"More yet," the pilot went on, after a time. "She says there's another one, just as bad or worse. On your head, she says--no, on your head-bone--what the hell! Skull? No, _inside_ your skull, she says now. Hell's bells, _I_ don't know what she wants!" "Maybe I do--keep still a minute." A telepath, undoubtedly, like the Manarkans--that was why she had to talk to her first. He'd never been around telepaths much--never tried it. He walked a few steps and stared directly into one pair of Luda's eyes. Large, expressive eyes, soft now, and gentle. "That's it, Chief! Now blast easy--baffle your jets. Relax, she means. Open your locks and let her in!" * * * * * Cloud did relax, but gingerly. He did not like this mind-to-mind stuff at all, particularly when the other mind belonged to such a monster. He lowered his mental barriers skittishly, ready to revolt at any instant. But as soon as he began to understand the meaning of her thoughts he forgot utterly that he was not talking man to man. The interchange was not as specific nor as facile as is here to be indicated, of course, but every detail was eventually made perfectly clear. "I demand Darjeeb's life!" was her first intelligible thought. "Not because he is my enemy and the enemy of all my race--that would not weigh with you--but because he has done what no one else, however base, has ever been so lost to shame as to do. In the very capital of our city upon Lune he kindled an atomic flame which is killing us in multitudes. In case you do not know about atomic flames, they can never be--" "I know--we call them loose atomic vortices. But they can be extinguished. That is my business, putting them out." "Oh--incredible but glorious news!" Luda's thoughts seethed, became incomprehensible. Then, after a space, "To win your help for my race I perceive that I must be completely frank with you," she went on. "Observe my mind closely, please, so that you may see for yourself that I am withholding nothing. Darjeeb wants at any cost the secret of your vessels' speed. With it his race will destroy mine utterly. I want it too, of course--if I could obtain it we would wipe out the Uhalians. However, since you are so much more powerful than could be believed possible, I realize that I am helpless. I tell you, therefore, that both Darjeeb and I have long since summoned help. Warships of both sides are approaching to capture one or both of these vessels. Darjeeb's are nearest, and these secrets must not, under any conditions, go to Uhal. Dash out into space with both of these vessels, so that we can plan at leisure. First, however, kill that unspeakable murderer. You have scarcely injured him the way it is. Or, free me, give me that so-deceptive little axe, and I will be only too glad--"