasn't anything else to keep her, and she just went, I guess." She made a gesture towards her somber clothes. "Mourning. Corny, huh?"

I said, "I thought it was for-"

"For him? I wouldn't change my socks for him." After a moment, she said, "Did you have to do it?" Then she glanced at the bulk of the bandages under my hospital gown. "I guess that's a silly question. But-" She drew a long breath. "You know what I mean."

"Yes."

"Well, it was pretty good for a little while," she said flatly. "Choice."

"Yes," I said. "Choice."

"I could bring you flowers or candy or something. Should I?"

"I kind of thought that's what you'd say."

I said, "They tell me young Logan is down the hail. He's still on the critical list. A little incentive might help."

She looked at me without expression. "You may be a pretty good whatever you are," she said. "But you're a hell of a lousy matchmaker. Why don't you mind your own damn business?"

"It was just a stray thought."

"No wonder it strayed. Nobody'd bother to round up one like that." She drew a long breath. "What room?"

"A hundred and thirty-four."

"I'll see how he's getting along. Just to please you." She studied me for a moment longer. "You know, the old man never did anything right in his life, did he? He couldn't even shoot straight! If he'd killed you, I could grieve for you. It would be a damn sight easier than.

Good-bye, baby."

"Good-bye," I said, and watched her go out of the room quickly, noting that a little wisp of red-gold hair was coming down over her right ear. She hadn't grown up quite enough to lick it, after all. Well, she had lots of time.

I could have told her that I hadn't actually killed her old man, of course, although I'd been working at it hard. I might have kept her around for a while, that way. It would have been nice; but it wasn't my secret, and there was nothing I could give her of much value, compared to what she had to give to somebody, now that she was free. I was being noble, I guess. As usual, it made me feel lousy, and I was glad when the telephone rang; but when I heard the voice at the other end, I was less glad than I had been.

Mac's voice asked, "How are you, Eric?"

I said, "For an accurate diagnosis, check with the attending physician."

"I have. He says you'll live."

"Well, I'm glad he's finally made up his mind," I said. "When you're well enough, I'd like a full report," Mac said. "There seem to be a few matters requiring detailed explanation. In the past fortnight I've had to think up stories to account for two juvenile delinquents with damaged right arms, six dead human bodies, one dead canine body, one irate young woman held prisoner against her will, three badly wounded men, and a lady without a shirt on."

I said, "Not to mention a few kilos of heroin, and some other stuff."

"Yes," he said. "There's that, isn't there? Our associated agencies, although professing to be shocked by the methods used, are quite pleased with the results obtained."

"And you, sir?"

"What do you think, Eric? The information I have indicates that one of my men allowed himself to be a) knocked on the head, b) captured in his sleep, and c) shot by a man he already had covered."

I said, "Your information seems to be quite complete, sir. What are you going to do, fire me in disgrace and send me off to Siberia, or its equivalent, to run a post office?"

He was silent briefly; then he said, "That was it, wasn't it, Eric? That was what Martell was doing all those years, looking after the mail. No wonder he resented it, after the position he'd held previously. But the syndicate had its drug traffic thoroughly organized, until the recent crackdowns. All our friends had to do was put trusted agents at key points along the line, to insert the materials they wanted transmitted into the drug containers, and take them out again. The syndicate then did all the work, unknowingly, of getting the stuff secretly into the country. As Martell said, Rizzi was running his errands for him."

I said, "It seems kind of like using a man-eating tiger for pony-rides at the fair."

"They probably only used the route for critical and difficult transmissions like this one. But when they wanted it, it was there." I heard him clear his throat- warning me that we were returning to the subject I had so subtly shelved, I thought. "As I say, Eric, it doesn't seem as if you've been operating at top efficiency."

"I could claim personal involvement and inadequate briefing," I said, "but I won't. Guilty on counts a) and b). As for c) I told them they were under arrest, as you more or less instructed me to do. They just didn't seem to believe me. Maybe I didn't speak with enough conviction. I haven't had much practice at arresting people, sir."

"It's a point, but not a very good one," he said. "Maybe you need a rest, Eric. As a matter of fact, I just happen to know a place… You like fishing, don't you? Well, as soon as you're released from the hospital, get your fishing tackle and…"

It was a lake up in the mountains, never mind where, and there never was a more ideal place to convalesce from a bullet wound, to hear him tell it.

"Yes, sir," I said. "It sounds swell. Thank you very much, sir." -

He said, "You can stay on into the hunting season, if you like. In fact, I'd suggest bringing a heavy rifle along, preferably with a telescopic sight… oh, and some pistol ammunition, of course, so that you can keep in practice."

"Practice," I said. "Yes, sir. You don't think I should take along a bazooka or a small mountain howitzer as well?"

"I shouldn't think that would be necessary," he said, but I noticed he didn't sound quite sure. "Well, good-bye, Eric.

Take care of yourself."

It looked as if I'd have to. It was a cinch he wasn't going to. I put the phone back and leaned against the pillows and thought about the lake up in the mountains. I wondered what Mac had lost up there and what I'd have to do to find it.