"Surely not how he died."
"Everything but that."
The director put his briefcase on his knees. "Mr. Street, my agency received numerous accounts of his death, or deaths, on various worlds. Can you tell me which, if any, of these stories is true by studying our intelligence reports?"
"Easily," Street said.
"We have had Baker under observation many times by our planted Orwells—our peepbugs—but you must understand that we need absolute proof on him since he has supporters even on Earth, and in waiting for that proof, we lost contact often at vital moments."
"I understand perfectly," Street assured him.
I
"Are there really space pirates?" Mrs. Fuljohn inquired of him, giggling furiously.
"Yes, Virginia, there really are space pirates," Baker assured her.
Mrs. Fuljohn lowered very long lashes over formidable eyes. "My first name is Christine. Will they come at us out of the void with all guns blasting?"