Harkases. The prospect of seeing them again made me even happier than had the successful fulfilment of my mission. Don and Yamoda were in the garden when I entered, and when Yamoda saw me, she jumped up and ran into the house. Don confronted me with a face.
I had been so filled with happiness at the prospect of seeing them, the shock of this greeting stunned me and kept me speechless for a moment, and then my pride prevented me from asking for an explanation. I turned on my heel and left. Blue and despondent, I went back to my old quarters. What had happened? What had I done to deserve such treatment from my best friends. I couldn't understand it, but I had been so terribly hurt that I would not go and ask for an explanation.
I took up my old duties in the flying corps immediately. Never in my life had I flown so recklessly. I invited death on every possible occasion, but I seemed to bear a charmed life; and then, one day, the Eljanhai sent for me.
'Would you like to give the amplifier a serious test?' he asked.
'I certainly would,' I replied.
'What do you think would be the best plan?' he asked.
'I will fly to Tonos,' I replied.
He did some figuring on a pad of paper and then said, 'That will take between thirty-five and forty days. It will be very dangerous. Do you realize the risk?'
'Yes, sir.'
'I shall ask for volunteers to go with you,' he said.
'I prefer to go alone, sir; there is no use in risking more than one life. I have no ties here. It would not mean anything to anyone in a personal way, if I never return.'
'I thought that you had some very close friends here,' he said.
'So did I, but I was mistaken. I'd really prefer to go alone.'
'When do you wish to start?' he asked.
'As soon as I can provision my ship; I shall need a great quantity of food and water; much more than enough for a round trip. There's no telling what conditions are like on Tonos. I may not be able to obtain any food or even water there as far as anyone knows.'
'Requisition all that you require,' he said, 'and come and see me again before you take off.'
By the following night, I had everything that I needed carefully stowed in my ship, which was equipped with a robot pilot, as were all the great radius ships in Poloda. I could set the robot and sleep all the way to Tonos if I wished; that is, if I could sleep that long.
I was so intrigued with the prospect of this adventure that I was almost happy while I was actively employed, but when I returned to my quarters that last night, possibly and probably my last night on Poloda, my depression returned. I could think of nothing but the reception that Yamoda and Don had given me. My best friends! I tell you, try as I would, I couldn't keep the tears from coming to my eyes as I thought about it.
I was just about ready to peel off my uniform and turn in when there was a knock at my door. 'Come in!' I said.
The door opened, and an officer entered. At first I did not recognize him, he had changed so since I had last seen him. It was Handon Gar.
'So you did escape,' I said 'I am glad.'
He stood for a moment in silence looking at me. 'I don't know what to say,' he said. 'I did you a terrible wrong, and only today did I learn the truth.'
'What do you mean?' I asked.
'I thought that you were a traitor, and so reported when I returned to Orvis. When you came back and they didn't arrest you, I was dumbfounded; but I figured that they were giving you more rope with which to hang yourself.'
'Then it was you who told Harkas Yamoda?' I asked.
'Yes,' he said, 'and that was the worst wrong I committed, for I hurt her and Don as much as I did you; but I have been to them and told them the truth. I have just come from them, and they want you to come to their home tonight.
'How did you learn the truth?' I asked.
'The Commissioner for War told me today. He was surprised to know that you had not told anyone.'
'I had not received permission; I was still nominally a secret agent.'
When I got to the Harkases, none of us could speak for several moments; but finally Don and Yamoda controlled their emotions sufficiently to ask my forgiveness, Yamoda with tears running down her cheeks.
We talked for some time, as they wanted to know all about my experiences in Kapara, and then Don and Handon Gar went into the house, leaving Yamoda and me alone.
We sat in silence for several moments, and then Yamoda said, 'Morga Sagra; was she very beautiful?'
'To be perfectly truthful, I couldn't say,' I replied. 'I suppose she was good-looking enough, but my mind was usually filled with so many other things that I didn't give much thought to Morga Sagra except as a fellow conspirator. I knew she was a traitor, and no traitor could look beautiful to me. Then too I carried with me the memory of someone far more beautiful.'
She gave me a quick half-glance, a little questioning look, as though to ask whom that might be; but I didn't have a chance to tell her, for just then Handon Gar and Don came back into the garden and interrupted our conversation.
'What's this I hear of the expedition you're setting out on tomorrow?' demanded Don.
'What expedition?' asked Yamoda.
'He's going to try to fly to Tonos.'
'You're joking,' said Yamoda.
'Am I, Tangor?' demanded Don.
I shook my head. 'He's not joking.' Then I told them of the amplifier I had perfected and that the Eljanhai had given me permission to make the flight.
'Not alone, Tangor!' cried Yamoda.
'Yes, alone,' I replied.
'Oh, please, if you must go, have somebody with you,' she begged; 'but must you go?'
'My ship is outfitted, and I leave tomorrow morning,' I replied.
Handon Gar begged to go with me. He said that he had permission from the Commissioner for War, if I wished to take him along. Don said he'd like to go, but couldn't as he had another assignment.
'I don't see any reason for risking more than one life,' I said, but Yamoda begged me to take Handon Gar along, and he pleaded so eloquently that at last I consented.
That night as I left, I kissed little Yamoda goodbye. It was the first time that we had ever kissed. Until then, she had seemed like a beloved sister to me; now somehow, she seemed different.
Tomorrow Handon Gar and I take off for Tonos, over 570,000 miles away.
Editor's note: I wonder if Tangor ever reached that little planet winging its way around a strange sun, 450,000 light years away. I wonder if I shall ever know.
THE END
