United States or Slovenia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I'm afraid he was, Sire. Did you know he was secretly building a great war fleet on another planet?" There was an almost-imperceptible pause before the answer was barked out. "Nonsense, sir. That I can't believe!" Hanlon shook his head. The emperor was lying now. Why? Was he part perhaps head of the plot? His mind-probing had not yet reached an answer to those important questions.
His most penetrant mind-probing could not get the answer from any of the minds there to the others it was merely "a planet," nothing more. And this ape, with his perfect mental control, let nothing leak. But the leader had caught himself and gone on almost as though there had been no break, "... chance using you, I think. If so, your salary will be a thousand credits a month, plus all expenses.
His mind-probing had convinced him they were high enough in the scale of evolution to know the meaning of gratitude, and he could tell they were repaying his kindness with co-operation. He had begun to make much more sense out of the pictures he saw in their minds, and to get some glimmerings of understanding about their alien concepts.
The emperor sat upright, his face showing the utmost incredulity, but Hanlon's mind-probing had prepared him for the reaction, so he was not surprised to note neither dismay nor regret. For the monarch suddenly sank back into his chair, and a long, loud suspiration of relief came from him. He closed his eyes and his face finally relaxed a bit. Suddenly he sat bolt upright.
"You're making a colossal mistake, sir," his voice was louder and angrier than it should ever have been. "If our regular instructor was giving this exam he'd never make such an accusation. I've led this class in grades all through school. And not by cheating, either." "Lower your voice, Mister, and don't talk back!" But Hanlon's mind-probing was receiving approbation now.
Word Of The Day