it. There was an air of mystery, of secretiveness, of intrigue, that could not hel

the city, but directed the driver to take his luggage on to the hotel. Then

new world soak in. He could not, of course, get any factual details in this way, nor did he expect to.

Mercutian in the fuel pit" here somewhere. But what it was; w

rses or parents. But there were none of the derelicts one sees in so many large-city parks. Most of the peo

pigeon-like birds were flying and hopping about, seeking what crumbs they c

, he found, much the same as it had been with the dogs-he could not only "read" what mind the pi

d not take long until he knew it well. Finally he got so he could see and understand what the people around him were doing-not through his own

nto his own brain, and gave a ment

. "Get to the hotel, check in, then go look in the b

was nothing yet for him in box 1044, so he left a note addressed

a short nap. There was no telling what the night might

t that, even outstripping Terra in the wealth from her manufacturers and exports. Her shipments of ores, jewels, unusual furs, manu

charge here. The buildings were all modern representations of the great temples and public buildings of the

aught his breath in pleasure at his first sight of the marvelous square by night. He had thought it wond

-to go to the Bacchus. It was several blocks from the square,

uilding with a pillared facade. The main room was lev

ambeaus, stuck at angles in the walls. The center of the room was occupied by dozens of tables of varying si

ngly costumed in pseudo-peplos of a purplish, cob-webby, silkish material. They wore no blouses, but long sashes that passed beh

e smiled. "Let me have you

den liquid, and waited while he took his first appre

rted away he called her back. "Do you know a Mr. P

me. "I'll see if I can locate him

ll pretending to sip his drink, Hanl

rom the ship. Welcome to S

nt that about looking yo

going into one of the booths, Panek pushed through an almost hidden alcove. He knocked peculiarly on a door, and

nce, saw that it was a fairly large o

roduced him, "the guy who did that

anlon scanned back in return, his mind quickly touching one after another of the three sitting in large, easy chairs. Only their surface thoughts we

n more than a few seconds. He noted with interest the round, smooth face, the slightly over-large greenish eyes, the silver hai

hat mind at all! There was a sort of an ... an alien feeling there he co

anything of his inner thoughts as he salut

te. "Maybe Mr. Panek has already told you about me. I'm looking for a chan

fellow behind the desk, this leader. Who was he? Hanlon knew he wo

low, gentle voice that was a perfect match for his outward appearance of high gentility.

nlon shrugged. "If

nothing so crude, so vulgar, so ... so brutal. Oh, sometimes we ... uh ... sometimes an accident happens to someone. But nothing, you understand, tha

finesse, all right, but I didn't know you wanted me to talk that w

not. Was the guy human-or did he have a mind-control of some sort? Was

n momentary fear-was this ape a mind rea

ood. I hate the thought of bloodshed, and I will not countenance roughness in actions or speech. It is regrettabl

ountered, and again his heart quailed for the moment. "If I was on my ow

compassion in that ice-cold mind behind

the man behind the desk spoke more slowly. "Perhaps-just perhaps, you understand, and nothing definite a

nd was seeking answers. Why did they want to send him away? Was this a bona-fide job, or a trap? Should he

to relax their vigilance. "There will be a very large ... uh ... bundle." He paused a moment, then continued "We need more

a difference?" Here, he thought swiftly, was the test. If they still

peed. It is ... uh ... unfortunate, that they are high enough in the cultural scale so we cannot, under the Snyder dictum, colonize their

bing could not get the answer from any of the minds there-to the others it was merely "a

you, I think. If so, your salary will be a thousand credits a month, plus all expenses. And a nice bonus

unds very interesting." Then he leaned forward

t we bring the men back every few months for a vacation. We find that best with mos

to do but

u do not explore or anything like that! The ship goes there every three weeks, and we usually figure eighteen weeks there, the

id so. "Now that's one thing I don't want to d

, there will be a short period of ... uh ... checking

rvile, yet confident. "Sure,

mportant. A couple of the men seemed to be chuckling about what might ha

nd his genteel manner slipped from him like a

fools. Nor are we offering you a chance to get in on our compl

thing else ... at first. Not until I've proved myself to you, or until I've made my pile and got in a position of power. Then

l doubtfully. When the leader spoke his voice was more cord

o protest hotly, "all about your being kicked out. We can see how all that might well have soured you enough so you will

nd order stuff. I was an innocent young punk, full of high ideals and the romance of the Corps and all that bunk. But those ma

leader, "but can you take

Now he stared straight b

ter?" his tone was almost