nusian who stood stripped
to the waist, watching the pressure gauges on the power-deck control
board.

"Hiya, Roger," said Astro with a big grin.

"Hello, Astro," replied Roger and sat down on a stool near by.

"Excuse me a minute, hot-shot," said Astro. "Gotta check the baffling
around reaction tube three." The big cadet hurriedly donned a lead-lined
protective suit and entered the reaction chamber. After a moment he
reappeared and took off the suit. He poured a glass of water, handed it
to Roger, and poured another for himself.

"Gets pretty hot down here," he said. "I don't like to use the air
conditioner when I'm on hyperdrive. Sucks my power output and reduces
pressure on the oxygen pumps."

Roger nodded absently at the needlessly detailed explanation. Astro
looked at him sharply. "Say, what's eating you?"

"Honestly, Astro," said Roger, "I've never felt more miserable in my
life."

"Don't let it get you down, Roger," said Astro. "The major said it was a
mistake anyone could make."

"Yeah," flared Roger, "but have you seen the way he just--_talks_?"

"Talks?" asked Astro blankly.

"Yeah, talks," said Roger. "No yelling, or blasting off, or handing out
demerits like they were candy. Nothing! Why he hasn't even chewed Alfie
out since we left Junior. He just sits in his quarters."

Astro understood now and nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, you're
right. I'd rather have him fusing his tubes than the way he is now."

"Tom must feel pretty rotten, too," said Roger. "I haven't seen much of
him either."

"Or Alfie," put in Astro. "Neither of them have done anything but work.
I don't think either of them has slept since we left Tara."

"It's all my fault!" said Roger. "I'm nothing but a loudmouthed bag of
space gas--with an asteroid for a head!" He got up and lurched toward the
ladder.

"Hey, where you going?" yelled Astro.

"Almost forgot," yelled Roger from the top of the ladder. "I've got to
feed our prisoners a meal. And the way I feel, I'd like to shove it down
their throats!"

Roger went directly to the galley off the control deck and prepared a
hasty meal for Loring and Mason. He piled it on a tray and went below to
the brig.

"All right, Loring," he growled, "come and get it!"

"Well, well, well," sneered Loring. "Where's the big Manning spirit? You
boys are kinda down since you blew that little operation, huh?"

"Listen, you space crawler," said Manning coldly, "one more word out of
yo