a socio-economic system." He looked at Nadine. "I must be
going, my dear. My, how charming you look. If this is the customary
garb whilst going a-gliding, I shall have to take up the sport."

"Why Phil, inane words of flattery from serious old you?"

Joe squirmed inwardly, wondering again upon what basis was the
friendship of Nadine Haer and Philip Holland.

The butler entered and said, "A call for Major Mauser, if you please."

Only Max Mainz, his batman during his last fracas and now permanently
attached to Joe, knew that he might be found at this address. Joe said
to Nadine, "Would you pardon me for a moment? I assume it's something
important, or I wouldn't be disturbed."

She said, demurely, "Undoubtedly one of the feminine members of a Joe
Mauser buff club."

He snorted amusement and followed the butler to the library and the
tele-screen.

Max Mainz's face loomed in the viewing screen. As soon as Joe
appeared, he said, "Major, sir, the marshal's been trying to get hold
of you ever since you left the hotel."

"The marshal?" Joe scowled.

"Marshal Cogswell. That one they call Stonewall Cogswell. And when he
wants somebody, he really wants 'em, and I got a feeling it's a good
idea to come on the double."

Joe laughed. "Stonewall Cogswell's a tough one all right, Max."

"You ain't just a countin' down, major, sir. He says when I get hold
of you to come on over to his headquarters soonest."

"All right, Max, thanks." Joe flicked the set off.

Actually, Max was right. You didn't ignore a summons from Marshal
Cogswell. Not if you were in the Category Military and ambitious. The
date with Nadine was off. And just when he was beginning to detect
signs of her meeting him on his own level.

VI

It was the common practice among Category Military mercenaries of
highest rank to maintain skeleton staffs between those periods when
they were under hire by corporations or unions. That of Marshal
Stonewall Cogswell was one of the most complete, he habitually keeping
upward of a hundred officers in his private uniform. It paid off, for
with such a skeleton force of highly skilled professionals as a cadre,
the marshal could enlist veterans for his rank and file and whip
together a trained fighting force in a fantastically short period.

And nothing was so of the essence as time, in the present Category
Military. For when two corporations sued for permission to meet on a
military reservation for trial by combat to