"That slab of red paint says you're wrong," said Greggor sternly. Inkland inspected the red paint from where they stood and was forced to admit that _something_ had been close enough to do it while in space. "Who did that?" he stormed. Mantley indicated Maynard, and Inkland strode over to Guy with murder in his eye. "You insolent young puppy--I'll see that you lose your rank, senior executive." He whirled to the assembly and said: "No matter what was done, the fact that a mere senior executive did it is good enough to prove that it was a prank--" "Just a moment," snapped Maynard. "First, I resent being called a puppy. I dislike being called insolent. And third, I defy your intent to deprive me of my rank!" "Why you--" "For your troubles, Patrol Marshal Inkland, I shall consider my success complete upon the day that I command the _Orionad_ myself!" "Ridiculous." "Inkland," said Mantley softly, "I would speak more even. You are at fault, and the fact that Sector Commander Maynard has decorated your ship in a complex space maneuver of his own device should bring praise from you instead of hatred." "Sector Commander?" asked Inkland. "His insignia has not been properly installed," said Space Marshal Greggor with a fatherly smile. "But his rank has. And if young Guy Maynard puts his aim at commanding the _Orionad_, I'm beginning to believe that I would start looking for another job, if I were you." * * * * * Inkland turned upon his heel and left, with no further word. The group of high-ranking officers followed him at length, leaving Maynard to watch the mighty _Orionad_ being serviced and unloaded. He stood there for some time, relaxing and enjoying the fresh air and watching the operations. He found a comfortable spot, and seated himself lazily. He did not sleep, though he did drowse a bit, and a sparse circle of cigarette butts began to surround him. He did not care; his last sojourn into space had made him appreciative of the comforts of just being on Earth where he could watch the sky and the ground meeting at the horizon. He was not molested; though many people came to see the monster _Orionad_, none bothered him until the day wore into late afternoon. His first visitor was Laura Greggor. "Guy," she said. Her voice was neither sharp nor inviting, but rather a flat tone of greeting. Guy leaped to his feet and reached for her hands. "Laura!" he breathed. "It's good to see you!" "I thank you for that," she said coldly. "Why," he asked her, "what's the matter?" "Guy, before I go any further, I want to know something. Did you, or did you not decorate father's ship?" "Why," he answered proudly, "I most certainly did." "I didn't believe it of you," she said sharply. "There was nothing wrong with it," he said. "It was the best thing that happened to me." "You believe that?" asked Laura.