Into the penthouse went Gerd and Gaya, to call the field representative of the Galactic Ones. Verde answered at length, and listened to the entire story. He asked a number of questions that Gerd thought to have no connection, but Gerd answered. Then Yord Tan Verde laughed a bit and told Gerd Lel Rayne not to worry.
It was very unsatisfactory.
Will Conan stood up and faced the others at the table. "I won't kill myself," he shouted, banging his fist on the table. "I'll kill him first!"
"I tried that," remarked a tall man at the other end of the table.
Conan smiled wryly. "Peter Wilks tried it, all right," he told the rest. "Tell us what happened, Pete."
"I tried four times. Each time he stopped me in a bold way that seemed to be effortless. It was as though he knew—"
"Well, what else can we do? Can we ignore him?"
"Why not?"
"Is there a man here that does not have his finger in your business?"