passenger liner that was to take him to far Simonides. He was thrilled with the idea of making such a trip, f

lot's job-the branch of the Service he had hoped to enter-were the same for both inter-planetary and inter-stellar travel. It was the n

that in length. The propulsion was, the builders and engineers acknowledged, not the ultimate by any mean

use rockets when near a planet-but these present-day rockets were a far cry from the early crude ones with which Snyder and

quite got it firmly fixed in his mind just how this was done, especially the technique of the engines that made it possible. That was "advan

as met at the outer lock by a deck steward who led

rugs, the magnificently frescoed passageway walls, the deeply upholstered furniture, from

we use Terran time on the ship, and lights are turned on and off to conform to the regular Terran day. Brea

style. The obsequious steward gave him further directions for finding

ened to the observation desk, to watch the take-off. He had barely reached it and been strapped into the acceleration cha

Five minutes until blast-off ... four minutes ... three ... two ... one ...

ent spring-cushions of his chair. A constricting band seemed to be clamped on his chest, while at the same time there was a curious feeling th

nerves relax as much as possible, so that for him there was but a brief moment

reds of square miles of city, country and ocean. Soon he could see the distant mountains; but gradually the scene assumed a dimness of detail that pers

depths in a matter of short days. And as Luna shrank to a small sphere behind them, Hanlon felt the acceleration grow constant, so unstr

his disgrace. That would make the trip uncomfortable, lonely and unproductive, for then it would be better for him to spend mos

Corps' Secret Service-although he did not know this until later-had that

d unused, he now knew he must work at it continuously to bring it up to its highest possible level of eff

ed and a little frightened as he realized fully the weight of his new duties and responsibilities, even though he had been all through this

onto him? What were the Corps' top brass thinking of, an

eing what he could pick up mentally. He kept his eyes closed, but opened

s he thought he caught vague hints of sinister intrigue, but was never quite able to isolate these, or to bring them into more distinct focus. Quite evidently the men-or women-thinking such thoughts were able to close their minds to some extent-or else h

be sure to hand him all the jobs where other agents had failed, just as they had in this case, in hopes that he

he was hungry, and went down to eat. He could wor

enter of the large and tastefully decorated room. For some moments he busied himsel

. He probed briefly, finding her a good sort but a little too impressed with her own impor

ation and trying to refine and develop his mind-reading ability. It seemed to him the latter was

and there, as the long afternoon slowly passed, he

and concentrated on trying to trace it mentally; to read it more clearly and minutely. B

. "Sure, you've got something, but anything-any ability of

e people were playing various games. He saw that around many of these other people were standing, watc

ud poker. Here he stood, watching the game, but concentrating on the mind of the m

a very poor one, or only a possible winner. By watching the play as well as studying the man's feelings, facial movements and muscle twitches or tensenesses, Hanlon was soon able to make some re

soak up all the impressions and vibrations he could. When one seemed particularly strong, he t

oard seemed to be having a grand time, and enjoying the trip to the

sensed it the day before. It was not prominent at any time, nor continuous ... more as though only o

m the beginning. And finally, later in the afternoon, the person or persons thinking them evid

who was giving out those menacing sensations. That would come later. At the moment he

d to the conclusion that it coul

roblem when another mental impression intruded, a

dent, apologetic. He felt it growing stronger, see

rrying about the other matter

eved was its source, but idly, half angry at it for interrupting his more important thoughts. It was in front of him ...

instantly, unbelieva

ally, to read the

oticed him sitting there all day and the day before, with closed eyes and strained face. (His efforts at c

that instant a soft, apologetic voice spoke from in fr

Hanlon, sir, but

smile break out as he saw the solicit

ittle queazy, but I'm fee

re and call if I can

hed in his pocket and slipped a

whirling with this newly-discovered ability. He was astonis

a new one! I was never able to do that before. I really read his thoughts