out the ID. “You say this is a good likeness?”
“Excellent, I think.”
“Dr. Ames, you will realize that the name ‘Schultz’ at once catches my attention. What you may not guess is that the varied nature of my enterprises makes it desirable for me to note each new arrival in this habitat. I read the Herald each day, skimming everything but noting most carefully anything of a personal nature. I can state unequivocally that this man did not enter Golden Rule habitat under the name ‘Schultz.’ Any other name might have slipped my mind. But my own surname? Impossible.”
“He appears to have given that name on arriving here.”
“‘—appears to have—’ You speak precisely.” Schultz looked at the ID. “In twenty minutes in my studio—no, allow me a half hour—I could produce an ID with this face on it—and of as good quality—that would assert that his name was ‘Albert Einstein.’”
“You’re saying we can’t trace him by that ID.”
“Hold on; I didn’t say that. You tell me this is a good likeness. A good likeness is a better clue than is a printed name. Many people must have seen this man. Several must know who he is. A smaller number know why he was killed. If he was. You left that carefully open.”
“Well…primarily because of that incredible Mexican Hat Dance that took place immediately after he was shot. If he was. Instead of confusion, those four behaved as if they had rehearsed it.”
“Well. I shall pursue the matter, both with carrot and with stick. If a man has a guilty conscience, or a greedy nature—and most men have both—ways can be found to extract what he knows. Well, sir, we seem to have covered it. But let’s be sure, since it is unlikely that we shall be able to consult again. You will press ahead with the Walker Evans aspect, while I investigate the other queries on your list. Each will advise the other of developments, especially those leading into or out of the Golden Rule. Anything more? Ah, yes, that coded message—Did you intend to pursue it?”
“Do you have any ideas on it?”
“I suggest that you keep it and take it to the Mackay main office in Luna City. If they can identify the code, it is then just a matter of paying a fee, licit or illicit, to translate it. Its meaning will tell you whether or not I need it here. If Mackay cannot help, then you might take it to Dr. Jakob Raskob at Galileo University. He is a cryptographer in the department of computer science…and if he can’t figure out what to do about it, I can suggest nothing better than prayer. May I keep this picture of my cousin Enrico?”
“Yes, surely. But mail me a copy, please; I may need it in pursuing the Walker Evans angle—on second thought, certain to. Doctor, we have one more need I have not mentioned.”
“So?”
“The young man with us. He’s a ghost. Reverend; he walks by night. And he’s naked. We want to cover him. Can you think of anyone who can handle it—and right away? We would like to catch the next shuttle.”
“One moment, sir! Am I to infer that your porter, the young man with your baggage, is the ruffian who pretended to be a proctor?”
“Didn’t I make that clear?”
“Perhaps I was obtuse. Very well, I accept the fact…while admitting astonishment. You want me to supply him with papers? So that he can move around in Golden Rule without fear of proctors?”
“Not exactly. I want a bit more than that. A passport. To get him out of Golden Rule and into Luna Free State.”
Dr. Schultz pulled his lower lip. “What will he do there? No, I withdraw that question—your business, not mine. Or his business.”
Gwen said, “I’m going to spank him into shape. Father Schultz. He needs to learn to keep his nails clean and not to dangle his participles. And he needs some backbone. I’m going to equip him with one.”
Schultz looked thoughtfully at Gwen. “Yes, I think you have enough for two. Madam, may I say that, while I do not yearn to
“Excellent, I think.”
“Dr. Ames, you will realize that the name ‘Schultz’ at once catches my attention. What you may not guess is that the varied nature of my enterprises makes it desirable for me to note each new arrival in this habitat. I read the Herald each day, skimming everything but noting most carefully anything of a personal nature. I can state unequivocally that this man did not enter Golden Rule habitat under the name ‘Schultz.’ Any other name might have slipped my mind. But my own surname? Impossible.”
“He appears to have given that name on arriving here.”
“‘—appears to have—’ You speak precisely.” Schultz looked at the ID. “In twenty minutes in my studio—no, allow me a half hour—I could produce an ID with this face on it—and of as good quality—that would assert that his name was ‘Albert Einstein.’”
“You’re saying we can’t trace him by that ID.”
“Hold on; I didn’t say that. You tell me this is a good likeness. A good likeness is a better clue than is a printed name. Many people must have seen this man. Several must know who he is. A smaller number know why he was killed. If he was. You left that carefully open.”
“Well…primarily because of that incredible Mexican Hat Dance that took place immediately after he was shot. If he was. Instead of confusion, those four behaved as if they had rehearsed it.”
“Well. I shall pursue the matter, both with carrot and with stick. If a man has a guilty conscience, or a greedy nature—and most men have both—ways can be found to extract what he knows. Well, sir, we seem to have covered it. But let’s be sure, since it is unlikely that we shall be able to consult again. You will press ahead with the Walker Evans aspect, while I investigate the other queries on your list. Each will advise the other of developments, especially those leading into or out of the Golden Rule. Anything more? Ah, yes, that coded message—Did you intend to pursue it?”
“Do you have any ideas on it?”
“I suggest that you keep it and take it to the Mackay main office in Luna City. If they can identify the code, it is then just a matter of paying a fee, licit or illicit, to translate it. Its meaning will tell you whether or not I need it here. If Mackay cannot help, then you might take it to Dr. Jakob Raskob at Galileo University. He is a cryptographer in the department of computer science…and if he can’t figure out what to do about it, I can suggest nothing better than prayer. May I keep this picture of my cousin Enrico?”
“Yes, surely. But mail me a copy, please; I may need it in pursuing the Walker Evans angle—on second thought, certain to. Doctor, we have one more need I have not mentioned.”
“So?”
“The young man with us. He’s a ghost. Reverend; he walks by night. And he’s naked. We want to cover him. Can you think of anyone who can handle it—and right away? We would like to catch the next shuttle.”
“One moment, sir! Am I to infer that your porter, the young man with your baggage, is the ruffian who pretended to be a proctor?”
“Didn’t I make that clear?”
“Perhaps I was obtuse. Very well, I accept the fact…while admitting astonishment. You want me to supply him with papers? So that he can move around in Golden Rule without fear of proctors?”
“Not exactly. I want a bit more than that. A passport. To get him out of Golden Rule and into Luna Free State.”
Dr. Schultz pulled his lower lip. “What will he do there? No, I withdraw that question—your business, not mine. Or his business.”
Gwen said, “I’m going to spank him into shape. Father Schultz. He needs to learn to keep his nails clean and not to dangle his participles. And he needs some backbone. I’m going to equip him with one.”
Schultz looked thoughtfully at Gwen. “Yes, I think you have enough for two. Madam, may I say that, while I do not yearn to
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