Johnson recognized the frustration in my voice. "Don't let it get you down," he said.
I asked him if the C.I.D. had ever investigated the cult.
"Not yet," he said. "Not that I know of. But everyone that you've had any contact with since you've been here is being checked thoroughly. And since that includes the SRI cult, it'll get a very complete going-over."
I said, "Well, shucks, then. All I have to do is sit back and let you fellows dig up the information I need."
"That, of course, depends on how the information is classified after it's processed," Johnson corrected. "Maybe you can use it and maybe you can't." He shrugged. "Well, I've got a whole new batch of questions here for you. That's my job right now. Let's get at 'em."
After Johnson was gone and I again felt mentally empty, I turned to Maxwell, who was pacing the floor restlessly: "Well, shall we go down and set up your defense barrier again?"
"Let's take a walk," he said. "I've got a headache. Fresh air might help."
"Suits me," I replied. "I know of a little bar seven or eight blocks from here...."
I stopped because he was already going out the door, and I had to get up from the chair, grab the defense mech and run after him.