"You are alive because you are not dead."

Kirdy darted Glawen a suspicious glance.

"Your remark is more subtle than perhaps you intended it to be. For a fact I cannot conceive of any other condition, which may well be a compelling argument in favor of immortality."

"Possibly so," said Glawen.

"I, personally, find it easy to conceive of this other condition. I can readily imagine myself alive and you dead. Does this weaken your argument in favor of immortality?"

"You have missed the whole point," said Kirdy.

"One thing is sure, at least: the Zubenites will tell you nothing if they think it will get them in trouble. Incidentally speaking of trouble have you noticed the two men sitting at the table yonder?"

Glawen glanced in the direction Kirdy had indicated.

"I

notice them now."

"I suspect that they are police detectives, and they are watching us. I don't like that sort of thing. It makes me uneasy."

"You must have a bad conscience," said Glawen.

Kirdy's face became even pinker than usual. For an instant he turned the full glare of his china-blue eyes on Glawen, then swung half-around in his chair and gazed moodily off across the room.

"That was just a joke," said Glawen.

"But you failed to laugh."

"It wasn't funny." Kirdy continued to brood.

For a fact, thought Glawen, he doesn't like me very much. He sighed.

"The sooner we are home the better."

Kirdy made no reply. Glawen looked again at the two men who might or might not be police detectives. They sat at an inconspicuous table by the wall, conversing in low tones.

Both were middle-aged and otherwise much alike: stocky, dark-haired, sallow, heavy of jowl, with clever darting eyes. They wore garments which the Nouveau Cri clerk might have defined as "all-purpose semiformal business wear, at a categorical level of the middle professional service class."

"I believe that you are right," said Glawen.

"They look like police officers to me. Well, it's nothing to us."

"But it's us they are watching!"

"Let them watch. We have nothing to hide."

"Fexelburg police are almost hysterical in their suspicions.

Unless you're a tourist spending lots of money, they wonder about you. Floreste deals with them carefully. It might be wise to request their cooperation."

"You may well be right," As they left the dining room, the two men arose, followed them into the lobby and approached. One of the two spoke:

"Captain Clattuc? Sergeant Wook?"

"Correct, sir."

"We are Inspectors Barch and Tanaquil of the Fexelburg police. May we have a few words with you?" .

"Whenever you like."

"Now is convenient for us. This way, if you please."

The four seated themselves in a quiet corner of the lobby.

Glawen said: "I hope that we have broken none of your laws?

We were absolutely assured that our garments were proper for lunching at the Lambervoilles."

"Sufficiently so," said Barch.

"In actuality, we are approaching you from motives of sheer curiosity. What might the police ofCadwal want on Tassadero? We can find no easy explanation; perhaps you will take us into your confidence."

"That has been our intention," said Glawen.

"But, as you must know, we have only just arrived, and there seemed no need for haste."

"Of course not," said Barch.

"Tanaquil and I simply happened to be at loose ends and thought to take advantage of the occasion. I take it you are here on official business?"

Glawen nodded.

"It might be simple, or it might be difficult, depending upon circumstances. I hope that we can count upon your cooperation, if necessary?"

"I would certainly expect so, to whatever degree we find possible. What, precisely, is the nature of your business?"

"We are investigating a series of criminal entertainments which were offered to off-world groups on one of our ocean islands. These groups were recruited at various worlds along the Wisp, including Tassadero, which is why we are here."

"Most unusual! Tanaquil, will you ever cease to be amazed by the weird convolutions of criminal behaviors?"

"Never, and I assure you of this!"

Barch turned back to Glawen.

"And who were the participants in this ugly business from Tassadero?"

"This is where I must ask your special discretion. Our main purpose is to identify the organizer of the scheme, and so we must deal carefully with the participants, at least until we find out what they know."