to co-operate?"

"Well, we can't afford to leave men of your type in a position of
influence, Mr. Black," Cranehart said amiably. "And you understand, I'm
sure, that it would be entirely too difficult to keep you under proper
surveillance on Earth--"

* * * * *

Celia Adams said from outside the cabin door, "I think it is them, Phil.
Both cars have started to circle."

Phil Boles came to the door behind her and looked up. It was early
evening--Roye's sun just down, and a few stars out. The sky above the
sea was still light. After a moment, he made out the two aircars moving
in a wide, slow arc far overhead. He glanced at his watch.

"Twenty minutes late," he remarked. "But it couldn't be anyone else. And
if they hadn't all come along, they wouldn't have needed two cars." He
hesitated. "We can't tell how they're going to take this, Celia, but
they may have decided already that they could make out better without
us." He nodded towards the edge of the cliff. "Short way over there,
and a long drop to the water! So don't let them surprise you."

She said coldly, "I won't. And I've used guns before this."

"Wouldn't doubt it." Phil reached back behind the door, picked up a
flarelight standing beside a heavy machine rifle, and came outside. He
pointed the light at the cars and touched the flash button briefly three
times. After a moment, there were two answering flashes from the leading
car.

"So Wayne Jackson's in the front car," Phil said. "Now let's see what
they do." He returned the light to its place behind the door and came
out again, standing about twelve feet to one side of Celia. The aircars
vanished inland, came back at treetop level a few minutes later. One
settled down quietly between the cabin and the edge of the cliff, the
other following but dropping to the ground a hundred yards away, where
it stopped. Phil glanced over at Celia, said softly, "Watch that one!"
She nodded almost imperceptibly, right hand buried in her jacket pocket.

The near door of the car before them opened. Major Wayne Jackson,
hatless and in hunting clothes, climbed out, staring at them. He said,
"Anyone else here?"

"Just Celia and myself," Phil said.

Jackson turned, spoke into the car and two men, similarly dressed, came
out behind him. Phil recognized Ronald Black and Sanford. The three
started over to the cabin, stopped a dozen feet away.

Jackson said sardonically, "Our five other previous