"Leon. Any news?" The young man seemed troubled, though he was doing his best to conceal it. "Yes, and none of it good. Salnikov is on the communicator. I'd better let him explain it." They walked quickly to the high wall of the dock, rose in separate tubes to a curving corridor on the primary floor. From this they entered the meeting room. A large screen at the front of it showed the dispassionate face of Vladimir Salnikov, Soviet ambassador to Marcum-Lauries Independent. They pushed past the chairs of an oval table and went to the railing before it. "Yes, Vladimir. What have you got?" "I've been talking with Science Central," said the ambassador. "We know what the problem is, but are not yet certain what is causing it." "Well are you going to tell me or do I have to guess it?" If all the stars in Space had suddenly gone out, it would never show on that face. "Easy, Nicholai. I am on your side?" Dobrynin gave a reluctant nod. "Your planet is in serious trouble. She will not engage her second orbit. She only remains at the equilibrium point between the two, and loses almost six minutes each rotation. Internal pressures, as I am sure you know, are dangerously high. If something does not change soon, she will blow herself apart. You have perhaps ninety-eight hours." ... "Why, Vladimir? Why?" "We cannot be sure, except to say there is no natural phenomenon that would explain it." A pause. "Is there anything else you can tell me?" "Not for the record." "What about off it?" "Go to scramble," said the Soviet. "Code 4." His son made the necessary adjustments. Salnikov began again, the words no longer corresponding to the movement of his lips. "Can you understand me?" "Yes." "Have you sent out your reconnaissance?" "Yes, toward Cantos." "Deviate course. There is nothing there." "Where should we go instead?" Salnikov gave a set of coordinates: a straight line out from the planet, directly opposed to its trajectory, as it sought to cross the intersection of its figure-eight orbit, and begin to move around the second sun. "What should we look for?" "An enormous station, over one hundred kilometers across. You won't pick it up on laser or visual, but if you send someone out you will see it clear enough." "What is its function?" "We don't know, and we are not about to go in and find out. But its location is suspicious. That is all I can say." ".....okay. Thank you, Vladimir." "Good luck, Nicholai. I think that you will need it." The screen went blank. "Leon. go down to the lower communication room and signal all bases. I want everyone off---everyone. These domes won't hold forever. I'm going to try and reach Percy." Without further speech his son was gone. He leaned over the railing and tried, and after twenty minutes finally succeeded, in reaching the racing ship.