"In the ship," the general told him.
"What's he doing?"
Banning laughed bitterly. "Broadcasting a distress signal."
"Voice?"
"Does it matter?" the general asked.
"I don't know."
"No, it's code. It's an automatic tape. The kind all passenger vessels carry."
Colin considered this for a moment. "And he didn't say anything."
"Absolutely nothing," said General Banning. "He got out of the ship, walked over to the reception committee, slapped a few people and ran back to the ship and locked himself in."
"It doesn't make any sense."