"Anything we have is yours. But would not a cadaver's limb suit you as well as mine?"
"I must escape from this world. You can give a private citizen like me something only a sovereign government can. I want the jump drive."
"Not that!"
"Yes! I've earned it, haven't I?"
The swinoid nodded wearily. "You have. The device will be put in your spacer. Use it only in deep space."
He was now in orbit. That was far enough out. Earth patrols could still pick him up easily. The ETI spy pickup observed him as he reached out and put a finger to the button of the device given him by the Swinoids, as Earth ships closed rapidly. He pressed the button.
In a crisping flash of flame, he lit with incredible speed.
II
"Naturally, we lost contact after the ship went up in flames. If that man was the true Baker, he was undoubtedly destroyed. Of course, we have a report from our spies on Klondike II of events running just about concurrently."
"If you'll allow one interruption," Street interjected. "As a competent xenological ethnologist, I can assure you that Baker was, at least, not completely destroyed by the fire. His somewhat roasted remains would have been appropriated by the swinoids."