Several hours.
Norma was hysterical when she burst into Bud's office. One of Bud's hands darted for the drawer where he had taken to keeping an automatic. The hand stopped.
Norma's lips were trembling uncontrollably. "Bud!" she gasped. "Bud, they're planning to blow up the world!"
"What are you talking about?" he demanded angrily. "What do you mean?"
"The starmen! I saw Herb. He told me. I had to come to you, Bud. You've got to make them stop it!"
"Nonsense," Bud said. "You're out of your mind. You're crazy." He surged to his feet. "Where is Herb? I told you to come see me if you found him. Where is he?"
"It's true!" Norma cried. "I know it's true! They've been lying to us. They spy on each other. They have hidden microphones everywhere. They want to destroy the world, Bud! Oh, please, please, please, you've got to believe me...."
Bud came toward her. She was insane, of course. It was astonishing how many people were insane. Sometimes Bud thought he was the only sane person left. "Now, now, you just tell me where Herb is, and I'll go have a nice long talk with him." He pocketed the automatic.
"You don't believe me."