"Drink your coffee before it gets cold," said Elizabeth. "There's plenty more." "Oh--thanks. Now, about this Barrett?" "We argued a lot. You see, I'm frankly a reactionary--" "Were you associated with any political-action group?" "Mr. Horrisford," said Elizabeth reproachfully, "you haven't touched your cake." "No, I wasn't that interested," said Arch. "Didn't even bother to vote in '50." "Here, Mr. Sagdahl, do have some more cake." "Thanks!--You met some of Barrett's friends?" "Yes, I was at some parties and--" "Excuse me, I'll just warm your coffee." "Did you at this time know anyone who had worked in the Manhattan Project?" "Of course. They were all over the place. But I never was told anything restricted, never asked for--" "Please, Mr. Horrisford! It's my favorite recipe." "Ummm. Thank you, but--" "You met your future wife when?" "In--" "Excuse me, there's the phone... Hello. Mrs. Arch speaking... Oh?... Yes, I'll see... Pardon me. There's a man from the Associated Press in town. He wants to see you, dear." Sagdahl flinched. "Stall him off," he groaned. "Please." "Can't do that forever," said Arch. "Not under the circumstances." "I realize that, Dr. Arch." Sagdahl clenched his jaw. "But this is unprecedented. As an American citizen, you'll want to--" "Certainly we'll cooperate," said Elizabeth brightly. "But what shall I tell the AP man? That we're not supposed to say anything to anyone?" "No! That won't do, not now. But--are all the technical details of this public?" "Why, yes," said Arch. "Anybody can make capacitite." "If you issued a denial--" "Too late, I'm afraid. Somebody's bound to try it anyway." Sagdahl looked grim. "You can be held incommunicado," he said. "This is a very serious matter." "Yes," said Elizabeth. "The AP man will think so too, if he can't get a story." "Well--" "Oh, dear! My Russell Wright coffee cup!" * * * * * Nothing happened overnight. That was the hardest thing to believe. By all the rules, life should have been suddenly and dramatically transformed; but instead, there were only minor changes, day by day, small incidents. Meanwhile you ate, slept, worked, paid bills, made love and conversation, as you had always done. The FBI held its hand as yet, but some quiet men checked into the town's one hotel, and there was usually one of them hanging around Arch's house, watching. Elizabeth would occasionally invite him in for a snack--she grew quite fond of them. The newspapers ran feature articles, and for a while the house was overrun with reporters--then that too faded away. Editorials appeared, pointing out that capacitite had licked one of the Soviet Union's major problems, fuel; and a syndicated columnist practically called for Arch's immediate execution. He found some of his neighbors treating him coldly. The situation distressed him, too. "I never thought--" he began.