would follow until the problem was
solved. Meanwhile the _Niccola's_ twenty-four rocket tubes and
stepped-up drive and computer-type radar system equipped her for
Plumie-hunting as well as any human ship could be. Still, if she'd been
lured deep into the home system of the Plumies, the prospects were not
good.

* * * * *

The new setup began its operation, instantly the last contact closed. The
three-dimensional map served as a matrix to control it. The
information-beam projector swung and flung out its bundle of
oscillations. It swung and flashed, and swung and flashed. It had to
examine every relatively nearby object for a constitution of silicon
bronze and a rounded shape. The nearest objects had to be examined first.
Speed was essential. But three-dimensional scanning takes time, even at
some hundreds of pulses per minute.

Nevertheless, the information came in. No other silicon-bronze object
within a quarter-million miles. Within half a million. A million. A
million and a half. Two million ...

Baird called the navigation room.

"Looks like a single Plumie ship, sir," he reported. "At least there's
one ship which is nearest by a very long way."

"_Hah!_" grunted the skipper. "_Then we'll pay him a visit. Keep an open
line, Mr. Baird!_" His voice changed. "_Mr. Taine! Report here at once to
plan tactics!_"

Baird shook his head, to himself. The _Niccola's_ orders were to make
contact without discovery, if such a thing were possible. The ideal would
be a Plumie ship or the Plumie civilization itself, located and subject
to complete and overwhelming envelopment by human ships--before the
Plumies knew they'd been discovered. And this would be the human ideal
because humans have always had to consider that a stranger might be
hostile, until he'd proven otherwise.

Such a viewpoint would not be optimism, but caution. Yet caution was
necessary. It was because the Survey brass felt the need to prepare for
every unfavorable eventuality that Taine had been chosen as weapons
officer of the _Niccola_. His choice had been deliberate, because he was
a xenophobe. He had been a problem personality all his life. He had a
seemingly congenital fear and hatred of strangers--which in mild cases is
common enough, but Taine could not be cured without a complete breakdown
of personality. He could not serve on a ship with a multiracial crew,
because he was invincibly suspicious of and hostile to al