nese Moon cars
have been prowling around Moonbase One, trying to find out what's
going on."

"More than that," added the President, "they've sneaked a small group
aboard the old _Lunik IX_ to see what they can see from up there."

Secretary Bandeau jerked his head around to look at the President.
"The old circumlunar satellite? Where did you hear that?"

The President smiled wanly. "From the S.M.M.R.'s report." He looked at
Kerotski. "I doubt that it will do them any good. I don't think
they'll be able to see anything now."

"Not unless they've figured out some way to combine X rays with
radar," the senator said. "And I'm quite sure they haven't."

"Senator," said the Secretary of Space, "a lot of money has been spent
and a lot of risks have been taken, just on your say-so. I--"

"Now, just a minute, Jim," said the President flatly. "Let's not go
off half-cocked. It wasn't done on Mike's say-so; it was done on mine.
I signed the order because I believed it was the proper, if not the
_only_ thing to do." Then he looked at the senator. "But this is the
last day, Mike. Nothing has happened.

"Now, I'm not blaming you. I didn't call you up here to do that. And I
think we can quit worrying about explaining away the money angle. But
we're going to have to explain _why_ we did it, Mike. And I can't tell
the truth."

"I'll say you can't!" Bandeau exploded. "That would look great,
wouldn't it? I can see the headlines now: _'Fortuneteller Gave Me
Advice,' President Says_. Brother!"

"Jim," the President said coldly, "I said to let me handle this."

"What you want, then, Mr. President," Kerotski put in smoothly, "is
for me to help you concoct a good cover story."

"That's about it, Mike," the President admitted.

Kerotski shook his head slowly. "It won't be necessary."

Bandeau looked as though he were going to explode, but a glance from
the President silenced him.

"Go on, Mike," he said to the senator.

"Mr. President, I know it looks bad. It's going to look even worse for
a while. But, let me ask you one question. How is the Ch'ien space
drive coming along?"

"Why ... fine. It checked out months ago. The new ship is on her
shakedown cruise now. You know that."

"Right. Now, ask yourself one more question: What is the purpose of
Moonbase One?"

"Why, to--"

The telephone rang.

The President scooped it up with one hand. "Yes?"

Then he listened for a long minute, his expression changing slowly.

"Ye