S as in Zebatinsky: The Spy Who Was Never There

S as in Zebatinsky by Isaac Asimov - A mysterious name keeps surfacing in top-secret reports—Zebatinsky—yet no one knows who he is or why he matters.

Marshall Zebatinsky felt foolish. He felt as though there were eyes staring through the grimy storefront glass and across the scarred wooden partition; eyes watching him. He felt no confidence in the old clothes he had resurrected or the turned-down brim of a hat he never otherwise wore or the glasses he had left in their case.

He felt foolish and it made the lines in his forehead deeрer and his young-old face a little paler.

He would never be able to explain to anyone why a nuclear physicist such as himself should visit a numerologist. (Never, he thought. Never.) Hell, he could not еxplain it to himself except that he had let his wife talk him into it.

The numerologist sat behind an old desk that must have been second-hand when bought. No desk could get that old with only one owner. The same might almost be said of his clothes. He was little and dark and peered at Zebatinsky with little dark eyes that were brightly alive.

He said, "I have never had a physicist for a client before, Dr. Zebatinsky."

Zebatinsky flushed at once. "You understand this is confidential."

The numerologist smiled so that wrinkles creased about the corners of his mouth and the skin around his chin stretched. "All my dealings are confidential."

Zebatinsky said, "I think I ought to tell you one thing. I don't believe in numerology and I don't expect to begin believing in it. If that makes a difference, say so now."

"But why are you here, then?" "

My wife thinks you may have something, whatever it is. I promised her and I am here."