With mutual feelings of glum depression. It was James who spoke for all of us.

"One thing certain—none of us is going to be able to join up and make any investigations inside that church."

"Not without some radical surgery," Bolivar said with a broad smile; we glowered back.

Everyone who had visited the church so far had been a woman. "We need help," I said. "Still in touch with the Special Corps?" James asked.

"There is no escaping them. Though I have not talked to our noble leader, Inskipp, for a long time. Which is all for the best." I glanced at my watch, then bit a few settings and smiled. "Very good news. It is now the middle of the night at Prime Base. I will be forced to wake that dear man up."

His secretary answered first but I knew the code that bypassed its tiny robotic mind. After a number of rings, growing steadily louder since Inskipp was a heavy sleeper, a familiar and angry voice rustled in my ear. "If this isn't a major emergency you are dead, whoever you are," Inskipp growled.

"Jim diGriz here, good friend. Did I awake you?"

"I'm issuing an order now to seize all the assets in your bank accounts. Even the ones you think I don't know about!"

"I need help. Angelina is missing."

"Details," he said, voice calm, threats ended. I told him exactly what had happened. While I was doing this the boys were E—mailing copies of all the files including Angelina's recorded message. He did not waste time in commiseration and was calling in the troops even as I ta1ked. As head of the Special Corps, the most secret of secret forces that defended the peace and protected the galaxy, his powers were awesome. And he knew how to use them. "A cruiser is now on the way to Vulkann. Aboard it is a Special Agent who will be using the name Sybil. Up to this moment she has worked directly for me and for no one else. Now she is under your command. I will add that she is the best agent I have ever had."