Carol nodded smiling and moved away from the desk with a lithe movement to stand before Bert. "That's right, Bert. We wanted you to be the first to know. Miles and I are going to be married as soon as we sign the Waring contract on Deimos. Miles wanted to have the wedding here on Earth, but like most women I've decided on an interplanetary wedding! You won't mind us going in the _Viking_ in your place?" The glance that Tanner threw at Miles Berendt was one of venom. Miles felt the whiplash of accusation that welled from Bert's eyes, from his darkening face, the clenching tight muscles around his lips. "A few minutes before Carol came in you said that perhaps I wasn't up to the Deimos trip. What's the matter, Miles, didn't you have the guts to come out and say you planned on going, and why?" Miles tried to keep his voice pleasant. "You're wrong, Bert. I meant to tell you tonight that Carol and I wanted to go in your place. What I said earlier was prompted by other reasons. I'm more than sure I was right about them now." Bert laughed harshly, turned to Carol. "Miles suggested that I ought to see Doctor Lenning. While everybody seems to think congratulations are in order my partner infers I'm ready for a medic check-out. Bert Tanner, ready for the Lenning sanitorium on Venus. Where all space-happy company employees ease their tortured minds. A good place too for an unwelcome partner." Carol's face showed shocked astonishment. "Bert! Have you gone insane--the things you're saying--" Bert turned wrathful eyes on her. "I see he's even got you thinking his way! Well, I don't intend to go to Venus and see Lenning. I'm going to Deimos as planned. The Waring contract is half mine. I'll be damned if he steals the business from me too!" Miles was on his feet. "I'm warning you, Bert. Stop that kind of talk. You don't know what you're saying." "I know what I'm saying, and even more, I know what I'm going to do. I'm taking the _Viking_ to Deimos, and once I sign with Waring you can consider our partnership ended. You can have the Earth operation all to your goddamned self. I'll start up with the Deimos deal." Tanner leaned forward and scooped up the contracts from the desk as Carol watched him in stunned concern. "Bert--why--" He turned toward her, his eyes smouldering. "Carol, you're making a mistake with Miles. He only wants you so he can pin up another triumph over me. He--" "Get out, Bert. You've said enough." Tanner looked at Miles Berendt. Miles had his arm around Carol but there was a fire in his eyes. * * * * * Tanner laughed. "You can forget about Deimos, Miles. I'm going in the morning. Jeff Morrow is setting the auto-pilot on the _Viking_ as I instructed. I'm afraid you'll have to find another wedding present. One that you can't steal." Turning, he slammed out of the room, hearing Carol sob in Miles Berendt's arms as he went.