A science fiction classic by British master Philip E. High!<P> Harcourt smiled his professional smile. “Now, you came to me because you felt something was wrong, some probably frightening aberration which we will deal with later. Were you under pressure at the time.”<P> “A policeman is always under pressure.” Nevinson sighed. “Unfortunately this happened three weeks ago while on a holiday in Europe. Before I left everyone told me I should visit the Spatza, you’ve heard of it no doubt, one of the showpieces of the world.” He paused and shook his head. “Can’t quite recall what time of day I got there—was it evening?”<P> “It doesn’t matter,” said Harcourt gently. He had been watching Nevinson closely for pupil-dilation and was relieved to see it had begun.<P> “Doesn’t it? No, I suppose it doesn’t, time isn’t all that—” A film seemed to descend over his eyes and he lost contact. He was still speaking but Harcourt and the consulting room had disappeared. He was living it again. He was back in the small European hotel which, although prohibitively expensive, was literally a museum piece.<P> Real glass in windows which opened outwards on metal rods, radiators, electric light, every piece of equipment in the hotel dated back five hundred years…
They captured the human and his puny ship. They had been ordered to interrogate him to find out humanity's strenths, weaknesses, and numbers…because their empire intended to expand into human space. But the human wanted to be captured and interrogated—for compassionate reasons. Human space was infected, he said…and any attempt at conquest was doomed!
In some parts of the world, self-confessed murderer Leonard Graham would have been executed, or even given life imprisonment for his monstrous crime. At his trial, he had confirmed to the court that he'd only met the man he'd shot a few hours before. Prior to that one meeting, he'd never seen him before in his life. The accused had offered no reason for his apparently unprovoked and savage attack, shooting his victim repeatedly at point-blank range. He was sentenced to five years in a psychiatric ward. But Graham DID have a reason for his actions–a weird secret that he'd deliberately kept to himself, choosing instead to plead…GUILTY AS CHARGED! Seven gripping tales of murder, crime, and the fantastic!