ing out to sea. He had apparently run out of fuel over the
ocean and crashed. The second man, an ordnance officer at the proving
ground, had spectacularly committed suicide by exploding an atomic
artillery shell, vaporizing himself and certain key comrades including
his superior officer.

Here, the President felt, was something really ominous. The
disappearances and the suicides spelled careful discipline and planning.
Their records had been impeccable. The accusations seemed absurd. If
they were agents, they had done nothing but sit in their positions and
wait for an appointed time. The possibilities were frightening, but
evidence was inconclusive and led nowhere. Nevertheless, the
house-cleaning continued.

On Fourthday of Traffic Safety Week, which was also Eat More
Corn-Popsies Week, John Smith XVI conferred with Ivan Ivanovitch IX
again at the appointed time. Contrary to all traditions, he again
ordered the Stand-ins--temporarily eight in number, since Number Six had
died mysteriously in the bathtub--to leave the study so that he might
unmask. Promptly at sixteen o'clock the Asian's face--or rather his
ceremonial mask--came on the screen. But seeing the Westerner's
square-cut visage smiling at him sourly, he promptly removed the
covering to reveal his Oriental face. The exchange of greetings was
curt.

"I see by recent events," said Ivan, "that you are nervous on your
throne. For the sake of your own people, let me warn you that we have no
designs on your autonomy unless you become aggressive toward us. The
real difficulty, as revealed by your purge, is that you feel insecure,
and insecurity makes you unpredictable. I do not, of course, expect you
to be trustworthy. But insecurity sometimes breeds impulsiveness. If you
are to strike out blindly, perhaps the talks had best be broken off."

Smith XVI reddened angrily but held his temper. The man's presumption
was intolerable. Further, he knew about the probe, knowledge which could
only come from espionage.

"I have become aware," the President said firmly, "that you have managed
to establish a spy-system on this continent. If you wish better
relations, you will have the activity stop at once."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said the Peoplesfriend with a
bland smile. "I might point out however that at least forty of your
spies are either killed while trying to cross the Wall, or are
apprehended after they manage to enter my regime."

"The accusati