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Keill smiled grimly。 'If they really are legionaries； I'll let you know。 If they're not … then I'll probably be too busy； for a while。'
Chapter four
Keill went back to the spaceport as rapidly as he could； fighting to keep his inner calm and control despite the puzzlement and urgency that chafed at him。 Questions upon questions； mysteries upon mysteries heaped themselves up in his mind； with one especially looming largest and most disturbing。
Were the three men legionaries ？
If they were； a huge range of possibilities … and other questions … would open up； mainly to do with the murder of Moros and the unknown destroyer。
But if they were not。。。 then what were they up to ？
And what could he do about it ？
He knew it would be a journey of less than an hour from lift…off to landing on the moon Creffa； where some at least of these questions would be answered。 But he knew also that he would resent the passage of each one of those minutes。
Time was now his most precious possession。 Every minute gone was another step towards the day … soon now； as the medic had said … when the pain would grow strong enough to batter down his iron control； when the radiation within him would overwhelm and quench his life。
Every delay； however brief； was a robbery … making it even less likely that he would find the answers he needed before that final moment came。
So another man … a man without the inner discipline of a legionary … might have gone wholly berserk with fury and frustration if he had found what Keill found at the spaceport。
He could not enter his ship。
Someone had fixed an electromolecular seal across the hatch of the airlock … a plain metal band； but as secure and unopenable a fastening as could be found in the galaxy。 Someone did not want Keill Randor to leave。
The senior security officer of the spaceport was not inclined to be helpful。
'Can't tell you any more。' The official was a grey…faced Saltrenian with a permanently sour expression； made sourer by the visible anger behind Keill's questions。 'Like I said； official orders came … for me to seal your ship and give you that。' ；
He pointed to the paper Keill held。 What it contained had only served to deepen the mystery。 The paper had announced； unnecessarily； the official sealing of his ship。 And it had 'requested' Keill to take a room at a spacer hostel near the port； and wait there to be contacted on 'a matter of some urgency'。
The paper did not say who would make the contact。 But it was signed by the Deputy Co…ordinator of the Saltrenian Civil Control。
'I've broken no laws on this planet；' Keill said fiercely。 'I've been here barely a day … now I simply want to leave。 Peacefully。 Your people have no right to stop me。'
'I've got my orders；' said the officer； 'and that's all there is。' He let one hand stray meaningfully near the weapon at his side … another needle…gun； Keill had seen。 'If you want to argue； and talk about rights； take it up with the CC。 Your ship stays sealed till they say otherwise。'
'I will。' Keill turned away； then looked back and said almost casually； 'But you have the key here ？'
'No concern of yours where it is；' the official growled。 'Not till the CC says otherwise。'
Keill nodded and left the room； hiding his grim satisfaction。 Before the officer had replied； his eyes had briefly flicked sideways； towards a locked metal cabinet against one wall。 The man had probably not even realized that he had made the movement。 But it was all Keill needed。
Leaving the spaceport building； he glanced for a moment across the empty plasticrete towards where his ship stood。 The distance was considerable； for the main pads were well away from the buildings。 But Keill's eyes could make out enough details … and what he saw made him stop abruptly and stare。
Four men had gathered around his ship。 One of the men was a uniformed spaceport security guard。 Two of the others wore different uniforms； which Keill recognized at once despite their abundant covering of Saltrenian dust。 Legion uniforms。
And the fourth man 。。。
At least a head taller than the others； massively built。 And naked to the waist。
The three men seemed to be examining Keill's ship； while chatting with the security guard。 And the big man was laughing。
Keill had taken three running strides across the plasticrete before a sharp voice behind him brought him up short。
'Randor！'
He turned and saw the senior security officer in the doorway。
'My orders say you're to be kept away from that ship；' he growled。 'I've put a man on it。 Don't get any ideas。'
Anger swelled within Keill； but his voice was cool。 'There are some men out there；' he said； pointing； 'who I must talk to。'
The officer narrowed his eyes and peered。
'Do you know them ？' Keill 'asked quickly。
'Yes … think so。' The officer nodded。 'Those're the legionaries who've set up on Creffa。' He looked down at Keill； some of the sourness leaving his eyes。 'Guess I can understand you wanting to see them。 Go on； then … just stay away from the ship。'
Keill whirled and ran。 But in that moment … whether by some instinct or accident … the half…naked giant in the distance turned； and caught sight of the figure sprinting towards them。
Immediately the huge man spoke to his panions … who turned； looked； and began to walk away。 They did not seem to hurry； but they did not stroll。 And it was only a short distance to the bulky cylinder of the space cruiser that stood waiting on the next pad。
Despite his desperate speed； Keill had covered only half the distance when the three men vanished through the airlock of their ship。 But not before the big man had paused for one more look back at Keill。
Keill was able to see him more closely then。 He could see the vast muscles swelling beneath bronze skin。 And； faintly； the peculiar markings that the newsman had mentioned … the narrow； raised bands encircling the thick throat； the ridged belly。
He could also see the mockery behind the big man's laughter。
Then the hatch closed； and Keill was left to watch helplessly as； in seconds； the cruiser lifted away。
He might have screamed with rage and desperation。 He might have rushed to his own ship to tear with crazed hopelessness at the unbreakable seal。
Instead； he turned on his heel and walked calmly away to find the offices of the Civil Control。
The afternoon was beginning to wane by the time he had found his way。 And there； too； he met frustration。 The uniformed Civil Control officer in the front office was less sour than the man at the spaceport； but no more helpful。 He knew nothing about the seal on Keill's ship； or the reasons for it。 The Deputy Co…ordinator was not available。 No one else would be able to tell Keill anything。
'Why don't you just do what the letter says？' the officer suggested。 'Go to the hostel and wait。 The Deputy will be along。 It's all you can do。'
Again the helplessness swept over Keill。 Again deep anger throbbed within him。 Again he was icily impassive as he turned and left the offices。
Through the gathering dusk he located the spacer hostel that the official letter had named； and took a room … indifferent to its drab； functional； none…too…clean interior。 And there he waited。
It was all he could do。
He was standing at the open window of his second…floor room； ignoring the dust…laden breeze； staring out at the two moons that had risen into the night sky of Saltrenius； when the knock came。 He flung open the door before the startled man who had knocked had even begun to lower his hand。
The Deputy Co…ordinator was a civil servant through and through。 His name was Shenn； and he was small； grey as any Saltrenian； precise in movements and speech。 Less small and less neat were the two large uniformed men behind him； with the metallic 'CC' gleaming on cap and collar。 But the Deputy left them outside； at the door； and even managed a precise little smile as he greeted Keill。
The smile faded somewhat when Keill told him； in terms all the more unnerving for the frozen； knife…edged tone of voice； what he thought of his situation； the CC； and Saltrenius in general。
'I fear I can explain very little to you；' Shenn said at last。 'Orders came to me that you were not to leave the planet。'
'Orders from whom ？' Keill demanded。
'Higher authority。 In the government。'
'And why；' Keill wanted to know； 'should your government want to keep me here against my will ？'
'It seems that they received a request。' Shenn quickly lifted a small hand before Keill could interrupt。 'I do not know its origin … it is not for me to know。 But someone of； apparently； great importance； off…world； is sending a message to Saltrenius for you。 On a matter of grave urgency。 We were requested to ensure that you remained； till this message arrives。'
'Nothing more ？'
'Nothing。'
'No idea what this mysterious message is about； or who sent it？'
'None。'
'Then；' Keill said； 'you are wasting my time。'
He took hold of the Deputy before the little man could even draw breath to shout。 One hand over the mouth to silence him； one hand clamped on his neck； thumb pressing the carotid artery that feeds blood to the brain。 In seconds Deputy Shenn crumpled into unconsciousne