emember
will prove helpful. Describe your quarters, the nature of the
aliens--anything at all."

* * * * *

Walt twisted in the seat. He looked around at the waiting faces. A
general lit a cigarette. The heating system hummed softly.

Walt began to talk.

From time to time, someone interrupted him with a question.

It seemed to go on forever.

"About this focus rod?"

"It sends out a, a radiation. Something. I don't understand too well.
It's lethal."

"What is the radius of destruction?"

"I don't know; I don't remember."

Pens scribbled.

"Please continue," the lieutenant said.

Walt's throat grew dry as he talked. Someone got him a drink of water.

"Could you estimate the number of mutants in this other compartment?"

"I couldn't say. I couldn't swear that there is another compartment."

"A hundred? Five hundred?"

"I couldn't say."

"I see."

"About," a general asked, "how much of the total area of the ship would
you say your compartment occupied?"

On and on.

"Let's go over the description of that machine again. Did you ever see
this Fierut disassemble any part of it?"

Walt was limp and exhausted. His mind was dulled by the effort of
concentrating continuously. "Yes." "No." "To understand that...." "I
don't know." "No, no more than that.... Please. I'm getting confused."

"You've been very helpful, Mr. Johnson," the lieutenant said.
"Gentlemen, I'm afraid he's getting a little tired. Shall we postpone
further questioning?"

"I believe we better. Would you call in Dr. Norvel, please."

Walt slumped down in his seat.

The conferees whispered among themselves and compared notes.

Julia and the doctor came back.

"It took longer than I thought," Dr. Norvel said. "I had to teach her
quite a bit of math."

"What's your opinion?" the bald civilian asked.

"I believe her, gentlemen. She has just shown me how to build some
electronic equipment. I'll have a picture of that space station for you
within two weeks."

"That will be all, then, for right now," the civilian said. He nodded at
Walt and Julia. "The colonel is waiting to take you back to your hotel."

"You're not to talk to anyone about this," one of the generals said.

* * * * *

Thursday. They came for Walt and Julia at nine o'clock. The hotel was
aswarm with the military.

"Security measures," the colonel explained as they waited for the
elevator. "If any i