Franklan hadn't seen it because he hadn't looked, but there had been a bird out there, or there hadn't. If not, Alsint's contact with reality was precarious and he'd have to watch himself. Franklan had hinted at that. Maybe he wanted Alsint to believe it. But it didn't mean there hadn't been an actual bird. It could be put there in a plastic bubble that wasn't visible against the blackness of space. If so, it was an ingenious way of harassing him. He relaxed at that formulation. It hadn't been worth the effort, but it did prove one thing--his unknown antagonist had an excellent imagination. * * * * * Time passed--days, perhaps, though that unit had little meaning on the ship. It was the work period which counted and nobody had bothered to tell him how long that was. The last planet of the system was analyzed and the permanent markers sent down. The star was tagged and the ship proceeded on its way. What the destination was, Alsint didn't know and didn't inquire. They were going somewhere, to uncatalogued stars, and that was enough to know. His hands healed and the bandages were removed. Larienne was reassigned to help him. The rest of the crew, whatever they guessed, or sensed, said nothing and the normal pattern of life on the tag ship seemed re-established. His anxiety faded. It was not, he was sure, the end of the attempts to remove him, but he had time to think, to plan countermeasures. He was not wholly prepared. He and Larienne were approaching the plant. The door was open and he could see inside. He glanced casually at the row on row of mechanism, and stopped. "What's the matter?" asked Larienne. He moistened his lips. "Go around to the other side and close the door. Be quiet about it, but close the door quickly." She stared at him curiously and started to go inside. He grabbed her arm. "Around, I said. Not through." She shrugged and went around. In time he could see the other door close. Then she came back. "What's inside?" she whispered, adopting his own attitude. "Something I want you to see." She peered in. "I can't see anything." "It's out of the line of vision now, but it's still in there." He swung the door nearly shut. "Inside, fast. I'll show you." Obediently she went in and he followed, closing the door behind him. She waited. "The bird," he said. "I want you to verify that it is in here." "Bird?" She was puzzled and dismayed. "How did a bird get in here?" "I don't know. I'll figure that out later." There was no need to whisper, since it couldn't escape; nevertheless he did. "It's a psychological stunt. The best way to stop it is to catch the bird." She drew away uncertainly. "You saw it in here?" "I did, and I want you to be with me when I find it." "Then we should make a lot of noise. It will fly up if it's frightened." "Good. You take that aisle and I'll take this. Yell when you see it."