n't have the answer. And it could just be that Douglas had tried
to show off. Well, he would pay for it. He'd have a stiff neck for
months, and perhaps that was a proper way to end it.

* * *

Commander Mullins, a thin gray-faced man with the hard cold eyes of
a professional soldier, came into the corridor followed by another
trooper.

His eyes took in the wreckage that had been George, the split lips,
the smashed nose, the puffed eyes, the cuts and bruises, and then raked
across Kennon.

"Spaceman--hey?" he asked. "I've seen work like that before."

Kennon nodded. "I was once. I'm station veterinarian now. Douglas called
me over--said it was an emergency."

Mullins nodded.

"Well--why aren't you tending to it?"

"I have to examine them," Kennon said gesturing at the cells. "And I
don't want any more trouble like this."

"Don't worry. You won't have it. Now that you've beaten George, you'll
have no trouble at all. You're top dog." Mullins gestured at the cages.
"They'll be good for a while. Now you'd better get on with your work.
There's been enough disruption of routine for today. The men will help
you."

* * *

Kennon checked in at the commandant's office before he left for the main
island.

"How is Douglas?" he asked.

"He's alive," Mullins said. "We flew him to Albertsville--and good
riddance. How are the Lani?"

"They'll be all right," Kennon said. "It's just food poisoning. I
suggest you check your kitchen and your food handlers. There's a break
in sanitation that could incapacitate your whole command. I found a few
things wrong but there are probably more."

"I'll check on it--and thanks for the advice," Mullins said. "Sit down,
Doctor. Your airboat won't be serviced for another few minutes. Tell me
how things are on the main island. How's Blalok?"

"You know him?"

"Of course. I used to be a frequent visitor there. But with that young
pup here, I couldn't leave. I didn't dare to. He'd have disrupted
routine in a single day. Look what he did in half an hour. Frankly, I
owe you a debt for getting him off my hands." Mullins chuckled dryly.

"That's a fine thing to say," Kennon grinned. "But I can sympathize. It
took us two months to straighten out Alexandria after the Boss-man sent
him here."

"I heard about that."

"Well--we're under control now. Things are going pretty smoothly."

"They'll be better here," Mullins said. "Now that Douglas is gone." He
shrugged. "I hope the Boss doesn'