Matlin looked at Haazahri. She nodded, said, "He would." "All the way to Balata 'kai?" Matlin asked. "Not this far, lord. The man Felg came as far as Haatok." "Don't tell me you were on the same bus with us?" "Yes. And Felg also. Then, last night, after reading the newspaper, Felg rushed back to Junction City. I have saved the newspaper, lord," Ranmut said proudly. "Saved it?" "I took the liberty of following Felg back to the bus station. He deposited the newspaper in a trash receptacle. He had marked something." "Let me see that," Matlin urged as he heard the rustle of paper. Ranmut spread a crumpled sheet before him on the sand and he saw that a small part of the first column was circled in red. He read, his heart thumping against his ribs: "... professor of archaeology at Kedak College. Ser Gawroi believes this Matlin to be the missing Earth scientist, Philip Rhodes. While the police maintain that Rhodes is harboring some unspecified material deemed not in the best interests of Kedak, Ser Gawroi would not comment on this. 'Rhodes,' the archaeologist said, 'was a colleague. If Rhodes is sick and needs help, we'll have to find him.' "No reason was given as to why the alleged Earthman was seen in the streets of Junction City last night, to all appearances a native of Kedak. His name, according to Gawroi, is Matlin. If anyone has any knowledge of...." Then Haazahri took the paper and read it. She returned it to Ranmut, her hand trembling. "Do you know Gawroi?" she asked Matlin. "No." "An Earthman? Do you think that's what you are--purple skin or not?" "Don't look at me like that," Matlin said, smiling. "Earthmen are human too. Just as human as Kedaki." "I know, but--" "Yes, I think I'm an Earthman. I think I'm this Philip Rhodes. I--" "Oh, Matlin! Then you remember?" "No, but there have been other things--no time to go into them now...." Quotis, he thought. The Arcturan doctor. There had been no mention of Quotis, but there should have been. It was as if the Kedaki authorities and this Gawroi wanted to ease Quotis out of the picture, and Matlin did not like that. Why? Why shouldn't Quotis have been contacted? Quotis knew more about Matlin than anyone did. Gawroi disturbed him more than the police. He sensed that he knew the Kedaki archaeologist. Besides, if Gawroi's purpose for finding Rhodes had not been sinister, wouldn't he seek Quotis for whatever help the Arcturan could offer? "It means something to you, lord?" Ranmut asked, indicating the newspaper. When Matlin answered, his words were addressed to Haazahri. "Tell me, would your friend Felg go to the police or to this Gawroi?" "Felg would avoid the police if he could. Do you trust this Gawroi?" "No," said Matlin promptly, not bothering to give his reason. "Then you think Felg and the archaeologist are now in league against you?"