"Where?"
"I can't say; at one of several concentration points."
"One more question," I said, easing the automatic from my pocket and pointing it at the third medal from the left. "Do you know what this is?
"Keep your hands in sight; better get up and stand over there."
Winter rose and moved over to the spot indicated. I'd never aimed a pistol at a man point-blank before, but I felt no hesitation now.
"Tell me all about it," I said.
"I've answered every question," Winter said nervously.
"And told me nothing." Winter stood staring at me.
I slipped the safety off with a click. "You have five seconds to start," I said. "One ... two...."
"Very well," Winter said. "No need for all this; I'll try." He hesitated. "You were selected from higher up. We went to a great deal of trouble to get you in particular. As I've explained, that's rather irregular. However," Winter seemed to be warming to his subject, "all sampling in this region has been extremely restricted in the past; you see, your continuum occupies an island, one of a very few isolated lines in a vast blighted region. The entire configuration is abnormal, and an extremely dangerous area in which to maneuver. We lost many good men in early years before we learned how to handle the problems involved."