Jeff sank down in the chair, his forehead streaming sweat. He clenched
his fists as he tried to regain control of his trembling muscles. _How
long had Schiml been standing there?_ Just a second or two? Or had he
been watching Jeff for ten minutes, watching him punch down the filing
codes, watching him stuff the filing card into his shirt? There was
nothing to be told from the doctor's face, as the man smiled down at
his trembling quarry. There was nothing in the eyes of the guards who
stood behind him in the hallway, their hands poised on their heavy
sidearms.
Schiml turned to one of them, nodded slightly, and they disappeared,
their boots clanging in the still corridor behind them. Then he turned
his eyes back to Jeff, the ghost of a knowing smile still flickering
about his eyes. "Find anything interesting?" he asked, his eyes
narrowing slightly.
Jeff fumbled a cigarette to his lips, gripped the lighter to steady
it. "Nothing to speak of," he said hoarsely. "Been a long time since I
worked one of these files." His eyes caught Schiml's defiantly, held
them in desperation. Finally Schiml blinked and looked away.
"Looking for anything special?" he asked smoothly.
"Nothing special." Jeff blew smoke out into the room, his trembling
nerves quieting slightly.
"I see. Just sight-seeing, I suppose."