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'I said I haven't much time；' Keill said quietly。
'Oh； right； sure；' Exur said rapidly。 'Like I said； glad to help。 What's happened is this 。。。'
Keill released his grip and listened patiently as the old man told his rambling tale。 Three men in legionary uniform had e to Saltrenius； a month or so earlier。 They had picked up supplies； and had spent some time in the town； where Exur had heard of their presence and had spoken to them。
The three had confirmed that Moros was destroyed； and that they might be the last living members of the Legions。 But in case they weren't； they had been spreading the word round the spaceways。 They were planning to set up a base； so that if there were other survivors they too could make their way to Saltrenius and join their fellows。
'Did they say why they had chosen this place ？' Keill asked。
'Nope。 And I didn't press them。 They didn't mind talking to me； telling me their story； but they didn't like too many questions。 Especially the big fella。'
'But did you find out where this base is ？'
'Sure。' The old man grinned； pleased with himself。 'On Creffa。'
'Creffa？'
Exur waved a skinny hand in the air。 'One of our moons。 Saltrenius's got two。'
Keill looked baffled。 Why a moon ？ Why Saltrenius at all ？ And the old man read his expression correctly。
'Yep； I wondered why Creffa too。 Didn't like to ask； by then； but they told me。 There's an old space…dome out there； built when we were exploring the moons； years back。 They're fixing it up to be their base。 Guess they like to keep themselves to themselves。'
Keill was still slightly puzzled； but at least that part made sense。 Moros had； after all； been attacked。 The attacker； whoever it might be； was still around somewhere。 A handful of legionaries would think first of setting up a base that was at once remote and defensible。 A dome on an airless moon might do very well。
'Then they're still there ？' he asked。
'Sure；' Exur said。 'Been seen just recently； down here。 They e down now and then to pick up stuff they need。'
'And there's no doubt in your mind that they're legionaries ？'
'Well； they said they were； that's all I can say。 And they were wearing uniforms like yours； with that blue circle thing。' The old man paused。 'All except that big fella 。。。'
'What about him？'
Exur chortled。 'He didn't seem to like clothes too much。 Oh； he had on the pants and boots like yours … but he always went round stripped to the waist。 Still； reckon if I had muscles like him I'd show 'em off too。'
Keill frowned； then reached up to undo the top fasteners of his tunic。 From round his neck he drew a light metal chain； from which dangled a disc of hard plastic。 He held out the disc in the palm of his hand。
'Was the big man wearing one of these？' he asked。
Exur studied the disc with interest。 Around its edge was the brilliant blue circlet that was the Legion insignia。 Within it； embedded deep in the plastic； were coded shapes … which； to other legionraies； would reveal Keill's place of origin on Moros and his rank in the Legions。 There was also a tiny but perfectly clear three…dimensional colour image of Keill's face。
'Now I never saw one of those before；' Exur said。 'Identification； is it ？'
Keill nodded。 'Every legionary has one。 And each disc is chemically tuned to the physical make…up of its owner。 No one can wear anyone else's； and they're hard to forge。 Here。'
He placed the disc in the old man's hand。 At once the sky…blue circlet began to alter … darkening； shifting； until in seconds it glowed a deep； almost angry red。
Exur stared； fascinated。 'Nice bit of work； that。 Interesting。' He handed back the disc … which returned to its normal blue as Keill took it and slipped the chain round his neck again。 'Anyway；' the old man went on； 'the big fella definitely didn't have one of them。'
'Are you sure ？'
'Course。 Man's got a chest like a wall。 Didn't have any decorations on it。' Again a pause。 'Except for the markings。'
'Markings ？'
'Yep … like tattoos； maybe； or like scars； except they were too neat and even。 Raised ridges of skin； like … one round his neck； one round his belly。' A skinny finger demonstrated。 'Legionaries have them； too ？'
'No；' Keill said thoughtfully。 'Nothing like that。'
The old man's eyes sparkled with curiosity。 'Are you thinking that these fellas aren't real legionaries ？'
'I don't know what I'm thinking。 But this big man did say he was 。。。 ？'
'Yep。 He did most of the talking。 Lot of laughing； too。 Not very pleasant。 Made me downright nervous …I was glad to get away； I can tell you。'
Keill nodded； and stood up。 'I'm grateful for your help； Xann Exur … more than I can say。 I wish I'd met you sooner。
I'm deeply in your debt； and I doubt if I'll be able to repay it。' As if to echo his words； the pain stabbed through him more savagely than ever。
But the old man noticed nothing。 'My pleasure； son； and my job。 I'm a newsman； and you could be news。 If you find out those fellas are fakes； let me know； will you ？'
Keill smiled grimly。 'If they really are legionaries； I'll let you know。 If they're not … then I'll probably be too busy； for a while。'
Chapter four
Keill went back to the spaceport as rapidly as he could； fighting to keep his inner calm and control despite the puzzlement and urgency that chafed at him。 Questions upon questions； mysteries upon mysteries heaped themselves up in his mind； with one especially looming largest and most disturbing。
Were the three men legionaries ？
If they were； a huge range of possibilities … and other questions … would open up； mainly to do with the murder of Moros and the unknown destroyer。
But if they were not。。。 then what were they up to ？
And what could he do about it ？
He knew it would be a journey of less than an hour from lift…off to landing on the moon Creffa； where some at least of these questions would be answered。 But he knew also that he would resent the passage of each one of those minutes。
Time was now his most precious possession。 Every minute gone was another step towards the day … soon now； as the medic had said … when the pain would grow strong enough to batter down his iron control； when the radiation within him would overwhelm and quench his life。
Every delay； however brief； was a robbery … making it even less likely that he would find the answers he needed before that final moment came。
So another man … a man without the inner discipline of a legionary … might have gone wholly berserk with fury and frustration if he had found what Keill found at the spaceport。
He could not enter his ship。
Someone had fixed an electromolecular seal across the hatch of the airlock … a plain metal band； but as secure and unopenable a fastening as could be found in the galaxy。 Someone did not want Keill Randor to leave。
The senior security officer of the spaceport was not inclined to be helpful。
'Can't tell you any more。' The official was a grey…faced Saltrenian with a permanently sour expression； made sourer by the visible anger behind Keill's questions。 'Like I said； official orders came … for me to seal your ship and give you that。' ；
He pointed to the paper Keill held。 What it contained had only served to deepen the mystery。 The paper had announced； unnecessarily； the official sealing of his ship。 And it had 'requested' Keill to take a room at a spacer hostel near the port； and wait there to be contacted on 'a matter of some urgency'。
The paper did not say who would make the contact。 But it was signed by the Deputy Co…ordinator of the Saltrenian Civil Control。
'I've broken no laws on this planet；' Keill said fiercely。 'I've been here barely a day … now I simply want to leave。 Peacefully。 Your people have no right to stop me。'
'I've got my orders；' said the officer； 'and that's all there is。' He let one hand stray meaningfully near the weapon at his side … another needle…gun； Keill had seen。 'If you want to argue； and talk about rights； take it up with the CC。 Your ship stays sealed till they say otherwise。'
'I will。' Keill turned away； then looked back and said almost casually； 'But you have the key here ？'
'No concern of yours where it is；' the official gro