"These people up at Riandar, they don't do so good maybe on that Waern kid. But they don't do so bad all the time. They get this Masterson, see? Right away, they're on him, soon as this guy Rayson gets himself killed off." Stern nodded. "Yes," he admitted, "at least, they did have the sense to pick up Masterson--after he'd done plenty of damage. They were pretty slow. And they missed the Michaels boy entirely. So now, the Waern boy is out of easy reach." He frowned. "We had things set up for an elimination on him, you know." Gorham wagged his head. "Makes very little. Him, we can get. Him, they take care of in a couple days. Same operation, they should just move it a few miles, eh? Your boy with all them buttons, he takes care of that, see?" He grinned. "And that takes care of this Michaels kid, too." Again, he poked at the papers. "And here, we got another report. This young Michaels' father, he talks to this guy Masterson on the phone. You see that? And right away, he heads for the mountains. Maybe he wants to talk to the hill people, eh?" His grin became wider. "But somebody at Riandar, he gets a rush of brains to the head, see? And the border patrol, they challenge this old guy, you get it? Just a routine check, see, but the old guy, he don't get the word so quick. "So they don't take no chances up there. They knock him down in some canyon up there." He shrugged. "So all this leaves this Masterson, you could talk to him, maybe he sings us some nice music." He turned away. "I stay around, back at my desk. Maybe I should think of a question or two while we talk, the three of us, eh?" * * * * * The royal gold and blue receded from the screen and Merle Boyce's face looked out at his audience. "This," he said shortly, "is the second day of the hunt for the Wells gang." He came out from behind his desk, his piercing eyes intent. "For the past full day, this group of robbers have made their way toward the west. It is thought they hope to join rebellious hill tribes somewhere in the Morek region." He paused. "Late yesterday afternoon," he continued, "these four men burned their way through a road block near Riandar. And despite reinforced blocks and stringent sky checks, they are still at large. All subjects of the realm are urgently requested to notify the authorities of any suspicious strangers." He faded from the screen, to be replaced by the figures of four men. "In co-operation with the Enforcement Corps," his voice continued, "we are showing pictures of the fugitives. We see here, Howard Wells, Merla Koer, Dowla Wodl, and Jake Milton." The voice stopped for a moment, then continued. "These men are regarded as extremely dangerous. Subjects are urged to make no effort to approach them personally. Notify the authorities immediately if they are seen." Don reached to the switch and snapped the receiver off. "I don't like it," he said slowly. "I don't like any part of it."