The Major's face was an angry red. He started to say something, then stopped, and scowled at them instead. They met his stare. Finally he threw up his hands. "All right, so I can't legally stop you," he said. "But at least I can beg you to use your heads. You're wasting time and money on a foolish idea. You're walking into dangers and risks that you can't handle, and I hate to see it happen. "Mining in the Belt is a job for experienced men, not rank novices." "Johnny Coombs is no novice." "No, but he's lost his wits, taking you two out there." "Well, are there any other dangers you have in mind?" Once more the Major searched for words, and failed to find them. "No," he sighed, "and you wouldn't listen if I did." "It seems everybody is warning us about how dangerous this trip is likely to be," Greg said quietly. "Last night it was Merrill Tawney. He offered to buy us out, he was so eager for a deal that he offered us a fantastic price. Then Johnny tells us that Dad mined some rich ore when he was out there on his last trip, but never got a chance to bring it in because of his ... accident. Up until now I haven't been so sure Dad _didn't_ just have an accident, but now I'm beginning to wonder. Too many people have been warning us...." "You're determined to go out there, then?" "That's about right." The Major picked up the clearance papers, glanced at them quickly, and signed them. "All right, you're cleared. I hate to do it, but I suppose I'd go with you if the law would let me. And I'll tell you one thing ... if you can find a single particle of evidence that will link Jupiter Equilateral or anybody else to your father's death, I'll use all the power I have to break them." He handed the papers back to Tom. "But be careful, because if Jupiter Equilateral is involved in it, they're going to play dirty." At the door he turned. "Good trip, and good luck." Tom folded the papers and stuck them thoughtfully into his pocket. They met Johnny Coombs in the Registry offices upstairs; Tom patted his pocket happily. "We're cleared in forty-five minutes," he said. Johnny grinned. "Then we're all set." They headed up the ramp, reached ground level, and started out toward the launching racks.