ped into the rest of the ornamental scrollwork was a
matter of good assembly design, and not a design deliberately created so
that the emblem could be turned upside down.

In fact, if it had not been for that tiny, broken spoke I found on the
floor of the Harrison garage, never in a million years would I have
considered these road signs significant.

* * * * *

At the post office I wrote a letter to Phillip Harrison:

_Dear Phil:_

_I was by your old place today and was sorry to find that you had
moved. I'd like to get in touch with you again. If I may ask,
please send me your forwarding address. I'll keep it concealed if
you like, or I'll reply through the post office, concealed
forward._

_As an item of interest, did you know that your house has lost its
deadness? A medium-equipped esper can dig it with ease. Have you
ever heard of the psi-pattern changing before?_

_Ah, and another item, that road sign with the busted spoke has
been replaced. You must be a bum shot, not to hit that curlicue in
the middle. I found the spoke you hit on the floor of your garage,
if you'd like it for a souvenir of one close miss._

_Please write and let me know how things are going. Rumor has it
that Marian contracted Mekstrom's and if you will pardon my
mentioning a delicate subject, I am doing so because I really want
to help if I am able. After all, no matter how lightly you hold it,
I still owe you my life. This is a debt I do not intend to forget._

_Sincerely,_

_Steve Cornell._

V

I did not go to the police.

They were sick of my face and already considering me a candidate for the
paranoid ward. All I would have to do is go roaring into the station to
tell them that I had uncovered some deep plot where the underground was
using ornamental road signs to conceal their own network of roads and
directions, and that the disappearance of Catherine Lewis, Dr. Thorndyke
and the removal of the Harrisons were all tied together.

Instead, I closed my apartment and told everyone that I was going to
take a long, rambling tourist jaunt to settle my nerves; that I thought
getting away from the scene might finish the job that time and rest had
started.

Then I started to drive. I drove for several days, not attempting to
pace off miles, but covering a lot of aimless-direction territory. I w