Cassidy paced to the edge of the porch and stared out over the field. A monstrous skimmer craft appeared in the distance, floating over toward what seemed to be a pile of trash in front of one of the estates. Twin beams of crimson light darted from the nose of the vehicle and played over the mound. In seconds, the heap had melted away and the skimmer floated on. Wolruf was still walking his octopus-spider pet. There were now two packs of youths out chasing girls. And another skimmer car was having no difficulty surviving the stone-throwing assault of not one, but two dedicated pursuers. Outside of that, Cassidy noted, things appeared quite normal. Mason slapped his thighs and rose. "You go see if Riva knows how we can contact the authorities. I'm going back and stay with the ship." Cassidy watched him crawl under the fence, then went around the side of the house. When he caught sight of the girl, she was just disappearing into a smaller structure that might have been a guest house or garage. Following, he knocked on the door and called out her name anxiously. "To play are you ready?" There was an eager note in her voice as it came through the panel. "In come on. It's all set I'll be in a jiffy." He turned the knob, stepped half into the room, lurched back outside and slammed the door behind him. "_Riva!_" The door started to open, then closed again as the girl laughed. "Oh, all right. Funny you be. It's to play you want, don't you?" He assured her that he did and added, "But there's something we have to talk about now, Riva." "Talk, talk, talk. And it gets you where? Only wastes time, it does." A moment later the door opened and she stood there smiling, with legs apart and hands on her hips. But he hardly had time to react to the skimpiness of her halter and skirt. "Now," she urged as she sprang up on her toes and kissed him full on the lips, "like a chaser make! To the races we're off!" With that, she whirled and went streaking through the next room. * * * * * He surveyed his surroundings. It was an ordinary bedroom with conventional furnishings--perhaps a bit crude even for a culture without any space technology. But, then, it didn't seem uncharacteristic, considering the circumstances. Recognizing the contrast between this guest house and the manor, he frowned as he started off in search of the girl. A worrisome suspicion dogged his thoughts--there had to be sense to Riva and her father and this sumptuous estate, natives who made sport of chasing skimmer craft and voluptuous women when they weren't otherwise indiscreetly occupied. But what? In the kitchen, he discovered Riva's shapely leg protruding from behind a cabinet. He suspected the exposure was not as accidental as she wanted him to believe. He was certain of that when, as he seized her ankle, she crawled out laughing. Now she stood before him, unsmiling and impatient, and her slender arms reached out for his shoulders.