"There is one item here, however, that seriously affects several of these reports. This Mr. Hanson—"
"Hanson? Yes, I think I mentioned, he died. A very violent explosion."
Chief Inspector Nathan's formal politeness melted abruptly in the sudden fire of his rage.
"Explosion? I know all about that explosion, you blundering murderer. Come in here, Hanson!"
"Hanson!" Serono stared in shocked unbelief at the grim figure of a man who should have died, but only for a moment. Then he leaned back and relaxed, his fingertips met and tapped rhythmically.
"Mr. Hanson—hm-m-m—this is almost unbelievable."
"Next time you plant a time bomb in a ship, don't connect it through the lighting circuit, it shows on the ammeter," Brian told him grimly. "And if you want to keep people on Venus, you should watch your freight ships more closely."
"Oh, I wasn't as careless as you might think. That trap was set for McHague. I would have made other arrangements if I had known you were to be present. As it was I thought I had got you. However, I can remedy that slight omission almost immediately."
Serono twisted abruptly to his feet. His right hand snatched at his left. The spluttering crackle of a projector flame lashed out. Serono screamed as he dropped the red-hot wreckage of his artificial hand.
"We'd been told about that, too, and I can still shoot," Inspector Nathan growled.