"Stick to your meters," drawled Turretman Hastings. "This is a job for an eyepiece and fingertip man. A man, may I say, with eyes in his fingertips. A man, may I add ... Ughh. There she goes, fellers!... who is capable of doing things based upon the excellency of his coordination." "What a line of baloney," snorted Norman. "Did he follow through on that malarkey?" "And, may I add," drawled Hastings, "a man who never claims ability beyond his capability? Who never claims that which he is unable to produce. The _Orionad_ is now bearing a great, ugly, irregular circle of bright red, gooey paint." "Are they aware?" "Apparently not," said Technician Norman. "Also, the projectile we tossed at them is nondetectable and nonradiating, and was in the separation-space too briefly for observation. Another thing, we hit 'em in a blind spot." "Blind spot?" asked Kane. "I didn't know she had any." "She hasn't. What I meant was that we hit 'em in a bald spot. They'll not see the mess until they land. Pilot, how're we doing?" "Fine. We're coasting away at a great rate." "Well, get this barrier down as soon as you get out of range. Wait until you are out of operating range, but don't worry about extreme range unless you think they smell a crate full of mice." "Right-o." "You know, Kane, that was fun, sort of. But I hate to think of what they will say back home. I'm liable to get busted right down to a junior aide again." "They can't break you for that kind of demonstration," said Kane. "Yes they can. I'm still at the mercy of my superiors." Kane smiled. "No, you're not. I forgot to tell you--or you didn't let me get to the point of my coming. But, Guy Maynard, since the successful establishment of the Plutonian shield, you are now a sector commander. That gives you--" "I'm what?" asked Maynard. "A sector commander. Here, if you don't believe me," and Kane handed Guy a tiny box. Guy opened it, and found lapel-insignia; the circling comet of the sector commander. In Kane's other hand was an envelope stamped "Official" which contained official notice of his advance in rank. "That puts you in the upper bracket," said Kane. "You are now on your own, Guy. Any demonstrations you may give will be viewed officially, and this is no longer a prank, but a self-assertion; a very definite evidence of your ability to accomplish the difficult." The barrier dropped, and the celestial globe traced the last indication of the receding _Orionad_ to the surface of the clear, glassite sphere. Maynard touched his hat in salute to the _Orionad's_ last glimmer and said: "Hi!" IX.