ance. They had
succeeded in creating some working plasmoids. To go into satisfactory
operation, they still needed 113-A. Balmordan had not known why. But
they no longer needed Trigger Argee. Trigger Argee was now to be
destroyed at the earliest opportunity. Again Balmordan had not known
why. Fayle and his unit were in the fortress dome the Devagas had been
building. It was in the area Lyad had indicated. It was supposed to be
very thoroughly concealed. Balmordan might or might not have known its
exact coordinates. His investigators made the inevitable slip finally
and triggered a violent mind-block reaction. Balmordan had died.
Dead-braining him had produced no further relevant information.

The little drumfire of questions ended abruptly. Trigger glanced at her
watch. It had been going on for only fifteen minutes, but she felt
somewhat dizzy by now. The Ermetyne just looked a little more wilted.

After a minute, Commissioner Tate inquired politely whether there was
any further information the First Lady could think of to give them at
this time.

She shook her head. No.

Only Professor Mantelish believed her.

But the interrogation was over, apparently.

24

Quillan took over the ship controls, and the Commissioner and Trigger
went with the recorder into the little office back of the transmitter
cabinet, to slam out some fast reports to the Hub and other points. Lyad
was apologizing profoundly to Mantelish as they left the lounge. The
professor was huffing back at her, rather mildly.

A little while later, Lyad, showing indications of restrained surprise,
was helping Trigger prepare dinner. They took it into the lounge.
Quillan remained at the controls while the others started eating.
Trigger fixed up a tray and brought it to him.

"Thanks for the rescue, Major!" she said.

He grinned up at her. "It was a pleasure."

Trigger glanced back at the little group in the lounge. "Think she was
fibbing a bit?"

"Sure. Mainly she'd decided in advance how much to tell and how much
not. She thinks fast in action though! No slips. What she told of what
she knows makes a solid story, and with angles we can check on fast. So
it's bound to have plenty of information in it. It'll do for the
moment."

"She's already started buttering up Mantelish," said Trigger.

"She'll do that," Quillan said. "By the time we reach Luscious, the prof
probably might as well be back in the trances. The Commissioner intends
to g