"Mars has as much a right to freedom and monopoly on its own civilization as Earth on hers. Because a few greedy men spread tyranny through Certagarni, the Thyles, Botrodus, Zabirnza and other regions, they blame all of Earth. Neither you nor I can say they're wrong!" "It's deeper than that, Del. The Vrons of Centauri have as great a hand in it as Wilcox, Onupari and the other earthmen here. You'll find--" "Bosh!" snapped Andres, and then that smouldering flame was in his eyes again, something that leaped to the lure of the far places and spoke of the meteoric winds that blow between the worlds. His deep, resonant voice grew strained, lingered on his words: "I wonder--" * * * * * The purring of a bell insinuated itself above the dull droning without. Hunter Frederix arose, switched on the televisorphone. "Hello, Dave," he addressed the face on the video, "what's up?" "Plenty, Hunt. Just received a teletype from Kaa. Revolt has broken out all over Botrodus. Captain Adelbert Andres is commanded to report immediately to eleventh division Kaa to command the defense squadrons. Signed by old 'Zipper' Taine himself. And, Hunt, something is screwy in the air over here. The old man's on a hot jet over something or other. Better get over here quick!" "O.K., brother Cravens! Del will break a speed record getting to Kaa; he has the old battle itch worse than ever. I'll be over to the Station as soon as my gyro'll make it. Sounds like all hell is about to break in the city!" "So? Well, you'd--So long!" Cravens broke off abruptly, and they could see him whirl away from the transmitter as the videos died. Snapping off the T V P, Hunter Frederix turned and said slowly, regretfully: "Well, this is it!" A smile lightninged across Andres' face. "It's about time! This inactivity was killing me!" "Be careful; the best of luck and all that; and may you come back in one piece!" "One _live_ piece, Frederix!" he mocked, and his dark face, tanned by long exposure to Centauri's blazing binary sun, set forth the fierce glint in his eyes and sudden, bitter pain on his lips. "Thank God it matters to some one--" "It matters to the world," Frederix said softly. "After all the Legion is ten light years away, and the Defense Squadrons must keep our system at peace!" "Just keep believing that we will. Faith helps a lot sometimes." Their hands clasped warmly. "So I'm checking out. If you get near Botrodus, drop in at the Rendezvous; I'll be there if I'm off duty. You see, I've a new robot to show you--something I can't understand myself--powered by radium; and I _know_ it has intelligence!" "O.K., Del. And I may be in sooner than you think. When Dave Cravens gets the jitters something pretty powerful is giving them to him!" "Good old Dave. He was with me at Kackijakaala, helped me at the robot controls--but you know about that. Ask him to tell you about the time we were surrounded at Travarga." "He has!"