Earl was in the hall before Glassman had finished. He wanted to think. Rapid footsteps caught up with him. "_Now_ can we have coffee?" she asked with humorous petulance. "No!" Earl said with more fierceness in his voice than he had intended. It had the effect of a physical blow on Irene. She fell back a step, blinking. Basil caught up with them. "I want to talk with you, Earl," he said. "Basil," Irene cut in, "will _you_ have coffee with me?" "Me?" Basil said in delight. "Sure." He linked his arm in hers. "Let's go." He looked back over his shoulder at Earl. "Thanks, Earl," he said. "I'll see you later." It was two hours later. * * * * * "You sure it's her?" Basil said. "I'm inclined to agree with you. Of course, I saw her only for a second or two.... Where do you suppose she picked up those snazzy clothes? I was watching her when she was introduced to you. Boy, is she some actress!" "I'm wondering if it was an act," Earl said frowning. "Of course it was--had to be if she's the same girl. But she didn't let on she knew you at all." "That's why I wonder if it was an act. There was something strange about her. I can't quite put my finger on it--or yes I can. She's changed. Today her whole personality is different. And where did she get papers authentic enough to fool Glassman?" "Why don't you ask her when she comes here?" Basil suggested. Earl shook his head. "I wonder if she could be under some sort of hypnosis? No, wait. It isn't any more absurd than a paralysis gun. If she doesn't stay here tonight I'm going to follow her and see where she goes. Are you with me?" "Uh," Basil hesitated. "Depends on when she leaves the building. Irene and I have sort of a date to have dinner at the Red Barn at six o'clock." "Go ahead," Earl said, grinning. "I'll probably have more success alone anyway. We'd get in each other's way." "Why don't you ask Glassman where she's staying? It's probably some hotel in town." "I'll think about it," Earl said. When Basil left, Earl went to the window and looked toward the hill. Would Nadine go there? Was there some hiding place on the hill where she would go, to wait until tomorrow, after her "day's work" was done? Earl nodded to himself. It had to be. Nothing else fitted into the crazy pattern of events. One thing he was certain of now. In spite of the accident that had broken open the "ship" when it landed out there, its coming here--or here and now--was no accident. Nor Nadine's apparent familiarity with his name the night before, or her showing up now with credentials that gave her the run of the place in an almost supervisory capacity. And that meant that her interest was in the Brain. Hers--and who else? George Ladd, of course. How many more? If each of those stasis spheres had contained a person, there were dozens more in on it. _Then why had Nadine been sent into the open when she was certain to be recognized by him?_