"At all times we are gentlemen!"

PIA's main operations office had become like a stage the night before a performance. Excited agents were constantly rushing through as another piece of information was revealed. A large map took up most of one wall and marked the places of all known wasp deaths. It had been noted that all the deaths were confined to small groups and usually near a alleged KIJAC owned house.
    The agents at outpost PT One had achieved a slight success, having taken photographs of two official looking men entering the base. After doing this they had been forced to run for the cover of their car as a swarm approached them. Klyne and Tretow had been sent back for one more look.
    Alex Henn closely studied the photographs of the two men and frowned. "Joseph? This is Herr Professor Sprecville and Herr doctor Musshuren!"
    "Are you positive it is they?"
    "Yes, definitely. But what is one of Kijac's top scientists and his assistant doing near such a small base?"
    "I could anticipate their being at Kijac headquarters, but a sparsely guarded and seemingly unimportant outpost? Slightly suspicious I would have thought."
    "Something is happening at that place and we must find out what... Before it's too late."
    Before deciding whether to run the risk of sending in a full attack force, Henn decided to await Tretow's results from his spying mission on base PT One. It was becoming clear an antidote to the wasp sting must be found as it would be nearly impossible for agents to go into combat wearing cumbersome safety suits. These would slow them down to the point that the only thing to be accomplished would be captured PIAs instead of the intended Kijac.
    "Alex? How are your ghosts?"
    Before he answered, Henn looked carefully at Proctor trying to read his opinions on the matter. "Nothing, I've turned up absolutely nothing. Yet those two men we captured are still sticking to their stories. All this is so ridiculous, just listen to this crap." He began to read from a recent copy of Ghost's, fact or fiction, a monthly magazine of unexplained happenings.
    "Entities, as we call them, basically have the same eco structure as their living counterparts, from the lowest and most fundamental to the highly intelligent. Most however, are never seen nor leave any hint they inhabit the same world as us. Some are indiscernible from the living, as with the Vampires of Rumania, who in, its people firmly believe. What follows is a brief list of known classes of entity."
    Henn quickly looked around to make sure none of his agents were within hearing distance before he continued.
    "Class Six: A totally soundless unseen being with the only proof of its existence being a rapid drop in temperature and rise in magnetism. This class doesn't include the poltergeist as this is covered at length under assisted haunting."
    "Assisted haunting? More like vandals I would have thought," snorted Proctor.
    "I think you're right. Anyway, Class Five: Slightly different in that, to a person of psychic ability it can appear smoky but with no definite outline. It can be capable of slight noise, maybe a barely audible moan, but again it's the temperature and magnetism that tell of its presence. Yes, Joseph, I've seen hundreds of them, after several whiskies."
    "Likewise pink elephants and pixies. Do carry on, you have to admit it is better than reading agent's reports."
    "Class Four: Getting more intelligent now, this being gives out a faint smoky outline and with the help of a medium can communicate. Photographs of this type have been recorded.
    "Class Three: This is the being which we are all familiar with, the classic story book ghost and the subject of many known hauntings. Historians among you will already know of one of the most famous, that of Anne Boleyn who together with her uncle haunts Blickling Hall in Norfolk England. Might have guessed, Joseph, an English writer."
    "Hey, less of the wise guy talk. Continue with the entertainment."
    "She is a perfect example of this type, trapped in the past and echoing her dreadful death of beheading. She is said to appear hovering and moaning still carrying her decapitated head. These are the moaners, chain rattlers and are very difficult to send to eternal piece. Oh, yes, if they did send her away then who'd bother to visit the place?"
    Proctor started to explain about the beauty of Britain’s ancient houses but though better of it and patiently listened.
    "Class Two: Although transparent it is very recognizable. To psychics it appears solid and to most people it is audible. This type prefers familiar surroundings and people. Usually it stays in one place, but it is capable of flying and of moving small objects hence it is very often confused with the poltergeist. Photographs of this type have been recorded, see article, page 106." Without bothering to look at the picture Henn half hearted read on.
    "Class One: The un-dead. To everyone this appears alive. It is capable of a great many tricks such as telepathy and telekinesis. As with the worst form, our beloved Vampire, flying and shape change, ‘human to bat’. This being has a great love of life and is very often mischievous. The only way of telling it from the living is that it is bloodless. Its skin even feels warm to the touch unless it wants to be cold." Henn stopped reading and frowned. "Oh this rubbish is giving me the hebi gebees." With that he threw the magazine aside and resumed the more important task of wasps and the possible arising situation with Philip Galloway.
    Both Galloway and Dwire had arrived from London the previous night and Galloway, as Henn had suspected, had been extremely distressed to find his sister was involved in a relationship with Sukoloff.
    On seeing the young men, it made him sit back and think. Both looked so young and unworldly, they looked almost naive. He tried to remember if he and Sukoloff, in their time, had ever been thrown into life threatening situations at such a young age.
    "Mr. Dwire!" said Henn frowning.
    "Sir?" replied Dwire, his dark eyes sparkling as if he were planning some schoolboy prank on an unsuspecting colleague.
    "I suggest a slight haircut and a readjustment of your attire. Please try to remember Pia men are gentlemen and therefore take pride in their appearance at all times." Then he gave a low moan as the Russians entered, Tzavros was yawning loudly, minus both tie and jacket, hands in pockets and shirt flapping. Sukoloff just wore a plain black tracksuit. His blond hair fell forward into his eyes, although not as badly as Tzavros', which stuck out at every possible angle. They both looked as if he had been through some terrible interrogation.

Henn saw Dwire twitch and his eyebrows shoot upwards as Tzavros slumped onto a nearby couch and Sukoloff leaned heavily against the wall. Then before Henn could say one word to these perfect gentlemen the office erupted as a distraught Bayfield ran in. In front of stunned onlookers he grabbed Sukoloff by his shirt and lifting him slightly, slammed him hard into the wall shouting as he did. "You dirty spy. I know what you are... You're a bloody impostor that's what you are. If I see you here again I'll bloody kill you. I'll personally remove your head, you... You... What ever."
    Steele rushed in and grabbing Bayfield hit him hard on the chin. "I told you to go home and think. You stupid idiot, you didn't think at all did you. Who do you damn well think saved your life? Go on, get out and think."
    Bayfield did not seem to hear and his fist landed hard on Sukoloff, then he gasped and looked tearfully at Steele. "That should have broken his nose... Why didn't it?"
    "Think about it, mate."
    "No!... Oh, no please, damn you. I won't believe it." Then he ran from the office as Henn erupted. "Mister Steele! This behavior is unthinkable from all of you. Top agents? You're acting like children, your language is appalling, Mr. Tzavros, your clothing is unsuitable and Mister Sukoloff, you should know better. You're all on report and whatever the grievance between you I want it cleared up and immediately, Misters."
    "Oh boy, would I have loved to do that," Galloway whispered to Dwire. "And if that guy doesn't stay away from my sister I don't care who he thinks he is. That's what I'll do."
    "Why, what's the problem?" Dwire said frowning.
    Galloway gave a snarl and spoke through his teeth. "He's too old for her, dirty old man. She should be with someone of her own age, it's disgusting, it's wrong."
    "He don't look that old, thirty-five, forty, I guess."
    "He's too old!"
    Sukoloff leaned slightly closer to Steele and whispered, "We're starting a Special team, are you in or out?"
    "Well hello, Count Vlad Sukoloff," Steele said chuckling. "Have you been to the blood bank today? Sorry, Vacily. I think I'm in don't you? Well put it this way, I can't let Zav go this alone. You know what he's like, he'll only get himself in trouble if I'm not around. What's he going to do when it's full moon time? Help you shave your nose? By the way, Gent's on his way in, I think? He does know, but refuses to believe it. Well would you?"
    "No I wouldn't, but he not ready yet. Just like you, he thinks or maybe hopes that I'm a double. Welcome to Sepia, and let's have less of the sudden humor. I've become quite partial to human blood on toast. Now somehow I have to get Alex in before this spy thing goes to far." With that he walked over to Henn and quite calmly handed him a form. "Sign please, Alex."
    Henn briefly scanned the paper then snorting he stood and shouted. "Have you gone totally nuts? You do know what this is do you?"
    "Sign please, Alex" Sukoloff repeated whilst grinning.
    "I thought we'd been through this?"
    Proctor threw a questioning look as Henn again sat, then stood. "Vacily!? I..."
    "What do we require signing?" asked Proctor unable to stand the suspense. Henn returned with a small almost embarrassed laugh and waved the paper in the air. "Application for action."
    "Oh, come on, Vacily, it is another of your sporadic Russian witticisms is it not?" Proctor said laughing.
    "I take the physical tomorrow and afterwards agent's test. I pass no worries. Sign please."
    Henn looked at him closely and sighed deeply, he realized his friend was deadly serious, but he also knew this was going to be so humiliating for him and he tried to explain. "Sit down, Vacily. Now let me try to get this through to you. Firstly for your age you're fit, in-fact you're very fit physically. But you have been under a lot of stress and I'm sorry but there is no way that you'll be able to pass our stringent physical."
    "I will you know."
    "OK, let's say for some reason you do. You've not undergone any re-training. Yes of course you'll pass all the written exams and you're probably still the crack shot that you were. But the rest of it? You stand no chance and I thought you knew it."
    Again there was that hint of a grin from the Russian. "I'll pass. Sign, Alex. I've already registered and I go with newest trainees tomorrow."
    Ignoring him Henn continued. "It's been a very long time, old friend. That test is vigorous and you know it. It has been designed that way to find the quickest and those most likely to survive."
    "I'm quick and I survive."
    "Let me refresh your fading memory. The written exam for you will be easy, let's say for that you get full marks, 100%. Then comes the survival test. You walk through a mock street where you'll be bombarded from every angle. You'll be attacked by a great many persons testing your speed and strength."
    "I know that. I've done it before."
    "Listen to me! This is against young opponents! I will repeat that, young opponents, who are expert in all aspects of unarmed combat. As you know it's all up against the clock and involves climbing, running and jumping. If by some miracle you actually make it round, then the time it takes you gives you your final score. Don’t forget to add the amount of successful tasks and minus any mistakes... Are your reactions good enough not to shoot an innocent? The written exam of one hundred per cent gives you a forty, that's all, Vacily."
    "I know that. I'll pass."
    "Vacily, it's the test that gives you the rest of the marks. As you know I held, still do in-fact, the top mark of eighty-seven. You were next with eighty-six, Joseph had eighty-four. Mr. Steele is top now with eighty-six and Mr. Tzavros second with eighty-five and they continue to be my top men because of their immense experience."
    "Not as much experience as me."
    "Yes you have the experience and the cunning, but no speed..."
    "I do you know."
    "No you don't. It's going to be hell out there, even to be a back-up agent you'll have to get a seventy. My friend, I'm sorry but if you scrape a sixty I'll be surprised. Do you really want humiliation to that extent?"
    There was no grin this time. "Alex? Sign... Please."
    As Henn heard a faint snigger drifting up from Galloway he gave a deep sigh. "OK, I'll sign, just don't be too disappointed if you fail, always remember that once you were the best, well nearly."
    Proctor smiled as he saw Sukoloff's lip curl and Henn's smug look, America was one up on Russia. Maybe they were coming back.
    "Vacily, let me know first thing if you don't have luck with your physical."
    "What?" yelled Sukoloff his face contorted.
    "If, you fail? Let me know and I'll buy you a drink"
    "What?"
    "Now what game are you playing?" sighed Henn in disbelief.
    "No?... I can't get it." Sukoloff answered frowning deeply.
    "Stop the games, Vacily."
    "Oh yes, I heard that, do it again."
    Henn began to glance nervously at Proctor as a deathly hush hung over the office.
    "Vacily?" Henn said gently.
    Everyone jumped as Sukoloff stood and shouted loudly. "I said! Do it again, are you deaf man?"
    It was Proctor who tried this time, quietly and slowly he said, "it is all right, old chap. We can hear you, can you hear me?"
    "Yes, yes I heard you!" He banged on the table and gave a yelp of delight. "Oh, brilliant, no I said brilliant. Can... You... Hear... Me?"
    Moving very close to him, Henn gently put his hand on Sukoloff's shoulder and sighed. "Yes, old friend, I can hear you."
    Sukoloff blinked and looked crossly at him. "Don't interrupt it's rude. Can... You... Hear me? One... Two... Three. Coo eee... Are... You... Receiving... Over?... You can? Oh, brilliant, yes I'm shouting aren't you? How do I not shout?"
    Proctor came and joined Henn and together they looked sympathetically at him. "Tell me, old chap. Do you hear voices?... Vacily?"
    "Shush, will you, man. How do you mean think? Oh, think! Silent you mean, how's this?... Was that better? No? This?..."
    Henn tried once more. "Vacily, I think if you sat down you might feel better."
    All this did was cause Sukoloff to swing round in anger. "Will you shut up, this happens to be a private conversation and not of your concern." Henn backed off a bit in shock and Tzavros let out an uncontrolled snort followed by a short sharp laugh that made Sukoloff look his way.
    "You hear him? Zav, can you?"
    "No, Vacily, not thing. It only you has wire."
    "What wire?"
    "The wire... Remember?"
    At the warning note in his voice Sukoloff slowly looked around the office, at all the sympathetic faces and he gulped. "Ah, yes... Tret? Guess what? I'm in big trouble, first test over I think. No not vest. Tee... Ee... Es... Tee... Yes test."
    Henn laughed loudly in embarrassment as Proctor asked again. "What voices can you hear?"
    "Did you hear me... Tret..." continued Sukoloff regardless. "Yes, I can hear you loud and clear! Where are you? Reception? Yes I'm still using my mouth. Oy, watch it, boy, you use your brain. Oh, I see like this?... Tret? Did you hear me?"
    Tretow burst in and grabbing Sukoloff swung him around laughing as he did. "Yo, we did it, we did it," he chanted.
    "We did? You heard me?" a small smile spreading across Sukoloff's face.
    "Well some of it. You're garbled but for a first try it's not bad," replied a practically dancing Tretow.
    Sukoloff suddenly noticed the silence surrounding him and he looked at the many puzzled faces, then at the ceiling. It was Tzavros who leapt to the rescue. "Mr. Henn, it a new invention."
    "What is? Being a brain donor whilst still alive?"
    "No that impossible. You see... Oh, that was American joke wasn't it?"
    "You're the joke, Mr. Tzavros. Now what invention?"
    "We been working on new communications device. It not perfected as you can see. But it work."
    "What kind of devise, Mister?"
    "What it is? Aha, da, I got it. Filling, you know? In teeth? Da, that it, fillings, radio receptive fillings."
    Henn at first could only sigh then he gasped. "And Mr. Tretow is working on this as well? Please, not another amateur scientist in the building. Well, Mr. Tzavros, I hope this time your little experiment doesn't do its usual trick of self combustion, because it could prove a bit messy." Then he lowered his head to prevent a laugh as he saw the instant smug look cross Steele's face and another Russian took a loss in the war of wits against America. Then the frown returned as he remembered. "Mr. Tretow! I thought I sent you and Mr. Klyne to Grid Three, Base PT One?"
    "Yo, Sir, the base was completely deserted. We didn’t find any hidden rooms or passages. It had just one large empty room and there were no sign of wasps either dead or alive, even though we scoured the whole area."
    It was quite obvious to Henn, KIJAC were planning something big, but he had no idea what. Now his field men would have to be sent out yet again in the hope they turned something up before someone else turned up Armageddon. Now there was a new problem. That of total discontent among his agents and the unheard of fighting and arguing. Worst, there was Sukoloff and his degeneration into madness.
    Tzavros signaled to Sukoloff that it was time for his nap and as he left Steele leaned towards his partner. "Zavvy, what new communications device?"
    "Tele-something, you know?"
    "No."
    "Swapping thoughts?"
    "No idea."
    "What you think, I can hear."
    "Telepathy?"
    "That's him, I remember now we Sepias call it thought transference or TT for short. Unfortunately I couldn't hear thing."
    The conversation was disturbed by the ringing of the phone and Henn's laughter. "Well, Joseph, this time we'd better go. I don't want any-more insensibility. It's embarrassing picking up bleary, crapped out agents from the floor. I said we'd go tomorrow evening as I think I'd better be here when Vacily fails that test. It's going to hurt him much more than he'll ever admit and, Joseph... He won't even get to the finish."

The deaths from wasp stings stopped as suddenly as they had started and no more news of the mysterious SASAM had been unearthed. It was hoped KIJAC, for reasons unknown, had given up on that particular enterprise. Henn kept his fieldsmen cruising all known KIJAC hangouts, but so far nothing suspicious had been uncovered. It began to look as if it had all been some big false alarm.
    Alex Henn scowled as he scrutinized Bayfield, lately he appeared to be worried, almost scared and this was so unlike the man. Furthermore the matter of discontent still seemed foremost among his men, made more visible by Bayfield continually staring at Steele and forever shaking his head.
    As Tzavros ambled in he glanced anxiously in the direction of Tretow who answered the unspoken question with a shake of the head. Seeing him arrive, Henn's attention switched to Tzavros who was visibly twitching and constantly examining his watch.
    "Mr. Tzavros? Do we have a prior appointment?" Tzavros now was examining a small piece of fluff that had uninvited attached itself to his jacket. "Mr. Tzavros? Do you actually work for this organization or is that just me hoping for to much?"
    Finally he looked up, saw Steele's smug face and jumped. "Hu? Oh, yes, sorry, Sir, Mr. Sukoloff is seeing medical man."
    "We all know that, Mister," said Henn trying to look unconcerned. "And I'm sure he'll let us know in good time... Now what? Mr. Tretow? What appears to be your problem?" Henn frowned at the young man who appeared to be surveying the ceiling with interest. "Mr. Tretow, does it require painting?"
    Tretow half looked his way then looked back to the ceiling saying, "Oh, bad, really bad."
    "Cracked is it? Like half my personnel? Well at least that I can fix but the problem of..."
    "Will you shut up, this is stupid. It's just as if he can't spell... Lu du, what's a lu du? No, hang on there a definite Pu sound, lu dup, what is it?" Tretow half stood and banged the table as he spoke. Tzavros let out a triumphant yell and Henn's face began to change color.
    "Lup dup, heartbeat, you know noise what it makes as beats. So far so good," said Tzavros.
    It was Henn's turn to bang the table. "What are you gibbering about, man and never tell me to shut up, Mister."
    "Shut up, man, I can't concentrate, he sends with half the letters missing or in the wrong order, what?... Brud pulsy norm."
    Whilst still undergoing the metamorphic color change routine, Henn shouted louder. "Mister, you're on report and one more misdemeanor and you will take a fine and a suspen..."
    "Look for the last time will you shut up, I can hardly hear. Zav, I thought you were decoding this? Brud up going, down coming good... Eyes right see... Earies hear good... Reflex norm... Ouch... Nip me, I feeley that. No good, Zav, he's too excited I think. I give up."
    With the pigmentation altering complete, Henn decided to keep to his last choice of purple. "You most certainly do give up, Mister. You're suspended."
    "I've got it!" continued Tzavros in his unconcerned way. "Blood not brud. Going up, coming down has to be pressure and pulse is normal. Oh, great were going good... Ah, ha! Mr., um, Henn... Aha, well um... Yes, I know... It like this you see... What?"
    "He told Mr. Henn to shut up."
    "Did he?... Steele? Did Tret say that?"
    "Several times."
    "Oh, fark... I mean shit... Shi... I mean bother. Mr. Henn, yes I got it now. Tret wasn't telling you shut up, no way, he much to much of gentleman for that, you see... You see don't you?"
    "No, Mister."
    "No? Remember our experimental communications device?... Yes? Good so I do remember. So we do test you see, Da? Test with minor agents see... I got it!" He took a large breath then released it together with his story, "We tests of communications were running on these agents and one them serious couldn't take it and started singing splitting ears so much that Tret couldn't hear what other one saying or what you saying, sorry, Sir."
    Henn although still frowning accepted the apology. "All right, Mister, but in future carry out these idiotic experiments outside my office. I have a feeling that this is unfortunately another of your failures. But if you feel you must, then keep trying. Oh, and I suggest a quick refresher course in English."
    As Sukoloff was not sending any-more, Tretow left to rejoin Klyne on cruising duties and Tzavros left to pace in private.
    It was late afternoon before everyone began to filter back into the office, all eager to see the new agents arrive and to hear their pass times. Tzavros sat nervously next to Steele and threw a questioning look at Tretow who merely shrugged. He had heard nothing from Sukoloff at all. They had expected at least one yell of delight and as it had not been forthcoming it looked as if they had all failed. The nerve racking situation was highlighted by Galloway making many sarcastic comments to Dwire about the great Sukoloff still laying panting at the start line. Hearing this only compounded Tzavros's twitching further.
    As the young men and women arrived, Henn would either congratulate them and issue them their card. Mostly he would condone them on their failure and offer them work in other departments, telling them of the importance of these jobs. Agents having passed the test would on the strength of their results be offered various positions. Rarely one would be offered the chance of training to become one of the elite and to take on the most dangerous missions. Most would work as private investigations operatives, bodyguards or back-up agents when the elite were called to action.
    Everyone looked up hopefully as he walked in, everyone that is except Galloway who sniggered loudly. Sukoloff was still dressed in the dark blue PIA coveralls and looked very tired and dusty. With his head well down and both hands firmly in his pockets he sat muttering. "Don't believe it, damn... How could that be? Point five, how? How they work that out? Damn only point five."
    As Galloway gave quite a loud snort, Henn glanced sorrowful towards Proctor and asked. "Vacily, how do you mean point five?"
    He didn't look up, only shrugged and continued to mutter. "What I say, point five, only by point five. Funny that, I thought... Well thought I had more."
    Proctor stood and went over to console him. "You failed by point five? Oh, that is appalling, never mind, old chap, at least you tried and I presume you passed your physical. Now that is an achievement on its own. You did pass your physical, did you not?"
    This time he half looked up, but then quickly down again. "I pass that yes, but point five, I don't believe it. Oh, I know what it was, that last flip, Alex was always point five quicker on the flips."
    Again the snort from Galloway and then a sarcastic sounding, "What's wrong daren't you cheat like you usually do?" from Bayfield.
    ""I'm sorry, Vacily," Henn sighed deeply as he spoke. "But I did warn you that test wasn't easy. But failing by point five, that's hard. Did you get one hundred percent on the written?"
    "I got that, what score would I need to work with your top men?"
    "At least eighty, my friend," said Henn giving another sigh. "But if you're point five short of the back-up mark, then we can't have you. I know it's hard, but we can't bend the rules just for you. Point five, oh, Vacily, that's so close, but you wouldn't have liked being a minor agent, remember, you were nearly the best."
    Sukoloff stood turning the piece of paper over in his hand. "You're right, Alex, I couldn't go back to being a minor agent. I was nearly the best so only top agent status would do wouldn't it, especially if you are the best."
    "Never mind, old friend, you did your best and we can't be top for ever." As Henn continued to console Sukoloff, Tzavros gasped.
    "You're right, there's always someone out there who's going to beat your score and become the best." With that he stood and handed Henn the paper. One glance at the paper was enough and he sat back heavily.
    "Oh, shit!"
    A frowning Proctor looked closely at Sukoloff's face as he raised it to stare smugly at Henn. "Alex, what is it?" Despite the rule of the office that PIA men were always gentlemen, all Henn could say was. "Oh, shit!"
    Tzavros was laughing and Steele was shouting. "Yes, Vacily? Was it yes?" and Sukoloff very smugly turned to them. "I regret to inform you that Pia has a spy. A top Russian agent will be joining you very shortly... Guess who?"
    Proctor looked at the open mouthed Henn, then he removed the paper from his shaking hand. As he read the results he whistled. "Oh, Lord, he beat you by point five. Alex, he got eighty seven point five."
    As the others began to cheer, Galloway became very quiet and Sukoloff whispered, "Can I have my card back?... Please."
    Henn blinked, then stood and placed his hand on Sukoloff's shoulder, "Welcome back, old friend."
    Sukoloff still looked excessively smug as he spoke. "See you in the morning for my orders. Let's see, yes, a nice simple base removal will do."
    Henn continued to point long after the Bouncy Russian left and the office became silent for a while until Proctor reopened the conversation. "I do not believe it, he must have been secretly training for months."
    "Eighty-seven point five? Is that possible?" Henn was still wide eyed and frowning he added, "At his age? Well I suppose it must be. Now, Joseph, to other matters of less joy. We have an appointment at the morgue, although why they think he's one of ours I can't fathom."
    "Mr. Henn, no!" shouted Bayfield leaping to his feet. "Oh, you can't go. I tell you what, let Mr. Proctor go. Please believe me, Sir and don't go."
    Henn looked carefully into the pale face of Bayfield and spoke gently to him. "Listen to me, I do know that something upset you down there and it's for that reason I'm going now. If that body isn't in a complete state then it's only fair that I do this personally."
    As Bayfield answered his voice cracked noticeably. "Mr. Henn, please don't go. Let Mr. Proctor do it. You see I should have told you straight away but I'm so confused. He saved my life and if he were Kijac would he have done that?"
    "Shut up, man."
    "I know he's not who he says he is but I think he's on the side of good. So why not admit he's not who we think... Oh, God!... The photos... The photos... There's a time in the corner isn't there? The time the photo was taken..."
    "I'm warning you, shut it!"
    "Oh, no!... One minute he's with Kijac, then he's with her... Then with me... There's two of them... No, there's three... One dead, two alive? I don't understand."
    Leaping to his feet Steele shouted angrily. "Will you damn well shut up, man."
    Henn sighed, one day it was bound to happen, an agent so under stress he cracks, but the Gentleman?
    "I think if you take a few days leave then we'll think of some way to help you sort out your problems." Then his voice change from soft to angry as the rest of the sentence was addressed to Steele. "Mr. Steele, please watch your language in front of minor agents. You're meant to be showing a good example, yet lately I've seen no evidence of it."
    "Sir, you don't understand, the body is..." Bayfield's speech was interrupted by a hard kick on the shins from Tzavros as Steele again showed his advanced teaching abilities to the minor agents.
    "Bayfield, if you don't keep your bloody mouth zipped I'll do it for you. Mr. Henn, I'll do the morgue job."
    Regaining his earlier purple tinge Henn said, "You will do nothing of the kind, Mister. You're on report and with the great number of fines you're collecting so avidly you could find yourself in debt come pay day."
    "You can't go."" Bayfield grabbed Henn by his jacket and shook him. "You can't go, it's him and you mustn’t see him. He's dead, really dead. Oh, hell, Steele, is it? Can it be? The photos." Bayfield sat as tears filled his eyes and Steele spoke to him, but this time softly. "I said think. Now I must think and fast."
    It was Tzavros who again stepped in to the rescue. "Mr. Henn, the bodies wee bit on similar side to one our men which made Gent tincy bit confused. But remember it isn't. But just in-case you don't I go with Mr. Proctor... Okey dokey?"
    Henn was becoming tired of all the mystery and confusion in his office and he shouted, "Mister, you haven't even seen that body. Bayfield, who does it look like?"
    Bayfield looked around the office at all the faces waiting expectantly and at the warning looks from Tzavros and Steele, "It's... I don't know, Sir. Well, I can't say at the moment."
    "According to reports you saw that body for one minute then were overcome with faintness. I will find out for myself and as I have no agents missing we have nothing to worry about do we?"
    Tzavros and Steele looked at each other with the same thought, should they tell Henn now in front of an office full when Sukoloff had just been seen by everybody? Or should they let him go to the morgue and discover it himself. To tell him about Sukoloff in front of witnesses would undo everything he had worked for, a secret ghost with only the few knowing. Yet to let Henn see the body was cruel.
    "Mr. Henn, can we have the office cleared, Mr. Tzavros and I have to speak to you urgently."
    It was all becoming too much. "Not now, Mister, but yes, when I return I'll willing talk to you."
    Jumping forward Steele shouted, "Now! It has to be now."
    Henn's fist landed hard on the table. "I said when I return and I meant it." With that, he left.

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