"Things too dull for you, pal?" I asked routinely. It hadn't penetrated, yet.
Charley had on his patient expression. "Listen, Brain. While you and Debby were having your big conference I went to the men's lounge to gargle my throat. It's a funny thing how cautious the R.A.'s getting; the door to the control room is locked. I tried it gently. If they didn't want to come out and talk to us—I thought I'd go talk to them."
My stomach froze into a hard knot. I looked at Charley and he said, "There's the barest possibility that Vechi is pulling a fast one. Figure that he wants a diranium sample. With a couple of pals driving this bus he could get into and out of Ul slick as anything."
"But we complicate things," I muttered hopefully.
"It's four to two if you don't count Debby for a muscle man. And with the element of surprise on their side, they think—what have they got to worry about?"
"Vechi wouldn't dare—not with the whole R.A. out there to protect the mines!"
"I dunno," Charley said. "He's real cool."
"Well, well," I said. I was thinking about the additional complication of Madame Pundra. "And if you aren't just off on a pipe night how do we find out for sure? And then what, Charley?"
"I don't know, Master Brain. You think about it. No man of action, I!"
"Why would the control room be locked?" I mused.