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something useful there."
    Charles said: “Useful?"
    “It's a little out of the ordinary, but there's a chance I may be able to acquire extraterritorial rights in your Pacific Coast place. That would make you directly answerable to me for admin—reports would go through to Nikko- Tsi , of course, as before." Ledbetter grinned again. “There's an incidental advantage—I could use that tie-up for the odd trip to see you out there, and get a little yachting in. Well? How does it strike you?"
    Charles said: “Favorably. You're being very helpful. But it wasn't precisely my future that I came to talk about—my future in that sense, anyway.”
    “No?" Ledbetter said. “All right. I've had Stenner's report. I’ve got some of it. You might as well let me have the rest."
    Charles went through it for him, carefully and slowly, detailing Sara's original dissatisfaction with the result of the inquiry on Humayun's supposed death, and his own growing awareness that something was wrong with the superficial appearances of Sara's own disappearance and her father's suicide. When he had finished, Ledbetter commented: “That's all?"
    “That's all."
    “Now I've heard your interpretation of the facts. Will you take me as impartial?"
    Charles said warily: “I’ve no reason to suspect you of not being impartial."
    “I've thought a good deal about this. I had Stenner's report in last night; as you may guess, he mentions your theory only to damn it. That's a thing that always gets my back up. I began with a prejudice in favor of your views. The case you have just stated would have confirmed that.”
    Charles caught at a phrase. “Would have confirmed it?”
    Ledbetter nodded. “There are some inconsistencies in your theory. I imagine Stenner has pointed them out already. The odd time intervals between the ‘kidnappings’, especially in relation to the Koupal girl and her father. The failure to take Humayun and the girl at the same time, presuming they were both wanted/ But those are mechanical objections, and I don't propose making them.
    “No, it’s the picture as a whole that I’m inclined to accept or reject, and I find it very difficult to accept it You say that your predecessor, your assistant and her father have been abducted by Contact Section or some other managerial. My automatic reaction is to look for motive. If it were true it would represent a large-scale measure in any managerial’s terms. Then, why? What reason could there be that would justify the risks involved?”
    Charles studied Ledbetter closely. His lanky form was stretched back now in his chair, and he looked entirely and genuinely curious as to the answer to his question.
    Charles said: “When I was here before, you seemed very uncertain as to the kind of work I would be called on to do at the new place. Are you still as uncertain?”
    “It’s interesting you should say that. Naturally the report from Stenner made me curious about the set-up. I sent a flip to Nikko- Tsi . I explained the situation briefly, and put a question to him: could I be told what work it was Humayun had been doing and which you were to continue—or if the information was top restricted, could I pass you on to Graz for their handling as I did not feel I would be competent to handle things myself. I had the reply printed. Would you care to see it?”
    Charles nodded. Ledbetter brought out a sheet of paper, and passed it across the desk. Charles took it. It ran:

    REFERENCE LABORATORY 719, SAN MIGUEL. ESTABLISHMENT ENGAGED ON ROUTINE WORK INTO POSSIBILITY OF NEW POWER SOURCE CONNECTED WITH IRRADIATED DIAMOND. RESTRICTED ON BASIS OF INITIAL REPORTS FROM HUMAYUN. SUBSEQUENT REPORTS HAVE NOT DEVELOPED PROMISE OF FIRST. QUESTION OF CONTINUANCE OR RE-ROUTING OF THIS RESEARCH WILL COME UP AT NEXT APPROPRIATE COUNCIL MEETING. GRAYNER TO BE RETURNED TO POST PENDING FULL CONSIDERATION OF POSITION. YOUR DISCRETION TO HANDLE. NIKKO-TSI FOR PRESTON.

    Charles read the message through two or