"That is the message. You are the man we have picked to accept their challenge. Remember, though, that there are but the four of us in this room. There are but four of us who know these things. If you for any reason do not wish to accept this mission, there will be none to judge you, least of all, any one of us, who know best of all the perils." "You say, sir," I said quietly, although my heart was pounding in my throat, and roaring in my ears, "that there would be none to judge me. "Sir, there would be myself. There could be no more merciless judge. I am honored that I have been selected for this task, and I accept the responsibility willingly, gladly. When is it your wish that we should start?" The three presiding members of the Council glanced at each other, faintly smiling, as though they would say, as Kellen had said a short time before: "Youth! Youth!" Yet I believe they were glad and somewhat proud that I had replied as I did. "You may start," said Kellen, "as soon as you can complete the necessary preparations. Detailed instructions will be given you later." He bowed to me, and the others did likewise. Then Kellen picked up his menore and adjusted it. The interview was over. * * * * * "What do you make it?" I asked the observer. He glanced up from his instrument. "Jaron, sir. Three degrees to port; elevation between five and six degrees. Approximate only, of course, sir." "Good enough. Please ask Mr. Barry to hold to his present course. We shall not stop at Jaron." The observer glanced at me curiously, but he was too well disciplined to hesitate or ask questions. "Yes, sir!" he said crisply, and spoke into the microphone beside him. None of us wore menores when on duty, for several reasons. Our instruments were not nearly as perfect as those in use to-day, and verbal orders were clearer and carried more authority than mental instructions. The delicate and powerful electrical and atomic mechanism of our ship interfered with the functioning of the menores, and at that time the old habit of speech was far more firmly entrenched, due to hereditary influence, than it is now. I nodded to the man, and made my way to my own quarters. I wished most heartily that I could talk over my plans with someone, but this had been expressly forbidden. "I realize that you trust your men, and more particularly your officers," Kellen had told me during the course of his parting conversation with me. "I trust them also--yet we must remember that the peace of mind of the Universe is concerned. If news, even a rumor, of this threatened disaster should become known, it is impossible to predict the disturbance it might create. "Say nothing to anyone. It is your problem. You alone should leave the ship when you land; you alone shall hear or see the evidence they have to present, and you alone shall bring word of it to us. That is the wish of the Council." "Then it is my wish," I had said, and so it had been settled.