For his whiteness had become a ghastly pallor.
He was breathless, and his whole gross body trembled.
“Commander—Commander!” His great voice was dry and ragged-edged with fear.
“You’ve got to help me!”
“What do you want, Hannas?” Jay Kalam asked flatly.
“And why was it necessary to use my emergency call—when you already have a Legion fleet detailed to guard your establishment?”
Still Caspar Hannas smiled that silly baby-smile, but his blank forehead was beaded with fine drops of sweat.
“Admiral-General Samdu gave the authority,” he gasped.
“He agrees that the situation is urgent.
He’s here with me now, Commander.”
“And what’s the trouble?”
“It’s this man—this monster—who calls himself the Basilisk!”
The huge voice was hoarse and wild.
“He’s ruining me, Commander.
Ruining the New Moon!
Time knows where he will stop!”
“What has he done?”
“Last night he took another patron.
The high winner at baccaret— Clovis Field—a planter from the asteroids.
My police escorted him, with his winnings, to his yacht.
They got him there, safe.
But he was taken out of the sealed air-lock, Commander—with all his winnings!”
Jay Kalam brushed the white forelock back into his dark hair, impatiently.
“One more gambler robbed?”
His tired eyes narrowed.
“That has happened many a time on the New Moon, Hannas—when you didn’t think it necessary to call the Legion.”
A queer tensity stiffened that white, foolish smile.
“Robbed—but that isn’t all, Commander.
Clovis Field is dead.
His body has just been found in the pre-crematory vault at the Euthanasia Clinic.
And his right hand is closed on one of those little black clay snakes that this Basilisk uses to sign his crimes!”
“What killed him?”
“Strangled!” boomed Caspar Hannas.
“With a green silk scarf.”
In his deep black eyes, behind that mindless mask, Jay Kalam saw the glitter of a terrible light.
Accusing or triumphant—he didn’t know which.
“It is embroidered in gold, Commander,” said the great voice of Hannas, “with the wings of the Legion of space!”
Jay Kalam’s lean face tensed.
“If any Legion man was guilty of this crime, he will be punished,” he said.
“But I see no need to call on me so soon.
What’s the matter with your own police?
You have ten thousand of the toughest men hi the System.
Put them on the trail.”
The black eyes had a glazed expression.
“Commander, you don’t understand.
It—it’s uncanny!
The air lock on the yacht was sealed—and stayed sealed.
The vault was locked—and not unlocked.
Nobody could have done the things.
Nobody—”