The darkness around them was Stygian. But as more dust settled, the sky cleared, and the normal stars of the lunar night blazed out. Their attention was drawn in one direction inevitably. Red-hot lava glowed there, in scattered areas over what was clearly an extensive expanse of territory. White vaporous plumes spurted high above the ground, and against the sides of new-formed meteor-craters, a white layer was collecting. Copeland staggered erect. "Frost and snow!" he stammered. "From volcanic steam! The first frost and snow on the Moon in a billion years! We've done it, Brinker! Brulow's Comet really did crack the thick lunar crust...." He heard Brinker's grunt of premature enthusiasm. The Patrol picked them up hours later, wandering dazedly. They were emaciated ghosts of men--almost skeletons in armor. They gave their names, but didn't really come to their senses until the prison doctor in Tycho Station treated them, and they had slept for a long time. "Don't worry, fellas. Relax," he said--with fury in his eyes. Other faces were grim. * * * * * At the speedy trial in Tycho Station, sharp-featured Krell was among many who flung accusations. "In the impact-zone itself--an area a hundred miles across--mining installations and machinery of tremendous value were utterly destroyed," he said. "But lesser damage extends to a far wider circle. Thousands of claims have been buried in dust, till much of the far lunar hemisphere will have to be resurveyed. Luckily, miners and explorers were warned in time, and sought safety. But the charge of wholesale vandalism--terrible enough--does not stand alone. These men are to be remembered as accused robbers and murderers." In rebuttal, Brinker's defiance was a little uncertain, as if under so much blame, he had lost his assurance. "Men who know the Moon know that its barrenness is poison, and not right for people!" he growled. "I tried to change it with Brulow's Comet--when I had no success by other means. Anyway, Copeland is blameless. I forced him to help me." Embitted, there was no warmth in Copeland for his older codefendant and jinx. Still, even without Brinker's attempt to shield him, he would have been loyal. "During all important parts of mine and Jess Brinker's joint project," he told the court, "I was in full agreement with his purpose." Their attorney accomplished one considerable victory before these angry people. The charge of previous murders and robbery was barred; it was admitted that footprints were easy to duplicate, and that the presence of some bearing the names of the guilty was unlikely. Brinker got fifty years in the mine-pits, and Copeland thirty. "You always figured I might get you in a jam, didn't you, Cope?" Brinker said. "I'll keep trying to fix that." * * * * *