kid," someone muttered. "Give him the boots. Big phony
hadda go trying a knife."

Stan turned. "No use," he said wearily. "I just hope he's still
alive."

"I don't get it," said someone. "He wants this guy alive?"

Someone else laughed shortly. "Maybe he just likes to make it tough on
himself. Hey, look out! The joes."

As the crowd faded into the nowhere from whence most of it had come, a
guard approached Stan warily.

"Now, look, Graham," he said cautiously, "I gotta throw you in the
hole. You know that, huh?"

Stan nodded listlessly.

"Yeah," he said. "I suppose so."

"Look, fellow, it won't be too long. He jumped you, so they'll have
you out of there real soon." The guard was apologetic.

"Besides, they'll probably offer you his job at Janzel. Get you clear
out of here. Only don't give me a hard time. All you'll get is both of
us flashed."

"Yeah, I know." Stan held out an arm. "Come on, let's go."

* * * * *

Stan watched as the chief test engineer waved a hand.

"Two hundred twenty gravs," the man said. "Full swing completed on
both axes. That's it. Ease off your tractors."

He looked closely at his panel of meters, then got off his stool and
stretched.

"No evidence of strain. Looks as though all components are good." He
turned, looking at the test operators.

"Let's get this place cleaned up."

The sense of disorientation set up by the tractors was subsiding. Stan
got to his feet and looked at his companion.

Dachmann nodded at him.

"Well," he said slowly, "Golzer can get off the hook now. His run'll
be approved. Suppose we get back on the job."

He led the way out of the blockhouse tunnel.

A car was pulling up at the entrance. A heavy, square face looked from
a rear window and a large hand beckoned.

"Dachmann, Graham. Over here."

"Oh, oh." Dachmann sighed. "Here's trouble. Wizow doesn't come out
here unless he's got something."

The blocky production chief looked coldly at them as they approached
the car.

"It'll be a lot better," he growled, "if you two clear through my
office before you start wandering all over the grounds." He looked at
Stan.

"Got a problem for you. Maybe we'll get some action out of you on this
one." He held out a few sheets of paper.

"Hold up over in the components line." He jabbed at a sheet with a
forefinger.

"Take a trip over there and kick it up." He glanced at Dachmann. "Got
another one for you."

Stan to