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of my hand and gained possession of the pot。 As soon as I had whipped the van around another corner； foot hard down on the throttle now； I threw the pot back to its owner with a blackout grenade inside； silencing at least this source of trouble for the moment。 I straightened the weaving course of the van； gently touched the growing knot on my head； and noticed a brace of armored vehicles that appeared in the road ahead and turned in my direction。 Buildings rushed by and I braked and turned into the next crossroad。 The van was being more of a liability than an asset and I had to get rid of it。
But what then？ I did not want to be found away from my quarters； this would bring instant suspicion； and the officers' buildings woe in the opposite direction。 But the officers' club was not too far away in the recreation area。 Could I get there？ Was it possible that the unconscious drunks of the previous evening's festivities still lay on the bunks where I had left them？ This was too good a chance to miss； because if I could get back into my bunk I would certainly not be suspect。
This was close enough。 There were vehicles ing towards meand undoubtedly more behind mebut none dose for the moment。 I twisted the van into a narrow street； beaked to a stop and hit the ground running。 Shedding my disguise as I went； coat； beard； gas mask marking the trail behind me。 I stuffed the remaining grenade into my pocket； pulled on my cap； squared my shoulders in a military manner； and strolled around the corner。 A squad of soldiers were pouring out of barracks and forming ranks； but they ignored me； just another uniform among uniforms。 The officers' club was not too far away。 Two more corners and there it was。 The front door sealed； but I knew the bunkroom entrance would be open。
Just as I was about to turn the corner I heard the men talking and I held back。
〃Is that all？〃
〃Just a few more； sir； a couple that are hard to wake up。 And one who won't get out of his bunk。〃
〃I'll talk to him。〃
I took a quick look； then drew back。
I was too late。 An officer was just entering the bunkroom door and plenty of soldiers were milling about； guiding hungover officers to a waiting truck。 One of the officers was sitting on the ground； holding his head and ignoring the soldiers who were trying to entice him into the waiting transportation。 Another was flipping his cookies against the wall of the building。
Think quickly； diGriz； time is running out。 I bounced the last smoke grenade in my palm； then flipped the actuator with my thumb。 If I could join the drunk team I would be safe； it would be worth the risk。 I stepped around the corner； arm back； and no one was looking in my direction； with a quick heave I threw the grenade over the truck as far as it would go。
It exploded nicely； thud； boom； clouds of smoke and startled cries from the soldiery。 And everyone looking in the same direction。 Eight fast paces took me up behind them； to the seated officer who mumbled unhappily to himself； ignoring all else。 I bent over； agreeing sympathetically with his half…heard plaints； helping him to his feet。
Then the soldiers were helping me； holding me as well since I seemed none too steady on my feet； guiding us both to the waiting truck。 I tripped and almost fell and they caught and righted me。 Now the stage was setbecause there was one more thing I had to do。 The cook in the truck would report that he had hit the spy on the head。 So the word would be out to look for a head woundlike the one I had。 I couldn't get rid of the knob on the side of my skull； but I could camouflage it。 It would be painful； but it was necessary。
The soldiers helped me to the first step and I started up。 As soon as they let go I missed the next stepand plummeted over backwards between them cracking my head on the ground。
I hit harder than I had planned and the blow on my already sore noggin felt like molten lead had been poured on it and I must have passed out for a moment。 When I recovered I was sitting up with blood running down the side of my faceI hadn't planned that but it certainly made a nice touchand a soldier was running up with a first aid kit。 I was bandaged and calmed and this time helped all the way into the truck： I felt awful which was fine。 With dragging feet I groped my way to the far end； as far from the entrance as I could get； where a voice called out hollowly to me。
〃Vaska 。 。 。〃 It changed to a hollow coughing。
My roommate Otrov was there； looking rumpled and miserable。
〃You don't have a drink？〃 he asked； his usual morning salutation。
I gave him sympathy； if not beverage； during our brief ride。
There were aggrieved cries when the wheeled drunk tank was unloaded and the officers saw that they had not been returned to their quarters； but had been brought instead to one of the administration buildings。 I plained along with the others； although I had been expecting something like this。 Someone had escaped from the Glupost base； someone else had entered。 Every head would have to be counted until the missing and/or extra party could be found。 We were guided； stumbling； into a waiting area； to be called out one by one to confer with a battery of tired clerks。 While we waited there was a brisk amount of business back and forth to the latrine and I joined the queue。 Mainly to leave a little soap on my fingers when I washed my hands； so I could rub some of it into my eyes。 It burned like acid； but I let it stay for a moment before I rinsed it out。 My eyes glared back at me from the mirror like twin coals of fire。 Perfect。
On cue； I found the clerk； showed my identification and had my name checked off a roster。 I hoped； like all the others； that we would be allowed to leave soon。 Many of than had gone to sleep on the benches and I joined their number。 It had been a strenuous night。 What better disguise for the spy than sleeping in the heart of the enemy？
It was the sudden silence that shook me awake。 I had been lulled off by the grumbles and plaints of my fellow officers； the ing and going of soldiers； the busy whir of office machines。 These noises had all stopped； and had been replaced by silence。 Through the silence； first distant； than fonder and louder； came the sound of a single set of footsteps approaching slowly and steadily。 They came towards meand passed by； and I kept my eyes closed and forced myself to breathe regularly。 Only when they were well past did I open my eyes a crack。
I wondered at the silence。 All I saw was the back of the man； a nondescript back slightly bent； a wrinkled uniform of unimpressive pale gray and a cap of the same fabric。 I could not recall seeing this particular uniform before。 I wondered what the fuss was about。 Yawning； I sat up and scratched my head below the bandage； watching as the man reached the end of the room and turned to face us all。 He was no more prepossessing from the front than from the back。 Sandy hair getting a little thin on top； an incipient roll of fat and double chin； clean shaven with an unmemorable face。 Yet when he spoke； in the tones of a stem schoolmaster； all of the veteran officers present remained dead silent。
〃You officers