Nelva said, "You can hide here for a little while. After that...." Her voice trailed off. She was breathing hard.
Dane said, "I'm tired of hiding. It gets me nowhere."
The girl's grey eyes widened. "But—what—?"
"Which way to your analytical computer?"
"Analytical computer—?" Nelva looked bewildered. "What computer? What are you talking about?"
"You know what I mean!" Dane bared his teeth. "Every planetary record center's built around one. It's the gadget that organizes your information, sorts out your data, makes your decisions when you've got too many complicating factors for a human mind to handle." He laughed harshly. "That's me, right now. I'm up against too many complicating factors. So I'm going to ask your computer for some answers."
Nelva stared at him incredulously. "Are you mad, Clark? At best, we've a few minutes' freedom for you. No more. Any moment, Security may send someone in here—"
"That's why I won't wait for them!" Dane came back fiercely. "Sure, you saved my neck, dragging me in here. I'm grateful for it. But not so grateful I'm willing to stand waiting till someone hunts me down." He hammered a clenched fist into his palm. "No, damn it! I'll do some of the hunting this time. And that starts with some questions for your computer!"
"But what—?"