"Then, as soon as we were beyond the longest possible range of the most powerful detector-analyzers, even when aimed by a pointer, and taking into consideration that Mars might have had an observer out about even with the orbit of Pluto, I emerged from the derelict and began to decelerate." "Good." "Well, that's about all," he said. He felt that this was it. He was worried that the deeper discussion might bring forth errors and contradictions, and he wanted them to lead him into the initial disclosures rather than to have them add to a statement that might be straining at the truth already. "I slept. I worked. I did about everything a man can do when he's sitting in a lifeship for a solid year waiting for his home planet to come close enough to signal to. This is the hard part. Nothing of any importance happened. One hour was like the rest. I slept when I got tired and worked until I tired of it. I ate when hungry. I shaved when my beard got uncomfortable. I probably have attained a number of bad habits during my enforced hermiting, but they will be easily broken." "Your record is quite clear," said Chairman Mantley. "Is it the agreement of this investigation that Guy Maynard's story be accepted?" "I see no reason why it should be disputed." "What purpose would Maynard have in lying?" "It is truthful enough for me." "I'm in accord." * * * * * "Let's drop this foolishness," said Kane, the publisher. "What is far more important is the public explanation for Maynard's absence." "Our friend of the Fourth Estate is correct," said Mantley. "The log is accepted, and will be maintained in the archives under secret classification." He smiled at Maynard. "Now, young man, you force us into developing a year-long cock-and-bull story for the public." "Sir? I don't understand." "If you breathe a word of that story to anyone else, you'll be the direct reason for an Interplanetary War--with capital letters." "But--" "So it's the truth. You'll learn, young man, that there are times when the truth is not always the best. You are all right, alive and well--to say nothing of being equipped with a few brilliant ideas for your trouble. Your captors are dead and gone. Mars doesn't really know what happened to their _Mardinex_, and Terra doesn't really know anything about the incident. You can't be court-martialed for being Absent Without Leave for we need you and your ideas. You haven't been spacewrecked, for no ship is missing." "How was my absence explained?" asked Guy. "You were M-12." "Oh?" said Guy. "Then it's easy," said Greggor. "Has his first contact been reported yet?" "No. I see your point. Certainly. Funny, it never has happened this way before and now that it did, I forgot the reality."