on the proper highway he was almost an hour
behind Julia.

He concentrated on understanding the physical assembly of the engine in
front of him. He could teleport parts from it; he could hold other parts
more tightly together by using the same power. But the engine was so
very complex. There was (he could tell) something there--in the engine
itself--that kept the power from being utilized. He could not locate the
block.

He increased the speed by tightening the valves. But the required
concentration was too great to be long maintained. It exhausted him and
forced him to rest for a few miles. Then he tightened the valves again.
The car moved forward in a sudden burst of speed.

* * * * *

In San Francisco Julia stopped long enough for a sandwich--long enough
to gulp hot coffee--long enough to buy a box of "Wide-awakes." She
checked airline schedules by phone.

The eastern flights were held up by weather over the Rockies. The next
strato-jet to Hawaii was due to leave in thirty minutes; but she would
have to wait to see if any reservations were canceled before she could
be assured of a seat. There would not be another plane south for an hour
and a half. One was leaving just then.

She told herself that the airport would become a cul-de-sac unless she
could time it perfectly; she could not risk it.

She cruised the city until she had been there over an hour. She was
loggy and exhausted.

She was afraid to remain any longer. He might head her off; he might
trap her in a dead end street. Once on the straight of way, there
was--at least--no danger of that. She left the city and headed north
again.

* * * * *

Walt arrived ten minutes before she left. He came to a stop at an all
night lunch. Invisible, he slipped through walls into the kitchen. He
stole food, returned to his car with it, ate it. He drove to a gas
station, keeping her position sharply in mind.

"Gas," he ordered the attendant.

The attendant began filling the tank.

"All the way full," Walt said. "I want a map of the city when you
finish."

The attendant brought the map. Walt unfolded it.

Julia had left the city. Walt was not going to be fooled this time. But
he wanted to memorize the city just in case she did double back.

"Is there ... a larger map? Of this whole area?"

The attendant brought him a California map. He memorized that one. He
picked out Julia's route. He verif