Shadow on the Sand

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They said to Amro, “And now you will learn a new language.”

There was no desire in him to ask them where the language was spoken and why he was to learn it. He permitted himself to speculate but one of the first rules learned by agents of the Center is that no activity is more purposeless than asking questions. All information that you must know is given to you. The proper outlet for zeal is in performance of the assigned duties. And Amro had been a Center agent for five Stradian years.

He knew that he was a good agent — one of the very best. It gave him a quiet pride to think of it. His body was good — as hard and perfect and tireless as though made of metal and leather. Other agents had been able to withstand seven and eight complete facial operations before the flesh and bone began to rebel.

Amro had been given, during his five years, fourteen separate identities and when the surgeons had last examined him they had reported no signs of tissue weariness. When no more operations could be performed it became necessary to resort to the mask-maker’s art and that was never as completely satisfactory.

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