The girl gave a muffled sob, buried her face in her hands.
Vickers yelled: "What!" Then in a lower voice, "But there's been nothing on the newscasts."
"Of course not. The U.S. is hushing it up. They don't want it broadcast that their top experimental physicist has been stolen. They don't even know who has him or where he is. Tani has asked us to get her father back."
"Where is he?"
Thorpe didn't look so cherubic as he drummed on the desk top.
"Here. Luna City. He's being held in the embassy of the Arab Federation."
Vickers said: "Why don't you turn your information over to the U.S.?"
"It's not as simple as that. The Arabs would kill him before they'd give him up."
Vickers shrugged. "If the U.S. with all its resources can't release him, I don't see how you expect me to do it."
"You can, though. In fact you're the only one who can. The question is, will you?"