that day that
seemed so long ago, but actually wasn't. Through the long corridors,
and eventually to the small office with the receptionist.

Miss Mikhail said, brightly, "Dr. Haer, Major Mauser, Mr. Holland is
expecting you. Go right in."

Just before pressing through the door, Nadine put her hand on Joe's
arm and looked into his face ruefully. "Darling, you've had so much
hard luck in your time, I'm sorry this first assignment for the
organization had to be a failure."

Joe wet his lips, carefully, "Why'd you think it was?" he said,
opening the door.

Nadine could only stare as he ushered her into Phil Holland's
presence.

* * * * *

That crisp, efficient operator made much the same motions he had the
first time Joe had met him here. Holding a chair for Nadine, shaking
hands briskly with Joe and motioning to another chair for him. While
they were getting settled, Frank Hodgson sauntered in, seemingly as
lackadaisical and disinterested as ever. After a minimum of exchanged
pleasantries, he subsided onto the couch and fished for pipe and
tobacco.

Holland took in Joe's arm, still immobilized in a sling, and the other
signs of his wounds. He said crisply, "I thought that we had removed
you permanently from the field of combat, Joe."

Joe said sourly, "Some of the Sovs thought otherwise."

Holland said, an element of irritation in his voice, "It is hard to
understand how you could have revealed yourself so quickly."

Joe pursed his lips and looked at Nadine. He said, "I think I've
figured that out. It's practically impossible for Nadine to
dissimulate. And I've never seen her and her brother together but that
they weren't arguing."

Nadine was frowning at him. "What has Balt to do with it?"

Joe said, "I have a sneaking suspicion that in the heat of one of your
arguments with your brother, the Baron, you revealed your, and my,
mission and its real purpose."

Nadine's right hand went to her mouth.

Joe finished with, "And the Baron, after all, is a member of the
Nathan Hale Society. I have no doubts that the organization has some
connections with their equal number in the Sov-world."

Holland grunted. "Very possible. However, it's done now. The thing is,
what is your opinion Joe, and yours, Nadine, on the advisability of
sending other operatives on the same mission?"

Joe shook his head. "Unnecessary."

Frank Hodgson paused in lighting his pipe, to peer through the smo