most loony bins.

Fun!

Malone began to wonder why he had gone into FBI work in the first
place.

"Listen, Chief," he said. "I--"

"Sure, I understand," Burris said quickly. "She's batty. And this new
one is batty, too. But what else can we do? Malone, don't do anything
you'll regret."

"Regret?" Malone said. "Like what?"

"I mean, don't resign."

"Chief, how did you know--you're not telepathic too, are you?"

"Of course not," Burris said. "But that's what I'd do in your place."

"Well--"

"Remember, Malone," Burris said. His face took on a stern, stuffed
expression. "Do not ask what your country can do for you," he quoted
the youngest living ex-President. "Ask rather what you can do for your
country."

"Sure," Malone said sadly.

"Well, it's true, isn't it?" Burris asked.

"What if it is?" Malone said. "It's still terrible. Everything is
terrible. Look at the situation."

"I am looking," Burris said. "And it's another New Frontier. Just like
it was when President Kennedy first said those words."

"A New Frontier inhabited entirely by maniacs," Malone said.
"Perfectly wonderful. What a way to run a world."

"That," Burris said, "is the way the ball bounces. Or whatever you're
supposed to say. Malone, don't think you haven't got my sympathy. You
have. I know how hard the job is you're doing."

"You couldn't," Malone told him bitterly.

"Well, anyhow," Burris went on, "don't resign. Stay on the job. Don't
give it up, Malone. Don't desert the ship. I want you to promise me
you won't do it."

"Look, chief," Malone said. "These nuts--"

"Malone, you've done a wonderful job so far," Burris said. "You'll get
a raise and a better job when all this is over. Who else would have
thought of looking in the twitch-bins for telepaths? But you did,
Malone, and I'm proud of you, and you're stuck with it. We've got to
use them now. We have to find that spy!" He took a breath. "On to
Yucca Flats!" he said.

Malone gave up. "Yes, sir," he said. "Anything else?"

"Not right now," Burris said. "If there is, I'll let you know."

Malone hung up unhappily as the image vanished. He looked across at
Dr. Harman. "Well," he said, "that's that. What do I have to do to get
a release for Miss Thompson?"

Harman stared at him. "But, Mr. Malone," he said, "that just isn't
possible. Really. Miss Thompson is a ward of the state, and we
couldn't possibly allow her release without a court order."

Malone thought that over.