"Good," Hanlon was well-rested and his voice was crisp. "I think I'll start at Bohr's place."
The two officers left Base, a staff car rushing them to the ministerial residence. They entered and Hawarden led the way down a hall towards Bohr's private office.
But just as they reached the door and were turning to go in, Hanlon suddenly pushed the admiral past it, then jumped across the opening himself. Hawarden turned in puzzlement, but Hanlon signalled quiet and led him into a small reception room adjoining.
"There's one man in there you'll have to get rid of before I can go in," he explained in a swift whisper. "Young junior lieutenant named Dick Trowbridge. He'd recognize me even in this disguise. How'd he ever get here to Sime?"
"Trowbridge? Oh, yes, he was sent here from Terra when we asked Prime for a code-expert."
"Umm, that's right, Dick was a code-specialist," Hanlon nodded. "He was my roommate all through cadet school," he explained. "It would give the whole works away if he saw me here."
"He's our only good decoder," Admiral Hawarden frowned. "We lost our best man. We'll have to use him if any code shows up."
"I realize that, but send him away for now. If we get code we can send it to him at Base."
"Right, sir, I'll fake an excuse."
Some five minutes later Hawarden returned. "All clear now, sir."