The Stars My Destination ( Tiger! Tiger! )   ::   Bester Alfred

«So you've been malingering. You knew how to jaunte. You've been jauntlug all the while you've been pretending to learn in the primer class .

taking big jumps around the country; around the world, for all I know.»

«Yeah. I go from Times Square to Columbus Circle by way of. . most anywhere, Miss Robin.»

«And that's why you're always missing. But why? 'Why? What are you up to?»

An expression of possessed cunning appeared on the hideous face. «I'm holed up in General Hospital, me. It's my base of operations, see? I'm settling something, Miss Robin. I got a debt to pay off, me. I had to find out where a certain ship is. Now I got to pay her back. Not I rot you, 'Vorga.' I kill you, 'Vorga.' I kill you filthy!»

He stopped shouting and glared at her in wild triumph. Robin backed away in alarm.

«For God's sake, what are you talking about?»

«'Vorga.' 'Vorga-T:1339.' Ever hear of her, Miss Robin? I found out where she is from Bo'ness amp; Uig's ship registry. Bo'ness amp; Uig are out in SanFran. I went there, me, the time when you was learning us the crosstown jaunte stages. Went out to SanFran, me. Found 'Vorga,' me. She's in Vancouver shipyards. She's owned by Presteign of Presteign. Heard of him, Miss Robin? Presteign's the biggest man on Terra, is all. But he won't stop me. I'll kill 'Vorga' filthy. And you won't stop me neither, Miss Robin.»

Foyle thrust his face close to hers. «Because I cover myself, Miss Robin. I cover every weak spot down the line. I got something on everybody who could stop me before I kill 'Vorga' . . .including you, Miss Robin.»

«Yeah. I found out where you live. They know up at the hospital. I come here and looked around. I read your diary, Miss Robin. You got a family on Callisto, mother and two sisters.»

«For God's sake!»

«So that makes you alien-belligerent. When the war started you and all the rest was given one month to get out of the Inner Planets and go home. Any which didn't became spies by law.» Foyle opened his hand. «I got you right here, girl.» He clenched his hand.

«My mother and sisters have been trying to leave Callisto for a year and a half. We belong here. We…»

«Got you right here,» Foyle repeated. «You know what they do to spies? They cut information out of them. They cut you apart, Miss Robin. They take you apart, piece by piece…”

The Negro girl screamed. Foyle nodded happily and took her shaking shoulders in his hands. «I got you, is all, girl.