"I know the main idea. That was your hypothesis, unsupported by evidence. What I am interested in is whether Grayson's Principle has what it takes to become Grayson's Theory." "I--You mean, was I successful?" "At last you have arrived at the salient point I mean exactly that." "I don't quite know." "You received a Z-wave message on Proxima?" "Yes." "Then--?" Paul grunted. "Everybody knows more about this than I do. I received a message. I was then informed that it was impossible for me to have received a message because Z-wave Central was not running." "How do you account for this message?" "I can't. Maybe," and here Paul looked Hoagland in the eye, "maybe Miss Nora Phillips can explain." "Who?" "Nora Phillips," said Paul sharply. "Or have you never met her?" "Should I have met her?" "Look, Hoagland," said Paul evenly, "I don't know what this is all about. You've got the chips and the cards and the dice. Your playfellows accused me of complications in the murder of John Stacey, ergo you must have heard of him. And Stacey's only connection with you is because he was engaged by me to find out what kind of game Nora Phillips was playing with me. Since you know the connection all along the line, you are also aware of the fact that Nora Phillips entered this house, and that Stacey came here seeking her, having informed me of the first fact. So since we're all aware of some of the facts, let's not play any more games than necessary to save face, huh?" "You talk rather boldly for a man in your position." "Hell's Eternal Bells, should I grovel in fear? You and whatever other factions are shoving me around obviously want me alive for some obscure reason, otherwise I'd have been eliminated instead of impersonated. So long as I am alive I can continue to hope for the future." "Oh, we have no intention of eliminating you." "Then what's this mad game all about?" "We have no intentions of forearming you, either." Paul shrugged. "It will be useless for you to deny that all this mess has nothing to do with the Z-wave and Neoterra." Hoagland eyed Paul humorously. "My young friend, you have the makings of wisdom. I am glad to hear you realize that your only cry to importance is your firm belief in the error of Haedaecker's Theory." "Maybe you won't mind explaining one small item." "Maybe." "If--for some reason--I am in your way because of the Z-wave, why was a man impersonating me, who could only impersonate me for a limited time?" "Occasionally," said Hoagland loftily, "some broad highway to somewhere must be blocked for a limited time only." "So I got a crack on the skull that wouldn't last. Eventually a man impersonating me would head for Proxima I to do something there--God knows what--while the real Paul Grayson was free to complain to everybody that he was really not on Proxima I doing his job?"