e could think seriously without the outside abstractions

to get in with. Hanlon felt Panek's statement that he, personally, was not in on it, was just so

ked him? Probably the leader ... and if so, undoubtedly a dangerous man to play

was that "failure" he had also read in Panek's mind that unsuccessful attempt he, Hanlon, had t

ek's gang, he might find them. And even if this particular gang was not the one doing the plotting in which the Corps was so

cobras. For a long moment he grew cold with fear; a deadly, paralyzing terror that twisted his vital

getting out of line. Then, if or when he did, he would walk more softly, travel inch by inch, and not make any attempts to jump

just a gunny. And those higher-ups would be much worse than Panek-more ruthless and more contemptuous of human life and rights. T

the awfulness of that fear that so nearly brought him down out of contro

rmoil he had trouble keeping himself outwardly calm. For the first time in more years than he

ary and studied from such books on biology and physiology as he could find, all he could about the brain and the nerves that f

d watched through its eyes until he saw the kennel steward l

ull. Again he had no trouble attaching a portion of his mind to the dog's brain. A

y line, muscle and nerve channels and connectors, e

ch. After nearly three hours of intensive study he was convinced he was beginning to know it quite well,

beautiful female Airedale. Into her brain he sent another portion of his mind. Then into the next dog another porti

own there in the semi-darkness. There was, he was afraid at the time, little mo

ing portions of his mind in nine places at once

ferent things at once and the same time, or could make all the

ed and controlling different bodies, there was a thread of connecting thought between them all, so that he knew what each of the

e knew he could make them perform-singly, as a group, or each doing a different thing-almost any ta

he went over to the cage of the Airedale he was still controlling. Squatting down before the bars, he too

t was inside her brain, and made the Airedale pick up the pencil in her teeth, blunt end inside her mou

ughly and clumsily, a few letters. They were large and very crude. It wasn't that he couldn't control

about this strange and weird ability, but he was also well content with his studies. If a time came when he might wish or need to use animals in his work

that worked the same as the dogs? He would have t

on. He had made a wonderful start at getting an "in" with Panek, the

ep from sheer weariness, nor had he

he knew he had the answer. His sub-conscious

ng room for his lunch. Hanlon signalled, and his new-found acquaintance came

iness, but if you want this Abrams out of your

"Think you're that good, eh? Better'n m

his tone the same. "I'm not setting myself even one not

not, n

in this case, aboard a ship in space where you ca

truculence melted a bit, although his tone was still sneering

ke in a semi-whisper, but earnestly. "But there are times when it's plai

something there

friends with the guy, take him to dinner, then sneak

He hadn't liked the idea of using his knife, here on this ship. But neither did he

, but not when the guy knows you, then you can't get

"Me, I'm the Unknown Quantity. Nobody knows me. I

sy to fool,

rt somewhere if I want to get into things on Simonid

is enigmatic young man. "I still don't quite trust you, can't be

they were tops, and did everything I could to get into their school. But I mighty quick found out how wrong I was. I was good and sick of 'em, and abo

al, take

" Hanlon ignored Panek's shushing. "They just like to p

him keep still. People at the nearer table were beginning to look at them. But Pane

rams without getting caught, and I'll get you in with a gang on S

"I'll keep in touch. And your

ng smoothly. Now if that government man

m. Opening a magazine and holding it fairly high before his face while a

plot against your life. I managed to delay it yesterday, but they intended getting you b

had been well-trained in a hard school, and in no other way had even shown that h

hind him that I don't know. But the

if I

ugh at something he was reading. As Abrams looked up in surprise, Hanlon lea

what Hanlon was showing him, then began laughing in turn. Thereafter, the ice broken as fa

r the first time, "you're the young man

ss the rest of the day, as though we'd just met and liked each

d he is absolutely

go to your room. Have your valet later let the word out that you're very ill, and send word by space-video for an ambulance to meet the ship. Just before landing, le

y? ... oh, I see. You want to get in with the gang, is that it?" When Hanlon nodded Abrams continued, "you

of many things as they moved naturally about the ship. They listened for a while to a concert in the music

time to time, and when the two went in to dinner the th

upset the peace of his world, or the Federation. Hanlon realized the man was an intense patriot, and he came to

n called his companion's attention to something behind him. As the latter turne

. He took a drink, then another, and almost before he had set hi

y heavily on the arm of an anxiou

offee. When the steward returned, he called him over, and seemed reassured when the latter reported that Mr. Abrams ha

e ship that Abrams was very ill, a

nlon was sitting, reading, an

whispered as he was lighting his

ering viciously, "I'll cut out his guts if he's pla

ual giant. A brighter man would have wondered about the source of Hanlon's knowledge of his homicidal plans; and how it