The greatest cracksman in the Galaxy--The
Nebula ... mocked by a gay voice that called
herself Andromeda, who led him into
danger--and into the hands of his enemy!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories Fall 1946.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Phil Hanley came out of the managing editor's office and strode
savagely to his desk in the paper littered city room. It was one P.M.,
between editions, and the reporters and copy-desk men of the _Martian
Globe_ were taking things easy for the moment. Hanley slumped into his
chair, kicked his feet up on his auto-typewriter, and mouthed an oath.
"He can't do it," he growled. "Who the hell does he think I am anyway?
I'll quit, that's what I'll do."
"Not again," taunted McFee, a rewrite man.
"Yes, again," snarled Hanley. "And this time I mean it. Do you know
what that lopsided jackass wants me to do? Get a personal interview
with the Nebula. For all _I_ know, the Nebula might be a four
dimensional robot."
McFee lit a cigarette and leaned against the desk. "Did the old man
really hand you that for an assignment?"
Hanley nodded, his anger passing now into glumness. "It's a compliment,
I suppose," he said, "for anyone to think I might have even a chance."
His eyes turned from the room and stared unseeing through the window
into the metropolitan area of Crater City.
"The Nebula," he said slowly. "Every dick and I.P. man in the System
has been tearing his hair, trying to get a lead on who or what he is.
The Nebula! The greatest cracksman of all time!"