Into the penthouse went Gerd and Gaya, to call the field representative
of the Galactic Ones. Verde answered at length, and listened to the
entire story. He asked a number of questions that Gerd thought to have
no connection, but Gerd answered. Then Yord Tan Verde laughed a bit and
told Gerd Lel Rayne not to worry.
It was very unsatisfactory.
* * * * *
Will Conan stood up and faced the others at the table. "I won't kill
myself," he shouted, banging his fist on the table. "I'll kill him
first!"
"I tried that," remarked a tall man at the other end of the table.
Conan smiled wryly. "Peter Wilks tried it, all right," he told the
rest. "Tell us what happened, Pete."
"I tried four times. Each time he stopped me in a bold way that seemed
to be effortless. It was as though he knew--"
"Well, what else can we do? Can we ignore him?"
"Why not?"
"Is there a man here that does not have his finger in your business?"
Seventeen men shook their heads.
"Is there a man among us that has one microscopic shred of evidence to
the fact that Wanniston is dishonest?"
There was not.
"O.K.--so how do we go about it?"
No one knew.