Finally he gave a little shrug, put the message back on the tray and resumed eating.
Colin sat heavily back in his chair. He sighed.
"He didn't even see it," Banning said disgustedly.
"He saw the paper, not the message."
"Why?"
"Personal communication. It implies the existence of another communicating—entity. He won't admit it." Colin re-lit his pipe.
"Ah, hell!"
"I guess we'll have to take the direct approach," Colin said thoughtfully.
He lay relaxed on the bed in the little room, his eyes closed, his face calm and quiet. Pulse normal, temperature normal. Above and in the walls recorders and cameras purred almost silently with the bland indifference of omniscience.