the asteroid belt was not rigidly policed; if there was a place in the system in which legal niceties were not strictly observed, it was there. what could he deduce from that? nothing perhaps; there were many people living in the belt who were engaged in legitimate work: miners, prospectors, scientific investigators. but with rising excitement, he realized that dorn starret was not one of these.

he was a criminal. the gallium mine was merely an attempt to cover himself with respectability. how did luis know that? he wasn't sure; his thought processes were hidden and erratic; but he knew.

dorn starret was a criminal—but the information wasn't completely satisfactory. what had caused the man to retrogress luis and luise obispo? that still had to be determined.

but it did suggest this: as a habitual criminal, the man was more than ordinarily dangerous.

luis sat there a while longer, but he had recalled everything that would come out of the original stimulus. if he wanted more, he would have to dig up other facts or make further contacts. but at least it wasn't hopeless—even without the police, he had learned this much.

he went over the room thoroughly once more. if there was anything hidden, he couldn't find it.

he crossed the court to luise's dwelling. she was gone, but there was a note on the table. he picked it up and read it:

dear man with no name:

i suppose you were here last night, though i'm so mixed up i can't be sure; there's so little of memory or reality to base anything on. i wanted to talk to you before i left but i guess, like me, you're out investigating.

there's always a danger that neither of us will like what we find. what if i'm married to another person and the same with you? suppose ... but there are countless suppositions—these are the risks we take. it's intolerable not to know who i am, especially since the knowledge is so close. but of course you know that.

anyway i'll be out most of the day. i discovered a psychologist who specializes in restoring memory; you can see the possibilities in that. i went there yesterday and have an appointment again today. it's nice of him, considering that i have no money, but he says i'm more or less an experimental subject. i can't tell you when i'll be back but it won't be late.

luise.

he crumpled the note in his hand. memory expert. her psychologist was that—in reverse. yesterday he had taken a day out of her life, and that was why luise hadn't recognized him and might not a second time.