heading for his office.

When he walked in, his secretary was answering the line fitted with a
scrambler, which connected directly with the Pentagon.

"General Morganson," she said, handing him the receiver.

Forster took the receiver, sat down at his desk and took a deep breath,
fighting hard to regain his self control.

"Forster," he said into the mouthpiece when the office door closed
behind the girl.

"Forster! What the dickens has happened to Preston? My driver met the
train here this morning, but there was no sign of him. But the Pullman
porter checked him in last night, and we found all his gear and papers
in his compartment!"

"He left here in plenty of time to catch the train, General," Forster
heard himself say. "He took the train to get a night's rest." He
realized how irrelevant the last statement was only after he had made
it.

The General was talking again ... important meeting with the Joint
Chiefs ... whole briefing team was being held up ... he'd reported it to
the C.I.A. as a precautionary measure....

* * * * *

Forster could see the words on the roll, the roll that wasn't, as though
they were engraved on his eye-retinas: _As a beginning, and to prove
this isn't just a bit of hocus-pocus, one of the people at your Center
is due to leave for here any time now._

"General," Forster broke in hoarsely. "I've got some very important
information which you must have. I'll leave by heliplane right away."

He replaced the phone receiver in its cradle, wondering how convincing
he would be able to make his story. At least, even if he didn't have
Bentley's letter, he had the container. That should help.

But when he looked across the desk, he saw that it too had disappeared,
without a trace.

* * * * *

General Morganson was the newest product of the Atomic Age, half
soldier, half scientist--shrewd and perceptive, an intellectual giant.

He listened carefully, without comment or change of expression, as
Forster doggedly went through his story in chronological order.

Half way through, he held up his hand and started pushing buttons on the
console built into his desk. Within a few moments men began filing into
the room, and sat down around Forster.

Then the general motioned to the clerk seated in the corner by a tape
recorder.

"Gentlemen, listen to this playback and then I'll have Dr. Forster here
go on from there."

What was