Then Tedor was grappling with Sertant, forcing him back over the edge of the desk, and twisting the hand that held the gun. Miss Peterson disappeared, on her way to notify the local police in all probability. Tedor twisted savagely, heard something snap. Sertant cursed; the gun clattered to the desk-top, then to the floor, but Sertant's hand was at Tedor's throat, choking him. Abruptly Tedor relaxed, permitting Sertant to straighten away from the desk. Tedor swung his right hand in a short clubbing blow which chopped at Sertant's chin. It broke Sertant's choking hold, opened Sertant's guard so Tedor could pound two swift blows at his stomach. Sertant doubled over, got thrust upright again by a hard left cross which loosened his teeth and sent two of them flying from his mouth with a spray of blood. Sertant gurgled, covered head with hands and slumped on the desk. Tedor left the office, tidying his clothing. In the outer room he passed a near-hysterical Miss Peterson, who had just returned the phone to its cradle. "Better get him some water," Tedor told her. "Cold water. And tell him I'm sorry. Tell him I'm an Agent, doing an Agent's job and nothing, not even Ruscar, can delay it. Tell him Ruscar can find me in Moscow if he really wants me." "M-moscow?" "Moscow." Tedor closed the door behind him. * * * * * Dorlup was sweating. Naturally, he had nothing to hide; he had done nothing which could call the Agents down on him. "I don't know what you're talking about," he repeated for the fifth time. "We'll see about that. We have a sworn statement by this solidio actress--" "Beti? That's insane. Beti's been with me for months, I admit that; but my behavior has always been within the limits of the law. Why man, the natives accept me as one of their own." "That's what you say." "Yes it is. I challenge you to prove otherwise." "We already have. The actress' testimony is enough to condemn you." "I demand that my legal advocate be notified." "He will, when you're returned to the future for trial." The door to the small room opened. Tall, slender, self-assured, Mulid Ruscar entered with another man. "It's done," the other man said. "We have her statement," said Ruscar. "You can send this one back any time--and just a minute! Something's coming over your teletype. This primitive communications...." The man who had been questioning Dorlup walked to a bulky piece of machinery which was clicking excitedly in a corner of the room. He peered in through the metal case, read: HEADQUARTERS EASTERN UNITED STATES DISTRICT COLON URGENT EXCLAMATION POINT IS RUSCAR PRESENT QUESTION PLEASE HAVE HIM CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY REGARDING TEDOR BARWAN PERIOD BARWAN WAS HERE BUT MANAGED TO ESCAPE CMM TRICKING AND OVERPOWERING ME PERIOD BARWAN ASSERTED INTENTIONS OF VISITING MOSCOW USSR CMM PURPOSE OF VISIT UNKNOWN PERIOD PLEASE NOTIFY PERIOD JELDON SERTANT C TWENTY NEUSA CMM NEW YORK NY END