“How did _you_ hear of it?” Hamilton asked, instantly suspicious, and remembering that it was absolutely against the UN-SPR pact for the UN to have an informant in Antarctica. To Hamilton’s amazement, the usually imperturbable Harris countenance turned a bright pink. Нe thought, _If I’m not skinned alive over this it will have been worth it--just to see Ian blush. But what is he hiding?_ The UN man said, with seeming clairvoyance, “It’s not what you think. I--er--picked it up quite inadvertently. I happened to stumble across your man Ryan late last night.” “If you did,” said Hamilton seriously, “why in the name of heaven didn’t you clamp on to him?” “I tried to,” was the reply. “But the circumstances were not exactly propitious.” “Ryan at complete liberty in New York!” Hamilton groaned. “Was he talking?” “If he was keeping silent,” said Harris, his face resuming its normal pale tan, “would I be here now? I tell you, Park, this may be more serious than you think. I’m qualified to understand his ravings--an ability not shared by many, thank God. But there’s no way of telling how much harm has been done.” “Have you taken steps?” Hamilton asked, wishing he had looked up before walking under that ladder. Harris nodded. “I’ve put our UN force on the job. But what can they do? There are only a few score of them. Even if they locate him, they have no real jurisdiction outside of UN territory. All your man has to do is tell them to push off.” He paused, then added, “I came over here to discover your attitude and what steps _you_ are taking.” “Thanks, Ian,” said Hamilton. Harris didn’t have to detail what it could mean if word got out that a successful instantaneous matter-transmitter had been discovered. It could mean world-wide financial and economic catastrophe. It could mean disaster for every other form of freight and cargo transportation on Earth, from the great rocket airliners with their chains of freight-gliders to the humblest obsolescent tramp steamer plying the ocean waves. Hearing of it prematurely, people wouldn’t wait to learn its limitations, or the bugs that would have to be worked out before it could be put into operation. They’d dump their stocks and property investments and gilt-edged bonds and the result might well be world-wide chaos. “We’ll do our very best, never fear,” said Hamilton, accompanying Harris to the office door. But, returning to his desk, he wondered just what they could do. To put either the New York City police or the Federal Authorities on the job would be an iron-clad way of opening up a leak. It was one hell of a mess. He sat down behind his desk, put his face in his hands, and tried desperately to think of something. Nothing came. The visicommunicator hummed its little tune, and wearily he turned it on again. Miss Alderman’s trim, competent face appeared on the screen. He said, “Just where have _you_ been?”