very stimulating. But that's all. We Aldebaranese are—constructed very much like Terrans and when it comes to the more intimate relationships in life, I much prefer a handsome Terran—like you."

This was a new experience for Manning. In the past, he had always met such advances more than half way. He knew what to do when a woman said no; he'd never learned how to say no himself.

"I—I'm married," he said defensively.

"I like married men," Velmar Shonda declared. "Then, too, they are not so apt to become all squishy if there's a slight accident, and insist on marrying you."

"Er—" said Manning, which was not a brilliant beginning, but was all he could think of at the moment. Fortunately, he didn't have to think any further for Xelia Zon arrived at that moment.

"I'm sorry," he said politely, "but I think we'd better leave, Manning. You remember you wanted to make one other stop before we returned to the hotel."

"Of course," Manning exclaimed. He got to his feet, relieved, and his aplomb returned with the rescue. He looked down and grinned at the Aldebaranese. "I'm sorry, honey, but I have to run along. I'll see you soon."

"Sooner than you expect," she answered, and it seemed that the strange hunger in her eyes was stronger. "Goodby—for now."

IV

At the offices of the Regulusian Central Security, Xelia Zon spoke to an official who was also a friend of his and a few minutes later they were in a small room with the complete reports on Dtilla Raishelle. Manning read them rapidly, but thoroughly.

"What's this?" he asked, stopping with a finger pointing to one paragraph. "Something about Dtilla and the missing Regulusians."

"It was a false lead," Xelia said. "For a time, they thought they had something on the Acruxian, but it didn't work out."

"But what was it?" Manning insisted.

"A strange thing," said Xelia, frowning. "During the past six weeks or so a number of Regulusians—ten of them to be exact—have vanished mysteriously. No trace of them has been found at all. At first, it was thought that perhaps the Acruxian had murdered them, but then some of them vanished at times when he couldn't possibly have had anything to do with them."

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