Then I stood, cautiously, and the room swayed, but I did not let it show. I crossed to the smaller guy's chair and seized its arms and his together and raised them up from off the floor. Woozy, I was; but not weak.

I carried him off to the bathroom and set him, chair and all, in the shower stall, avoiding the forward thrustings of his head.

Then I returned to the other.

Just to keep you abreast of what is going on, I said, it all depends on the time of day. I have measured the temperature of the hot water in that stall at various times, and it can come out of there at anything from 140° to 180° Fahrenheit. Your buddy is about to get it, hot and full blast, as soon as I open his shirt and trousers and expose as much bare flesh as possible. You understand?

I understand.

I went back inside and opened him up and turned the shower on, using the hot water only. Then I went back to the main room. I studied the features of his buddy, who I then noted bore him something of a resemblance. It struck me that they might be relatives.

When the screaming began, he sought to compose his features. But I could see I was getting through to him.

He tested his restraints once again, looked at my clock, looked at me.

Turn it off. God damn you! he cried.

Your cousin? I asked him.

My half brother! Shut it down, you baboon!

Only if you've got something to say to me.

Okay! But leave him in there and close the door!

I dashed and did it. My head was beginning to clear, though I still felt like hell.

I burned my right hand shutting the thing down. I left my chosen victim slouched there in the steam, and I shut the door behind me as I returned to the main room.

What do you have to say?

Could you give me one free hand and a cigarette?

No, but you can have a cigarette.

How about the right one? I can hardly move it.

I considered, and said, Okay, picking up my gun again.

I lit the stick, stuck it in his mouth, then cut the tape and tore it off his right forearm. He dropped the cigarette when I did it, and I picked it up and restored it to him.

All right, I said, take ten seconds and enjoy yourself. After that, we talk cases.

He nodded, looked around the room, took a deep drag, and exhaled.

I guess you do know how to hurt, he said. If you are not government, I guess your file is very much off.

I am not government.

Then I wish you were on our side, because it is a pretty bad thing. Whatever you are, or do, he stated, I hope you are aware of the full implications.

... And he glanced at my clock, again.

Six twenty-five.

He had done it several times, and I had dismissed it. But now it seemed something more than a desire to know the time.

When does it go off? I asked, on chance.

Buying that, on chance, he replied, Bring my brother back, where I can see him.

When does it go off? I repeated.

Too soon, he replied, and then it will not matter. You are too late.

I don't think so, I said. But now that I know, I'll have to move, fast. So ... Don't lose any sleep over it. I think I am going to turn you in now.

What if I could offer you more money?

Don't. You'd only embarrass me. And I'd still say, 'No.'

Okay. But bring him back, please, and take care of his burns.

So I did.

You guys will remain here for a brief while, I finally said, snuffing the older one's cigarette and retaping his wrist. Then I moved toward the door.

You don't know, you really don't know! I heard from behind me.

Don't fool yourself, I said, over my shoulder.

I didn't know. I really didn't know.

But I could guess.

I stormed through the corridors until I reached Carol Deith's cabin. There I banged upon the door until I heard some muffled cursing and a Wait a minute! Then the door opened and she stared out at me, her eyes winking at the light, a slumber cap of sorts upon her head and a bulky robe about her.

What do you want? she asked me.

Today is the day indeed, I said. I've got to talk to you. May I come in?

No, she said. I'm not accustomed to ...

Sabotage, I said. I know. That's what it's all about, and it isn't finished yet ... Please ...

Come in. The door was suddenly wide open and she was standing to one side.

I entered.

She closed the door behind me, leaned back against it and said, All right, what is it?

There was a feeble light glowing, and a messed-up bed from which I had obviously aroused her.

Look, maybe I didn't give you the whole story the other day, I told her. Yes, it was sabotage, and there was a bomb, and I disposed of it. That's over and done with. Today is the big day, though, and the final attempt is in the offing. I know that for a fact. I think I know what it is and where it is. Can you help me? Can I help you? Help.

Sit down, she said.

There isn't much time.

Sit down, please. I have to get dressed.

Please hurry.

She stepped into the next room and left the door open. I was around the comer from it, though, so it should not have bothered her if she trusted me, and I guess she did, because she did.

What is it? she asked me, amidst the rustle of clothing.

I believe that one or more of our three atomic charges has been booby-trapped, so that the bird will sing a bit prematurely within its cage.

Why? she said.

Because there are two men back in my cabin, both of them taped to chairs, who tried to make me talk earlier this evening, with respect to my servicing of the J-9.

What does that prove?

They were kind of rough on me.

So?

When I got the upper hand, I got the same way with them. I made them talk.

How?

None of your business. But they talked. I think RUMOKO's igniters need another check.

I can pick them up in your cabin?

Yes.

How did you apprehend them?

They didn't know I had a gun.

I see. Neither did I ... We'll get them, don't worry. But you are telling me that you took both of them and beat some answers out of them?

More or less, I said, and yes and no, and off the record, in case this place is bugged. Is it?

She came in, nodded her head and put a finger to her lips.

Well, let's go do something, I said. We'd better act quickly, I don't want these guys fouling the project all up.

They won't. Okay. I'll give it to you that you know what you are doing. I will take you at face value as a strange creature. You did something which nobody expected of you. This does happen occasionally. We sometimes meet up with a guy who knows his job thoroughly and can see when something is going wrong, and who cares enough about it to proceed from there and damn the torpedoes. You say an atomic bomb will soon be going off aboard this ship. Right?

Yes.

You think one of the charges has been attached, and has a timer cued in?

Right, and I looked at my wristwatch and saw that it was going on seven. I'd bet less than an hour from now.

They're going down in a few minutes, she told me.

What are you going to do about it?

She picked up the telephone on the little table next to her bed.

Operations, she said. Stop the countdown. Then, Give me the barracks.

Sergeant, she then said, I want you to make some arrests. She looked at me. What is your room number? she asked.

Six-forty, I replied.

Six-forty, she said. Two men ... Right ... Yes ... Thank you. And she hung up.

They're taken care of, she told me. So, you think a charge might go off prematurely?

That's what I said, twice.

Could you stop it?

With the proper equipment, though I'd rather you send in a service ...

Get it, she said to me.

Okay, and I went and did that thing.

I came back to her cabin around five minutes later, with a heavy pack slung over my shoulder.