tching the guard
in the pit of the stomach again. The man stopped dead in his tracks. His
eyes bulged and glazed, and he dropped to the floor like a stone. Astro
pulled the man to the corner of the empty shop, removed the plastic
helmet, and then tied and gagged him. He pulled the helmet over his own
head, nearly tearing one ear off, grabbed the gun and stepped back
outside. He stood in front of the door and glanced up and down the area
between the buildings. Fifty feet away a group of men were working over
a tube casing, but they didn't even look up.

[Illustration]

Staying in the shadows, he walked down the lane, moving carefully. The
plastic helmet would keep him from being recognized right away, but to
complete his plan, he needed one of the green uniforms of the guards.

Deciding it would be too risky to walk around the base, he crouched
behind a huge crate of machinery at the head of the lane. Sentries were
constantly patrolling the area and he was certain that one would pass by
soon. He only hoped the man would be big enough. Fifteen minutes later
the cadet heard footsteps in a slow measured tread. He peered around the
edge of the crate and silently breathed a thankful prayer. It was a
green-clad guard, and luckily, almost as big as he was.

Crouching in the shadow of the crate, Astro tensed for the attack. It
had to be quick and it had to be silent. He couldn't club the guard
because of his helmet. He would have to get him around the throat to
choke off any outcry.

The slow steps came nearer and the big cadet raised himself on the balls
of his feet, ready to spring. When the guard's shadow fell across him,
Astro leaped forward like a striking tiger.

The guard didn't have a chance. Astro's arm coiled around his throat and
the cry of alarm that welled up within him died down in a choking gasp.
Within seconds he was unconscious and the big cadet had dragged him
behind the crate. He stripped him of his uniform, bound and gagged him
with his own rags, and crammed him into the crate. Then, protected by
the helmet and green uniform and carrying the blaster, the cadet stepped
out confidently and strode down the lane.

He went directly to the building he had seen Tom and Connel enter, and
walked boldly up to the guard lounging in front of the door.

"You're relieved," said Astro in the Venusian dialect. "They want you up
in the caves." The cadet had no idea where the caves were, but he knew
that they couldn't