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e 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 I'm going on a task of my own choosing。 I'm not the Overseers' emissary … and I want no interference； from them or from you。'
It will be as you say。 The thought seemed saddened。 But you are being needlessly stubborn。 All that Talis told you is the truth。
Keill was disturbed by the words； and by the clear sincerity and earnestness behind them。 Such things could not be pretended； in a telepathic voice。
'No doubt you believe it；' Keill said。 'But I'm not concerned now with tales of Warlords and the rest of it。 My concern is with nine men on Creffa； and what I can get out of them about the death of my world。'
It is all the same thing； said the alien patiently。 Can you not see that the death of Moros should demand your belief in the Warlord？ Such an act could only be done by someone extremely powerful； and extremely ruthless。
Keill did not reply at once。 It was a point that he himself always came back to。 Who was there in the galaxy dangerous enough； insane enough； to destroy the Legions ？ How could an attacker get past the defences of Moros ？ And； most of all；why ？
When it came down to answers； he thought ruefully； Talis's story of the Warlord was the only one he had been given； by anyone。 If only it was not so unlikely。。。
Only your stubbornness makes it so； came the voice of the alien。
'That's another thing；〃 Keill said sharply。 'While you're here； you will keep out of my mind。 My thoughts are my own。'
I told you before that I receive with difficulty from humans； the alien replied。 I could not read the deeper levels of your mind if I wished to。 I can receive only those thoughts that you form clearly； on the surface of your mind； as if you were speaking them。
'Nothing more ？' Keill asked suspiciously。
Only blurred impressions； mixtures of emotions。 Indeed； that is all I ever get from most humans。 You； at least； have some clarity of mind； if not as much as the Overseers。 That is one reason why I was willing to e with you。
'One reason ？' Keill was interested in spite of himself。 'What are the others