Rasp rasp rasp. Rasp rasp rasp.
He opened the closet, took out the tiny narrow-beam amplifier he had hidden there, and tuned it to the frequency of the emergency signal. Immediately the rasping stopped as the narrow-beam amplifier covered the wavelength.
Moments passed. The amplifier picked up a voice speaking in the code devised for use by Darruui agents alone.
"Identify yourself."
Harris identified himself according to the regular procedure. He went on to say, "I arrived on Earth today. My instructions were not to report to you for about two weeks."
"I know that. There's an emergency situation."
"What kind of emergency?"
"There are Medlin agents on Earth. Normal procedures will have to be altered. Meet me at once." He gave an address. Harris memorized it and repeated it. The contact was broken.
Meet me at once. The orders had to be interpreted literally. At once meant right now, not tomorrow afternoon. His tryst with the yellow-haired Earthgirl would just have to wait.
He picked up the house-phone and asked for her room. A moment later he heard her voice.