A touch of color came to Shane's lean face. Quickly, he looked away, back to Quos Reggar. But a ghoulish grin twisted the mongrel's lips. "Why stare at me, Earthman? Look at her, look at her! Is she not lovely?" Shane's eyes did not waver. "I'm listening, Reggar," he answered tightly. The hybrid chuckled. "You came quickly, Earthman ... so quickly, when you heard mention of this woman. You threw caution to the winds and came alone, in spite of all sense and judgment." "So--?" "So I knew there is a feeling between you and this _Malyalara_--a thing without logic, beyond your judgment, perhaps what you humanoids call love." The color heightened in the Earthman's face. "You're mad as a _ban_, Reggar!" he challenged angrily. "I think not," leered the mongrel. "And it is good. Because you shall have the woman--untouched, too, Earthman, for I am not as your race, and she could never catch my fancy, save as a pretty toy." "And the price, Reggar?" Shane queried tightly. "What must I do to earn such favor?" The creature before him shrugged. "I need not feign you have not hurt me. For you have. You and your _Chonyas_ have harried me through the void, and up and down among the planets. You've tracked me down as the _zanth_ tracks down its prey. But now, I tire of being hunted. My crew is weary and sick, and the hull of my ship is worn to cracking. So I have stayed behind this time to strike a bargain with you, if I can." "A bargain?" The Earthman laughed harshly. "When was your word ever worth a _xi_, that I should take it now?" His eyes narrowed, and he studied the other. "Besides, what bargain could I make? The Federation hunts you also." "The Federation?" Reggar sneered. "Loot will always buy someone in the Federation. But you--you fight from hate; and that is different." "Then why haggle with me? Why not kill me now, if indeed you fear me?" "Why does anyone bargain?" Again the mongrel shrugged. "Because you have something I want and need--something I cannot get without your aid." "Well? What is it?" Thoughtfully, the great lobed eyes surveyed the Earthman. The rasping voice sank lower. "It is sanctuary, _Gar_ Shane. That is what I seek ... a place in the asteroids to hide, away from the eyes of the Federation. As for you, you need not even call off your war against me. Not openly; you will merely manage never quite to find me." * * * * * The Earthman frowned. He looked away--to Talu, still standing in the open doorway; to the woman who'd lured him here, mousy and frightened in the farthest corner; to the tawdry room and its tawdrier trimmings. Then, at last, his eyes moved back to Reggar. In a tone of wonderment, he asked, "Did you really think that I might do it?--That I might break the oath I swore; betray the trust the _Chonyas_ gave me with their great iron belt?" Almost silkily, Reggar murmured: "Before you refuse, there are things you should consider."