ceived our
electrogram."

"Yes, but it was a little vague. It merely said you would arrive at
Outer Port as of this date."

"Quite. We wish to charter your ship for a cruise."

Mike considered. The _Space Queen_ was at liberty but he wasn't sure
about these two. Other than the fact that the man was old, the girl
gray-eyed, slim, and damned pretty, he knew nothing about them. They
certainly didn't look like big game hunters.

"For what destination?"

Professor Brandon hesitated. "Out toward Orion, sir."

"A man could cruise out toward Orion for the rest of his life and
still not arrive at a destination. Could you be more specific?"

"There is a planet out there I wish to visit but at this time I'd
rather discuss details other than its location."

"Such as--?"

"The cost is very important to us."

Doree Brandon spoke up. "My father holds the Chair of Ancient Cultures
at Casa Blanca University, and educators, as you may know, are not
very well paid. We've been saving for this trip for a long time--"

* * * * *

She faltered, somewhat embarrassed and Mike asked, "In what segment of
Orion is this planet located?"

"The ninth, sir."

Mike leaned forward. "May I assume your trip is of a scientific
nature?"

"You may, sir."

"Then I wonder if you are familiar with the Terran Educational
Foundation? I happened to have had contact with them some five years
ago."

"I'm quite familiar with the organization."

"Did it occur to you that they might assume some of the cost of your
trip?"

"They refused. They make the absurd claim that this planet I spoke of
doesn't exist."

"But you have proof to the contrary?"

"An ancient document," Doree Brandon cut in. "A papyrus scroll. Father
translated it."

"And the Foundation did not agree with his translation?"

"I did not submit the scroll. They know nothing about it."

"Father bought it from two men in Paris and worked three years on the
translation." Doree looked at her father with great pride.

"My reasons for not submitting it were personal," Professor Brandon
said, "and are not pertinent to this discussion."

"May I suggest," Mike said gently, "that a pair of crooks sold you a
counterfeit--"

"You may not, sir!"

Doree reflected her father's indignation. "I'll have you know my
father is the foremost authority in his field!"

Mike raised a protective hand. "All right--all right. I'm sorry."

"Then perhaps you'll te