Those were also sensible questions. “I managed. And we have more than you think.” When Jerry told her how much more, she let out a startled squeak. He said, “I kept quiet about it because I couldn’t explain it without explaining a bunch of other stuff, too. And I was always afraid I might need to use some of it for something like this.”

“We really need to talk when you do get home,” Anna said—ominously, Jerry thought.

“Yeah. I know. I got in deeper than I thought. I didn’t find out how deep till I was already on the Glomar Explorer. That was too late for me to do anything about it. You may find out on the news, though.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll see. Or else you won’t.” Jerry yawned. “Sorry, babe. You’ve got no idea how worn out I am. Listen, if you need to get hold of me…” He gave her the hotel’s name, the phone number, and his room number. “With any luck, I’m gonna crash. I love you.”

“I love you, too. But I’m not sure I know you at all.”

“Right this minute, I don’t know me, either. I did the right thing, though. That’s pretty important just now. I’m going to go. ’Bye.” He hung up.

He put on his sweats and T-shirt (the House of Slob, he thought, not without pride) and brushed his teeth. It was a little after ten: late, by the hours he’d kept on the road. He was worn out, but he was also wired on adrenaline. He took Have Space Suit—Will Travel out of his suitcase. If anything could relax him, familiar words might.

Fifteen minutes late, Kip and Peewee were prisoners at the Wormfaces’ base on Pluto. Things looked bad for the good guys. Jerry was about to turn another page—he couldn’t read Heinlein and not keep turning pages—when somebody banged on his door.

He jumped. He dropped the book. Even as he went to the door, he thought he knew who it would be. When he peered through the little wide-angle peephole, he found he was right. There stood John P., with a younger, bigger guy behind him.

“What do you want?” Jerry asked without opening up.

“Just to talk. Promise.” The senior CIA man held up his right hand as if taking an oath.

Jerry considered. They’d been faster about tracing the call than he’d thought they could be. But he’d figured they’d do it. Now that they knew where he was, they could take him out whenever they pleased unless he planned to stay in here forever. Sighing, he undid the dead bolt and security chain and opened the door.

John P. scowled at him in disgust. “You motherfucking son of a bitch.”

“Hey, I love you, too.” Jerry stepped back and to the side. “C’mon in.”