Stranger in a Strange Land

"Mike, that's not anything you need to see."
                "Not?"
                "Uh-" Jubal thought about it. Shucks, the boy was going to have to learn about such things sooner or later. "All right, go ahead. But come talk to me about it later."
                "Yes, Jubal."
                Harshaw was about to add some advice intended to offset Mike's tendency to take literally anything he saw or heard. But the telephone's soothing "hold" music suddenly went down and out, and the screen filled with an image-a man in his forties whom Jubal at once labeled in his mind as "cop."
                Jubal said aggressively, "You aren't Gil Berquist."
                The man said, "What is your interest in Gilbert Berquist?"
                Jubal answered with pained patience, "I wish to speak to him. See here, my good man, are you a public employee?"
                The man barely hesitated. "Yes. You must-"
                "I 'must' nothing! I am a citizen in good standing and my taxes go to pay your wages. All morning I have been trying to make a simple phone call-and I have been passed from one butterfly-brained bovine to another, and every one of them feeding out of the public trough. I am sick of it and I do not intend to put up with it any longer. And now you. Give me your name, your job title, and your pay number. Then I'll speak to Mr. Berquist."
                "You didn't answer my question."
                "Come, come! I don't have to answer your questions; I am a private citizen. But you are not . . . and the question I asked you any citizen may demand of any public servant. O'Kelly versus State of California 1972. I demand that you identify yourself-name, job, number."
                The man answered tonelessly, "You are Doctor Jubal Harshaw. You are calling from-"
                "So that's what took so long? Stopping to have this call traced. That was stupid. I am at home and my address can be obtained from any public library, post office, or telephone information service. As to who I am, everyone knows who I am. Everyone who can read, that is. Can you read?"
                The man went on, "Dr. Harshaw, I am a police officer and I require your cooperation. What is your reason-"
                "Pooh to you, sir! I am a lawyer. A private citizen is required to cooperate with the police under certain specified conditions only. For example, during hot pursuit-in which case the police officer may still be required to show his credentials. Is this 'hot pursuit,' sir? Are you about to dive through this blasted instrument? Second, a private citizen may be required to cooperate within reasonable and lawful limits in the course of police investigation-"
                "This is an investigation."
                "Of what, sir? Before you may require my cooperation in an investigation, you must identify yourself, satisfy me as to your bona-fides, state your purpose, and-if I so require-cite the code and show that a 'reasonable necessity' exists. You have done none of these. I wish to speak to Mr. Berquist."
                The man's jaw muscles were jumping but he answered quietly, "Dr. Harshaw, I am Captain Heinrich of the Federation S.S. Bureau. The fact that you reached me by calling the Executive Palace should be ample proof that I am who I say I am. However-" He took out a wallet, flipped it open, and held it close to his own vision pickup. The picture blurred, then quickly refocused. Harshaw glanced at the I. D. thus displayed; it looked authentic enough, he decided-especially as he did not care whether it was authentic or not.
                "Very well, Captain," he growled. "Will you now explain to me why you are keeping me from speaking with Mr. Berquist?"
                "Mr. Berquist is not available."
                "Then why didn't you say so? In that case, transfer my call to someone of Berquist's rank. I mean one of the half-dozen people who work directly with the Secretary General, as Gil does. I don't propose again to be fobbed off On some junior assistant flunky with no authority to blow his own nose! If Gil isn't there and can't handle it, then for God's sake get me someone of equal rank who can!"
                "You have been trying to telephone the Secretary General."