And now it was Anti. He could have found it out by checking the records--if Handicap Haven kept that particular information on file. He was suddenly willing to bet that it wasn't there. He felt his jaw, which ached throbbingly. He deserved it. He hadn't really been convinced that they were people too. * * * * * "We'll stick to the regular lanes," decided Docchi. "I think we'll get closer. They've no reason to suspect we're heading toward Earth. Mars is more logical, or one of the moons of Jupiter, or another asteroid. I'm sure they don't know what we're trying to do." Jordan shifted uneasily. "I'm against it. They'll pick us up before we have a chance to do anything." "There's nothing to distinguish us from an ordinary Earth to Mars rocket. We have a ship's registry on board. Use it. Take a ship that's in our general class and thereafter we'll be that ship. If Traffic blips us, and I don't think they will unless we try to land, we'll have a recording ready. Something like this: 'ME 21 zip crackle 9 reporting. Our communication is acting up. We can't hear you, Traffic.' "That's quite believable in view of the age and condition of our ship. Don't overdo the static effects but repeat it with suitable variations and I don't think they'll bother us." Shaking his head dubiously Jordan swung away toward the tiny fabricating shop. "You seem worried," said Anti as she came in. Docchi didn't turn around. "Yeah." "What's the matter, won't it work?" "Sure. There are too many ships. They can't pick us out among so many. Anyway they're not looking for us around Earth. They don't really know why we took the rocket and escaped." "Then why so much concern? Once we're near Earth we won't need much time." His face was taut and tired. "I thought so too, in the beginning. Things have changed. The entire Solar Police force has been alerted for us." "So the Solar Police really want us? But I still don't understand why that changes a thing." "Look, Anti. We planned to bypass the Medicouncil and take our case directly to the Solar Government. But if they want us as badly as the radio indicates they're not going to be sympathetic. Not at all. "And if they're not, if the Solar Government doesn't support us all the way, we'll never get another chance. Hereafter there'll be guards everywhere on the asteroid. They'll watch us even when we sleep." "Well?" said Anti. She seemed trimmer and more vigorous. "We considered it _might_ turn out this way, didn't we? Let's take the last step first." Docchi raised his head. "Go to the ultimate authority? The Solar Government won't like it." "They won't, but there's nothing they can do about it." "Don't be sure. They can shoot us down. When we stole the ship we automatically became criminals." "I know, but they'll be careful, especially after we make contact. How would it look if we were blown to bits in front of their eyes, in a billion homes?"