The big man's stiffened arm suddenly dropped back to his side, perfectly normal again. An ice-ray's harmless effect lasted only a minute--but while it lasted it was a potent weapon. "You're a big talker with that gun in your hand." In answer, Flint dropped the pistol at his feet. The other glanced at his men, saw them waiting for his next move. He strode forward. Flint waited solidly before him, fists on his hips. "You aren't leaving?" "Nope." Then quick as a snake the fellow bent, tried to scoop up the pistol. Flint was quicker. His fist plowed into the man's chin. The blow lifted him up on his toes, sent him stumbling backward till he crumpled silently to the ground. "Anybody else got any arguments?" Flint asked, looking toward the others. Nobody had. "Then get off this planetoid. If I catch you here again I'm going to send _your_ hides back to your filthy fur boss." Two of the men came over with tight lips and picked up their unconscious comrade. Straining under his weight, they rejoined the others who were moving back toward the trampled jungle, muttering silently. Flint picked up his pistol, dropped it in his holster. He strode over to the side of the corral and kicked a hole in the fence to let out the feather-deer. Then, with a glance at the low-lying sun, he set out down a dim trail, walking fast. Despite his threat, he knew he hadn't seen the last of this business. * * * * * From the wild region Flint called home, through the maze of Ring planets to the Saturn mainland, was only an hour's jump--if you knew the way. If you didn't, well, even the Stellar Patrol got lost looking for you. The Ring was uncharted, an inestimable jumble of satellites ranging in size from sand-like grains to full-blown worlds supporting their own plant and animal life. Their only ties to the mother planet were the cosmic forces that kept them constantly revolving around her and their common atmosphere, so deep it enveloped both Saturn and the Ring. Flint knew every shape, every color, every landmark in the place, and his plane weaved through the maze at a speed that would have ended in a crash with a less experienced hand at the controls. The hazy twilight was just settling over Saturn when he plunged down into its capital city. Pausing at the space-port only long enough to wiggle into a shirt, he caught the shuttle chute across town and arrived at the capitol just as the government workers were leaving the building. He ran up the gleaming stairs, turned down the glowing corridor and hurried through the silver door on which impressive letters read: GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. A secretary looked up from her desk with startled eyes. Her expression changed from surprise to alarm as Flint strode past her toward a closed door at the end of the room. "Here! Do you have an appointment--" But Flint had shoved open the door and stepped into the Governor's private office.