n prove Bohr was in this for
himself, and was controlling them."

"From what I saw of him," Hanlon said seriously after a long moment of
thought, "I'd say he was capable of trying it. He certainly had 'the
will to power.' And he was no dummy--he had a really powerful mind. But
he was cold beneath that suave, soft-seeming exterior. He was utterly
without compassion, mercy, or any feeling of justice. He wouldn't care
who or what was damaged as long as he could get what he wanted. I doubt
if there was anyone he could really call a friend, or to whom he could
talk in full confidence."

"Except possibly that bird you told ..." his father began, absently,
when Hanlon interrupted with a whoop.

"Hey, that's it!" He jumped up and ran to the visiphone, and dialed the
zoo. "Bring that toogan of Bohr's back to Base!"

"What, again?" the indignant curator asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but this is probably the last time we'll need it.
Please get it here immediately."

"What's the excitement?" Newton asked curiously.

"Your remark reminded me of something I noticed only dimly in its mind,
and didn't pursue at the time."

While they were waiting for the bird, Hanlon asked, "What about the new
ships? Have the experts got 'em figured out yet?"

"Not entirely. The hulls are about the same as the Snyder ships, only
larger. But that new power system is so radically different they're
going rapidly nuts trying to understand it. And they do have
tractor-beams."

No sooner had the messenger left after delivering the toogan than Hanlon
had it out of the cage, and perched on the arm of his chair. Then for
nearly an hour he sat there, deaf, dumb and blind to all else while he
explored every nook and cranny of that avian mind.

"Got it!" he yelled at last, and the bird, freed from control, sprang
into the air and flew wildly about, seeking escape.

"What did you learn?" the admirals were as excited as he.

"We've nothing to fear. Bohr was entirely on his own. The people of his
planetary system--Canopus--are so far advanced they live on a completely
co-operative basis, every one instinctively working for the common good
of all. Bohr was an atavism--they caught him trying to 'take over'
there, and banished him. He came here, for his restless mind and savage
urge to dominate others would not let him rest until he was absolute
ruler of some world or system--the bigger the better from his
viewpoint."

"And you got all that from a bird?" in