* * * * * The office was a miniature of the council chamber. It was elliptical, furnished with two desks of smooth, soft-finished metal molded to fit the general configurations of the chamber itself, and planned for both business-like efficiency and personal comfort. The name-plate on the larger desk bore his insignia and said Douglas J. Blair; that on the smaller said Miss Jane Landis. He seated himself. "Miss Landis, about that report to the Director. Perhaps--perhaps as you suggested, it was in, shall we say, bad taste. Better file it. Future reference." "Why Doug--what on Earth's the matter?" She put the recording device on her desk, walked over to his. There was a look of concern on her face that he didn't understand. What had he said wrong now? Whatever it was, there was no hint of suspicion in her look, only a vague puzzlement. Young, and pretty. A trap, perhaps--no, they hadn't tumbled yet. Perhaps just Nature's own trap and that was all. Funny, Doug thought, very funny. There were rules. Sometimes you were supposed to be thankful to Nature, worship her, hold her in awe--and other times, you were supposed to completely deny that she existed, and villify her if she had done too good a job. She had done a good job on Miss Landis. "Why, nothing. It is simply that--" "But why the 'Miss' Landis? Did I do something wrong? And the way you just went over and sat down...." "Sorry ... sorry, Jane." He smiled. "It's Tayne. I think I handled him rather badly." "Don't worry so, Doug! I've never seen such a little thing get under your skin. Everyone knows he never got properly conditioned, even the Director himself. He's a good games officer, and that's that. He's always trying to draw someone into a state of anger, and you told me yourself just yesterday that you're his special target just for the job. It's a good thing you didn't blow up in there. What came over you--giving an order like that, I mean?" "I--let's say I was confused for the moment." "As long as he's the only headquarters man like that there's nothing to keep you so upset, Doug. Now come on--" She was behind the desk, a slender hand on the back of his chair. "Not--no not now Jane. Anyway you should appreciate my--" "Your position ... yes.... But Lisa's not the jealous sort Doug, you know that. Your wife's always been willing to share you with others...." "I--yes I know that of course...." _Good Lord_ ... He hadn't even thought of it, hadn't been ready. The entire set-up of conventions would of course have so many differences--what was simple bad taste in his time-phase might be accepted as a matter of course here. And vice-versa perhaps--how was he to know? And he would have to know. "Doug...." He said nothing, and she withdrew a little. "Doug I'm sorry about getting out of line when I said what I did about the way you handled Tayne, if that's what it is ... I know my business and I know yours...."