him."

-------------------------------------

Ronny Bronston pushed the door open and went through. Tog Lee Chang Chu
was sitting at a desk, nonchalant and petitely beautiful as usual,
comfortably seated in easy-chairs were two young men by their attire
probably citizens of United Planets and possibly even Earthlings.

"Hello, Ronny," Tog said softly. "Meet Frederic Lippman and Pedro Nazare,
both Section G operatives. This is my colleague, Ronald Bronston,
gentlemen. Fredric and Pedro were just leaving, Ronny."

The two agents got up to shake hands.

Ronny said, "You can't be in that much of a hurry. What's your assignment,
boys?"

Lippman, an earnest type, and by his appearance not more than twenty-five
or so years of age, began to answer, but Nazare said hurriedly, "Actually,
it's a confidential assignment. We're working directly out of the
Octagon."

Lippman said, frowning, "It's not that confidential, Tog. Bronston's an
agent, too. What's your assignment, Ronny?"

Ronny said very slowly, "I'm beginning to suspect that it's the same as
yours and various pieces are beginning to fall into place."

Lippman was taken aback. "You mean you're looking for Tommy Paine?" His
eyes went to his associate. "How could that be, Tog? I didn't know more
than one of us were on this job. Why, that means if Bronston here finds
him first, I won't get my permanent appointment."

Ronny looked at Tog Lee Chang Chu who was sitting demurely, hands in lap,
and a resigned expression on her face. He said, "Nor if you find him
first, will I. Look here, Tog, how many men does Sid Jakes have out on
this assignment?"

"I wouldn't know," she said mildly.

He snapped, "A few dozen or so? Or possibly a few hundred?"

"It seems unlikely there could be that many," she said mildly. She looked
at the other two agents. "I think you two had better run along. Take my
suggestion I made earlier."

"Wait a minute," Ronny snapped. "You mean that they go to Catalina? That's
ridiculous."

Tog Lee Chang Chu looked at Pedro Nazare and he turned and started for the
door followed by Fredric Lippman who was still scowling his puzzlement.

"Wait a minute!" Ronny snapped. "I tell you it's ridiculous. And why
follow her suggestions? She's just my assistant."

Pedro Nazare said, "Come on, Fred, let's get going, we'll have to pack."
But Lippman wasn't having any.

"His assistant?" he said to Tog Lee Chang Chu.

Tog Lee Chang Chu's f