spaceman. "I could just take a ship and act as though I'm on some
kind of special detail. As a matter of fact, Higgleston at the Venusport
lab has some information I could use."

"Anything Higgleston could tell you," interjected Sykes, "I can tell
you! You're just too stubborn to listen to me."

Connel opened his mouth to blast the professor in return, but he caught
a sharp look from Walters and he clamped his lips together tightly.

"I guess that's it, then," said Walters. "Anyone have any other ideas?"
He glanced around the room. "Joan? Steve?"

Dr. Dale and Captain Strong shook their heads silently. Strong was
disappointed that he had not been given the assignment on Venus. Four
weeks at the deserted Academy would seem like living in a graveyard.
Walters sensed his feelings, and smiling, he said, "You've been going
like a hot rocket this past year, Steve. I have a specific assignment
for you."

"Yes, sir!" Strong looked up eagerly.

"I want you to go to the Sweet Water Lakes around New Chicago--"

"Yes, sir?"

"--go to my cabin--"

"Sir?"

"--_and go fishing_!"

Strong grinned. "Thanks, skipper," he said quietly. "I guess I could use
a little relaxation. I was almost tempted to join Corbett, Manning, and
Astro. They're going hunting in the jungle belt of Venus for a
tyrannosaurus!"

"Blast my jets!" roared Connel. "Those boys haven't killed themselves in
line of duty, so they go out and tangle with the biggest and most
dangerous monster in the entire solar system!"

"Well," said Joan with a smile, "I'll put my money on Astro against a
tyranno any time, pound for pound!"

"Hear, hear!" chimed in Sykes, and forgetting his argument with Connel,
he turned to the spaceman. "Say, Lou," he said, "when you get to Venus
tell Higgy I said to show you that magnetic ionoscope he's rigging up.
It might give you some ideas."

"Thanks," replied Connel, also forgetting the hot exchange of a few
minutes before. He stood up. "I'll take the _Polaris_, Commander. She's
the fastest ship available with automatic controls for a solo hop."

"She's been stripped of her reactant pile, Major," said Strong. "It'll
take a good eighteen hours to soup her up again."

"I'll take care of it," said Connel. "Are there any specific orders,
Commander?"

"Use your own judgment, Lou," said Walters. "You know what we want and
how far to go to get it. If you learn anything, we'll start a full-scale
investigation. If not, we'll forge