talk to anyone that wants to
talk. Buy people drinks. Let it slip that you're not exactly on the
right side of the space code. Then, if you feel you have a sympathetic
listener, mention Wallace and Simms. Say you have heard of the trouble
they're in. Say you know them, that you're old friends, and hint that
you have something that they need very badly. Just keep talking and
pulling for information. Got that?"

Again the three cadets nodded silently.

"Wear your paralo-ray guns at all times and keep your belt communicators
hidden beneath your jackets," Strong warned. "If one team gets into a
tight spot, call the other right away. But don't call unless it's
absolutely necessary!" Strong paused and glanced at the tele-scanner.
"We're getting close to Luna City. We'll touch down at the municipal
spaceport and go through the regular routine of customs search just to
establish ourselves as tramp spacemen."

"How long will we stay in each city, sir?" asked Tom.

"Watch that 'sir,' Tom," snapped Strong. "Might as well begin to forget
it now."

"O.K., Steve," replied Tom sheepishly.

"To answer your question, we'll stay in each city only as long as there
might be something to be gained by staying. We'll live aboard the _Dog
Star_. But stay away from the ship as much as possible. If anyone
questions you, tell them you're looking for cargo. But in case they take
you up on it and offer you a cargo haul, you always want more money for
the job."

Roger grinned. "That could be fun."

"Be clever, but be tough. Some of the people you'll run into are the
most ruthless men in the universe. They are just the ones that might
know something about Wallace and Simms."

Strong cautioned them against drinking rocket juice, suggesting they
drink Martian water instead. The briefing was interrupted by the
automatic warning beep from the tele-scanner informing them that they
had passed the outer beacon on the approach to the municipal spaceport
on the Moon. The four spacemen immediately began the routine task of
landing their ship safely on the satellite colony.

An hour later, as gray-clad customs men finished searching the empty
ship, Roger waited for final clearance at the air lock of the freighter.
When the last of the men were leaving the ship, Roger stopped two of
them.

"Say, ground hogs," drawled Roger, "where's the best place to get
something to eat?"

The two men stopped and turned to face the cadet, their eyes cold and
un