ed him back, and
he came to Simonides about fourteen years ago, from Sirius Three. He's
been Prime Minister for about ten years and it has been noticeable that
he has gained more and more power during the past few years, as the
emperor has been failing both physically and mentally."

"I wonder ..."

"Yes?"

"D'you suppose that failing health and mind could have been caused,
instead of natural?"

The admiral was plainly taken aback. "What? Caused?"

Hanlon nodded. "Just that. From what little I know of His Highness he
was just the kind to do a thing like that--and capable of it, too." He
sank back in deep thought for some time, as did Hawarden. They were
interrupted by a buzzer from the desk. The admiral sat up quickly and
switched on the intercom. "Yes?"

"Bohr certainly was not a human being," the doctor reported, and Hanlon
could see the surprise and wonder on his face in the screen. "There are
structural differences so far removed from ours that they could not
possibly be Homo Sapiens."

"Any idea where he came from?" Hanlon asked, and the admiral relayed the
question.

"Never saw anything like it before, and I've just made a quick search
through all my books here that contain pictures and diagrams of the
races of which we know."

Hanlon shook his head in resignation and Hawarden, after thanking the
doctor and giving orders for the disposition of the Prime Minister's
body, disconnected.

"Is it too late to get an audience with the emperor?" Hanlon sat erect.

The admiral glanced at his wrist chronom. "Pretty late, but I'll see."

He had just reached for a switch when his call buzzer sounded, and when
he activated the screen the planetographer reported, "We can't find any
such system on our charts."

Hanlon's spirit sank. "Keep looking!" he ordered. "Check with the
astronomers. It's somewhere around there--I just came from that planet.
The sun is hot--looks like Sol from inside Venus's orbit, although I
don't think it's as large as Sol."

Hawarden then put through his call to the imperial palace, his position
as local head of the I-S C getting him fast service. After some haggling
with the emperor's secretary, and his insistence that it was a matter of
the utmost importance that could not wait until morning, he was finally
told His Majesty would see him.

"Got it," Hawarden rose. "Come along."

Hanlon started toward the door, then looked down at his torn and dirty
clothing. "I'm not very presenta