"No. I don't know. General Atomic didn't notify me that he would
be." Abruptly, Ileth didn't seem confused any longer. She raised her
chin, looked Saxon nakedly in the eyes making no effort to conceal
her thoughts. "I think he is," she said simply. "But I don't know. He
hasn't identified himself, if he is. I--I haven't seen anyone aboard
that I know. I think I'm the only General Atomic agent aboard, and I'm
an accredited representative."
Saxon regarded her a moment without speaking. The girl was telling the
truth as far as she knew. There could be no doubt about that.
* * * * *
Saxon introduced Ileth to Brand, Government's bio-chemist, to Mercedes,
the gray-haired middle-aged woman who was Government's authority in
anthropology. He made the circuit of the lounge with her, letting her
chat with ethnologists and semantics experts, psycho-historians and
zoologists--all of Government's brilliant array of specialists. And all
the while he kept his mind open and alert, sifting their varied thought
patterns for a betraying sign.
He didn't intercept a single suspicious thought.
They all seemed to be just exactly what they were supposed to be,
each one an expert in his field, eager and enthusiastic investigators
beginning an unparalleled adventure. Saxon could discover no evidences
that any of them had sold out to General Atomic.
If Q62 or any General Atomic agent were among Government's staff, they
were perfect in dissembling their thoughts.
From the lounge, Saxon showed Ileth about the ship. He could see it was
an experience for the girl.
The _Shooting Star_ had been built along the general design of a
cruiser, heavily armed and armored against the possibilities of hostile
races inhabiting the planets of the Alpha Centaurian suns.
Her crew was small. Government's staff of scientists numbered fourteen;
and only four of the corporations were represented: General Atomic,
Tri-World, Amalgamated Plastic and United Spaceways. In spite of the
mass of equipment and a year's emergency ration of fuel and supplies,
they were not crowded.
Saxon led Ileth through the control room, the officer's mess, the
engine room and observation deck. Everywhere they went, Saxon probed
the brains of crew and officers.
At the end of two hours, he still had found exactly nothing. Apparently
Q62 was not aboard. Ileth asked slyly, "Did you find him?"
They had entered the deck on which the cabins were located and were
passing the closed door of number seven.
"Q62?" said Saxon with a puzzled frown. "No--" He halted abruptly,
seizing the girl's arm.
"Jon! What is it?"
"Be quiet!"
Saxon's scalp was tingling as if minute electrical shocks were coursing
through the roots of his hair.
The Aliens?
The feel was unmistakable to his extra-human sixth sense. And it was
emanating from Cabin Seven!
Like a cat he reached the door in one silent bound, pressed the button.
The panel slid back noiselessly. Except for a blade of light lancing
into the cabin from the lighted passage, only darkness lurked beyond
the doorway.
The alien unhuman feel was suddenly so strong that it was like a cold
draft pouring through the blackened entrance, sending chills rippling
up his spine.
Ileth's eyes were enormous. Saxon could hear her frightened erratic
breathing. Her fear-thoughts beat at his brain. "_What is it? What has
he found? What's wrong?_"
In spite of himself, Saxon could feel the blood drain out of his
cheeks. He wanted suddenly to slam the door and run blindly down the
corridor, away from that strange creature lurking in the dark of Cabin
Seven.
He controlled himself, reached noiselessly inside the door, pressed the
switch. Light flooded the cabin.
"Why, it's just a girl!" said Ileth, who was peering wide-eyed over
Saxon's shoulder. She giggled nervously.
Saxon stared at the occupant of the cabin, scarcely crediting his eyes.
It was a girl right enough, a flaxen haired girl sleeping easily on her
back in the narrow bunk.
A thin flexoplas coverlet was thrown across her. One slim bare leg
dangled over the edge of the bunk. Her face, Saxon saw, was heart
shaped, the closed eyelids delicately blue.
At Ileth's giggle, the creature opened her eyes, sat upright with
a half-suppressed scream. Ileth backed out of the doorway in
embarrassment, but Saxon stood as if turned to stone.
The tingling sensation was sending goose flesh racing over his skin.
The alien emanations were streaming straight from the girl on the bunk.