The mention of the name of Gilbert M’s home planet brought memories flooding back, memories he hoped had disappeared for ever. Happy memories, of when he had been appointed chief state scientist, the youngest ever to hold the post, and memories of his friendly rivalry with Seivad, the other great scientist on Vasilip. And of how, after years of competition, they had finally worked together, pushing science to new boundaries.

There were unhappy memories, too, of things starting to go wrong. He remembered the king’s order that Seivad and he were to be killed on sight; he remembered their flight from the capital, and the lone vigilante who tracked them to their hiding place in the mountains. Gilbert had been out that day, foraging for food. When he returned to their but he found Seivad wounded and left for dead. Working through the night, Gilbert had managed to save Seivad’s mind. The next day he had stowed away on the first flight out of Vasilip which had taken him, and what was left of Seivad, to Terra Alpha. Finally he remembered Helen A’s cruel ultimatum, when she had discovered his true identity: create for me a monster out of Seivad, or return to wandering the space lanes looking for a home. Exhausted, Gilbert had complied with her wishes, fashioning the Kandy Man out of the only raw materials at his disposal. And so Seivad had been imprisoned in an executioner’s body, his mind twisted with anger and injustice.

(These days, one can't help wondering whether the Kandyman's full name was Llessur T Seivad).