tic by the hour. (And a picture of near-chaos in
government wasn't attractive, was it?) The bit about "proper channels"
underlined that speech was not free on Earth, and that the bureaucracy
could restore the school decree any time it wished. The pompous last
sentence ought to irritate men who had turned their backs on the thing
which Terrestrial society was becoming.

Maybe it could be improved, though--Coffin resumed work.

When he ripped out his last version, he was astonished to note that two
hours had passed. Already? The ship seemed very quiet. Too quiet. He
grew feverishly aware that anyone might break in on him at any time.

The tape could run for a day, but was usually checked and wiped every
six or eight hours. Coffin decided to put his words on it at a spot
corresponding to seven hours hence. Mardikian would have come off vat
duty, but probably be asleep; he wouldn't play back until shortly before
the council meeting.

Coffin turned to a small auxiliary recorder. He had to tape his voice
through a circuit which would alter it beyond recognition. And, of
course, the whole thing had to be blurred, had to fade and come back,
had to be full of squeals and buzzes and the crackling talk of the
stars. No easy job to blend all those elements, in null-gee at that.
Coffin lost himself in the task. He dared not do otherwise, for then he
would be alone with himself.

Plug in this modulator, add an oscillation--Let's see, where's that
slide rule, what quantities do you want for--

"What are you doing?"

Coffin twisted about. Fingers clamped on his heart.

Mardikian floated in the doorway, looking dazed and afraid as he saw who
the intruder was. "What's wrong, sir?" he asked.

"You're on watch," breathed Coffin.

"Tea break, sir, and I thought I'd check and--" The boy pushed himself
into the shack. Coffin saw him framed in meters and transformer banks,
like some futuristic saint. But sweat glistened on the dark young face,
broke free and drifted in tiny spheroids toward the ventilator.

"Get out of here," said Coffin thickly. And then: "No! I don't mean
that! Stay where you are!"

"But--" Almost, the captain could read a mind: _If the old man has gone
space-dizzy, name of fate, what's to become of us all?_ "Yes, sir."

Coffin licked sandy lips. "It's O.K.," he said. "You surprised me, our
nerves are on edge. That's why I hollered."

"S-s-sorry, sir."

"Anyone else around?"

"No, sir. All on duty or--" _