Commissioner Crawford had gone to a desk in one corner of the
conference room and was rummaging in one of the drawers. "Better hunt
up my guest permit for restaurants," he began, when a two-tone chime
sounded and the screen of a large vizor against the wall lit up.
"Excuse me," he said, sitting down in the desk chair facing the video.
"Crawford speaking," he said distinctly.
A young man with a narrow pimply countenance and sparse lightish hair
appeared on the screen. "Sub-commissioner Torrin of Highways and
Vehicles," he identified himself.
"Yes, Mr. Torrin?"
"I have here a set of application papers with your request for special
rapid clearance," Torrin said accusingly, holding up the sheaf of
papers which Herl recognized, although it was now much thinner than
when he had relinquished it to Miss Haulwell.
"That is correct. Don't tell me something's been omitted. This is
urgent, Torrin."
"Nothing has been omitted, Commissioner; but your note calls only for
clearance on papers for a Captain Herl Hofner," Torrin said curtly.
"Still correct. So?"
"There is also an application for driver's license here for a Miss
Agnes Haulwell ... and I've leafed down through the rest of the forms
and there are several more in her name: cooking fats and oils; crimp
yarn textile clothing; limited individual rental housing ... and then
there are others of the same type as requested for Captain Hofner. Did
you mean to authorize these also? Is she accompanying Captain Hofner
in his temporary stay here? If so, I hardly see why she should need a
number of these."
Crawford groaned and replied ruefully, "Haulwell's my receptionist
and secretary. Obviously going Eyefer and near-criminal as well.
Very discerning of you to have caught it." He sighed. "She was a good
secretary, though. Wonder where I'll get another."