Jerry paused, awaiting a response. When none was forthcoming, he turned his gaze slowly to meet that of the mess boy, hoping he was doing it casually enough to allay anything like suspicion in the other man. But the smile he met was, affectionately, the smile of a man who hasn't been fooled. "That's not it, sir," said Ollie. "I know it's not. Because you're keyed up the wrong way. You're keyed up with worry that you _won't_ have a job to do. Your big upset's a lot like a--Well, like a junky waiting for his next fix.... If you'll pardon the expression, sir." * * * * * "I will _not_ pardon it!" Jerry bawled, then gripped the arms of his chair and shook his head in instant apology as the other man's face went slack with surprise. "No, Ollie, no. I take that back. I _asked_ you to sit there, _told_ you to let me know what was on your mind. I can't very well blow up just because you followed my lead." "Everyone blows up, now and then, sir," Ollie said. Jerry nodded glumly. Ollie got up. "I'll be in the ward room, sir, if you need anything else," he said. "Unless you'd like me to stick around awhile?" Jerry considered the offer, then shook his head. "No.... I'd better not, Ollie." The barest ghost of humor glowed a moment on the zoologist's face. "You're too damned easy to talk to." "Yes, sir," Ollie grinned, then went out and closed the door after him. Jerry sat in the chair a second longer, then jumped up and pulled the door open again. Ollie, a few steps down the passageway, turned about in curious surprise. "Sir?" "Tell Captain--" Jerry began, then realized his voice was nearly a ragged shout, and lowered it. "Would you please tell the captain to speed things up if he can, Ollie?" Ollie hesitated. "The vector--" he started, then stiffened militarily and replied, "Yes, sir. At once, sir." "No," Jerry groaned, closing his eyes and hanging onto the metal edge of the doorframe. "Forget it. He's got a course to follow in. He can't get there any faster." Ollie, knowing this already, just stood there. "Just go have a cup of coffee," Jerry added, lamely. "And about what I said--" "_You_ know I wouldn't say anything about it, sir," Ollie said. "I know," Jerry admitted. "Sorry. Space nerves or something of the sort, I guess." "Sure, sir." The mess boy turned and continued down the passageway. Jerry shut the door slowly, then sat down in his chair once more, and stared at the clock, and sipped the hot coffee, and fought the cold needle-pricks of fear in every muscle and joint of his body.... II The colony on the second planet of Sirius existed solely due to one of those vicious circles of progress. Just as iron is needed to make the steel to build the tools and equipment necessary to mine the raw iron ore, so this colony was needed to mine the precious mineral that made such colonies possible in the first place.