Gavin felt the girl's hand seize his shoulders in a grip of steel. She had come up behind him lightly as a cat. Her fingers dug into his arms and held him like a vise. Her buxomness, he realized, in dismay, must be solid muscle. "Kill him," she advised X over Gavin's shoulder. "He's probably a spy for one of the other companies." She had a harsh metallic voice. X looked undecided. Gavin wrenched his shoulders. The girl merely tightened her grip until his biceps felt numb. She smelled strongly of arsilene, a heavy sweetish Martian perfume. She said over his shoulder again, "Who else but one of their spies would refuse a million credits?" The shot struck home. X made an expression of distaste and slipped his hand in the pocket of his jacket. It was no time for gallantry. Gavin snapped back his head. His skull crushed into the girl's face. Her hands loosened. With a wrench, he jerked free and kicked the table in X's lap. With a wrench, Gavin jerked free! Gavin bounded around the table, pulling his hands from his pockets. Brass knucks gleamed on both fists. X was scrambling up from beneath the debris. Gavin hit him in the temple. He whirled in time to see the big blonde reaching for him. Gavin had no intention of letting her get her hands on him again. His gleaming knucks caught the girl on the jaw. She folded to the floor, half-across the legs of the unconscious X. He regarded the pair for a moment, catching his breath. Then he went to the door, shot a bolt and opened it cautiously. The three men who had herded him into the bar were standing just outside. He backed out, waved negligently and said, "I'll see you later, then," loudly enough for the three men to hear, and closed the door. The men eyed him coldly. As soon as he was past they trooped inside. Gavin instantly lit out running at top speed. He didn't slow down until he skidded inside the Temple of Joy half a block away and brought up panting before a startled headwaiter. "Where's the Nova party?" "Nova party, sir?" "Yes, yes," Gavin said impatiently. He changed position so he could keep the entrance in sight. "The officers of the Nova are throwing a celebration here tonight. Where are they, man? Speak up." The waiter looked at Gavin as if he were crazy. "I never heard of them," he said. "There's no such party here." Gavin's lips thinned. He was silent a moment, digesting this information. He glanced toward the door. To return now to the street would be fatal. They would be waiting for him. He wasn't safe even here in the lobby of the Temple of Joy. He wanted to mix in with the safety of crowds and lights. He gave the waiter a bill, saying, "Get me a table then, near the wall." The waiter's expression changed miraculously. He said, "Yes, sir," and ushered Gavin into the inner sanctum.