Unconsciously, he shook his head. His sixth sense, the ability not only to feel a presence but identify it almost as if he were seeing it, convinced him that there had been life in the street, a strange invisible form of life possibly; but the reality of it was inescapable. In some ways his heightened sense of feel was more reliable than his ears or eyes. Ileth returned bearing a tray with glasses, a decanter of whiskey and soda. "I wasn't long, was I?" * * * * * There was a hard bright glitter in her hazel-green eyes. Saxon saw that she had changed to a halter and skirt of Martian microweb. He swallowed, feeling a pulse beginning to tick in his throat. The microweb was as black as the girl's hair, but not anywhere so thick. Only her cold determination to keep him there until after the sailing, which he could feel like a dash of cold water, defeated her purpose. She handed him a glass, set the tray on an end table, switched on the telecaster. Instead of music, the newscaster was blaring forth the announcement of the expedition to Alpha Centauri. "... greatest page in the annals of the Empire. Tomorrow at nine hours the _Shooting Star_ with a picked crew, with a staff of specialists and representatives from all the great corporations will blast off for Alpha Centauri. "Under the directorship of John Villainowski of Government's Bureau of Research, the man who developed the stellar drive, the expedition plans to investigate the planetary systems of the Centaurian suns. "His excellency, Mustapha IX, will be present...." Ileth snapped off the telecaster. "Jon," she asked and leaned against him, "why did you sneak out tonight of all nights?" He sensed the girl's tension, knew that it would be difficult to fool her. Suddenly, he decided to quit beating around the bush and strike straight into the heart of the opposing forces. "I know you're an agent of General Atomic, Ileth. I've...!" He paused. Ileth had gasped and drawn back from him. Her thoughts were in turmoil. "_Emil! I must reach Emil!_" was clear. Saxon went on inexorably. "I've wind of a plot by General Atomic against the _Shooting Star_. If they could get their hands on the stellar drive, no doubt they could control deep space. They'd be in a position to dictate to Government." Ileth was thinking furiously now, Saxon realized, trying to figure how much he knew and how much he was guessing. He laughed without amusement. He knew damned little, too damned little. Only this morning, he had intercepted the stray thought of one of his co-workers and realized that the man had sold out to General Atomic. To his horror he had read in the man's mind where General Atomic, after securing the stellar drive, intended to overthrow Government. How General Atomic planned to get the drive, who else was in the plot, the man hadn't known. He had been bribed to take orders from a G.A. agent, whom he knew only as Q62.