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is of no importance.
"But notice, Your Excellency, that Schwartz was kept hidden in the Institute for Nuclear
Research for six days. And then he escaped. Isn't that strange? The door, suddenly, wasn't locked. The
corridor, suddenly, wasn't guarded. What queer negligence. And on what day was it that he escaped?
Why, on the same day that Arvardan arrived at Chica. A second peculiar coincidence."
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"You think, then . . ." said the High Minister tensely.
"I think that Schwartz is the Outsider agent on Earth, that Shekt is the contact man with the
Assimilationist traitors among us, and that Arvardan is the contact man with the Empire. Observe the skill
with, which the meeting between Schwartz and Arvardan was arranged. Schwartz is allowed to escape,
and after an appropriate interval his nurse Shekt's daughter, by a not-too-surprising additional
coincidence is out after him. If anything were to, go wrong with their split second timetable, it is obvious
that she would have found him suddenly; that he would have become a poor, sick patient for the benefit
of anyone's curiosity; that he would have been brought back to safety for another attempt later. In fact,
two overcurious cabbies were told that he was a sick man, and that, ironically enough, backfired upon
them.
"Follow it closely, now. Schwartz and Arvardan meet first in a Foodomat. They are, apparently,
unaware of each other's existence. It is a preliminary meeting, designed, simply, to indicate that all has
gone well so far and that the next step may be taken. . . . At least they don't underestimate us, which is
gratifying.
"Then Schwartz leaves; a few minutes later Arvardan leaves and the Shekt girl meets him. It is
stop-watch timing. Together, after playing a little part for the benefit of the afore-mentioned cabbies, they
head for the Dunham department store, and now all three are together. Where else but a department
store? It is an ideal meeting place' It has, a secrecy no cave in the mountains could duplicate. Too open
to be suspected. Too crowded to be stalked . Wonderful-wonderful- I give credit to, my opponent."
The High Minister writhed in his chair. "If our opponent deserves too much credit, he will win."
"Impossible. He is already defeated. And in that respect we must give credit to the excellent Natter."
"And who is Natter?"
"An insignificant agent who must be used to the limit after this. His actions yesterday could not have been
improved upon. His long-range assignment has been to watch Shekt. For the purpose, he keeps a fruit
stand across the street from the Institute. For the last week he has been specifically instructed to watch
the development of the Schwartz affair.
"He was on hand when the man, known to him through photographs and through a glimpse at the time he
was first brought to the Institute, escaped. He observed every action, himself unobserved, and it is his
report that details yesterday's events. With incredible intuition, he decided that the entire, purpose of the
'escape' was to arrange a meeting with Arvardan. He felt himself to be not in a position, single handed, to
exploit that meeting, so he decided to prevent it. The cabbies, to whom the Shekt girl had described
Schwartz as being sick, speculated on Radiation Fever. Natter seized on that with the swiftness of genius.
As soon as he observed the meeting in the department store, he reported the case of fever and the local
authorities at Chica were, praised be Earth, intelligent enough to co-operate quickly.
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"The store was emptied, and the camouflage which they counted upon to hide their conversation was
stripped from them. They were alone and very conspicuous in the store. Natter went further. He
approached them and talked them into allowing him to escort Schwartz back to the Institute. They
agreed. What could they do? . . . So that the day ended with not a single word passing between
Arvardan and Schwartz.
"Nor did he commit the folly of arresting Schwartz. The two are still in ignorance of their detection and
will yet lead us to bigger game.
"And Natter went further still. He notified the Imperial garrison, and that is beyond praise. It presented
Arvardan with a situation he could not possibly have counted upon.. He must either reveal himself to be
an Outsider and destroy his usefulness, which apparently depends upon conducting himself upon Earth as
though he were an Earthman, or he must keep the fact secret and subject himself to, whatever
unpleasantness might result. He took the more heroic alternative, and even broke the arm of an officer of
the Empire, in his passion for realism. That, at least, must be remembered in his favor.
"It is significant that his actions were as they were. Why should he, an Outsider, expose himself to the
neuronic whip for an Earthgirl if the matter at stake was not supremely important?"
Both fists of the High Minister were on the desk before him. He glowered savagely, the long, smooth
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