Stranger in a Strange Land

when I'm orating. The majority headed by the United States could slip apart overnight-Pakistan would bolt at a nervous cough. In which case there would be a vote of no conlidence, a general election, and Mr. Secretary General Douglas would be out and back to being a cheap lawyer again. The Man from Mars can make or break him. Are you going to sneak me in?"
                "I am not. I'm going to enter a nunnery. Is there more coffee?"
                "I'll see."
                They both stood up. Jill stretched and said, "Oh, my ancient bones! And, Lordy, look at the time! Never mind the coffee, Ben; I've got a hard day tomorrow, being polite to nasty patients and standing clear of internes. Run me home, will you? Or send me home, I guess that's safer. Call a cab, that's a lamb."
                "Okay, though the evening is young." He went into his bedroom, caine out carrying an object about the size and shape of a small cigarette lighter. "Sure you won't sneak me in?"
                "Gee, Ben, I want to, but-"
                "Never mind. I wouldn't let you. It really is dangerous-and not just to your career. I was just softening you up for this." He showed her the little object. "Will you put a bug on him?"
                "Huh? What is it?"
                "The greatest boon to divorce lawyers and spies since the Mickey Finn. A microminiaturized wire recorder. The wire is spring driven so that it can't be spotted by a snooper circuit. The insides are transistors and resistors and capacitors and stuff, all packed in plastic-you could drop it Out of a cab and not hurt it. The power is about as much radioactivity as you would find in a watch dial, but shielded, The wire is good for twentyfour hours. Then you slide out a spool and stick in another one-the spring is part of the spool, already wound."
                "Will it explode?" she asked nervously.
                "You could bake it in a cake."
                "But, Ben, you've got me scared to go back into his room now."
                "Unnecessary. You can go into the room next door, can't you?"
                "I suppose so."
                "This thing has donkey's ears. Fasten the concave side flat against a wall-surgical tape will do nicely-and it picks up every word spoken in the room beyond. Is there a closet or something?"
                She thought about it. "I'm bound to be noticed if I duck in and out of that adjoining room too much; it's really part of the suite he's in. Or they may start using it. Look, Ben, his room has a third wall in common with a room on another corridor. Will that do?"
                "Perfect. Then you'll do it?"
                "Umm ... give it to me. I'll think it over and see how the land lies."
                Caxton stopped to polish it with his handkerchief. "Put on your gloves."
                "Why?"
                "Possession of it is slightly illegal, good for a short vacation behind bars. Always use gloves on it and the spare spools-and don't get caught with it."
                "You think of the nicest thingsl"
                "Want to back out?"
                Jill let out a long breath. "No. I've always wanted a life of crime. Will you teach me gangster lingo? I want to be a credit to you."
                "Good girl!" A light blinked over the door, he glanced up. "That must be your cab. I rang for it when I went to get this."
                "Oh. Find my shoes, will you? No, don't come up to the roof. The less I'm seen with you from here on the better."
                "As you wish."
                As he straightened up from putting her shoes on, she took his head in both hands and kissed him. "Dear Ben! No good can come of this and I hadn't realized you were a criminal type-but you're a good cook, as long as I set up the combination . . . and I just might marry you if I can trap you into proposing again."
                "The offer remains open."
                "Do gangsters marry their molls? Or is it 'frails'? We'll see" She left hurriedly.

                Jill Boardman placed the bug without difficulty. The patient in the adjacent room in the next corridor was bedfast; Jill often Stopped to gossip. She stuck it against the wall over a closet shelf while