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solemn promise on that.'
    Mather was quick to respond. 'My company has already given assurances regarding confidentiality.'
    'I'm not referring to Achilles' Shield. I mean Mr Halloran and yourself. This matter cannot even be discussed within your own organisation. May I have your word?'
    'That would be highly irregular. If our assignment is to be water-tight, we must have every cooperation from -'
    'You will have that. In full. But there are certain details which are not essential to your planning that must not become common knowledge . . .' He held up a hand against Mather's protest '. . . even among a select few. In fact, there aren't many inside the Magma Corporation itself who are privy to this information. I can promise you, though, your security arrangements will not be affected to any significant degree.'
    'I shall have to confer with my senior colleagues,' Mather said dubiously.
    'Let's agree.'
    All eyes went to Halloran who had spoken.
    'It can't do any harm.' He placed his empty coffee cup on a small table by his chair. 'But there are conditions. If anything illegal is involved here, then we're out. And you must tell us everything - no little details held back. If we don't like what we hear Shield withdraws. Simple as that.'
    Quinn-Reece looked set to bluster, but his chairman smiled.
    'That sounds reasonable,' Sir Victor remarked. 'Thank you for being so direct, Mr Halloran; it saves time. Are you in accordance with this?' He aimed the question at Mather.
    Who smiled too. He was used to Halloran's bluntness. 'I suppose I have no objections,' he answered as if wondering to himself.
    'Very well.' The chairman appeared to relax a little. 'A moment or two ago you suggested we might need a fortune-teller to predict safe investments for the ongoing profitability of the Corporation . . .'
    'A mild joke,' put in Mather. 'I noticed you didn't laugh.'
    'Nor would we. Would you be surprised if I revealed that despite all the highly sophisticated research methods, our extensive statistics for forward planning, explorations of new territories, satellite surveys using micro-wave, ultra-violet and infra-red radiation, structural analyses, advanced computer calculations all that, and more - much of our new growth depends almost entirely on the special ability of one person?'
    'I'd be very surprised,' Mather replied without hesitation.
    'As our competitors would be if they knew. As would the Press, and of course, our shareholders. Yes, I suppose such a revelation would create amusement in some quarters. And great personal risk to our man from others.'
    'Your rivals? Surely not?'
    'When the stakes are so high, with discovery of fresh raw materials diminishing so rapidly, access to new fields proving more and more difficult and expensive, there develops over the years a competitively cut-throat situation - and I use that term literally.'
    'Is this why you want your man so heavily insured?' asked Halloran.
    Sir Victor nodded.
    'He's already received threats?'
    'Not exactly.'
    Mather interrupted. 'Look here, can we slow this down for a minute? I'm not clear at all on just what this employee of yours does for Magma. Are you saying he's some kind of exploration wizard? And isn't it time we were told his name? All this nonidentity business is only serving to compound my confusion.'
    Halloran knew the older man's mind was far too sharp to be fogged by anything said so far; this was merely the Planner's way of drawing out basic information that so often prospective clients were reluctant to convey.
    ' "Exploration wizard" is not entirely correct, although "wizard" might be appropriate in some respects.' Sir Victor allowed a small laugh between himself and his deputy chairman. Again Halloran found the girl, Cora, watching him closely.
    'Gentlemen,' said Sir Victor, his tone serious once more. 'It's time you met your - how is it you refer to them? Target? - yes, it's time you met your target. I think then all will be made clear. At least, I