（外文电子版资料）TWOKch03.docVIP

THREE THE KEY WORD WAS PROHIBITED Under that heading the Space Regulations had in fact devoted a full page of rather fine print to the Prohibited Planet of Karres. Most of it, however, was conjecture. Nikkeldepain seemed unable to make up its mind whether the witches had developed an alarmingly high level of secret technology or whether there was something downright supernatural about them. But it made it very clear it did not want ordinary citizens to have anything to do with Karres. There was grave danger of spiritual contamination. Hence such contacts could not be regarded as being in the best interests of the Republic and were strictly forbidden. Various authorities in the Empire held similar opinions. The Regulations included a number of quotes from such sources: . . . their women gifted with an evil allure ... Hiding under the cloak of the socalled klatha magic Klatha? The word seemed familiar. Frowning, the captain dug up a number of memory scraps. Klatha was a metaphysical concept, a cosmic energy, something not quite of this universe. Some people supposedly could tune in on it, use it for various purposes. He grunted. Possibly that gave a name to what the witches were doing. But it didnt explain anything. No mention was made of the Sheewash Drive. It might be a recent development, at least for individual spaceships. In fact, the behavior of Councilor Onswud and the others suggested that reports theyd received of the Ventures unorthodox behavior under hot pursuit was the first they had heard of a superdrive possessed by Karres. Naturally theyd been itching to get their hands on it. And naturally, the captain told himself, the Empire, having heard the same reports, wanted the Sheewash Drive just as badly! The Venture had become a marked ship . . . and hed better find out just where she was at present. The viewscreens, mass detectors, and comunicators had been switched on while he was going over the Regulations. The communicators had produced only an unint