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Instead the screen revealed an eerie alien landscape； stark； rock…strewn； the shadows deep black and sharply defined。 In the background rose the high； curved surface of a life…support dome； sleek and shiny in the brilliant light。
In the foreground was the bulky； cylindrical shape of a spaceship … which Keill recognized at once。
The cruiser he had seen at the Saltrenius spaceport。 The ship that belonged to the three men who called themselves legionaries。
'This is Creffa；' Talis said。 'I see you have recognized the ship。 One of our monitoring devices recorded this scene within the last few days。'
Keill said nothing； but watched。 The airlock of the ship was opening； and figures were appearing。
They were spacesuited； of course； but Keill did not need to see faces to the first man who descended to the dusty surface。
A head taller than the others； enormous width of shoulder。。。 The mocking giant who preferred to wear only half a legionary uniform。
Behind him from the ship； stooping under sizeable containers of what must have been supplies； came other figures。 Not' just the two that Keill had expected。 The giant had acquired some new panions。
In all； there were nine men who left the ship and made their way； through the light gravity of Creffa； towards the dome。
'Are there more inside？' Keill asked； as the image faded from the screen。
'No；' Talis said。 'Only the nine。 Six more had been recruited … from the criminal element on Saltrenius … before we took you from the planet。 And hear me； Keill Randor … not one of them is a legionary。'
Keill nodded。 'As I thought。 I was certain before that the first three were not。'
Surprise showed in Talis's voice。 'You knew ？ Yet you were going … ill as you were； and unaided … to walk into their trap ？'
'A trap is no trap if it is expected；' Keill said。 'I had to go。 As I still must … whether there are nine or ninety。'
'Just so；' Talis replied。 'Much could be learned； many questions answered； by patient and careful observation on Creffa。'
'Observation ？' Keill echoed with a grim smile。 'Something more； Talis。 It's clear that whoever destroyed Moros also sent those men to pose as legionaries； and to set up a base that would attract any survivors。 I want to spring that trap before any real legionaries walk into it unknowingly。' His voice grew tense。 'Some may already have done so while I've been here。'
The cowled figure shook his head。 'None has。 Our monitoring devices have kept a full…time watch。 In the same way； all our devices have searched and scoured the galaxy； since the day of Moros's destruction； looking for surviving legionaries。 We have found none … except yourself。'
Keill was stunned； hearing the words he had been half…dreading for so long。 'There must be some！ You can't monitor the entire galaxy！'
'If there are；' Talis said softly； 'they are in hiding。 They are not moving around the galaxy as you did； searching for their fellows。 Had any done so； we would have located them … just as we located you。' He reached a sympathetic hand towards Keill。 'No； I greatly fear。 。。 that you may be the last legionary。'
Keill's face revealed little of the torment within him … only a momentary twisting of his features； a flash of anguish in his eyes。 Then his control returned； and he gazed calmly at Talis。
'Even if that is true；' he said levelly； 'I am still going to this moon； to do what must be done。'
Well spoken； said the bright inner voice of Glr。 Foolish； stubborn and brave … no wonder humans are so short…lived。
Keill ignored the interruption； for Talis had raised an admonishing hand。 'I agree； you must go。 But I urge you … do not plunge into rash action。 Use caution！'
Keill rose to his feet； smiling thinly。 'Talis； it is too late for caution。 A time always es when it is necessary to act； not merely to observe。 That time has e now； for me … and for those impostors on Creffa。'
Part three
Killers' moon
Chapter nine
Enveloped in the misted nothingness of Overlight； Keill Randor pleted his routine check of his spaceship's systems； leaned back in the slingseat and stretched luxuriously。
He was relaxed； entirely at ease； and glad to be on the move。 Inaction was nearly the worst torment of all； he thought。 Especially when inaction had been forced on him； by the old man on the hidden asteroid。 So much time had been lost； while he had lain unconscious； and then while he had slowly recovered； after 。 。 。 whatever had been done to him。 Time that the false legionaries； in their base on the moon called Creffa； would have used to strengthen their position。
But at least they were still there； according to the Overseers' monitoring devices。 And no legionaries had walked into that trap。。。
Keill pushed that thought away。 He was not willing to face the possible truth of old Talis's statement that there were no other legionaries。 He was not sure that he could ever face the possibility that he might be the last of his race … which meant living with a unique and terrible loneliness for the rest of his life。
Again he brought his thoughts under control。 Loneliness of any kind was not a subject to dwell on in deep。space； especially not in the emptiness of Overlight。 It could do strange things to a human mind； if that mind turned to brooding and fretting。 The best remedy was keeping busy。
He glanced down again at the last read…out； still showing on his puter screen from his systems check。 The Overseers had certainly renewed his ship； but had sensibly left its ponents as they were； as Keill was used to。 He knew that they could easily have built in some wonderfully advanced technology； superior to the systems in his ship … but he would have needed more time to be trained to use it。 They may well have made some slight adjustments to the ship's puter guidance systems； but that did not affect Keill。 The ship remained as familiar as ever； like an extension of his own body and reflexes。
He thought back to his departure from the asteroid … if it was an asteroid。 As mysterious and secretive as ever； Talis had instructed Keill to keep his viewscreens blank after he entered his ship； and to keep them that way until he entered Overlight。 His ship puter had been preprogrammed； Talis had said； to take the ship off the asteroid and then to enter Overlight as soon as possible。
And； Talis had added； the puter had been programmed to erase those instructions once Keill was in Overlight。
Keill had wondered about that statement。 If the Overseers had intended him to go out as their emissary； as Talis had said earlier； how would he ever have contacted them； reported to them？ Talis had read his puzzlement correctly； and had explained。
'If you ever have any wish to contact us；' the old man had said； 'we have provided a munications link。 It will be there when you need it。'
At the time； with his doubts and disbeliefs still strong； Keill had not given much thought to the statement。 He had felt that there was never likely to be a time when he would want to make any contact with the old man and his peculiar； hooded friends。 But now； out in space； that vague assurance of a munications link worried him。
munications were definitely one of the Overseers' specialities。 He had been shown some of their monitoring devices； of the sort that they had scattered around the Inhabited Worlds … amazingly intricate but pact objects； some no bigger than a fist； none larger than a man's head。 Operating like spy satellites； they could pick up； record and transmit most forms of broadcast media from a planet's surface； whether electronic； holo or whatever。 They could also； from orbit； film and transmit visual images of a planet that were astonishingly detailed … as Keill had seen with the tape of the nine men on Creffa。 And the devices were nearly undetectable by the people of any planet； because of their size and the erratic orbits that were built into them。
Also； if anyone did locate them by accident； the devices would self…destruct before they could be examined closely。
That fact especially troubled Keill。
One of the pleasures of being away from the asteroid had been the feeling of personal freedom … of not being watched。 He had known； all the time he