over by force. That'll leave you legally in the
clear. But with so many witnesses around, you'll have to prefer
charges against us later on."

Janichevski began to sweat.

"We'll be sent up," said Blades. "But it will still have been worth
it."

"Is it really that important to you?"

"Yes. I admit I'm no crusader. But this is a matter of principle."

Janichevski stared at the big red-haired man for a long while.
Suddenly he stiffened. "O.K. On that account, and no other, I'll go
along with you."

Blades wobbled on his feet, near collapse with relief. "Good man!" he
croaked.

"But I will not have any of my officers or crew involved."

Blades rallied and answered briskly, "You needn't. Just issue orders
that my boys are to have access to the scoopships. They can install
the equipment, jockey the boats over to the full balloons, and even
couple them on."

Janichevski's fears had vanished once he made his decision, but now a
certain doubt registered. "That's a pretty skilled job."

"These are pretty skilled men. It isn't much of a maneuver, not like
making a Jovian sky dive."

"Well, O.K., I'll take your word for their ability. But suppose the
_Altair_ spots those boats moving around?"

"She's already several hundred kilometers off, and getting farther
away, running a search curve which I'm betting my liberty--and my
honor; I certainly don't want to hurt my own country's Navy--I'm
betting that search curve is guaranteed not to find the missile in
time. They'll spot the _Pallas_ as you depart--oh, yes, our people
will be aboard as per orders--but no finer detail will show in so
casual an observation."

"Again, I'll take your word. What else can I do to help?"

"Nothing you weren't doing before. Leave the piratics to us. I'd
better get back." Blades extended his hand. "I haven't got the words
to thank you, Adam."

Janichevski accepted the shake. "No reason for thanks. You dragooned
me." A grin crossed his face. "I must confess though, I'm not sorry
you did."

* * * * *

Blades left. He found his gang in the terminal, two dozen engineers
and rockjacks clumped tautly together.

"What's the word?" Carlos Odonaju shouted.

"Clear track," Blades said. "Go right aboard."

"Good. Fine. I always wanted to do something vicious and destructive,"
Odonaju laughed.

"The idea is to prevent destruction," Blades reminded him, and
proceeded toward the office.

Avis met him in Co