ble."

"We can get you a uniform from the barracks."

Hanlon thought swiftly. "No, I'd better not chance it, although I'd sure
like to."

The admiral thought a moment, then stepped back to his desk and pressed
a stud. "Roberts, come in here."

A young man almost exactly Hanlon's size, wearing civilian clothes, came
into the office. Hawarden grinned. "Those do?"

The SS man smiled back. "Swell."

"Strip," the admiral commanded the astonished clerk. "We need your
clothes in a hurry for this man. Quick," as the young man hesitated.

Hanlon was already removing his own. "I'll give you a hundred credits
for them, Roberts, but this is prime urgent."

The other laughed then, and started pulling off his suit as fast as he
could. "A hundred'll more than buy me a new one--it's a good bargain."

The exchange was quickly made. Hanlon gave the clerk his money, then he
and the admiral hurried to the palace, where they were ushered without
delay toward the emperor's private study.

"Watch me fairly closely," Hanlon whispered as they were walking down
the hall. "If I shake my head, he's lying."

Admiral Hawarden's eyes widened, and though he said nothing, he was
thinking, "This is certainly the most amazing young man I've ever met.
Where does the SS get 'em?"

They had barely entered the study when a door on the far side of the
room opened, and the emperor came in, leaning on the arm of an aide. He
sat down heavily behind the ornate desk.

"Well well well," he barked pettishly. "What's all this about, sir?
What's so important you have to get me out of bed?"

"I am most sorry to have put Your Majesty to such inconvenience,"
Admiral Hawarden said diplomatically, "but you will soon see that this
is, indeed, most urgent. It is also very secret, and I respectfully
request we be permitted to speak with you alone."

The emperor waved his hand impatiently, and the aide retired from the
room.

Admiral Hawarden set a small box on the desk and turned on a switch.
"Just a portable spyray block," he apologized.

"I know, I know," came the exasperated voice. "Get on with it, man, I'm
tired."

"Permit me to introduce George Hanlon, of the Corps. We have, first, a
bit of sad news to give Your Majesty, and then some questions we most
urgently request you to answer as fully as you can."

The emperor did not look pleased at this suggestion that he be
questioned, but said nothing.

"Your Prime Minister, Gorth Bohr, was killed a f