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just disappear like Yuri, Ludmila, and Nigel. My job is to work both sides of the fence and help with some of the technology problems that require working with outsiders who don’t know that our secret project exists. Your job will be different and more important than mine. You’ll stay on the inside from now on, and you’ll probably get briefed into higher levels than I’m at. I’ve only gone a couple steps higher, and there’s obviously more that’s known only to the people who remain inside. You’ll be one of them. An appropriate accident will be arranged, and people will be sorry for you, but since you’re single, it won’t be a catastrophe for anyone, other than the loss of your friendship until you can reemerge when this project ends. The only problem will be if someone does find out that you’re alive and working with us on the inside. But you’ll get briefed on all of this at the next stop.”
    “OK, so I understand that I need to learn more, but why don’t we just go to the other location where we went a few days ago? It looked like it had rooms that could be used for classified discussions at any level.”
    Brad answered. “We’re restricted in what we can discuss at that facility. It’s pretty secure, but not for what we’ll get into next. We need to go to another one that’s cleared for a higher level. Just relax and roll with it, and everything will be OK.”
    The spy-versus-spy charade continued for another few hours until they reached what appeared to be their destination, this time in west-central New York State. If anyone had been following them, they would have been totally confused by the trip, first west, then a bit north, and then northeast. It would have looked like a drunken giant staggering across the land, from the suburbs of Washington, DC and ending up in the hilly region in upstate New York. But now they apparently were at the intended destination, since they all got out of the car and walked calmly toward the farm house at the end of the dirt road.
    Once inside the house, Harry recognized, once again, that the appearance belied the full nature of this decrepit looking house. The main floor was definitely in character with the outside, but once they passed through the cellar door and walked down one flight of stairs, the rooms became much more modern, and the basement level was clearly larger than the house above. Its floor space was at least twice as large. There was another set of stairs that led into an even larger area with a long corridor and several rooms. To get there, they had to go through an elaborate set of security doors, the first of which was concealed behind a fake wall panel. The grade-B movie continued, it seemed.
    Harry was led into one of the rooms about midway down the hall. When he entered, he saw that it was a very well equipped conference room, with all the audio-visual aids that one could ask for. At one end was a large screen display that took up most of the wall. In the center was a conference table that could seat fifteen people, seven on each side and one at the end. Harry was motioned to the seat at the end.
    Five other people were already in the room, seated at the chairs nearest Harry’s end seat. Charlie went somewhere else, but Brad followed him in and also sat down. Then an older man entered and went up to the speaker’s lectern that was off to the left, near the large screen on the far end.
    “Good evening, Dr. Ambrose,” he began. My name is George Giovanis. I’m the Deputy Director for our project and the Director of our North American Operations. I’ll brief you on the history and scientific aspects of the project. That will take you to Level-2. All your security agreements will apply, plus you will now be committed to this project for as long as we require your services. I think that you understand that.”
    “Sure, but I still want to know what this is all about and why everything is so absurdly hush-hush.”
    “That’s part of the