would pass?"

"Not just pass, Corbett, but he wanted to bet that your unit would be
top rocket of the Earthworms! The head of the list!"

"But he told Astro that--" he stopped.

"Told him what?" Dixon asked.

"Ah--nothing--nothing--" said Tom. He jumped up and headed for the door.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"To find Manning. There are a couple of things I want to clear up."

Tom left Dixon shaking his head in bewilderment and jumped on the
slidestairs. He was going to have it out with Roger once and for all.
Hopping off the slidestairs onto the forty-second floor, he started down
the long hall to his quarters.

Nearing the door, he heard Roger's laugh, and then his lazy voice
talking to someone inside.

"Sure, they're dumb, but they're not bad guys," said Roger.

Tom walked into the room. Roger was sitting on the side of his bunk
facing Tony Richards.

"Hiya, Corbett," said Roger, "did you hear how Astro made out yet?"

Tom ignored the question.

"I want to talk to you, Roger."

Roger eyed him suspiciously. "Sure, Corbett, go ahead."

"Well, I'll be going along," said Richards. He had heard about the
previous fight between Manning and Corbett and didn't want to be hauled
up as a witness later if they started again. "Remember, Manning," he
called from the doorway, "the bet is two to one, and are you going to
get tired of washing pots and pans!" He waved his hand at Corbett and
disappeared.

"All right, Corbett," Roger turned to Tom. "What's frying you?"

"I just saw Al Dixon down in the rec hall," answered Tom. "He told me
you were looking for bets on the unit ratings. Is that why Richards was
here?"

"That's right," nodded Roger.

"What made you say the things you did to Astro before he went for his
manual?"

"Very simple. I wanted to make him pass and that was the only way."

"You're pretty sure of yourself, Roger."

"I'm always sure of myself, Corbett. And the sooner you learn that, the
easier it'll be for all of us. I never bet unless it's in the bag. I
know Astro's going to pass. Some guys have to have a fire built under
them before they get moving. Astro's one of them."

"That doesn't answer my question," said Tom. "Why did you say the things
you did before a guy goes to take an exam?"

"I said what I did to make Tony Richards give me odds. _And_ to make
Astro mad enough to pass. We're a cinch to win and Richards' outfit
will be indebted to us for a year's worth of galley demerit