distressing
to have to carry for the rest of my life a flaw on my body. So, may I
request you to withdraw your ray-guns with two fingertips and put them
on the floor? Observe--your fingertips. Will you be so kind?"

* * * * *

The Hawk looked at him for a minute. Then silently he obeyed. He knew
that the Eurasian would have no compunctions about shooting him down in
cold blood; but, on the other hand, even as the man had said, he could
not kill Ku Sui, but had to capture him, in order to take him to Earth
to confess to crimes now blamed on Eliot Leithgow. "Do as he says,
Friday," he instructed the still staring negro; and, like a man in a
trance, Friday obeyed.

"Thank you," the Eurasian said. "It was a most friendly thing to do." He
paused. "I suppose you are wondering how I arrived here, and why you did
not see me come. Well, I shall certainly tell you, in return for your
favor. But first--ah, friend Carse--your gesture! A reminder, I assume."

Slowly the Hawk was stroking the bangs of hair which had been trained to
obscure his forehead. There was no emotion on his chilly face as he
answered, no slightest sign of feeling unless it were a slight trembling
of the left eyelid--significant enough to those who could read it.

"Yes," he whispered, "a reminder. I do not like to wear my hair like
this, Ku Sui, and I want you to know that I've not forgotten; that,
though I'm now in your power, there'll be a day----"

"But you wouldn't threaten your host!" the other said with mock
surprise. "And surely you wouldn't threaten me, of all men. Must I point
out how useless it has always been for you to match yourself, merely a
skilful gunman, against me, against a brain?"

"Usually," the cold whisper came back, "the brain has failed in the
traps it has laid for the gunman."

"Only because of the mistakes of its agents. Unfortunately for you, the
brain is dealing with you directly this time, my friend. It's quite a
different matter. But this small talk--although you honor----"

"Of course you intend to kill me," said the Hawk. "But when?"

Dr. Ku gestured deprecatingly. "You insist on introducing these
unpleasant topics! But to relieve your mind, I've not yet decided how I
can entertain you most suitably. I have come primarily to ask you one
trifling thing."

"And that is?"

"The whereabouts of Master Scientist Eliot Leithgow."

* * * *