Slowly, the Buttons turned around. There, by an odd square tree, stood a man even bigger than Possett, smoking a pipe. He was middle-aged. He wore a heavy brown beard, khaki shorts, a deep coat of tan, and a self-possessed smile. He bowed. "Burgee is my name--Space Captain Alexander Burgee. Glad to make your acquaintance." "It's him!" screamed Cousin Aurelia. "And he's practically naked!" She pointed a cotton-gloved finger, began backing away. "You fiend, don't you come any nearer. Don't you _touch_ me!" The captain looked very surprised. "Why would I want to?" Her voice reached a new high and clung there. "You--you libertine! You may lead a riotous life with these natives, but you won't work your will on me. I'll lock myself in till the police can come from New Texas!" And, tripping and stumbling over her duster, she fled. As the door banged behind her, the captain nudged a large beast off a nearby rock, and sat down. "I can see that Earth hasn't changed," he remarked. "You tourists still seem to have the daffiest notions." He sounded quite hurt. "Look, these natives are nice little people. They're harmless. I call 'em my Sugar Plum pixies, and sometimes we grin at each other. But that's all. They aren't much past the animal stage. Besides, they lay eggs. Oh, well--" he shrugged as the Buttons exchanged knowing looks--"I have plenty of room at the house and I guess you'll be permanent guests, so welcome to Sugar Plum, anyway." Betty said angrily, "Sugar Plum's ours. You didn't pay taxes and they sold it at auction. Charles has the deed in his pocket." "You poor, dumb kids!" The captain seemed really concerned. "You bought some fool bureaucrats error. I'm paid up in advance. Come on down, you can see the receipt." "Aren't you clever?" said Betty scornfully. "Well, you won't trap us as easily as that. We don't need you or your house." "You just might want something to eat, or a hot, soapy shower, or a tight roof over you when it rains." The Buttons smiled triumphantly. They had their own house, with a DoItAll to do everything for them. "You can leave us alone, Mr. Pirate Burgee. Captain Possett told us your whole horrible story, and Cousin Aurelia is calling the police right this minute." "Possett?" The captain's face twitched. "Mike Possett, of the _Beautiful Joe_?" "That's right." Charles felt very superior. "Now you beat it before--" He didn't finish. From the house came a loud, anguished cry. They whirled. Cousin Aurelia, disheveled without helmet or duster, was almost upon them. "Charles! It won't work!" She reached him, threw her arms round his neck and hung on. "I can't turn the servants on, or the teleprojection, or even the keys to the closets. Oh, Charles, we'll have nothing to eat, or to drink, or to wear!" "That's impossible. DoItAlls never break down." "We can't live without it!" screeched Cousin Aurelia. "We're millions of miles from Boston! We're marooned with that monster!"