ly distant solar system," said Soames,
more unhappily still. "They come from Earth, from another time, where
there are mountains falling from the sky. And the children's families
have to stay right where they are until flaming islands turn their sky
to flame and crash down on them to destroy them. Because we can't let
them come here."

Gail stared up at him, and all the life went out of her face.

"Oh, surely!" she said with bitterness. "Surely! That's right! We can't
afford it! I don't know about you or the rest of the world, but I'm
going to hate myself all the rest of my life!"

CHAPTER 6

Soames, remembering Rex, got two puppies for the children next morning.
He was inside the cottage when Captain Moggs turned up. He watched Mal
and Hod, outside on the lawn, playing with the two small dogs. Zani sat
at a table indoors, drawing. Gail had shown her pictures of cities and
provided her with paper and soft pencils. Zani grasped the idea
immediately. She drew, without remarkable skill but with a certain
pleasing directness. Now she drew a city while Gail hovered near.

"I reported to Washington of your willingness to work on the report, Mr.
Soames," said Captain Moggs with gratification. "Your status has been
clarified. The papers are on the way here now."

Soames started a little. From where he stood, he could watch Mal and Hod
out of a window, and by turning his eyes he could see Zani. She could
see nothing that went on where Mal cuddled one puppy, girl-fashion,
while Hod played in quite another fashion with the other. The window was
behind Zani.

Soames had not been too attentive. He realized it.

"What's that, Captain?"

"Your status is clarified," said Captain Moggs, authoritatively. "You
have been appointed a civilian consultant. You had no official status
before. The bookkeeping problem was serious. Now you have a civil
service status, a rating, an assimilated rank and a security
classification."

Soames turned again to watch the children out-of-doors. Fran came around
from the back of the cottage. He carried something in his hands. It was
a white rabbit. He'd brought it to show Mal and Hod. They put down the
puppies and gazed at it in amazement, stroking its fur and talking
inaudibly.

Soames looked swiftly at Zani. Her pencil had ceased to make strokes
upon the paper. She had the expression of someone watching absorbedly,
though her eyes were on the paper before her.

Gail stirred, and Soa