"Price?" The Overlord stared at her bleakly. "What price do you ask?"
"The life," said the girl, "of the Ghost."
Garroway's brow darkened.
"Have you gone mad?" he demanded harshly. "His life is forfeit the moment my men seize him!"
"But," pointed out the Princess Lenore sagely, "they cannot lay hands on him ... without my help. Come, father ... I, too, can be ruthless in getting that which I desire. Will you give me the man, Dirk Morris, and put an end to these depredations? Or must your fortresses continue to fall because of all on earth, I alone know how this phantom may be caught?"
Garroway's cheeks were mottled with rage; for a moment it seemed he might strike his own daughter.
"You ... you ingrate!" he husked. "You dare bargain with the System's Emperor?"
"I dare bargain," taunted the Princess, "with my own father. And with a badly frightened man."
Garroway fumed at the taunt ... but capitulated, as the Princess had known he must do. He lowered his hands weakly.
"Very well," he said. "I give you your price. Now, what must be done?"