ry Venusian citizen in that division
is under his personal jurisdiction."

"Uh-huh," said Astro vaguely. He climbed up on to the machine and began
taking off the outer casing.

"The best men in the division are made the Division Chief's personal
guards."

"What happens to the second and third and fourth best men?"

"Well, they're given jobs here according to their knowledge and
capacities."

"What was your job before you came here?"

"I was a field worker on my chief's plantation."

"Why did you join?" asked Astro. "Did you think it better to have
Venusians ruling Venus, instead of belonging to the Solar Alliance?"

"I didn't think about it at all," admitted the little man. "Besides, I
didn't join. I was recruited. My chief just put me on a ship and here I
am."

"Well, what do you think of it, now that you're here?" asked Astro. He
began running his fingers along a few of the valves, apparently paying
no attention to the guard who was just now staggering to his feet.

The little assistant paused and considered Astro's question. Finally he
replied weakly, "I don't know. It's all right, I guess. It's better here
in the shops than in the caves where the others go."

"Others? What others?"

"Those that don't like it," replied the man. "They're sent to the
caves."

"What caves?"

"Up in the cliff. The tunnels--" He suddenly stopped when an angry shout
echoed in the machine shop. The guard Astro had hit rushed up. He turned
to several workmen near by. "Take this blabbering idiot to the caves!"
he ordered angrily.

Astro slowly climbed down from the machine and faced the guard
menacingly. As the guard's finger tightened on the trigger of his
paralo-ray gun, the foreman suddenly rushed up and knocked the gun out
of his hand. "You fool! You stiffen this man and we'll be held up in
production for hours!"

"So what!" sneered the guard.

"Lactu and your Division Chief will tell you so what!" barked the
foreman. He turned to Astro. "And as for you, if you try anything like
that again, I'll--"

"You won't do a thing," said Astro casually. "I'm the best man you've
got and you know it. Lactu knows it too. So don't threaten me and keep
these green space jerks away from me! I'll fix your machines, because I
want to, not because you can make me!"

The foreman eyed the big cadet curiously. "Because you want to? You've
changed your tune since you first came here."

"Maybe," said Astro. "Maybe I like what I see ar