They stepped out of the elevator, turned to the left, and walked
down the hall. There was a light on in the office at the end of the
hall--Suite 1814. The girl used another key on the door and walked into
a room that was bare except for a few pictures on the wall, a couple of
chairs, and a couch. She walked over to the wall and pressed a button
in an intricate code. Then she walked over to the couch and sat down.
She patted the cushion beside her.
"You may as well sit down, John Stern; Matt Skardoth wont be able to
talk to us for several minutes."
Stern didn't sit down. He walked over to the girl and stood over her.
"Look, honey," he said coldly, "I've come this far. Now tell me what
it's all about. What sort of organization _is_ this?"
She looked up at him calmly and took a cigarette out of her purse.
Stern watched curiously as she lit it.
She saw his gaze and smiled. "It's an Earthman's habit," she said.
"It's harmless and rather nice. Try one?"