Tippellum paused and let the smoke trickle out the sides of his mouth. “Yeah,” he said, “how in space did you know?”
“Never mind. Can I see him?”
“Space, I can’t say. The old man has him in his own room for questioning. Everyone figures he’s a spy.”
“You tell the old man that I know him, if he’s who he claims he is. I’II take the responsibility.”
Captain Dixyl on the flagship of the Third Fleet watched unremittingly at the Grand Detector. No ship could avoid being a source of subatomic radiation – not even if it were lying an inert mass – and each focal point of such radiation was a little sparkle in the three-dimensional field.
Each one of the Foundation’s ships were accounted for and no sparkle was left over, now that the little spy who claimed to be a neutral had been picked up. For a while, that outside ship had created a stir in the captain’s quarters. The tactics might have needed changing on short notice. As it was–
“Are you sure you have it?” he asked.
Commander Cenn nodded. “I will take my squadron through hyperspace: radius, 10.00 parsecs; theta, 268.52 degrees; phi, 84.15 degrees. Return to origin at 1330. Total absence 11.83 hours.”
“Right. Now we are going to count on pin-point return as regards both space and time. Understand?”
“Yes, captain.” He looked at his wrist watch, “My ships will be ready by 0140.”
“Good,” said Captain Dixyl.
The Kalganian squadron was not within detector range now, but they would be soon. There was independent information to that effect. Without Cenn’s squadron the Foundation forces would be badly outnumbered, but the captain was quite confident. Quite confident.
Preem Palver looked sadly about him. First at the tall, skinny admiral; then at the others, everyone in uniform; and now at this last one, big and stout, with his collar open and no tie – not like the rest – who said he wanted to speak to him.
Jole Turbor was saying: “I am perfectly aware, admiral, of the serious possibilities involved here, but I tell you that if I can be allowed to speak to him for a few minutes, I may be able to settle the current uncertainty.”
“Is there any reason why you can’t question him before me?”
Turbor pursed his lips and looked stubborn. “Admiral,” he said, “while I have been attached to your ships, the Third Fleet has received an excellent press. You may station men outside the door, if you like, and you may return in five minutes. But, meanwhile, humor me a bit, and your public relations will not suffer. Do you understand me?”
He did.
Then Turbor in the isolation that followed, turned to Palver, and said, “Quickly – what is the name of the girl you abducted.”
And Palver could simply stare round-eyed, and shake his head.
“No nonsense,” said Turbor. “If you do not answer, you will be a spy and spies are blasted without trial in war time.”
“Arcadia Darell!” gasped Palver.
“Well! All right, then. Is she safe?”
Palver nodded.
“You had better be sure of that, or it won’t be well for you.”
“She is in good health, perfectly safe,” said Palver, palely.
The admiral returned, “Well?”
“The man, sir, is not a spy. You may believe what he tells you. I vouch for him.”
“That so?” The admiral frowned. “Then he represents an agricultural co-operative on Trantor that wants to make a trade treaty with Terminus for the delivery of grains and potatoes. Well, all right, but he can’t leave now.”
“Why not?” asked Palver, quickly.
“Because we’re in the middle of a battle. After it is over – assuming we’re still alive – we’ll take you to Terminus.”
The Kalganian fleet that spanned through space detected the Foundation ships from an incredible distance and were themselves detected. Like little fireflies in each other’s Grand Detectors, they closed in across the emptiness.
And the Foundation’s admiral frowned and said, “This must be their main push. Look at the numbers.” Then, “They won’t stand up before us, though; not if Cenn’s detachment can be counted on.”
Commander Cenn had left hours before – at the first detection of the coming enemy. There was no way of altering the plan now. It worked or it didn’t, but the admiral felt quite comfortable. As did the officers. As did the men.