 Who wanted Jaro dead?
Red Witch of Mercury By EMMETT McDOWELL Death was Jaro Moynahan's stock in trade, and every planet had known his touch. But now, on Mercury, he was selling his guns into the weirdest of all his exploits—gambling his life against the soft touch of a woman's lips. [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Summer 1945. Without looking up, he said: "Have you spotted him?" The pianist swung around on his stool, lifted his black eyes to the gate leading to the street. The Mercurian, his yellow incurious eyes like two round topazes, sidled up. "So," said the red-head; "you have come. "I did not want to call you in, Jaro Moynahan." The revolution is scheduled to break during the Festival of the Rains. If it does, the Terrestrials here will be massacred. Jaro Moynahan wiped the sweat from his forehead with a fine duraweb handkerchief. "There is one man; he is the leader, the very soul of the revolution. The Mercurians worship him. He is the rebel, Karfial Hodes. I am to offer you ten thousand Earth notes to kill Karfial Hodes." Jaro Moynahan refilled their empty glasses. The girl started, glanced at the pianist, said with a shiver: "We can't locate Karfial Hodes. Don't look at me that way, Jaro. You've got to find him, Jaro. "Ah," said Jaro Moynahan; "so that's the way it is." One moment the garden was glowing in light, the next the hot black night swooped down on the revelers, pressing against their eyes like dark wool. Jaro Moynahan slipped sideways from the table. Across the table from Jaro there was the feel of movement; he could sense it. "Red!" said Jaro in a low voice. "Red!" he repeated, louder. On the heels of his speech the lights flashed on, driving the night upward. Jaro Moynahan sat quietly back down and poured himself another glass of Latonka. Peet controlled the Latonka trade for which there was a tremendous demand throughout the Universe. Had the rebels abducted her. If so, he suspected that they had caught a tartar. As the Mercurian started to leave, a thought struck Jaro. For centuries they had lived most their lives beneath ground to escape the terrible rays of the sun. Only at night did they emerge to work their fields and ply their trades. Jaro shrugged, dismissed the waiter.
 Stanley and Mr. Peet
 Karfial Hodes  Miss Mikhail and Miss Webb  the Martian rebellion  Stanley and Mr. Peet