to the controls. The RX8 pointed her nose upward, away from this
terrible world of disaster and death--homeward bound. With a tremendous
blast from the stern rocket-tubes she headed swiftly into the heavens.
A thousand miles, five, ten, they shot into space with ever increasing
acceleration.

* * * * *

And then a blazing orb was visible off to one side of the swiftly
receding globe that was Antrid. Through the floor ports it shone,
casting cheerful rays upward to the ceiling where they made a patchwork
pattern of the gleaming metal.

"The sun," Ulana breathed, in awe. "I--I've never seen it, my Carson.
It is most beautiful."

He drew her to him tenderly. "You'll see it every day, dear," he
whispered, "when we're home."

Home--a wonderful thought! He'd not hoped to see it again; hadn't dared
to since Antarro showed his hand back there in the asteroid belt. And
now it was a reality. He was going home, and with him he was
taking--Ulana.

"You--you think they will approve of me?" she was saying as he sent
blasts from the steering rockets to swing them around on a new course
sunward. "Your people, I mean. They will approve of your choice, my
Carson?"

Anxiety showed in her wide-eyed gaze and she drew closer as if fearful
of losing him.

If only she knew! If only he had words to tell her!

"Approve of you!" he said huskily. "Lord, girl, they'll love you! But
not as I love you. It is the biggest thing--"

Tommy's discreet cough came from the head of the companionway. Blaine
turned to glare savagely. His friend was standing there, grinning like
an idiot and extending a paper-wrapped package.

"Look," he exclaimed guilelessly: "cigarettes. I found them, a whole
carton."

"Well, I'll be damned!" Blaine exploded, careful that he spoke in
English. "All you think of, all you've talked about since we left the
vessel, is your hankering for a cigarette. For God's sake, get out of
here and go smoke yourself to death."

But Tommy was advancing, still grinning, still extending the package.
"Come on, old kid, have one," he insisted. "It'll do you good; quiet
your nerves."

And his friend dropped a tantalizing eyelid. In spite of his annoyance
Blaine was forced to laugh. "Oh, all right," he said, reaching for the
package of smokes; "I'll take one. Just to please you. But, beat it
then, will you?"

* * * * *

Swaggering as he went and ca