ir holstered weapons but their former
cold arrogance was gone and the attitude of the girls had changed from
polite reserve to laughing, chattering friendliness.

He found Dalon in a far corner; cornered, literally, by the red-haired
personnel supervisor who was spitting like a cat as she said:

"... Then tell your commander how one of your men tried to make one of
my girls and got hit with a wrench for it! Ask him whether he wants us
to produce fuel or make love! Go ahead--ask him! Or let me--_I'll_ ask
him!"

"You'll have to see to it that your girls don't lead my men on." Dalon
ran his finger around his collar, worry on his face. "Florence, are
you trying to get me ruined?"

"Then inform your men that there is a certain commandment we all
believe in and anything beyond our willingness to be friends calls for
marriage first."

"_Marriage?_" Dalon spluttered the word, recovered his poise with an
effort, and said stiffly, "My men are soldiers, not suitors. I want
them respected as such."

He strode away without seeing Kane. The girl stared after him, fuming,
and Kane went in search of Graver.

Graver and the brown-eyed secretary were in Larue's office, their
heads together over a flow sheet of some kind. The secretary excused
herself and when she was gone, Kane asked:

"Where's Larue?"

"Checking the catalytic processors, I think, sir." Graver answered,
almost vaguely. "Mar ... his secretary was just showing me how they
improvised so much of their equipment so quickly." There was a strange
light in Graver's usually expressionless eyes. "It's incredible!"

"Well--the commander gave them no time to waste, you know."

"Sir? Oh ... I was referring to her intelligence, sir. It's amazing
that a woman should have such a thorough knowledge of such a complex
process."

Kane felt the birth pains of the first dark premonition.

"If you don't want a thorough knowledge of the interior of State
prison," he said in grim warning, "you'd better get that silly look
off your face and concentrate on your duties. Tell Dalon the same
order applies to him. And tell Larue that the commander reminds him
they now have less than forty hours to finish the job."

* * * * *

He decided, again, to walk back to the ship. There was now a multitude
of paths through the grass were girls had been walking to and from
work. Two groups from the last shift-change were a short distance
ahead of him, several of