Out Like a Light Part 49

"That reminds me, Ken," Dorothea said. "All the things that were stolen.

The liquor and all of that. Money. What's going to happen to that?"

"Well," Malone said, "everything that can be returned--and that includes most of the liquor, because they hadn't had a chance to get rid of it to the bootleggers around this area--will be returned. What can't be returned--money, stuff they've used, broken or sold--well, I don't exactly know about that. It might take a special act of Congress," he said brightly.

"All for the boys?" Dorothea said.

"Well, they'll be at Yucca Flats," Malone said, "and they'll be pretty useful. And, as I said before we started all this, if they try to run away from Yucca Flats we'll just have to keep them 'frozen' all the time. I mean, I will. Little as we want to. They can be of some use that way, too. The Government isn't doing all this for nothing."

"But keeping them 'frozen'--"

"I said we didn't want to do it. And I don't think we'll have to.

They'll be well taken care of, don't worry. Some of the best psychiatrists and doctors are out there. And Mike and the others--if they can show they're trustworthy--can come home every weekend, or even every night if they can teleport that far." Malone paused. "But it isn't charity," he added. "We need people with specialized psionic abilities--and, for a variety of reasons, they're pretty hard to find."

"You know," Dorothea said, "you're pretty wonderful, Mr. Malone."

Malone didn't answer her. He just kissed her again.

Dorothea pushed him gently away. "I'm envious," she announced.

"Everybody gets a reward but me. Do I get left out just because I swiped your notebook?"

Malone kissed her again. "What kind of a reward do you want?"

She sighed. "Oh, well," she said, "I suppose this is good enough."

"Good enough?" Malone said. "Just good enough?"

His lips met hers for the fifth time. She reached one hand gently out to the light switch and pushed it.

The lights went out.

THE END