don't want to talk, but shouldn't I warn all the
men who saw it, to keep quiet?"

"Shades of Snyder, yes! I got so interested I forgot all about others
seeing me with it. Yes, absolutely, it must never be talked about."

He again looked pleadingly at the admiral. "I ... I'm sorry, sir ... but
at that I know you're smart enough to have figured out most of it. All
right, highly confidential, I can do a bit of mind-reading, and
especially with animals and birds, whose minds are not as complex as
human's. I can even control 'em to some extent."

The admiral nodded. "I sort of figured as much, with the amazing
performance of that pigeon. Your secret is safe with me--it certainly
must not be spread around. But I don't mind saying I'm glad it's you has
that ability, not me," with a half-hearted laugh.

"It is a load," Hanlon admitted soberly, then brightened, "but it sure
saved my neck when Bohr had me prisoner and was about to torture me."

The admiral looked surprised, then shivered. "The bees! I hadn't
connected ...", his voice died away, and after another brief hesitation
he left, while Hanlon slowly made his way outside, took a ground-cab,
and was driven back to the hotel.

* * * * *

About five the next morning Hanlon was awakened by the stealthy sound of
a key in the lock of his hotel room door. His hand slid swiftly under
his pillow, and firmly grasped the blaster there.

As he saw the door open and a figure slip inside, in one swift movement
he sat up, and switched on the bed light. "Up with those hands!" he
commanded the man who was closing the door carefully, his back still
towards the bed.

The hands went up, and the man slowly turned.

"Dad!" Hanlon yelled in relief, and climbed out of bed. "How did you get
here so soon?"

His father met him halfway, and said from their embrace, "I was on
Estrella when your call came. That's only a few lights from here, and
they sent a speedster." Then he grinned. "I'm glad to see you're
learning to keep your eyes open, even in your sleep."

Hanlon started dressing while they talked. In swift, concise sentences
he told his father all that had occurred to him since he started his
job.

"Nice work, Spence," his father applauded when he had finished, then
grinned again, "although I ought to spank you for taking such risks,
after I told you to take it easy at first. I was a bit worried when you
disappeared, until Hooper reported what you