answer. He looked confused.
Aratap proceeded quickly. "Well, it's different. It doesn't matter how. We can detect that something which is radiated, so that we can always know where any Tyrannian ship is, even if it's halfway across the Galaxy, or on the other side of a star."
Hinrik nodded solemnly.
"Now," said Aratap, "if the young Widemos had escaped in an ordinary ship, it would have been very difficult to locate him. As it is, since he took a Tyrannian cruiser, we know where he is at all times, although he doesn't realize that. That is how we know he is near Lingane, you see. And, what's more, he can't get away, so that we will certainly rescue your daughter."
Hinrik smiled. "That is well done. I congratulate you, Commissioner. A very clever ruse."
Aratap did not delude himself. Hinrik understood very little of what he had said, but that did not matter. It had ended with the assurance of his daughter's rescue, and somewhere in his dim understanding there must be the realization that this, somehow, was made possible by Tyrannian science.
He told himself that he had not gone to this trouble entirely because the Rhodian appealed to his sense of the pathetic. He had to keep the man from breaking down altogether for obvious political reasons. Perhaps the return of his daughter would improve matters. He hoped so.
There was the door signal again and this time it was Major Andros who entered. Hinrik's arm stiffened on the armrest of his chair and his face assumed a hunted expression. He lifted himself and began, "Major Andro-"
But Andros was already speaking quickly, disregarding the Rhodian.
"Commissioner," he said, "the Remorseless has changed position."
"Surely he has not landed on Lingane," said Aratap sharply.
"No," said the major. "He has Jumped quite away from Lingane."
"Ah. Good. He has been joined by another ship, perhaps."
"By many ships, perhaps. We can detect only his, as you are quite aware."
"In any case, we follow again."
"The order has already been given. I would merely like to point out that his Jump has taken him to the edge of the Horsehead Nebula."
"What?"
"No major planetary system exists in the indicated direction. There is only one logical conclusion."
Aratap moistened his lips and left hurriedly for the pilot room, the major with him.
Hinrik remained standing in the middle of the suddenly empty room, looking at the door for a minute or so. Then, with a little shrug of the shoulders, he sat down again. His expression was blank, and for a long while he simply sat.
The navigator said, "The space co-ordinates of the Remorseless have been checked, sir. They are definitely inside the Nebula."
"That doesn't matter," said Aratap. "Follow them anyway."
He turned to Major Andros. "So you see the virtues of waiting. There is a good deal that is obvious now. Wherever else could the conspirators' headquarters be but in the Nebula itself? Where else could we have failed to locate them? A very pretty pattern."
And so the squadron entered the Nebula.
For the twentieth time Aratap glanced automatically at the visiplate. Actually, the glances were useless, since the visiplate remained quite black. There was no star in sight.
Andros said, "That's their third stop without landing. I don't understand it. What is their purpose? What are they after? Each stop of theirs is several days long. Yet they do not land."
"It may take them that long," said Aratap, "to calculate their next Jump. Visibility is nonexistent."
"You think so?"
"No. Their Jumps are too good. Each time they land very near a star. They couldn't do as well by massometer data alone, unless they actually knew the locations of the stars in advance."
"Then why don't they land?"
"I think," said Aratap, "they must be looking for habitable planets. Maybe they themselves do not know the location of the center of conspiracy. Or, at least, not entirely." He smiled. "We need only follow."
The navigator clicked heels. "Sir!"
"Yes?" Aratap looked up.
"The enemy has landed on a planet."
Aratap signaled for Major Andros.
"Andros," said Aratap, as the major entered, "have you been told?"
"Yes. I've ordered a descent and pursuit."
"Wait. You may be again premature, as when you wanted to lunge toward Lingane. I think this ship only ought to go."
"Your reasoning?"
"If we need reinforcements, you will be there, in command of the cruisers. If it is indeed a powerful rebel center, they may think only one ship has stumbled upon them. I will get word to you somehow and you can retire to Tyrann."
"Retire!"
"And return with a full fleet."
Andros considered. "Very well. This is