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It would take him to the Robbins Building. The street was black with people, surging back and forth, restless, ominous. Mercutians stalked purposefully along, in companies of ten. Their guttural voices were harsh with command. The Earthmen scattered out of their way. Those who were not nimble enough were knocked down, trampled underfoot.
But there were problems in dealing with uncontacted planets. Many star systems had never been explored by ships of the Confederation. Many races, like Earthmen at the time their star-drive was discovered, had no inkling of the existence of a Galactic Confederation of worlds.
He was a secret service agent without official status, and therefore an officer had been assigned to accompany the Earthmen. Torlos seemed to be relaxing in the soft, warm sunlight of his native world. It had been years since he had seen that yellow sun except from the windows of a space flier. Now he could walk around in the clear air of the planet of his birth.
They asked Torlos to stand guard on the ship while they got some much needed sleep, and Torlos consented readily after getting the permission of the Supreme Three. The Earthmen were returned to their ship under heavy guard to prevent further attempts at assassination. It was seven hours after they had gone to sleep that it came.
"You're the one who tested these imbeciles originally?" he demanded. Dr. Tarnier nodded. His face was seamed, his eyes lustreless. "I tested 'em. God help me, I tested 'em." "How?" "Standard procedures. Reaction times. Mazes. Conditioning. Language. Abstractions. Numbers. Associations. The works." "Standard for Earthmen, I presume you mean." "So what else?
The members of the Investigation Board joined them to question the prisoner upon his arrival. When they arrived, Arcot and Morey went in with Torlos, who was carrying the struggling, shackled spy over his shoulder. The Earthmen watched while the expert interrogators of the Investigation Board questioned the prisoner.
You use your diaphragm and your abdominal muscles. These people do, too!" Morey grinned. "No wonder Torlos jumped in front of that bullet! He didn't have as much to fear as we do he had a built-in bullet proof vest! You'd have to shoot him in the abdomen to reach any vital organ." Arcot turned back to Torlos. "Who is this man?" "Undoubtedly a Satorian spy sent to murder you Earthmen.
But already the lone Mercutian flier had completed his bank, and was zooming out of range. Hilary watched the flier grow fainter and fainter in the starlit distance. Almost he could hear the far-off hoarse chuckle of its pilot. Then he turned to survey the damage. The Earthmen were up, growling low heartfelt curses. That one blast had been catastrophic.
They towered over Dal, and even Tiger seemed dwarfed by their immense chest girth and powerful shoulders. As the surface car hurried toward the hospital, Dal probed for more information. The Moruan's voice was a hoarse growl which nearly deafened the Earthmen in the confined quarters of the car but Dal with the aid of the translator could piece together what had happened.
The conveyors carried back and forth armed companies of guards. The Mercutians were making a mighty effort to capture their prey. But somehow the Earthmen had won through, and eager eyes searched the little glade. Hilary exhaled sharply. The Vagabond, stanch and faithful companion of all his travels, rested immovably on the deep green grass. It had escaped the questing eyes of the Mercutians.
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