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your Scientific American , which I should add we read every month within a day or two of its release.”
    “Free flow of information,” Gary could not help but reply.
    She seemed ready to snap back, and Erich extended a hand in a calming gesture.
    “The Cold War is over, you two,” he said with a smile. “And I am glad to see a Russian intern on my staff.”
    Though he had been in this man’s presence for less than an hour, Gary sensed something of a line, but the response by Eva caught him off guard.
    “I am not Russian, sir,” she replied, with a hint of irritation. “I am Ukrainian. It just so happens that to pursue my field no such schools exist in my country, so I had to go to Moscow to study.”
    Erich was a bit taken aback but then smiled.
    “My apologies, Miss Petrenko. I know the history of the persecution your people suffered by both Hitler and Stalin. I am surprised they would let a Ukrainian study aerospace engineering.”
    “My grandfather was a hero of the Great Patriotic War, and received our highest decoration Hero of the Soviet Union. I was first in my class, and friends and admirers of my grandfather helped me to gain admission and now this assignment.”
    “And your plans after your summer here?”
    “To return to Moscow, of course.”
    “I see.”
    “Dr. Rothenberg. Your government and mine have already signed accords and understandings about building the space station. Would it not be helpful for me to work for that once I return home?”
    Erich nodded in agreement even as he poured her another cup of tea.
    “Then if that is the case, Miss Petrenko, why did you feel it necessary to give me this paper?” He nodded to the document on his desk.
    She smiled.
    “Because the space station is just a beginning. Perhaps even a dead end. I came here to learn about what is beyond that. And to bring along this suggestion as well.”
    “Bringing this to me might cause problems for you.”
    She laughed softly.
    “Sir, it was published, as I told Mr. Morgan here”—she shot him a look of disdain—“in a popular magazine. Not classified, if anyone here had bothered to take the time to look. No harm in sharing it.”
    “And may I guess that this is what you wish to research further?”
    “I plan to write my dissertation on it. But I will need access to computers here that are not yet available in Moscow to run some algorithms to test out some theories. That is what I hope you will give me the freedom to do.”
    Erich gave a mischievous smile and tossed the paper over to Gary.
    “Regarding access to our Cray, I’ll have to ask security about that, but I think we can arrange it under proper supervision.”
    She beamed with delight.
    “But”—again that smile—“since this is, as you say, public information in your country, I will ask this young man to take a look at your paper. Perhaps he can help, as his transcript shows some unique skills in programming.”
    She looked over at Gary with an icy gaze.
    “Sir, I hardly think—”
    “Miss Petrenko, we work as a team here. I am intrigued with this idea—very intrigued. Mr. Morgan tells me he has a visionary soul and is looking for some sort of ‘dream’ while here this summer. Maybe what you present openly to us here is it. So, Mr. Morgan, after you read de Camp, I want you to read this paper, because it is so visionary it borders on the absurd, then pick up coffee for three…”
    He looked at Evgeniya.
    “Do you like your coffee with or without cream?”
    “I prefer tea, sir,” she said, with another cold glance at Gary.
    “Fine, then. I doubt if my friend George down at the diner even knows what tea is, so I’ll just boil some water here. I’ll brew your cup of tea and see both of you at 0730 tomorrow. Coffee for two, then, Gary. You may go now.”
    As Gary walked out the door, clutching the dusty book by Erich’s old friend and the dozen-page printout, he could almost sense daggers from Evgeniya’s eyes going into his back.
    He