Not that the books would mean anything, he thought. They would just take their places at the end of the long row of meaningless, disturbing, vicious facts that cluttered up his mind. He wasn't an FBI agent any more; he was a clown and a failure, and he was through. He was going to resign and go to South Dakota and live the life of a hermit. He would drink goat's milk and eat old shoes or something, and whenever another human being came near he would run away and hide. They would call him Old Kenneth, and people would write articles for magazines about The Twentieth Century Hermit. And that would make him famous, he thought wearily, and the whole circle would start all over again. "Now, now, Sir Kenneth," Queen Elizabeth said. "Things aren't quite that bad." "Oh, yes, they are," Malone said. "They're even worse." "I'm sure we can find an answer to all your questions," Her Majesty said. "Sure," Malone said. "Even I can find an answer. But it isn't the right one." "You can?" Her Majesty said. "That's right," Malone said. "My answer is: To Hell with everything." * * * * * Malone's Washington offices didn't look any different. He sighed and put the two big packages from the Psychical Research Society down on his desk, and then turned to Her Majesty. "I wanted you to teleport along with me," he said, "because I need your help." "Yes," she said. "I know." He blinked. "Oh. Sure you do. But let me go over the details." Her Majesty waved a gracious hand. "If you like, Sir Kenneth," she said. Malone nodded. "We're going on down to Interrogation Room 7 now," he said. "Next door to it, there's an observation room, with a one-way panel in the wall. You'll be able to see us, but we won't be able to see you." "I really don't require an observation panel," Her Majesty said. "If I enter your mind, I can see through your eyes--" "Oh, sure," Malone said. "But the observation room was built for more normal people--saving your presence, Your Majesty." "Of course," she said. "Now," Malone went on, "I want you to watch all three of the men we're going to bring in, and dig everything you can out of their minds." "Everything?" she said. "We don't know what might be useful," Malone said. "Anything you can find. And if you want any questions asked--if there's anything you think I ought to ask the men, or say to them--there's a nonvision phone in the observation room. Just lift the receiver. That automatically rings the one in the Interrogation Room and I'll pick it up. Understand?" "Perfectly, Sir Kenneth," she said. "O.K., then," Malone said. "Let's go." They headed for the door. Malone stopped as he opened it. "And by the way," he said. "Yes?" "If you get any more of those--disturbances, let me know." "At once," Her Majesty promised.