"When you have finished college," Mrs. Jamieson told her son, "we will go to Centaurus."
"Why not now?"
"Because when you get there they will need men who can contribute to the development of the planet. Stinson is a physicist, Benjamin a metallurgist, Straus a doctor. But Straus is an old man by this time. A young doctor will be needed. Study hard, Earl. Learn all you can. Even the great ones get sick."
She did not mention her secret hope, that before they left Earth he would have fully avenged his father's death. He was clever and intelligent.
He could kill many Agents.
So she exhumed the money she had hidden more than ten years before. The house beside the Little Wolf river was sold. They found a modest bungalow within walking distance of the University's medical school. Mrs. Jamieson furnished it carefully but, oddly, rather lavishly.
This was her husband's money she was spending now. It needed to last only a few years. Then they would leave Earth forever.
A room was built on the east side of the bungalow, with its own private entrance. This was Earl's room. Ostensibly the private entrance was for convenience due to the irregular hours of college students.
It was also convenient for coming home late at night after Agent hunting.
Mrs. Jamieson was becoming obvious.