he was almost in complete control
of his mind.

"We got here in time, then?" anxiously.

"Yes, thanks to my little friend here." Hanlon took the bird, and handed
it to one of the marines, meanwhile impressing on its mind that it was
safe among friends. "Look after her." And withdrew his mind.

"She gets good care the rest of her life," the admiral ordered the
wondering marines. "Wait outside."

Hawarden looked about the room. "Who are these men ... and what in
Snyder's name happened to them?"

"They were stung to death by bees," Hanlon said, and there was a trace
of vindictiveness in his voice. "One of 'em's the Prime Minister; the
others his gunmen."

"Great John!" the admiral breathed. "This'll raise a stink!"

"There'll be a bigger one before I get through," Hanlon was grim. "Get
me back to your office, and get a doctor. They gave me truth serum, and
it hasn't all worn off yet. And I'm hungry," he added so plaintively
that Hawarden, accustomed enough to sight of death so it didn't affect
him too much, laughed.

"What'll we do with the bodies?"

"Guard the Prime Minister's closely. Merely notify the people here where
to find the others."

Hawarden called back two of the marines. "Bring that body with us," and
they left.

At the entrance the admiral recalled his men. To the palace officer he
partially explained. "The Prime Minister was killed, and we're taking
his body with us. There are three of his men, also dead, in Room 37-B
down there. I'll notify the Emperor, and assume full responsibility."

He jumped into the truck's front seat beside Hanlon and the driver.

"Back to base!"

Chapter 21

The doctor, notified by the truck's short-wave, was waiting in the
admiral's office to give Hanlon the shots of antidote and attend to his
wounds. He had barely finished when a waiter brought food.

These two gone, Hawarden felt free to demand of Hanlon, "Open up,
please. What's this all about?"

"Full coverage?" Hanlon asked meaningly.

The admiral flipped a couple of toggle switches on his desk. "There is
now."

"I'll tell you the story in a bit, but there are several more things to
be done, fast."

He described the location of the hidden spacefield. "Get some scouts out
there quick, but if the freighter's not ready to leave, have 'em keep
hidden and merely watch it. I don't want anything done until just before
take-off--it's important we arrest _all_ of its crew and passengers."

"Right!"