vestigated further and I could reach a decision. You were not supposed
to come back yet. I sent Philander a letter to that effect, but he
space-radioed you were already on the way back when he read it."

A light dawned on Hanlon as memory skipped back to that take-off.
Philander had merely stuck the mail in his pocket when it was given him,
and evidently started reading it on his way back to the mine. That
explained his running back, waving a letter and trying to attract
attention just at blast-off.

That small part of his mind that was paying attention to the men in the
room heard His Highness say "take Abrams away. He ... uh ... is of no
further use to us. And wait outside until I call--all of you."

When they had gone His Highness leaned forward, and Hanlon knew he had
better pay strict attention and keep his wits about him for any opening
to improve his perilous position.

"I'll speak more frankly, now that we are alone, Hanlon. I am impressed
with you. I think you have ... uh ... tremendous abilities, and I want
you on my side. But I have to be sure. I would advise you, for your own
good, to be honest and frank with me."

"I am being, but you won't believe me," Hanlon said earnestly. "When I
take a man's pay, sir, I give him everything I've got. You gave me a
chance at the kind of money I want to make, and I'm doing everything I
can to earn both the money and your trust. I was kicked out of the
Corps, and I'll do _anything_ I can to get even!"

"As I said before, we have ... uh ... ways of making you tell us the
truth," the Leader continued as though Hanlon had not interrupted, "but
you would not be any good either to us or the Corps or yourself if we
have to use ... uh ... persuasion. I don't want to see you broken. You
may remember you once asked me if I could 'dish it out'? Let me assure
you that I can."

"But how can I prove anything when you've already made up your mind not
to believe me?" Hanlon asked plaintively. "I'm doing my best to make you
believe. I'll admit some of those points you've brought up could look
fishy if viewed from one standpoint, but I assure you you're putting the
wrong interpretation on them. If you'll look at them from my viewpoint
you'll see they are just as true."

His Highness regarded Hanlon silently but with a steady concentration
for some minutes. "That might be true. I had about begun to believe you
when we found Abrams, and when we questioned him he ... uh ... admitted