A sudden reckless grin lit the face of Kel Aran. His bright eyes narrowed, and a quick hand swept back his thick yellow hair. And then, while Jeron Roc made a frantic, futile snatch to halt him, he twisted a knob. In a light, taunting voice, he called:
"Greetings, Admiral!"
The dark, thick-featured face stared at him, first in stiff stupefaction, then crimsoned with a seething rage.
"You—Earth-rat!" he choked. "You dare—" He gulped, caught his breath. "Tapping my communicator will be your last bit of insolence," he bellowed. "We're taking you, Falcon—for Malgarth!"
Still with that bright smile frozen on his lips, Kel Aran made a little mocking bow.
"The robot's offer is flattering, Admiral." His soft low voice had the lilt of a song. "But I'm going to let him keep his star. And I hope the Emperor doesn't hold you responsible for letting us slip through your fingers!"
Gugon Kul stood gasping, turning swiftly purple.
"Now, Admiral," said Kel Aran, "I'm going to sing you a song, I call it the Ballad of the Last Earthman."
And he began singing into the Admiral's startled face. His voice was clear and gay, and the tune had a swing that quickened the heart. The words told of his boyhood on the Earth, and his love for the Earth girl, Verel Erin; of the murder of the Earth, and his long search for his beloved; of his determination to continue the stellar quest,
"Till I find her or I die!"