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“Very well, Mr. Tipene,” I said shortly. “We’ll start at once. Gentlemen, will you join me in the navigating room?”

C

“I’ve just transferred Tipene to another stateroom, sir,” he said. “A specially equipped stateroom.”

“You what?”

“If you’ll give orders, sir, for an immediate start, I’ll tell you all about it,” chuckled Correy. “Tipene says he’s worn out, and is going to retire as soon as we start. And when he does—we’ll learn something.”

I nodded to Kincaide, and he gave the general attention signal. In a few seconds the outer sentry was recalled, and the exit port had been sealed. Slowly, the Ertak lifted.

“Maybe I’m wrong, sir,” said Correy then, “but I’m convinced that Tipene is lying. Something’s wrong; he was in altogether too much of a hurry to get away.

“So, before I transferred him to the other stateroom, I concealed a menore under the mattress of his bunk, immediately under where his head will lie. It’s adjusted to full strength, and I believe it will pick up enough energy to emanate what he’s thinking about. We’ll be in the next stateroom and see what we can pick up. How does that sound, sir?”