roadcast ended abruptly. Betsy's screen went blank. The colonel was
notified. A courier took tapes to Washington by high-speed jet. Life in
Research Establishment 83 went on sedately. The barracks and the married
quarters and the residences of the officers were equipped with
Mahon-modified machines which laundered diapers perfectly, and with dial
telephones which always rang right numbers, and there were police-up
machines which took perfect care of lawns, and television receivers
tuned themselves to the customary channels for different hours with
astonishing ease. Even jet-planes equipped with Mahon units almost
landed themselves, and almost flew themselves about the sky in simulated
combat with something very close to zest.

But the atmosphere in the room in Communications was tense.

"I think," said Howell, with his lips compressed, "that this answers all
your objections, Graves. Motive--"

"No," said Lecky painfully. "It does not answer mine. My objection is
that I do not believe it."

"Huh!" said Sergeant Bellews scornfully. "O' course, you don't believe
it! It's phoney clear through!"

Lecky looked at him hopefully.

"You noticed something that we missed, Sergeant?"

"Hell, yes!" said Sergeant Bellews. "That transmitter diagram don't have
a Mahon unit in it!"

"Is that remarkable?" demanded Howell.

"Remarkable dumb," said the sergeant. "They'd ought to know--"

The tall young lieutenant who earlier had fetched Sergeant Bellews to
Communications now appeared again. He gracefully entered the room where
Betsy waited for more broadcast matter. Her standby light flickered with
something close to animation, and the similar yellow bulbs on Al and Gus
responded in kind. The tall young lieutenant said politely:

"I am sorry, but pending orders from the Pentagon the colonel has
ordered this room vacated. Only automatic recorders will be allowed
here, and all records they produce will be sent to Washington without
examination. It seems that no one on this post has the necessary
clearance for this type of material."

Lecky blinked. Graves sputtered:

"But--dammit, do you mean we can work out a way to receive a broadcast
and not be qualified to see it?"

"There's a common-sense view," said Sergeant Bellews oracularly, "and a
crazy view, and there's what the Pentagon says, which ain't either." He
stood up. "I see where I go back to my shop and finish rehabilitatin'
the colonel's vacuum cleaner. You gentlemen c