"... but I could have been a pretty good actress, I think." "Correction, please. 'Outstanding' is the word." "Thank you, kind sir. And women--men, too, of course--do bring up certain memories, to ... to...." "To roll 'em around on their tongues and give their taste-buds a treat." "Exactly. So where I don't have any appropriate actual memories to bring up, I'll make like an actress. Check?" "Good girl! Now you're rolling--we're in like Flynn. Well, we've been in screen long enough, I guess. Fare thee well, little sister Brownie, until we meet again." He tossed the remains of their refreshments, trays and all, into the chute, picked up his shirt, and started out. "Put it _on_, Clee!" she whispered, intensely. "Why?" He grinned cheerfully. "It'd look still better if I peeled down to the altogether." "You're incorrigible," she said, but her answering grin was wide and perfectly natural. "You know, if I had had a brother something like you it would have saved me a lot of wear and tear. I'll see you in the morning before breakfast." * * * And she did. They strolled together to breakfast; not holding hands, but with hip almost touching hip. Relaxed, friendly, on very cordial and satisfactory terms. Lola punched breakfast orders for them both. Belle drove a probe, which bounced--Lola's screen was tight, although her brown eyes were innocent and bland. But during the meal, in response to a double-edged, wickedly-barbed remark of Belle's, a memory flashed into being above Lola's shield. It was the veriest flash, instantly suppressed. Her eyes held clear and steady; if she blushed at all it did not show. Belle caught it, of course, and winked triumphantly at Garlock. She knew, now, what she had wanted to know. And, Prime Operator though he was, it was all he could do to make no sign; for that fleetingly-revealed memory was a perfect job. He would not have--_could_ not have--questioned it himself, except for one highly startling fact. It was of an event that had not happened and never would! And after breakfast, at some distance from the others, "That is my girl, Brownie! You're firing on all forty barrels. You're an Operator, all right; and it takes a damn good one to lie like that with her mind!" "Thanks to you, Clee. And thanks a million, really. I'm me again--I think." Then, since Belle was looking, she took him by both ears, pulled his head down, and kissed him lightly on the lips. The spontaneity and tenderness were perfect at that moment. Clee's appreciation was obvious. "I know I said you'd have to kiss me next time," Lola said, very low, "but this act needs just this much of an extra touch. Anyway, such little, tiny, sisterly ones as this, and out in public, don't count." CHAPTER 3 Lola and Garlock went to town in the same taxi. As they were about to separate, Garlock said: