“Why not?” I didn’t have much time. I needed to keep pushing. “Are you worried that it could be used the wrong way?”

“Yes, exactly that,” said Navarre. His face was becoming more animated. He looked over at Seraut, still talking with Bowman. “They are taking my work and twisting it, to do terrible things. I did not realize when I came, what this project involved.”

Arthur made a sudden loud noise, a kind of pained grunt, as if something were stirring in his gut. “I’m terribly sorry,” he said to Seraut, taking him by the hand, “but I have been having a bad stomach. Something I ate. I must get to the bathroom right away. Can you take me there, please.” Seraut was looking back anxiously toward Navarre, but Arthur tugged at him.

“Right now!” said Arthur. The Frenchmen led him down the corridor, glancing back every few steps to make sure we were still there.

I spoke quickly and quietly to Navarre: “I have a message for you from the United States government. If you are unhappy here and would like to leave, they can help you escape. They will offer you money to start a new life in America. Would you like to leave? Do you want help?”

“Yes,” whispered Navarre. His eyes were clouded with a combination of fear and relief. “I want to leave. What we are doing here is wrong.”

“The U.S. government will help you. They have ways to get people out. Listen to me carefully and I will give you the instructions. Stay away from the U.S. embassy. As soon as you can, go to the Australia Shipping Desk at the Gloria Plaza Hotel and tell them your name is Bob Thorpe. Can you remember that?”

He nodded. I looked down the hall. Seraut had left Bowman in the bathroom and was already hurrying back.

“Say it back to me, to make sure you have it right.”

“Australia Shipping Desk,” he whispered. “Gloria Plaza Hotel. Bob Thorpe.”

“That’s right,” I said. “Leave as soon as you can. I think they will become suspicious soon about my visit here. Good luck.”

“Thank you, sir.” He was looking up at me with his eyes wide; his expression was worshipful. He could not believe what had just transpired. I was his deliverer. I had arrived from nowhere on a spring morning to release him from this nightmare. “I can leave at lunchtime,” he whispered. “The guards go away for a few minutes then.”

Seraut was nearing us. He was looking at his watch. “I am very sorry,” he said. “Mr. Navarre must return to his work now.”

“I understand,” I said. “Well, thank you very much, Mr. Navarre. I’m sorry you can’t discuss your research, but I understand you have rules. At least I can tell François Minart I saw the laboratory he was so excited about during his presentation this morning.”