ence, everything would have to
be prepared with every safeguard and contingency provided, so that there
would not be the slightest chance of a slip-up once it came to court.

And perhaps the best method of bringing the evidence would be to
transport it under its own power. The thought intrigued him. Actually it
wouldn't be too difficult. Externally the Egg wasn't in bad shape. The
virtually indestructible durilium hull was still intact. The controls
and the engines, hermetically sealed inside the hull, were probably as
good as the day they stopped running. The circuitry would undoubtedly be
bad but it could be repaired and restored, and new fuel slugs could be
obtained for the engine and the converter. But that was a problem for
the future.

The immediate problem was to get into the ship in a properly documented
fashion.

It took nearly two months, but finally, under the impersonal lenses of
cameras and recorders, the entrance port of the God-Egg swung open and
revealed the dark interior. Kennon moved carefully, recording every step
as he entered the black orifice in the spaceship's side. His handtorch
gave plenty of light for the recorders as he moved inside--Copper at his
heels, both of them physically unrecognizable in antiradiation suits.

"Why are we moving so slowly?" Copper said. "Let's go ahead and find out
what's beyond this passageway."

"From a superstitious coward you've certainly become a reckless
explorer," he said.

"The Egg hasn't hurt us, and we've been around it many times," she said.
"Either the curse has become too old to hurt us, or there never was any
in the first place. So let's see what is ahead. I'm curious."

Kennon shook his head. "In this business we must hurry slowly--very
slowly. You know why."

"But I want to see."

"Patience, girl. Simmer down. You'll see soon enough," Kennon said. "Now
help me set up this camera."

"Oh, all right--but isn't there any excitement in you?"

"I'm bubbling over with it," Kennon admitted, "but I manage to keep it
under control."

"You're cold-blooded."

"No--I'm sensible. We want to nail this down. My future, yours, and that
of your people depend upon how carefully we work. You wouldn't want to
let us all down by being too eager, would you?"

She shook her head. "No--you're right of course. But I still would like
to see."

They moved cautiously through the airlock and into the control room.

"Ah!" Kennon said with satisfaction. "I hoped fo