"--but I do suppose that you come from the Federal Bureau of Loyalty and that you are fully empowered to deal for the services and the president?" The other nodded once. "Mr. Greeley, Mr. Brimstine," Billig said with a gracious wave of his arm that reminded Phil of the swaying of a snake. "Mr. Greeley, Dora ... er, Dora Pannes." The government man barely acknowledged the introductions. "Mr. Billig," he said, "you tell us you have the green cat. If you have, we'll buy it." "And what will you pay?" Billig murmured. "The Moreland-McCartney letters, proving the graft those senators received from Fun Incorporated, plus all related recording and microwave taps. Similar material in sixty-odd other cases, which I hardly need enumerate to you in detail." "Not enough," Billig said softly. Greeley hesitated. "Of course, I could appeal to you," he said in a different voice; "simply as Americans, as citizens of this hemisphere facing a deadly danger--" "Please, Mr. Greeley," Billig said with a chuckle. Greeley shut his lips tight. When he opened them, his earlier voice spoke. "Letters of confidence on all the indicted officials, dated today and signed and thumbprinted by the president and all the service heads, with confirming vocal recordings and pictures of the recordings being made. Naturally our experts will have to examine the cat before the exchange is made. They can be here in twenty minutes." "That is better," Billig murmured, "quite a bit better. But not enough." "What else do you want?" Greeley demanded angrily, but it seemed to Phil that he knew. "The witnesses, delivered into our hands," Billig said. "O'Malley, Fattori, Madelin Luszcak, and the thirty-odd--no, I'll be precise--thirty-four others." "That's out," Greeley said sharply. "I can't offer to pay you in human lives." "Who mentioned anything like that?" Billig asked mildly. "I didn't, did I, Moe? It's just that we'd feel safer with the witnesses in our protective custody rather than yours." "You know what you'd do to them," Greeley said. Billig shrugged. "You wouldn't have to think about it. In any case, there are ways to forget." And he glanced at Dora, who flashed the FBL man a lazy, provocative smile. Greeley flushed. For a few seconds he seemed to be concentrating on his breathing. "Look here, Billig," he said finally, "don't get the idea that either I or the government feels anything but loathing and detestation for you. Fun Incorporated has corrupted a third of a nation, and we have your headquarters here and in twenty cities so well cordoned a wasp couldn't get out. The sole reason we haven't smashed you is that you tell us you've captured something that is a little more dangerous to America than even your rotten organization. But our patience is wearing thin. We suspect a bluff, in spite of those green hairs you sent us. Make a deal while you can."