"What have you found out?" I asked brusquely as I stamped into Captain Cohn's office. He was speaking on the phone and he raised his hand signing me to wait.

"Yes. Thank you. I understand." He hung up. "That was the hospital. It seems that Mrs. Vinicultura is suffering from post—traumatic amnesia—"

"She's forgotten everything that happened?"

"Precisely. There are techniques that could get access to those memories but their application must wait until she has recovered from the shock."

"That's not why you called me here?"

"No." He ran his finger around inside his collar and—if it were possible for an overmuscled police captain to look embarrassed—he looked embarrassed.

"Here on Lussuoso we pride ourselves on our security and the thoroughness of our records.

"Which means," I interrupted, "your security has been penetrated and your records are doubtful?"

He opened his mouth to rebut me. Then closed it and slumped in his chair. "You're right. But it has never happened before."

"Once is once too often. Tell me about it."

"It is this Temple of Eternal Truth. It appears to have been duly registered as a qualified religion. They kept accurate records and reported regularly on their financial position, though of course like all religions they pay no taxes. Everything seemed quite aboveboard. The directors are on record and, most discreetly of course, we know about all of its members."

"All about? Would you like to explain that?"

He looked uncomfortable. "Well, like any civilized planet we practice the galactic constant of complete freedom of religion. You have heard of the Interstellar Freedom of Religion Act?"

"Vaguely, in school."

"The Act is not vague. The history of religion is a history of violence. Only too often religion kills, and we have had enough killing. Therefore no state or planet can have an official religion. Neither can a state or planet make any laws controlling religion. Freedom of worship and assembly is essential to civilization."