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He was relaxed； entirely at ease； and glad to be on the move。 Inaction was nearly the worst torment of all； he thought。 Especially when inaction had been forced on him； by the old man on the hidden asteroid。 So much time had been lost； while he had lain unconscious； and then while he had slowly recovered； after 。 。 。 whatever had been done to him。 Time that the false legionaries； in their base on the moon called Creffa； would have used to strengthen their position。
But at least they were still there； according to the Overseers' monitoring devices。 And no legionaries had walked into that trap。。。
Keill pushed that thought away。 He was not willing to face the possible truth of old Talis's statement that there were no other legionaries。 He was not sure that he could ever face the possibility that he might be the last of his race … which meant living with a unique and terrible loneliness for the rest of his life。
Again he brought his thoughts under control。 Loneliness of any kind was not a subject to dwell on in deep。space； especially not in the emptiness of Overlight。 It could do strange things to a human mind； if that mind turned to brooding and fretting。 The best remedy was keeping busy。
He glanced down again at the last read…out； still showing on his puter screen from his systems check。 The Overseers had certainly renewed his ship； but had sensibly left its ponents as they were； as Keill was used to。 He knew that they could easily have built in some wonderfully advanced technology； superior to the systems in his ship … but he would have needed more time to be trained to use it。 They may well have made some slight adjustments to the ship's puter guidance systems； but that did not affect Keill。 The ship remained as familiar as ever； like an extension of his own body and reflexes。
He thought back to his departure from the asteroid … if it was an asteroid。 As mysterious and secretive as ever； Talis had instructed Keill to keep his viewscreens blank after he entered his ship； and to keep them that way until he entered Overlight。 His ship puter had been preprogrammed； Talis had said； to take the ship off the asteroid and then to enter Overlight as soon as possible。
And； Talis had added； the puter had been programmed to erase those instructions once Keill was in Overlight。
Keill had wondered about that statement。 If the Overseers had intended him to go out as their emissary； as Talis had said earlier； how would he ever have contacted them； reported to them？ Talis had read his puzzlement correctly； and had explained。
'If you ever have any wish to contact us；' the old man had said； 'we have provided a munications link。 It will be there when you need it。'
At the time； with his doubts and disbeliefs still strong； Keill had not given much thought to the statement。 He had felt that there was never likely to be a time when he would want to make any contact with the old man and his peculiar； hooded friends。 But now； out in space； that vague assurance of a munications link worried him。
munications were definitely one of the Overseers' specialities。 He had been shown some of their monitoring devices； of the sort that they had scattered around the Inhabited Worlds … amazingly intricate but pact objects； some no bigger than a fist； none larger than a man's head。 Operating like spy satellites； they could pick up； record and transmit most forms of broadcast media from a planet's surface； whether electronic； holo or whatever。 They could also； from orbit； film and transmit visual images of a planet that were astonishingly detailed … as Keill had seen with the tape of the nine men on Creffa。 And the devices were nearly undetectable by the people of any planet； because of their size and the erratic orbits that were built into them。
Also； if anyone did locate them by accident； the devices would self…destruct before they could be examined closely。
That fact especially troubled Keill。
One of the pleasures of being away from the asteroid had been the feeling of personal freedom … of not being watched。 He had known； all the time he was there； that he had been under scrutiny by similar monitors。 But was he still being watched ？ Was there a device hidden on his ship； monitoring him？ Or was the munications link that Talis had mentioned merely waiting somewhere in the ship … waiting for the moment when he might need it； before somehow being activated ？
If so； where was it？ And was it； too； programmed to self…destruct if wrongly handled ？
He strongly hoped that the Overseers had not planted such a device on the ship。 If he came across it unknowingly； and mishandled it； he could blow himself out of the sky。
Time to make a search； he thought。
He unstrapped himself from the slingseat and stood up。 The familiar drift of his body； in null…gravity； did not trouble him。 The boots of his spacesuit adhered to the treated deck of the ship； keeping him from floating。 He moved towards a row of partments that extended across one side of the single inner chamber of the ship。 They held all his necessities … food supplies in one； weapons in another； clothing and personal possessions in another； and so on。
One thing about a single…person fighter； he thought； there are only so many places where an object can be hidden。 Besides those partments； there were the ship's various systems … the drive； life support； ship's weapons and the rest … behind heavy bulkheads at the nose and stern。 He could go through all possible storage spaces in a few minutes。 But he would be thorough； he told himself； and take his time。 If the Overseers had planted a monitor； it could be extremely miniaturized。 But there was time … about half an hour yet before he would e out of Overlight near the planet Saltrenius。
And then something odd happened； something totally irrational。
He began to laugh。
Not out loud； but to himself； within himself。 Carefree； bubbling laughter。。。
No； he thought … and anger surged up in him； blotting out the laughter。 It's not me。 It's that alien … that winged； telepathic giggler of an alien。
Instantly the silent； laughing voice formed in his mind。 Now that you have discovered me； may I be released？ Your weapons store does not suit my dignity。
Keill moved swiftly to the weapons partment and flung open its door。
The round； colourless eyes of the little alien gazed at him； unblinkingly。
Your munications link reporting for duty； sir； it said。
The alien floated out； automatically spreading its wings despite the null…gravity； and drifted over to the control panel。 There it settled on the edge； gripping with the strange little feet that were like hands。 And Keill followed； speechless with anger； flinging himself into the slingseat； glaring at the creature。 It returned his look calmly； but the silent laughter faded。
I warned Talis you would be angry； the inner voice said。 But he felt you would not allow me to acpany you if you knew beforehand。
'He was quite right；' said Keill coldly。 'And I don't want you to acpany me now。 Give me the figures； and I'll alter course and take you back。'
I cannot； the alien said。 I do not know the coordinates。
'You must！' Keill said。 'Surely even those senile old madmen wouldn't send you away unless you could get back！'
I can get back； the voice replied。 But I do not know how。
As Keill was about to explode； the alien hastily went on： The data is in my unconscious memory。 Talis can recall me by projecting a certain code to my mind。 I will then automatically programme the puter for return。 But I will at once forget the data； consciously …just as the puter will erase the figures from its memory once the new course is begun。
Again Keill was speechless。 More of Talis's cursed secrecy。 And； like every action of the Overseers； it seemed both so plausible … and yet so wholly mad。
Then a thought struck him。 'You can reach Talis's mind from here ？'
The reach of an Ehrlil mind has no limits in space。 The little alien spoke matter…of…factly； without pride。
'If so；' Keill said； 'you could have remained on the asteroid； and still set up a 〃munications link〃 with me； wherever I was。'
True。
'Then why are you here ？' Keill shouted。
Talis did not wish you to go into danger unaided。
'Unaided ？' Keill echoed。 'I'm to face nine men who will almost certainly try to kill me … and I must do so with you filling my mind with crazed giggling ？'
I will not get in your way。 The alien's silent voice seemed hurt。 But I can use a weapon； as you know。 And pilot your ship。
'You can pilot this ship ？'
Human ships are child's play … even for a child like myself。 The words held a trace of laughter； quickly fading。 How do you think you were taken from Saltrenius to the asteroid？
Keill pondered。 'Perhaps then you can be of use。'
He had worried； earlier； about leaving his craft unattended after landing on Creffa。 If some of his enemies located it； he would have his escape cut off。 But now； with the alien。。。
Exactly； the inner voice said； replying to his thought。 I will guard your ship。 And whatever else you wish。 I am under your orders。
'All right；' Keill said at last。 'As long as you remember that； and don't start taking orders from Talis at long range。 Remember that