... and he had failed to rescue his own partner.

By now the telepath had probably drained Klon Darra's mind of its secrets, had learned that there was another Intelligence agent loose on Mordarga, that Earth suspected the big planet of hostile intentions, that....

It was all over. The team of Klon Darra and Rick Mason had been considered the tops of Intelligence but that rating looked pretty hollow now. The Venusian had gotten himself trapped on landing and Mason had flubbed a chance to rescue him. He had wound up lying somewhere—where?—with a hangover and a headache.

He looked around. He was in an alley and by the smell of it it was the alley back of the bar. They had probably dumped him after the Mordargans had finished having their fun with him.

Bright Sirius blazed high overhead. It was morning, probably getting toward noon. The Morning After.

Mason? Are you awake?

The soft mental whisper jolted him like a blast of raw energy. He just hadn't expected to hear from the Venusian.

Where are you, Klon Darra? What's going on?

I'm still in the dungeon, the Venusian said. They'll be interrogating me again this afternoon. Why weren't you here last night?

Mason went red with shame. I ran into trouble. I'm sorry, Klon Darra. Damned sorry.

There's no time for feeling sorry now, came Klon Darra's thought. Break our mental linkage and get off Mordarga in a hurry.

And leave you here?

I don't matter. They know you're here, Rick. Leave now, while you can. They've sent orders out to find you and bring you in. Get going!

Mason shook his head obstinately, even though he knew the Venusian could not see the gesture. He got to his feet and leaned against the wall, rubbed his throbbing forehead. I'm not leaving you here, Klon Darra. I'll be there inside the hour and this time I mean it.

He started to walk out of the alley, groping unsteadily at the wall to keep from falling flat on his face.

Slowly, strength returned. And purpose.

He had fumbled last night. Now, he would make it up.

The main palace was a tall, lopsided 

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