"You're right," I told him. "Something that few can do, and that no telepath can do! How can we let you wander around Washington leaking out thoughts of every secret your mind might accidentally have overheard from some ranking official? How many Russian telepaths have been accredited to their Embassy? How many crypto-telepaths have the Reds got in town? How many secrets have you already given away? How big a traitor have you been?"
That was the one that got him. "Traitor!" he yelled at me, starting across the office to where I stood leaning against my desk. Fred grabbed him and twisted his arm cruelly to stop all movement.
"Cut that out!" he snapped.
"Cut it out yourself, Fred," I said. "Just because you're sore at me, you don't have to take it out on the snake."
The telepath was not to be silenced. "My folks been in this country over three hundred years," he stormed at me. "And it takes someone like you to call me a traitor!"
I am very dark, and my hair is black and curly. I don't mind. With my heredity, it should be.
"Under the power vested in me—" I started.
"Aw, shet up," he said, turning to walk to the door. "I reckon I know the rest!"
Anita stayed behind after Fred Plaice dragged the snake out with him. "Better get me George Kelly on the 'visor," I said to her.
"Right away," Anita said, coming over to my desk. "But first—"