"I can, for sure. I'll undergo court martial after. But the treaty will stand. The pledged word of the Galactic Patrol is sacred. Only the Patrol binds humanity into any kind of unity, and its very existence depends upon planetary trust in Patrol good faith." "It's so much power for one man." "Not every man is made a Patrol captain. Believe me, Wendy, your planet will live. And I'm glad." Then she was in his arms and they were kissing, and Captain-Ambassador Welnicki trod on air back to the settlement feeling that the game was worth the candle if they took his head for it. He signed with a flourish, Stephen Welnicki, Captain, GP, subscribed Ambassador Plenipotentiary. Then he called his aides into council and assumed the status formally, just for the record. * * * * * Days passed, shorter and warmer, fruits forming on the native plants. Basic installations were complete. Exploring and mapping teams brought in mineral and biotic specimens for testing. It was midsummer of the four-hundred-two-day year. President Fishdollar brought up a delicate subject with the ambassador plenipotentiary. Four of her citizens were, well, you know, and they wanted to marry four of his marines. Could he authorize it? "Of course, Wendy. Enlisted men may marry on any treaty planet." He spoke to Chong. "I told 'em hell no," the sergeant said. "Us marines depend on higher authority to protect us from that. You're gonna back me up, ain't you, captain?" "No I'm not! What's so terrible about marriage?" "Ask Corporal Hodges that, captain. He's married and the Fishdollars _know_ it." * * * * * Chief Justice Sandrew married the four couples in a mass ceremony. President Fishdollar wept and the ambassador plenipotentiary comforted her. She was distrait and melancholy in the days that followed, and the ambassador plenipotentiary was himself obscurely troubled. Eight more couples married. Then one evening they were again on the headland in a flaming sunset and she began crying softly. She didn't know why, unless it was because the sunset was so beautiful. So he held her and they talked in low voices until, as the sun's red disk touched the sea rim, he had to tell her that no Galactic Patrol officer could marry until he reached the rank of commander. "But you're a captain already, Stevie." "Only in a special, temporary way--" "But your heroism, finding us, losing your ship--surely they'll make it permanent." "Wendy, they'll want my head for all that. I ... I've tried to think that way myself, but I can't. I do believe, in the far future the name Welnicki will be honored by what I have done, but now--when Captain Kravitz comes--I have no right--" "Every man has a right to happiness, Stevie. What if you married anyway?" "Cashiered, automatically. Ten generations of Welnickis have given their lives to the Patrol with not one dishonorable action--"