Then Penger did an amazing thing. He opened his fist and he still held the Josmian. He placed it on the floor, put a heavy heel on it and came down with all his weight. There was an absurd little pop as the Josmian shattered. Elston stared at him, bewildered. "Not a Josmian," Penger grinned at him. "Glass. One of the cheap glass baubles that sometimes come here on the trade freighters." He gripped Elston's arm. "But don't tell him! Don't ever tell him, at least not for three years." "But I thought he found it in the swamp!" "He found it in his boot, where I placed it when I found him lying out there this morning in a stupor. An experiment, a whim--" Penger shrugged. "I didn't know what would come of it." Joel Latham had almost reached the cruiser. They saw him pause, and then he turned. Joel Latham raised a fist and shook it straight at Penger. "Damn you, Penger! Damn you, damn you!" With that he stumbled up into the waiting lock as Elston hurried after him. * * * * *