CASH & CREDIT 17

“There’s something bothering me,” said the Chief, frowning at Susan, who was preoccupied at her computer.

“Yes?” she said, her mind only half listening.

“It’s this business of star signs as codenames,” he said. The Chief was talking aloud to himself as much as anyone.

Susan stopped what she was doing, and swivelled around in her chair to face the Chief. “What about the codenames?” she said,

interested now.

“How many are there?” asked the Chief, his

eyes still distant.

“What – codenames?” said Susan, sounding

puzzled.

The Chief sprang into focus, sitting upright in

his seat, no longer slouching.

“No, star signs. How many star signs are there?”

he said, almost impatient with her.

“Twelve, I think”. Susan frowned and thought

for a moment, “Yes, definitely twelve,”

The Chief shook his head decisively.

“That’s not enough,” he said, “Even what we’ve