"I don't see why I should explain that to you--unless you are in charge. You are Hys, aren't you?" * * * * * The driver grunted angrily and was silent while he drove. Finally he asked, "What makes you think that?" "Call it a hunch. You don't act very much like a sandcar driver for one thing. Of course your army may be all generals and no privates--but I doubt it. I also know that time has almost run out for all of us. This is a long ride and it would be a complete waste of time if you just sat out in the desert and waited for me. By driving me yourself you could make your mind up before we arrived. Have a decision ready whether you are going to help me or not. Are you?" [Illustration] "Yes--I'm Hys. But you still haven't answered my question. What do you want the body for?" "We're going to cut it open and take a good long look. I don't think the magter are human. They are something living among men and disguised as men--but still not human." "Secret aliens?" Hys exploded the words in a mixture of surprise and disgust. "Perhaps. The examination will tell us that." "You're either stupid or incompetent," Hys said bitterly. "The heat of Dis has cooked your brains in your head. I'll be no part of this kind of absurd plan." "You must," Brion said, surprised at his own calmness. He could sense the other man's interest hidden behind his insulting manner. "I don't even have to give you my reasons. In another day this world ends and you have no way to stop it. I just might have an idea that could work and you can't afford to take any chances--not if you are really sincere. Either you are a murderer, killing Disans for pleasure, or you honestly want to stop the war. Which is it?" "You'll have your body all right," Hys grated, hurling the car viciously around a spire of rock. "Not that it will accomplish anything--but I can find no fault in killing another magter. We can fit your operation into our plans without any trouble. This is the last night and I have sent every one of my teams out on raids. We're breaking into as many magter towers as possible before dawn. There is a slim chance that we might uncover something. It's really just shooting in the dark, but it's all we can do now. My own team is waiting and you can ride along with us. The others left earlier. We're going to hit a small tower on this side of the city. We raided it once before and captured a lot of small arms that they had stored there. There is a good chance that they may have been stupid enough to store something there again. Sometimes the magter seem to suffer from a complete lack of imagination." "You have no idea just how right you are," Brion told him.