"I—"
"Not James Carson," he said. "And not from Ancarta. Not even from Wohlen."
"How do you know?" I said.
"Nobody on this planet," he said, "would do this job in just this way. I'm familiar enough with the top men to be sure of that. You're from the Comity."
"That's right," I said.
"But ... who are you? What force? What army?"
"No army," I said. "You might call me a teacher; my corps is made up of teachers. We give lessons—where lessons are needed."
"A teacher," he said quietly. A long time passed. "Well," he asked, "do I pass the course?"
"You pass," I told him. "You pass—with high marks, General."