e. Too many
directives and counter-directives were flooding at him from various
officials on Earth.

Some one down there even had the temerity to suggest that Security
take over--not officially, just sort of take over.

If that didn't take the cake, he thought. Trying to put that crumb
Security officer into command, _real_ command, of a scientist? Over
HIS people? Never!

And just because somebody had a wild idea about sabotage--after all,
the whole thing must be some sort of effect or accident. Why couldn't
they leave people alone long enough to find out what was really going
on?

And where was Elbertson, anyhow? The man had had plenty of time to
freshen up. Possibly he had caved in some place. The medic had said he
was sick. But even so, I'd best check, he thought.

Reaching for the intercom switch that would give him a private line to
Security quarters in the rim, his gaze happened to fall on the panel
that still displayed Hot Rod on its taut cable--

--And seven figures riding the end of the cable to the air lock.

Elbertson, of course, he thought furiously. And taking his men out
when the proton level was still too high to go beyond the rim
shielding....

Then the captain stopped in mid-thought. This was no idle act of a man
feeling the effects of drugs.

He switched the intercom quickly to the Hot Rod crew's quarters on the
rim. "Dr. Koblensky!" he almost shouted into the mike.

"Just a minute, sir," came the answer, and seconds that seemed like
eternities passed before the doctor's calm voice answered, "Dr.
Koblensky speaking."

"Did you know that seven men were going out to Hot Rod?"

"Of course not. They mustn't...."

The captain switched off and changed to the intercom for the machine
shop. "Dr. Ishie. Mr. Blackhawk. To the bridge on the double. _Fast_,"
he said.

It might not be the saboteur, he thought, but the chances looked
grimly real that Earth was right--that the whole thing was sabotage,
and those were the seven saboteurs. While he waited, he checked the
Security quarters for Elbertson. The major was not there, nor was he
in the hospital.

Elbertson, he thought. I've been blind.

He decreased the magnification of Hot Rod so that the entire project
showed.

Mike arrived first, almost skidding to a stop at the captain's
console, Ishie right behind him.

"The saboteur--seven men that I believe to be saboteurs--are aboard
Hot Rod," the captain told him crisply. "Can they activate