"What did you mean: was my brother?" Uneasiness settled deep inside her. "Has something happened to him?" "No. No. It was a grammatical error." Herb thought the sentence too stiff for credence. But she seemed reassured. "I'll get Bud to help you. And Frank, too. Perhaps the three of us can get you out of any trouble you're in. I'm sure the starmen will be fair. If it's something you've done...." "No! Don't talk to Bud! Don't tell him you've seen me. You mustn't!" "Herb, you're being silly." She stood up. "You make it sound like I've got something to be afraid of from my own brother." Herb bit his lips in anguish and ran from the room. Norma heard his feet on the carpet, running, running.... The empty room became a thing of terror. She was entangled in something beyond her understanding, and the world seemed less secure than at any time since her parents had died. Should she go after Herb, or...? She started toward the telephone, stopped, turned away--and then turned back. She got the switchboard. "Get me Senator Council's office.... Hello, oh, hello, John. Norma. Is Bud in yet? Oh, still. Have him call me as soon as he--oh. All right. I'll be over in an hour then. And John: have you heard anything from Frank? I'm beginning to get worried about him. He isn't in yet...." She hung up slowly, wondering if she had done the proper thing. * * * * * She was early for the appointment with Bud, and she was waiting in the outer office when he came in. His two guards nodded recognition and Bud said, "What is it, Norma?" His tone was irritable, and she wanted to cry. "Please, may I talk to you a minute?" Bud shifted his weight nervously. "_Please_, Bud!" "Come on. I haven't got all day." Letting her enter the main office before him, he said. "What's it about this time?" He drew the door to his private office closed after them, and went to his desk where he picked up a letter and pretended to read it. "Well? Well?" "I've talked to Herb." Bud's face sagged. The letter began to tremble ever so slightly. Norma did not notice. He did not look up. How much did Herb know? About Frank? Did he know? "Yes?" He felt weakness dissolve his arm muscles and dissolve the muscles of his thighs and calves. He was afraid that he was about to suffer a heart attack. He had difficulty breathing. "What--what did he have to say?" "He wanted me to buy a gun for him." "What for? What for? What did he want a gun for?" Norma twisted her hands nervously. "I don't know. He wouldn't say. He's in trouble. I thought maybe we could help him." "He didn't say anything else?" Bud demanded sharply, feeling the fear fade. "He didn't tell you, he didn't say anything else?" "No, just that he needed a gun--" "Where is he now?" "I don't know." "You don't know? You don't know? He's trying to get a gun, and you don't know where he is?" "I--I--"