Relax, then, Mister Schweitzer. We don't want trouble, either, said the talkative one.

Great, said I. Ask me anything and I'll give you honest answers, prepared to lie my head off. Ask away.

You repaired the J-9 unit today.

I guess everybody knows that.

Why did you do it?

Because two men were going to die, and I knew how.

How did you acquire this expertise?

For Chrissakes, I'm an electrical engineer! I said. I know how to figure circuits! Lots of people do!

The taller guy looked at the shorter one. He nodded. Then why did you try to silence Asquith? the taller one asked me.

Because I broke a regulation by touching the unit, I said. I'm not authorized to service it.

He nodded again. Both of them had very black and clean-looking hair and well-developed pectorals and biceps, as seen through their light shirts.

You seem to be an ordinary, honest citizen, said the tall one, who went to the school of his choice, graduated, remained unmarried, took this job. Perhaps everything is as you say, in which case we do you wrong. However, the circumstances are very suspicious. You repaired a complex machine which you had no right to repair ...

I nodded.

Why? he asked,

I've got a funny thing about death: I don't like to see people do it, I said. Then, Who do you work for? I asked. Some sort of intelligence agency?

The shorter one smiled. The other said, We are not permitted to say. You obviously understand these things, however. Our interest is only a certain curiosity as to why you kept quiet with respect to what was obviously sabotage.

So, I've told you.

Yes, but you are lying. People do not disobey orders the way you did.

Crap! There were lives at stake!

He shook his head.

I fear that we must question you further, and in a different manner.