when she smiled, and
filled her gown the way a Cellini Venus doubtless filled its casting
mold.

"Very pleased to meet you, Mr. Blades," she said as if she meant it.
Maybe she did! He gulped for air.

"And Commander Leibknecht," Chung said across several light-years.
"Commander Leibknecht. _Commander Leibknecht._"

"Oh. Sure. 'Scuse." Blades dropped Lieutenant Ziska's hand in
reluctant haste. "Hardjado, C'mander Leibfraumilch."

Somehow the introductions were gotten through. "I'm sorry we have to
be so inhospitable," Chung said, "but you'll see how crowded we are.
About all we can do is show you around, if you're interested."

"Of course you're interested," said Blades to Lieutenant Ziska. "I'll
show you some gimmicks I thought up myself."

Chung scowled at him. "We'd best divide the party and proceed along
alternate routes," he said, "We'll meet again in the mess for coffee,
Lieutenant Ziska, would you like to--"

"Come with me? Certainly," Blades said.

Chung's glance became downright murderous. "I thought--" he began.

"Sure." Blades nodded vigorously. "You being the senior partner,
you'll take the highest ranking of these gentlemen, and I'll be in
Scotland before you. C'mon, let's get started. May I?" He offered the
quartermistress his arm. She smiled and took it. He supposed that
eight or ten of her fellows trailed them.

* * * * *

The first disturbing note was sounded on the verandah.

[Illustration]

They had glanced at the cavelike dormitories where most of the
personnel lived; at the recreation dome topside which made the life
tolerable; at kitchen, sick bay, and the other service facilities; at
the hydroponic tanks and yeast vats which supplied much of the
Station's food; at the tiny cabins scooped out for the top engineers
and the married couples. Before leaving this end of the asteroid,
Blades took his group to the verandah. It was a clear dome jutting
from the surface, softly lighted, furnished as a primitive officers'
lounge, open to a view of half the sky.

"Oh-h," murmured Ellen Ziska. Unconsciously she moved closer to
Blades.

Young Lieutenant Commander Gilbertson gave her a somewhat jaundiced
look. "You've seen deep space often enough before," he said.

"Through a port or a helmet." Her eyes glimmered enormous in the dusk.
"Never like this."

The stars crowded close in their wintry myriads. The galactic belt
glistened, diamond against infinite dar