"He didn't die," West patiently explained. "He was buried. A handsome monument was erected over his grave. But he wasn't in the grave." "Son-of-a-gun!" Zen said. "Why all the fol-de-rol?" "To deceive curious intelligence agents," West said, with no humor in his voice. Zen ignored the ironic threat. He was inside, this was what mattered. Also the idea of one of the world's foremost scientists--and Jonner had been exactly that--hiding himself away here where he could work undisturbed with others who shared his dream, intrigued him. Or had that dream been a grim prognostication of the way things were to be on the surface of the third planet out from the sun? Had the work here been an effort to escape that future? Was this underground cavern really a modern Ark, dug into the heart of a mountain so that at least a few humans might escape the deluge by fire? Had a modern Noah appeared and not been recognized? The thought shocked Kurt Zen. Somewhere he had read a prediction that Earth would be destroyed by fire. Here was evidence that possibly at least one human being had taken that prediction seriously enough to build a bomb-and-radiation-proof shelter! "You seem to be thinking seriously," West observed. "Perhaps for the first time in my life, I am doing exactly that. My brain seems to be trying to spin." "Ah? Are you surprised at what you find here?" "No. That is, not much. Mostly, I'm pleased." "Good." West seemed satisfied. "Here comes John to greet us." The craggy man's face lit up as a tall youth emerged from an adjoining tunnel and came forward to meet them. His greeting to West had respect in it, he merely glanced at Zen, but it was the nurse who commanded and held his interest. "Nedra! You're back!" "Of course I'm back, John." As if this were the most natural thing to do, Nedra allowed herself to be taken in John's arms. West smiled benevolently at the two. Zen carefully looked in the other direction. "This is Colonel Kurt Zen, John," West said, when the two had finished kissing. The tall youth extended his hand and said he was glad to meet Kurt. His face was brown, his cheeks were lean and slightly hollow, but his eyes were clear and his grip was firm without being bone-crushing. "I imagine Kurt is rather tired," West said. "If you would find quarters for him, John--" "Glad to do it," the tall youth said. "Come with me, Kurt." Zen nodded goodnight to Nedra and to West and followed John away. He was tired down to the bottom of his thick-soled boots. Fatigue lay in layers through his muscles and along his nerve trunks. He knew he was keeping himself from collapsing only by an effort of will. "I'll give you my room," John said. "I couldn't think of depriving you of your quarters, old fellow," Zen protested. "It's no deprivation. Besides, I'll be with Nedra." "Um," Zen said. The jealousy he felt almost made him forget how tired he was.