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was even what youmight call the black market, but Summers risked hisposition here to do a friend a
favor and I owe him agreat deal. I'm hoping you'll remember Summers cando and has done things like
that and that you'll go easyon him for his actions earlier today."
Lucky said, "I'm not taking any action against him.I had no intention of doing so even before our conver-
sation. Still, I'm sure that Summers' real name andrecord are known to the Council and I'll be checkingon
the facts."
Norrich flushed, "By all means, do so. You'll findhe's not so bad."
"I hope so. But tell me something. Through all thathas just taken place, there was no attempt on the part
of the project administration to interfere. Do you findthis strange?"
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Norrich laughed shortly. "Not at all. I don't thinkCommander Donahue would have cared much if you'd
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been killed, except for the trouble it would have takento hush it up. He's got bigger troubles on his mind
than you or your investigation."
"Bigger troubles?"
"Sure. The head of this project is changed every year;army policy of rotation. Donahue is the sixth boss
we'vehad and far and away the best. I've got to say that. He'scut through red tape and he hasn't tried to
make anarmy camp out of the project. He's given the men lee-way and let them raise a bit of cain now
and then so he's gotten results. Now the first Agrav ship will beready to take off any time. Some say it's a
matter ofdays."
"That soon?"
"Could be. But the point is that Commander Dona-hue is due to be relieved in less than a month. A
delay now could mean that the launching of the Agrav shipwon't take place until Donahue's successor
comes in.Donahue's successor would get to ride in it, have thefame, go down in the history books, and
Donahuewould miss out."
"No wonder he didn't want you on Jupiter Nine,"Bigman said hotly. "No wonder he didn't want you,
Lucky."
Lucky shrugged. "Don't waste temper, Bigman."
But Bigman said, "The dirty cobber! Sirius can gob-ble up Earth for all he cares as long as he can get to
ride his miserable ship." He lifted a clenched fist, andthere was a muted growl from Mutt.
Norrich said sharply, "What are you doing, Big-man?"
"What?" Bigman was genuinely astonished. "I'm notdoing a thing."
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"Are you making a threatening gesture?"
Bigman lowered his arm quickly. "Not really."
"You've got to be careful around Mutt. He's beentrained to take care of me. . . . Look, I'll show you.
Just step toward me and make believe you're going tothrow a punch at me."
Lucky said, "That's not necessary. We under-stand "
"Please," said Norrich. "There's no danger. I'll stop Mutt in time. As a matter of fact, it's good practice
forhim. Everyone on the project is so careful of me thatI swear I don't know if he remembers his training.
Go ahead, Bigman."
Bigman stepped forward and raised his arm half-heartedly. At once Mutt's ears flattened, his eyes
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slitted, his fangs stood sharply revealed, his leg muscles tensed for a spring, and a harsh growl issued
from the recessesof his throat.
Bigman drew back hastily, and Norrich said, "Down,Mutt!" The dog subsided. Lucky could sense,
clearly,the gathering and relaxation of tension in Bigman'smind and the fond triumph in Norrich's.
Norrish said, "How are you doing with the threedeeegg, Bigman?"
The little Martian, in exasperation, said, "I've givenup. I've got two pieces put together and that's all Ican
do."
Norrich laughed. "Just a matter of practice, that'sall. Look."
He took the two pieces out of Bigman's hand andsaid, "No wonder. You've got these together wrong.
He flipped one piece end for end, brought the two to-gether again, added another piece and another until
he
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held seven pieces in the shape of a loose ovoid with ahole through it. He picked up the eighth and key
piece,slipped it in, gave it a half turn counterclockwise,pushed it the rest of the way, and said, "Finished."
He tossed the completed egg into the air and caughtit, while Bigman watched in chagrin.
Lucky got to his feet. "Well, Mr. Norrich, we'll beseeing you again. I'll remember your remarks about
Summers and the rest. Thank you for the drink." Itstill rested untouched on the desk.
"Nice to have met you," said Norrich, rising andshaking hands.
It was some time before Lucky could fall asleep. Helay in the darkness of his room hundreds of feet
belowthe surface of Jupiter Nine, listening to Bigman's softsnoring in the adjoining room, and thought of
theevents of the day. Over and over them he went.
He was bothered! Something had happened thatshouldn't have; or something had not happened that
should have.
But he was weary and everything was a bit unreal andtwisted in the half-world of half-sleep. Something
hov-ered at the edge of awareness. He clutched at it, but itslipped away.
And when morning came there was nothing left of it.
Bigman called out to Lucky from his own room asLucky was drying himself under the soft jets of warm
air after his shower.
The little Martian yelled, "Hey, Lucky, I've re-charged the V-frog's carbon-dioxide supply and dumped
in more weed. You'll be taking it down to our meetingwith that blasted commander, won't you?"
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"We certainly will, Bigman."
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"It's all set then. How about letting me tell the com-mander what I think of him?"
"Now, Bigman."
"Nuts! It's me for the shower now."
Like all men of the solar system brought up onplanets other than Earth, Bigman reveled in water when he
could get at it, and a shower for him was a leisurely,loving experience. Lucky braced himself for a session
of the tenor caterwauling that Bigman called singing.
The intercom sounded after Bigman was welllaunched into some dubious fragment of melody that
sounded piercingly off-key and just as Lucky completeddressing.
Lucky stepped to it and activated reception. "Starrspeaking."
"Starr!" Commander Donahue's lined face showedin the visi-panel. His lips were narrow and
compressed and his whole expression was one of antagonism as hegazed at Lucky. "I have heard some
story of a fightbetween yourself and one of our workers."
"Yes?"
"I see you have not been hurt."
Lucky smiled. "All's well."
"You'll remember I warned you."
"I am making no complaints."
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