Doctor Fralick put the palms of his hands on the desk and leaned forward. He said, "I'm very glad you made it, Vickers. I haven't had a chance to express my appreciation." Vickers wrinkled his forehead. There was an air of hopeful friendliness tinctured with awe in their attitude that puzzled him. He didn't say anything. Fralick looked vaguely embarrassed. "I--we've another favor to ask you, Vickers. We want you to come in with us." "What?" said Vickers in a stunned voice. "We want you in International Spy Ring, Inc. Need you. We--well, we wouldn't expect you to accept a minor position of course. Not a man of your calibre. If you'll join us, Vickers, you can take charge of the field work. None of us is so well fitted for active duty as you with your enviable vision, your resourcefulness." Vickers didn't know what to say. That anybody envied him, wanted him around, considered him an asset, knocked a hole in his armor. He had no defenses against friendliness. "But you," he said; "Doctor Fralick, you're head of the U.S. Bureau of Research--" "I'm also the head of International Spy Ring, Inc." At Vickers' expression, Fralick allowed a smile to flit across his visage. "Don't judge us too harshly. Science is international, not the property of one individual or one nation, even. It must belong to everybody. "We don't want power. We're after peace and tolerance and the dissemination of knowledge. We're united, Vickers. The scientists, the technicians, the engineers of the seven great nations. Not all of us, but enough of us." He gave Vickers a shrewd penetrating look. "Our way may not seem ethical, but it works. When there are no secrets between countries, war is almost impossible. And there are no secrets anymore; we see to that. "If the Arab Federation discovers a new gas, we sell the formula to each of the other countries. If the Black Republic or China starts a program of military training or lays the keel of a new battleship, in a week everyone of the other countries has the complete details. "We don't sell the information for profit, Vickers, but to finance the organization." * * * * * Vickers was stunned. The realization that the Ring was not a hard grasping organization of thieves, spies and traitors; but an international group comprising the finest minds and bent on preserving the peace, left him completely bewildered. "I don't know what to say," he said. "Of course I'll join you." "Good." Fralick jumped up, came around the desk with his hand out. "We'll get you a pardon. It wouldn't do for my son-in-law to be a fugitive from the ISP." He winked at the others who had crowded about Vickers, pumping his hand. It occurred to Vickers that these men were pleased to have him--not in spite of his mutation, but because of it! They'd even been a little afraid he might turn them down.