away__Why

said, “Norm

it, and obviously recognized it. We might be able to keep him quiet. But now some questions. Was that item actually dug up just now?”
“Apparently it was,” Jackson said. “I didn’t see it happen—I was talking to Black at the moment. But there are over a dozen witnesses who claim they did see it happen, including five or six of the new agency men.”
“And they knew what it was?”
“Enough of them did.”
Thayer cursed softly. “No chance that one of them pitched the thing into the diggings for an Earthside sensation?”
“I’m afraid not,” Jackson said. “It was lying in the sifter after most of the sand and dust had been blown away.”
“Why didn’t you call me at once?”
“I’ve been holding down something like a mutiny here, Silas. Vaughn got away before I could stop him, but I grounded the other aircars