some correlatory shift! The
Primes--how many did you say?"

"Three as of now."

Arnold rose abruptly, then strode to the alco-mech and dialled himself
another drink. He took an uncommonly long time about it. "Look," he
said, "we both know about these things! In a case like this there are
bound to be political repercussions--" He hit Beardsley with a gauging
glance. "Well," he blurted, "I have to admit I'm damn curious! Mind
telling me who are the three Primes? Ah--strictly off the record, you
understand."

Beardsley had expected something like this, and he was quite ready to
answer; but he carefully removed his glasses, massaged the bridge of his
nose and frowned. "Well, now...."

"Come on, give! I know it's against protocol and all that ... but hell!
We'll have the answer anyway in a matter of hours."

Beardsley nodded with a show of thoughtfulness. "Yes, that's true, isn't
it? Very well. But strictly off the record! I warn you--not only will
the first Prime startle you, but the information could be dangerous!"

He waited a moment, then he leaned forward and whispered: "Mandleco!"

* * * * *

For a moment Arnold didn't move. His face was ludicrous. Then Beardsley
saw his hands clench.

"Mandleco!" the word jolted from his lips. "George Mandleco, Minister of
Justice? I don't believe you!"

"It's a fact," Beardsley told him. "Right now he equates into an
uncertain Prime."

"Yes, yes ... but Mandleco! Good Lord...."

"I said _uncertain_ Prime. As you mentioned yourself, there is sure to
be a shift of variants. Surely you have faith in ECAIAC?"

"Of course! But Mandleco, why Mandleco?"

"Why not? He was a friend of Carmack's--or a business associate shall we
say? He worked with Carmack on the ECAIAC lobby, was largely responsible
for pushing it through."

"Yes, I--say, that's right! It would be in C-F...."

"There are things," murmured Beardsley, "in Central File that would
astound you."

Arnold was staring at the coded tapes. "Mandleco," he breathed. "And
with elections coming up!" He shook himself out of the daze. "The--the
other two Primes?"

"Next is not so startling. A really strong Recessive Factor there ...
Professor Karl Losch."

Arnold jerked erect suddenly. "Losch? Say, I remember him! Now _there's_
a man pursued by bad luck. He was working along similar lines to
Carmack--in fact, wasn't he in Carmack's employ for a while?--but
Carmack was first with the p