Phil shrugged and refrained from smiling. “I guess the girl knows what she wants,” he said noncommitally. “I mean--well, hell, what’s the deal? How come he doesn’t break down and propose?” This time he let himself smile. “He does. Every day and twice on Tuesdays, the way I hear it. _She’s_ the one who won’t play.” Chris looked up sharply. “What the hell--?” “Look, I’m not telling any stories out of school; I would have thought you’d know that much anyhow. Don’t your people keep any tabs on Wendt at all?” “Not _my_ people,” the other man said bitterly. “Just Security. And what they don’t tell _me_ would--would probably launch a thousand spaceships, come right down to it. Hell, I wouldn’t even know as much as I’ve told you if I didn’t take that trip Earthside last month.” “Oh?” _Well, you’ve got some connection, then._... He caught himself up, astonished at his own hostility. _Well, something new has been added!_ Only it wasn’t new at all. The only thing was that Chris had joined the club. Phil Kutler grinned inside himself, not pleasantly. _Strange bedfellows_, he thought--_goddam strange!_ _Mexcity--Thursday, August 4_ The General dictated the last letter of the morning, dismissed his secretary with a tired pleasantry, and buzzed Al Prentiss. “You seen the papers yet?” Prentiss was in a good mood--and a good thing, Harbridge thought. He himself was beginning to think again wistfully about the pleasures of retirement. “Only the _Times_,” he said warily. He hoped Al’s good humor was not the fine edge of battle. This would be a good day not to get clobbered by anything. “I’ll be right in.” _Click._ That’s the trouble with civilians, Harbridge thought. No damn manners. Al came bursting in, three folded newspapers under his arm, all early afternoon editions. “Like a charm,” he said, spreading them to the marked articles. MOON DOME ADMINISTRATION SCOURGED BY CONGRESSMAN _McLafferty Will Investigate Dome Security Practices_ Iquique, Aug. 4: Representative Ramon E. McLafferty (I., E. Ch.) announced today that he was in receipt of ‘evidence of incredible sloppiness’ in the handling of what ought to be Top-Secret space research projects at Moon Dome. The Congressman, who is newly appointed Chairman of the Security Subcommittee of the Joint Space Affairs Committee, declined to reveal his sources, but promised an ‘immediate and vigorous investigation.’ Asked if his statement was connected in any way with his interview earlier today with Andrew Jennings, a close neighbor and friend of Rep. McLafferty in the northern mountains, the Industrialist Congressman refused to comment....