"If there are no aliens there's no question of interstellar law. They'll have to hunt us down over an entire planet and maybe blast us off. I don't think sentiment will let them actually harm us. If there are aliens, what are they going to do? We've told our story first." The asteroid seemed to leap ahead as all but the most necessary functions were curtailed and additional power was channeled into the drive. There was no sense of motion, merely of tension as the unmistakable vibration increased. In the darkness through the darkness they hurtled. Sleeping or waking Docchi remained near the scanner, as if his presence would somehow cause the ship to recede. It didn't. Across the silence the race went on intently. Weeks passed and Anti walked with increased assurance as her weight diminished and her strength grew greater. Maureen recovered and was released from the hospital. She disappeared frequently, mostly with Webber, and no one questioned where they went. Jeriann came when she could get away from her hospital work. She came at night because it was usually night now though occasionally lights were turned on for short periods and warmth was allowed to filter through the dome. They couldn't risk killing the plants on which they depended for part of their oxygen supply. "Good thing you're here," said Docchi once when she entered. "I want you to make some adjustments." She followed him to the next room where the former librarian was now the command unit presiding over their destiny. "There," he said gloomily as she changed a number of settings slightly. "That's as good as I can do." "How good is it?" "Faster than we've gone before. I don't know the exact speed." "Faster than with Nona?" "I think so. Of course I don't know what she could have gotten out of it if she'd tried--but she always seemed to hold something back." She would rather not have asked but the answer was on his face. "But it's not good enough?" He sat down near the command unit. "They found out what we were doing and increased their own speed. It's slightly greater than ours." "Well, why do we do it?" she said. "It takes more and more power to add another mile per second as we approach the speed of light. But that holds true for them too." He tried to frown away the problem she posed. "Sure, but it doesn't matter to them as long as they can match anything we do." "But they'd just as soon not. They're inconvenienced the same as we are when they have to divert too much power. They're better organized and it's not so bad, but still they have to do without their ordinary comforts. I don't see any point in tormenting ourselves. Let's turn on the lights and warm up the place. They'll do the same when they see it." "Maybe they will," he said grudgingly. He was not going to accept her advice. She tried again. "Will the scanner reach Earth?"