His next call was to a man he had once dealt with in his capacity of secretary to Senator FitzMaugham. He was Noel Hervey, a registered securities and exchange slyster. Hervey was a small, worried-looking little man, but his unflickering eyes belied his ratty appearance. "What troubles you, Roy?" "I want you to make a stock purchase for me, pronto. Within an hour, say?" Hervey shook his head instantly. "Sorry, Roy. I'm all tied up on a hefty monorail deal. Won't be free until Wednesday or Thursday, if by then." Walton said, "What sort of money will you be making on this big deal of yours, Noel?" "Confidential! You wouldn't invade a man's privacy on a delicate matter like--" "Will it be worth five million dollars for you, Noel?" "Five million--hey, is this a gag?" "I'm awfully serious," Walton said. "I want you to swing a deal for me, right away. You've heard my price." Hervey smiled warmly. "Well, start talking, friend. Consider me hired." * * * * * A few other matters remained to be tended to hurriedly. Walton spent some moments talking to a communications technician, then sent out an order for three or four technical books--_Basic Kaleidowhirl Theory_ and related works. He sent a note to Lee Percy requesting him to stop by and see him in an hour, and told his annunciator that for no reason whatsoever was he to be disturbed for the next sixty minutes. The hour passed rapidly; by its end, Walton's head was slightly dizzy from too much skimming, but his mind was thrumming with new possibilities, with communications potentials galore. Talk about reaching people! He had a natural! He flipped on the annunciator. "Is Mr. Percy here yet?" "No, sir. Should I send for him?" "Yes. He's due here any minute to see me. Have there been any calls?" "Quite a few. I've relayed them down to Mr. Eglin's office, as instructed." "Good girl," Walton said. "Oh, Mr. Percy's here. And there's a call for you from communications." Walton frowned. "Tell Percy to wait outside a minute or two. Give me the call." The communications tech on the screen was grinning excitedly. He said, "Subspace message just came in for you, sir." "From Venus?" "No, sir. From Colonel McLeod." "Let's have it," Walton said. The technician read, "'To Walton from McLeod, via subspace radio: Have made successful voyage to Procyon system, and am on way back with Dirnan ambassador on board. See you soon, and good luck--you'll need it.'" "Good. That all?" "That's all, sir." "Okay. Keep me posted." He broke contact and turned to the annunciator. Excitement put a faint quiver in his voice. "You can send in Mr. Percy now," he said. XV Walton looked up at the public relations man and said, "How much do you know about kaleidowhirls, Lee?" "Not a hell of a lot. I never watch the things, myself. They're bad for the eyes."