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  "But I'm not your average mouse," Pucky said in his own defense, preparing to elaborate on that matter in greater detail. However he was interrupted by Noir. "They've caught our scent," the telepath announced. "They know we're up here in this tree."

  The three Katanians had at last found their quarry. With their green-shining eyes, they looked up at the three refugees sitting on the lowest branch. The prey was within easy reach and, moreover, paralyzed with fear.

  And hypnotized Katanians know no pity.

  One of the cats sprang—and slammed into Pucky's timely telekinetic force-barrier. The cat fell back to the ground, hissing angrily. It had seemed to strike an invisible wall in the middle of thin air.

  Before the cat could gather itself for another spring, something odd happened—something for which there was no explanation: from the forest came a muted 'phoot!' and the cat lurched on the verge of springing, then sank slowly to the ground. Its four legs jerked briefly, then it lay still.

  The cat was apparently dead.

  Rhodan forgot the other two cats and tried to peer into the thickets to the east. He could not hear anything but then he sensed faint thought-impulses.

  Volatians! One of the remaining two cats raced in leaping bounds towards the bushes—and fell, hissing shrilly, victim to the invisible shots. This cat, too, was dead.

  Terrified, the last cat turned to flee. Rhodan put the Volatians out of his mind and called to Pucky. "Don't let that one escape—but don't kill it, either! We have to find out who its masters are. Can you hold it down while I see to our unexpected allies?"

  "Right, Chief—much as I don't like it," Pucky agreed, concentrating his full attention on the cat bounding out of the clearing. "I'll hold it, alright."

  Rhodan and Noir climbed down out of the tree and raised their hands towards the interior of the forest. They knew that their allies could see them and would not misunderstand their gestures. The foliage before them rustled and then three Volatians carrying blowguns came out into the open. Their weapons were not, Rhodan and Noir quickly noted, trained on them. "We are friends," said the Volatians in their inaudible language. The message formed itself clearly word by word in the Terrans' minds. "The Omniscient Mother sends her greetings."

  Rhodan decided not to make a reply himself and motioned for Noir to transmit the reply. "We thank you," said Noir. "The cats had caused us much difficulty."

  "The cats are called Katanians," said the foremost Volatian. "They serve the rulers of our world and have torn many of us limb from limb. They are beasts."

  "The last Katanian will not escape its due punishment," Noir promised, "but we have not killed it because we require information from it. Do you know a man who is a friend of ours? He must be on your world.

  His name is Fellmer Lloyd." It was a rather direct question but Noir did not wish to waste any more time. The answer was just as direct. "He is at our village and waits for you." Rhodan gave a sigh of relief. He stepped forward and extended his hand to the three strange beings. They took it and thus was the friendship between two quite different races finally sealed. In the meantime Pucky had come down out of the tree too. He waddled gravely through the long grass out to where the last remaining Katanian motionlessly awaited its fate. Pucky's telekinetic power continued to hold it fast The cat's green eyes shone with malevolence but deep within it felt fear of the powerful opponent it and its late fellows had so woefully underestimated.

  For his part, Pucky had overcome his fear. It was enough for him to strut before his deadly enemy and gloat. He, the great mouse, held a huge cat in his power. It was too bad that his fellow mouse-beavers on the planet Vagabond could not see him now, although they in all probability would not have known what a cat was.

  Then Rhodan, Noir and the three Volatians came along. The natives held their blowguns ready to shoot but Noir calmed them by saying that the beast was now fully harmless and could cause no more damage. Then they stared timidly but admiringly at the mouse-beaver, who quite clearly enjoyed the attention.

  "Noir," said Rhodan, "try to get some information out of the Katanian. Master, origin and anything else that might interest us. You'll probably first have to remove the hypnotic block that's been placed on the animal's mind."

  It turned out to be easier than they had anticipated.

  Once freed from the hypnotic block, the Katanian proved to be the most peace-loving creature imaginable. Not much information could be gleaned from it but the Terrans were able to learn a few things: two mysterious individuals adept in 'magic' were the leaders' of a group of Springers and Arkonides. One man could read minds and the other could bring any living being under the force of his will.

  Just as Rhodan had suspected. Added to this, Capt. Markus' report led to but one conclusion: the two traitors and former members of the Mutant Corps, Yatuhin and Tropnow.

  "Noir," said Rhodan, "ask the Katanian if it knows anything about Thora."

  It was not difficult for the hypno to project mental questions into the cat's brain. Being understood was quite simple.

  Then Noir shook his head. "He doesn't know about any prisoners but if there was one, he thinks she would be confined in the gang's headquarters."

  "Where's that?"

  Again the silent thought-exchange. "In a large building close to the spaceport," said Noir at length. "He'll show us if we promise not to kill him."

  Rhodan looked surprised. "We don't have any intention of killing someone who shows us he's grateful. Tell him that."

  What followed then was indeed astonishing.

  Freed from Pucky's telekinetic field, the giant cat crawled up to Rhodan and licked his boots. It purred loudly and stretched its stiff limbs. The purring sounded like a motor.

  Pucky took an involuntary step back in surprise when his former natural enemy came to him, too, and licked him. The rough tongue so tickled the mouse-beaver that he displayed his incisor tooth with a giggle and lay down invitingly on his back. The Katanian took the hint and licked him on the belly.

  Watching, Noir could only shake his head in wonder. "Just like an overgrown kitty-cat."

  Hearing that, Pucky immediately leaped to his feet and the Katanian, startled, moved to one side. "That's it!" exclaimed the mouse-beaver. "We'll call him Kittikat! Can we keep him, huh, Perry?"

  "Keep him?"

  "Yeah! Forever! He's my friend and—"

  "Peculiar," said Rhodan. He, too, could only shake his head. "Sometimes I can't understand how someone can change his opinion so rapidly." Thoughtfully, he watched the giant cat, who seemed as harmless as a newborn calf. 'Kittikat' was now rubbing up against Pucky as if to thank him for the trust he had shown in him. "But then again," Rhodan went on, "considering the facts of the matter here, maybe I can understand it. Alright, Kittikat can stay with us for the time being. But if things go on like this, I may have to start a zoo."

  Pucky bent over the Katanian who was now reclining on the ground. The understanding between the two had grown up as suddenly as if there had never been any problems in the history of cat & mouse relationships. Was the mouse-beaver also a hypno?

  "Your name is Kittikat and you're staying with us!" Pucky telepathed and Kittikat understood him.

  The Volatians had watched the events without seeming to understand them but they now appeared to be satisfied that the cat offered no more threat to them. These human beings were strange creature—that the Volatians knew from history many times over. Why worry about yet another proof of it?

  "And now," said Rhodan without any segue, "take us to your village. We want to talk to our friend Fellmer Lloyd."

  Without a word the Volatians began to walk and Rhodan and Noir followed.

  Kittikat was at the end of the parade and on his back rode Pucky in knightly splendor!

  Somewhere behind them, in the clearing in the middle of the forest, lay four dead Katanians. They had died as bloodthirsty beasts before they could be changed back into their normal, peaceful states.

  It was jus
t as well. Otherwise Rhodan would have had to make an extremely difficult decision!

  3/ TRICKING THE ROBOT REGENT

  Rhodan pushed Fellmer Lloyd back in bed.

  "You stay put for now," he said, "and recover from the effects of the shock. If there's anything to do here, I'll take care of it myself. Now tell me in detail what happened. All I know is what Markus told me and since he wasn't completely informed himself, that isn't a great deal."

  The seer allowed himself to relax and glance quickly at Kuri. The almond-shaped eyes of the Trader's daughter were filled with admiration for Rhodan, from whom she could not take them away. It was not that Fellmer felt jealous but it was then that he knew how much he cared for Kuri and how little he wanted to lose her.

  "I hid my Gazelle in the jungle near Kuklon," Fellmer said, "and proceeded to the city. There I learned that Sikeron had been murdered because he had been on the track of Yatuhin and Tropnow. Kuri helped me put together a group that we hoped could defeat the mutineers but unfortunately we underestimated our enemies. We were beaten. That's about it, I think."

  "It's not very much," said Rhodan, trying to conceal his disappointment and not unnecessarily excite the injured man. "What do you know about our enemies?"

  "They hold out in a tall building close to the space-port—their operation is disguised as a legitimate business concern. A Springer clan has allied itself with the two rebels, although the Traders don't seem to know everything. They were promised eternal life, that's all. Yatuhin and Tropnow are careful not to mention anything of Terra or Rhodan. They don't do it out of consideration for us but for more selfish reasons. Once they have enough weapons and allies, they plan to usurp your power, sir."

  "My power?" smiled Rhodan, amused. "If only those two had some idea what a heavy burden my power is... they would be glad to have no part of it."

  "Well, the hunger for your power is the reason for their treason," said Fellmer, looking at Kuri. "But that wouldn't bother me so much if it weren't for the risk they might someday accidentally say too much and reveal the Earth's and your existence to the Springers."

  "Sooner or later that won't be a secret anymore, anyway," said Rhodan. "The ruling robot Brain on Arkon will eventually learn that it has been deceived. You can see that's less worry for me than the fact that something like a revolution is possible in our own ranks."

  "Even mutants are human," said Fellmer in defense of his own enemies. "They felt themselves discriminated against because they didn't get the cell-renewal. Maybe that was a mistake on your part."

  "No one is infallible," said Rhodan evasively. He was silent for a moment, then asked: "Who is Arkon's representative on this world?"

  "The administrator's name is Mansrin. I don't know him personally but it's said he's an efficient sort once you get past the usual overpowering arrogance. Why?"

  "Just curious," said Rhodan, who as yet had no definite plan. "It's always best to have some idea of who you may be dealing with."

  "If they survived the attack," said Fellmer, "some of my old allies must still be on the planet. I had no time to find out, though."

  "Noir is doing that right now," Rhodan assured him. "From what he's told me, there were indeed survivors. Right now, you try to get used to Pucky and Kittikat."

  "Kittikat?! I've never heard of him. Is he a new member of our Mutant Corps?"

  Rhodan smiled. "Unfortunately, Kit is no mutant. He is a Katanian though, and since yesterday—"

  "What's a Katanian?"

  "A race of cats from somewhere in the center of the galaxy. Although originally harmless, they can easily be hypnotically influenced and turned into raging beasts. The Springers and other intelligences have put that quirk to use. We 'disarmed' Kittikat and let him join the group. He gets along especially well with Pucky."

  "Cat & mouse?" said Lloyd in disbelief. "And to think that Pucky, who always had the cold shivers whenever a cat would walk by, would take up with a... Well, I recall a visit to the zoo in Terrania; the mouse-beaver actually trembled in fear when we went by the tigers. Pure instinct, he told us. And now this? How big is this Kittikat?"

  "He would probably win a fair fight with a Bengal tiger."

  Lloyd could not believe it. "And something like that has made friends with Pucky? Incredible!"

  Rhodan laughed and changed the subject. "I still need some information so I can make preparations. Perhaps you can help me."

  "Just ask me, sir. I wasn't asleep before that shock-ray hit me."

  And Rhodan began to systematically ply Lloyd with questions.

  • • •

  "You should put on a disguise!" Noir exclaimed, regarding Pucky sceptically from top to bottom. "Otherwise they'll recognize you right off."

  The mouse-beaver drew himself up to his full height, stroking flat the brown fur that Kittikat's licking had disarrayed. "A disguise?" he demanded in surprise. "What should I disguise myself as, then? A man? Even the stupidest fool there would see through that."

  "You should at least wear a cloak," Noir persisted. "Anything so that everybody doesn't spot your fur first thing. Maybe they would think you're a dwarf."

  Pucky sighed. "Personalities who stand out never have it easy," he decided, seeming to think of that fact as a consolation. "If I looked like a perfectly normal human being, it would be a lot simpler for me. But..."

  Rhodan finished the drawing he had been putting on a piece of paper. "Unfortunately, Lloyd isn't any more familiar with the details than what I've drawn here but at least he found out where the traitors' headquarters is located in the building. You'll spring right into the middle of it, Pucky, and find out where everything is. We'll need to know when the excitement starts."

  "Excitement? What excitement?"

  "You'll find out soon enough," Rhodan promised. "Now, under no circumstances do you dare get caught. Disappear the instant anyone shows up and come back here as fast as you can. Understand?"

  "I'll be like Greek lightning," the mouse-beaver pledged.

  "Greased lightning," Rhodan corrected.

  Pucky chortled at his mistake. Then he looked distrustfully at Noir, who was approaching with a colorful blanket. "What's with that funny looking crazy-quilt? You don't think for one minute I'm going to wear that dust-rag... do you?"

  "Why not?" asked Rhodan, who understood what Noir had in mind. "If anybody sees you wearing this, he'll certainly never guess where you're from. Come on, let's go, Pucky, put it on! Don't be so proud."

  "But...!" squeaked Pucky miserably, looking as though he had to bear all the burdens of the universe.

  "No buts!" said Rhodan unrelentingly. "Do you think you're going to a beauty contest?"

  Pucky resigned himself to his fate.

  He looked like the sort of dressed-up monkey that Terran circus performers once took with them to arouse the attention of children. Pucky's reproachful eyes embodied all the pain of the world. In the background, Kittikat whined plaintively—as plaintively as if Pucky were being taken away to his execution.

  "Your vanity is in vain," Rhodan lectured, trying to bite back his grin. "It's springtime and I'm not referring to the season."

  "Your words are wise," Pucky murmured, his voice deliberately lowered to deliver the desired effect, "but they are unable to mend my broken heart. Auf widdershins!"

  And before anyone had time to correct him, he was gone.

  The Katanian still whimpered and he paced the floor restlessly.

  He?

  Or was it possibly a she?

  As yet, no one had taken the trouble to find out.

  • • •

  Kuklon, capital city of Volat, was really the only place on the entire planet evincing interstellar characteristics. Here was concentrated all civilized life and from here the rest of the colonial world was governed, The true natives, the Volatians, were little enough concerned by the government and lived their own lives but they knew that the beings who bad become their rulers inhabited that collection of ugly stone structure
s.

  Volat was more of an outpost than an actual colonial world. Valuable ore was mined in some of the mountains but, in the main, Volat served as an exchange center for goods from other solar systems.

  The palace of the Arkonide administrator with its huge hypercom antenna stood in the center of the city Kuklon. Contact could be made at any time between here and the mighty positronic Brain that ruled the interstellar empire of the Arkonides.

  Right in the neighborhood of the spaceport stood another building. Towering high in the sky of Volat, it served as a Springer trading center. A large number of the upper floors had been rented out and hundreds of different firms had their offices there. Since no one could possibly know everyone else in the vast complex, Pucky was not especially noticed in the first few minutes. And the Galaxyis rich with bizarre creatures.

  The mouse-beaver materialized in a large room on the 20th floor. Luckily, no one was in the room at the time and his appearance out of nowhere went unobserved. With a reluctant motion Pucky rearranged the multi-colored cloak around his neck, let out a deep sigh and strode to the nearest door.

  It opened out onto a wide corridor. On the left were windows giving an open view over the nearby spaceport. The field was crowded with ships and between them vehicles loaded with freight and passengers glided to & fro. Transporters flashed. along on glistening rails while a spaceship was taking off or landing every two or three minutes.

  "Busy place," Pucky marveled. He was trying to keep from stepping on the edge of his 'robe'. Even walking erect without any hindrance was troublesome enough but with the cloak around him he could no longer see his feet—and that caused even more problems. Had anyone seen him waddling past, he certainly would have been amazed by the sight of a weird dwarf who was having trouble with the gravity.

  On the right were doors bearing signs displaying the names of business firms. The building undoubtably encompassed more than 2000 separate rooms, if not more. How could Pucky hope to find the right one? Only pure luck could help him now. Kittikat had revealed, however, that the strange magicians were to be found—only on the lower floors.