Page:Astounding Science Fiction (1950-01).djvu/24



He was not only undesirable; he was a menace to the peace and well-being of the community. He had to be watched, and got rid of before the whole system collapsed ...

They spotted him as soon as he came through the air lock from the spaceship landing ramp, outside. There was nothing extraordinary about him, in fact, he had a particularly colorless, commonplace appearance as he entered carrying a heavy brief case. Nevertheless, two of the smartly uniformed Criminology Corps men who stood about scanning the new arrivals watched him. They kept their eyes on him while he checked his baggage, and as he came up to the gate where he was to be electronically searched for weapons and contraband, they moved closer together, spoke a few words, and motioned to a man in civilian clothes who was standing just outside the gate. He nodded comprehendingly and when the little man left the gate, he followed him unobtrusively.

The uniformed men watched until they left the Customs. "Another slip-up at one," said one of them. "They must tell 'em the right answers first up there or something." The other nodded, "Yeah, that's the second one in less than a month. D'ya suppose we should've picked him up?"

"No, he might be O.K.," the first one replied. "Or he might be a VIP. With Balik on him, we'll know where he is in case Tappan says pull him in."

Outside, the little man entered one of the little three-wheeled taxis. The plainclothes man moved quietly along the wall until he came to a tiny call box. Opening it and pressing a few buttons, he spoke a half-dozen words into it. The cab driver looked up as the other walked slowly past the stand and nodded almost imperceptibly. The plainclothes man entered a door a few paces down 24