"You were in the cargo bay air lock." "Impossible! Who told you that?"

"The workers who found you. They brought you in. And I see no reason to doubt their story; it's on videotape. All air locks are monitored for security."

Spence was dumbfounded. He could not believe what he was hearing.

"There's something else."

He didn't like the doctor's tone of voice. "What's that?" "The air lock was depressurizing. You were bleeding off air preparatory to opening the outer doors."

"That's absurd! Why would I do a thing like that?"

"I don't know, but I'd like to find out." The doctor pulled a thin metallic object out of his pocket and began fingering it.

"Look, if you think I wandered into an air lock and then depressurized it on purpose… you're crazy. That would be suicide!"

The doctor shrugged. "Sometimes people can't take it. They want so badly to get out they don't wait for a shuttle. You were lucky. A cadet saw you heading for the air lock and reported it to the crew chief. There were some workmen in pressure suits nearby. Another few seconds and you'd have been… beyond repair."

"No. I'm not buying it. I'll have to see the tapes before I believe it."

"That can be arranged, of course. But I was hoping you'd level with me. If there is something bothering you I could help."

"You don't understand. I don't know what you're talking about. I tripped and bumped my head. That is all!"

"That's all you remember? Nothing else? No unusual feelings lately, nothing uncomfortable? Other blackouts, perhaps?"

Spence winced at the word "blackouts." Did the doctor know something more? "No, there is nothing else."

The physician sighed heavily.

"What are you going to do now? I mean, what will happen to me?"

"Nothing. You're free to go."

"But-you won't… I mean, have to…"

"Report this? No, I don't think so. You don't seem to me to be in any immediate danger. You are stable, in other words."

"Thanks," Spence said darkly. "Then I can go?"

"Yes, but I hope you will remember that my door is openif you think of anything else, or want to talk about it further."

"I'll remember."

Spence swung himself down from the high bed and followed Dr. Williams out of the room. In the small reception office he turned aside and pressed the access plate. As the partition slid open he turned to nod to the physician who still watched him closely.

"Thank you, Dr. Williams. Good-bye."

"One other thing, Dr. Reston." With a sideways glance the medic stepped close and whispered, "You don't have any enemies… do you?"

8

… THAT WAS A STUPID, foolish thing to do! What were you I thinking of? You imbeciles! Do you think this is some kind of game? We're not dealing with peasants this time, gentlemen. Reston is a very intelligent, sensitive man. Another mistake like the last one and he will smell the rat. Oh yes, he will. Reston is smart, and he is strong-willed. We must handle him very carefully." Hocking glared at the two quaking before him.

"Maybe it would be better to get someone else," suggested the younger of the two men.

"Are you questioning my decision? Do you doubt me? Look at me, you two!" Hocking's eyes started from his skull and veins stood out on his forehead. His lips drew back in a savage sneer.

"It was only a suggestion," muttered the offender. "Anyway, you said he wouldn't remember a thing."

"Shut up!" Hocking's chair rose in the air with a faint whir of its internal mechanism. It swiveled away momentarily and when he turned again to face his henchmen his features had relaxed somewhat.

"Do either of you have any idea how close we are to our goal? We are on the very threshold of a new epoch in human history. Think of it, gentlemen! The wealth of the universe will soon be ours-and that is only the beginning. Our power will be limitless. All mankind will bow before us. We'll be gods, gentlemen. We will control the minds of the entire human race." Hocking's voice was a whisper. His eyes shone like hard, black beads as the chair inched closer.

A sudden flash arced across the gap from Hocking's chair to his assistants and a tremendous cracking sound filled the room. Hocking opened his mouth and laughed as his helpers lay writhing on the floor beneath him. "Just a taste of the agony awaiting those who disappoint me. Do not disappoint me again, gentlemen.

"Now, then. Pick yourselves up off the floor and listen to me. We have work to do." …

HE HAD JUST REACHED the main access tube and was still pondering Dr. Williams's question about possible enemies when he heard a voice behind him.

"They let you go, Spence?"

He turned to see Ari hurrying up behind him. "It was nothing."

"It must have been something-you're blushing, Dr. Reston."

He felt the crimson flush rise to his cheeks. "How did you find out about it?" He tried to sound unconcerned.

"The director gets a list of all sick bay admissions. I saw your name on the list. I wanted to see how you were."

"You came to see me?"

"Yes, but they said you had already been dismissed. I must have missed you by only a few seconds. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine. Really. Just a little tired. If you'll excuse me…" He turned to leave, but Ari fell into step beside him, linking her arm in his. Spence felt his skin tingle under her touch.

"I'm on my way to my quarters. I'll walk with you." She smiled her sunny smile at him. "You don't mind, do you, Spencer?"

"No, not at all." They walked off together arm in arm.

Spence imagined that everyone they passed stopped to gawk at them. He tried to shrug off the feeling that this was anything but an innocent promenade, a guy walking a girl to her door. But to his shrunken sense of social etiquette, the occasion loomed much larger.

They made their way along the tube to a main axial and then toward the AdSec cluster where Ari and her father had their quarters. She kept up a running monologue the whole way, relieving Spence of the obligation to provide anything more than a perfunctory nod or grunt.

He paid little attention to what she said, wondering instead how he might gracefully excuse himself and make his getaway. He told himself he had more important things to do than escort aggressive young women around the space station. He wanted to free himself to think about what was happening to him.

"Well, here we are," said Ari. They stood before a buffcolored panel. "Would you like to come in? I'll make some tea."

"Tea? Well, I don't think…"

"Please, do. I'd like it very much if you would." She had already punched her access code into the digits of the glowing plate and the panel slid open. She kept her hold on his arm and tugged him gently inside.

He stepped hesitantly through the portal and looked around. The Zandersons' quarters were quite plush; much more luxurious than his own Spartan accommodations.

"It's shocking, I know. But it can't be helped, I'm afraid." She followed his gaze around the large, spacious rooms. "The director does live well-too well, perhaps."

"Oh, I don't know," said Spence. "It's a tough job. He needs a place like this to unwind. You can't do that in a cubbyhole."

"Still, I feel guilty sometimes. Look at this-carpet on the floors yet! It must have cost a fortune to lug that up here. And leather furniture!"

"I like it. It's beautiful."

"Sure, it's beautiful. Go ahead and take a seat. I won't be a minute."

Spence settled himself into the soft leather cushions at one end of a long handsome couch. He rubbed his hand absently over the dark, polished grain of the leather and wondered how long it had been since he had felt anything so fine, so natural.

Next to him on a low teak table sat a star globe with an Earth the size of a grapefruit surrounded by a transparent shell upon which were painted the major stars of the galaxy. It was an exquisite antique.