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them, that he was not telling the full story. That was expected, but she had no way of guessing the actuality. She had nothing but her suspicions.
    â€œHave any of our people ever met this Hellstrom?” she asked.
    Peruge looked up, wondering: Why are they letting her be their spokesman? Most unusual. “As you perhaps know, the Chief has connections to a vice-president of the bank that handlesfinancial matters for the film company that usually markets Hellstrom’s productions. This vice-president has met Hellstrom socially and we have his report, which will be in your hands shortly.”
    â€œThis bank does not work for Hellstrom’s own company?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHave we made overtures through our Swiss connections?”
    â€œThere’s no provable fraud involved and we cannot, therefore, gain open access to the Swiss records. We are still pursuing this, however.”
    â€œWhat is the vice-president’s impression of Hellstrom?”
    â€œA capable man in his own fields, rather quiet, with occasional bursts of concentrated energy where his own interests are concerned—specifically, when the subject of ecology arises.”
    â€œWhat salaries does Hellstrom pay his employees?”
    â€œUnion scale where that’s indicated, guild scale, but we have no tax returns for some of them.”
    â€œThe two women on his corporation records?”
    â€œApparently they serve him for something other than money. We believe they live on the farm, but they have declared no income. It has been suggested that Hellstrom is less than generous or that fraud is involved. We cannot say as yet. Such records as we’ve seen indicate that his film company makes no profit. All of the income appears to be taken by ongoing activities of an apparently legal, that is to say, educational nature.”
    â€œCould that farm be some sort of subversive school?”
    â€œSome of the younger people allegedly stay there for an education in film making and in ecology. That’s detailed in the file.”
    â€œDetailed,” she said, her voice flat. “Can we presume his installations have been inspected, building inspectors and that sort? Oregon must have laws about such things.”
    â€œHe was inspected by local people, and the accuracy of information based on those inspections remains in question. We will update your files as we are able.”
    â€œHellstrom’s technical people, cameramen and such, are they all recognized in the industry?”
    â€œThey have done work that has attracted praise.”
    â€œBut the people themselves, are they admired?”
    â€œOne could say so.”
    â€œWhat would you say?”
    â€œThe question has little meaning except as an indicator for further investigations. It is our opinion that successful people in that industry tend to achieve a surface admiration from their fellows, but this surface attitude conceals an often quite profound hostility. Admiration in the usual sense has little to do with the situation except as it may indicate competence or income.”
    â€œHow much traveling has Hellstrom done since the report in our hands?”
    â€œOne trip to Kenya and two days at Stanford.”
    â€œIs he away at the moment?”
    â€œPossibly. I would have to consult our most recent reports to be sure. We have just fielded a new team, as you know. You will be informed, of course.”
    â€œYour previous reports show him staying away from his farm for two weeks to a month at a time. Who minds the store while he’s away?”
    â€œWe do not as yet know.”
    â€œHow thorough have our investigations of him been during his more vulnerable travel periods?”
    â€œWe’ve had his luggage searched and found only cameras, film, technical works, papers, that sort of thing. The most common subject matter for any written material in his possession has been insects. He appears most thorough where his