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Jensen looked at hilass "Tell me, Mr Donner, just what is it you expect to find?"

"Nothing of importance," Donner said

"Coovernment wouldn't send a man across half the country to itehs"

"The government often handles its secrets in a funny way"

"A classified secret that goes back to 1911?" Jensen shook his head in wonder "Truly a"

"Let's just say we're trying to solve an ancient crirandfather's services"

Jensen smiled and courteously accepted the lie

A black-haired girl in long skirt and boots swiveled into the room, threw Jensen a seductive look, laid a Xerox paper on his desk, and retreated

Jensen picked up the paper and examined it "June to November must have been a recession year for my ancestor Sales for those months were slim Any particular entry you're interested in, Mr Donner?"

"Mining equipment"

"Yes, this ust tenth and picked up by the buyer on Noverin "It would seeh is on you"

"I don't follow"

"The buyer, or as you've informed me, the criovernment"

12

The Meta Section headquarters was buried in a nondescript old cinder block building beside the Washington Navy Yard A large sign, its painted letters peeling under the double onslaught of the summer's heat and humidity, hue Company