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"The dog," Vogel explained. "It was David's dog." "We don't know that it's a one-man dog," Selby rebutted. "It could have been with Johnny." "That's possible." "Yet you're certain that the boy was David, and not Johnny?" "If a beyond exists," Vogel amended. "So it does come back to intelligence, doesn't it?" "If you put it that way, yes." Selby said pointedly, "The inference I draw is that you believe in a beyond." Vogel smiled easily. "You're twisting my words." "Not intentionally." "As a point in fact, I'm certain such people exist, but they're extremely rare. The probability of such an occurrence at any given time or place is highly remote. I wouldn't expect it to happen more than one or two times per generation, and when you extrapolate that to the billions upon billions of people in the Federation..." He paused and shrugged. "Yet following that reasoning, it would have to happen somewhere," Selby argued. "What could be a more logical place than Engo?" "It's possible," Vogel acceded. "But I hope not." Selby cocked his head. "I note by the records that David has a sister." "Around nineteen or twenty at the time," Vogel reflected. "She exposed herself to accompany the boy. A courageous act, Alek." "Very," he murmured. "It created quite a stir at the time," Vogel pursued. "People with such highly developed telepathy seldom escape detection during childhood." "How do we know?" he challenged. "We know only those who are detected." "You have a point," the psymaster conceded. "How does the director feel about this?" "The possibility of a pk on Engo? He can't afford the luxury of opinion, Alek. The rumor is sufficient to demand immediate action, regardless of its truth. Look at Wig's reaction. That should tell you something of the political implications." "I realize them all too well," he admitted wryly. "He can't afford to have a pk created," Vogel said pointedly. "I have the feeling one will be created, at least in the public mind," Selby reflected. "Too many people know of the case -- Cromwell, his crew, the police who took him into custody..." "True enough." Vogel smiled faintly. "But I don't believe Cromwell will open his mouth again, not after the scare he got. He was sweating out the threat of a detention planet when the director offered a reprieve." Page 17 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html "You believe he'll cooperate?" "I feel certain of it," Vogel declared. "He must be quite familiar with the planet," he mused. "Not according to the findings of the probe master," Vogel countered. "His sole contact is Simon, an old man who runs the spaceport and acts as intermediary in the trading." "After a score or more of trips?" asked Selby disbelievingly. "They're a secretive people, Alek. Can you blame them? We've denied them, thrust them out of the human race, so to speak. Would you expect a welcoming committee?" "Not when you put it that way," he admitted. "It's no secret they were sent there to die," Vogel continued. "That was the original intent, but since then the government has changed somewhat, perhaps because of the humanist outcry. As it stands now, the prohibition against commerce usually is enforced only in cases of flagrant violations. Actually, with the exception of Ewol Strang and one or two others, the High Council is content with things as they are. But that's a high-level secret, Alek. The public wouldn't stand for leniency." "How do the lower echelons feel?" "The same, if you're thinking of our sector," Vogel answered. "Other sector directors see things differently. In those cases, the government doesn't interfere with the prosecution." "Wig should work for them," Selby said bitterly. "They have their Wigs," Vogel answered caustically. "There's seldom a shortage of that type." As Selby rose to go, he said, "I'd appreciate any advice you might have to give..." "Make your own judgments, Alek." Vogel rubbed his hands briskly. "In view of what you said about Cromwell's experience, I might have trouble making contacts." "It won't be easy." The psymaster gazed toward the window. "But I feel you'll do all right." Hallam Vogel punched a button and watched the screen come to life. Korl Smithson's aged face took shape, the blue eyes peering at him from under shaggy brows. Vogel saw the lines of tiredness and felt a quick sympathy. The director hadn't had a moment's rest since the Engo story had broken. "Are you on private?" Smithson asked. Vogel glanced at the security button and nodded. "Ewol Strang has the full story," Smithson pursued grimly. "Already?" Vogel whistled softly. Strang represented the Third Sector on the High Council, only a step down from the Imperator himself; and with his strong antimutant bias...He sighed and asked, "How did he get it?" He had scant doubt but that Wig had leaked the information. "He didn't say." "What did he say?" Smithson's grim expression made him fear the worst. "He's ordered a sweeping investigation." "Does he know we have one under way?" "Probably, but he specified that it be conducted under Department 404 -- Executor Wig, to be exact." "Then it came from Wig," Vogel asserted. He could speak frankly with his old friend. "It's even worse than that, Hallam." The director paused thoughtfully. "Strang has wangled an order of execution from the Imperator." "Warrant of execution?" Vogel asked slowly. "It's in Wig's hands already." "Without certification?" he demanded. "If Wig actually views a paranormal act, that's deemed sufficient," the director answered gravely. "The Imperator has waived the necessity for Page 18 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html probing." "That's tantamount to the determination of guilt by accusation, Korl." "It is." Vogel looked steadily into the screen. "A warrant has to bear a name. The law requires..." 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