Harding grunted. "Big deal. Is someone assigned to follow you around when you get off the project?" She shrugged. "I doubt it. Why should they bother? I never leave the university grounds, and any secrets should be safe with me here. I'm not exactly the gabby type, and the people who know me seem to be careful not to ask me questions about Ben Lowry or myself anyway." She looked reflective. "You know, I do believe it's been almost six months since anyone has so much as mentioned diex energy in my presence!" "Isn't the job beginning to look a little old after all this time?" Harding asked. "Well," Arlene said, "working with Doctor Ben never gets to be boring, but it _is_ a rather restrictive situation, of course. It'll come to an end by and by." Harding glanced at his watch, said, "Drop me a line when that happens, Arlene. By that time, I might be able to afford an expert micromachinist myself." "In a dome at the bottom of some ocean basin?" Arlene laughed. "Sounds cosy--but that wouldn't be much of an improvement on Cleaver Spaceport, would it? Will you start back to the coast today?" "If I can still make the afternoon flight." He took her arm. "Come on. I'll see you through the somatic barrier first." "Why? Do you think it might make a mistake about me and clamp down?" "It's been known to happen," Harding said gloomily. "And from what I hear, it's one of the less pleasant ways to get killed." Arlene said comfortably, "There hasn't been an accident of that kind in at least three or four years. The bugs have been very thoroughly worked out of the things. I go in and out here several times a week." She took a small key from her purse, fitted it into a lock at the side of the transparent door, twisted it and withdrew it. The door slid sideways for a distance of three feet and stopped. Arlene Rolf stepped through the opening and turned to face Harding. "There you are!" she said. "Barely a tingle! If it didn't want to pass me, I'd be lying on the ground knotted up with cramps right now. 'By, Frank! See you again in two or three months, maybe?" Harding nodded. "Sooner if I can arrange it. Goodby, Arlene." He stood watching the trim figure walk up the passage beyond the door. As she came to its end, the door slid silently shut again. Arlene looked back and waved at him, then disappeared around the corner. Dr. Frank Harding thrust his hands into his pockets and started back across the court, scowling absently at nothing. * * * * *