ke.

Joe said, "In fact, it was unnecessary to send Nadine and me."

Holland's voice was testy. "I assure you, Joe, the particular
assignment was quite important. We simply cannot afford to move, here
in the West, until we know what the Sov-world will do. Your task was a
delicate one, obviously. You simply couldn't go to their government
and ask. There are strong elements in not only the Upper caste, but
even the middle and Lower ones, here in this country, who would spring
to the defense of present West-world society if they thought an
attempt was being made to alter its structure. If the Sov government
reported that it had been approached by elements of a revolutionary
group, the fat would be in the fire."

Joe nodded. "I realize all that."

"You were expected to worm your way into their circles, to feel them
out. To contact their own underground, if one exists. To ferret out
definite information on how they would react if we began definite
changes in the _status quo_ here."

Joe continued to nod.

Holland was increasingly irritated. "Then why, good heavens, do you
say your mission was unnecessary?"

"Because they had already sent a mission over here to contact us," Joe
told him, evenly.

Had he suddenly got up from his chair, walked up the wall, across the
ceiling, then down the other wall, they could not have stared at him
the more.

The telly-mike on Phil Holland's desk squeaked something, and he took
time enough to snap, "No. I told you, Miss Mikhail, I was not to be
disturbed by _anyone_."

But Joe said, "If that's Colonel Lajos Arpad, I suggest you have him
in. I took the liberty of phoning him and asking that he meet us
here."

Frank Hodgson was the first to recover. "Arpad! That spy! I've just
about gathered enough dope on him to have him declared _persona non
grata_ and ship him back to Budapest."

"As I was shipped back to Greater Washington," Joe said dryly.
"Colonel Arpad and I seem to duplicate each other's activities in
almost everything."

Phil Holland said crisply into the communicator, "Ask the colonel to
come in, Miss Mikhail."

* * * * *

Ever the correct Sov-world officer, Colonel Arpad came to attention
immediately upon entering the room, clicked heels, bowed from the
waist. Except for Joe Mauser, none of them had met him, but he
evidently knew all, greeting them by name.

The men had come to their feet. Joe said, "Meet Colonel Lajos Arpad,
hi