He fought against the memories that kept struggling back. He didn't want to remember the excited voices of the commentators, the descriptions of the crash in space, the long list of the dead. Only one name on that list had any meaning for the ragged, homely youngster. His heart and soul were burned and seared to one mass of scar. He would become a captain. He would fight the space that had taken his gem. He would fight it, and the men in it. Brace sighed, and looked up at the stars. But was he fighting space? Or was he fighting a memory, the memory of a girl? And what about this girl--was he fighting her? Suddenly, he felt rotten, inside and out. Brace looked down at the girl beside him. The kindly light of the stars mellowed the outlines of her face. It could have been the face of Cecelia. Starlight was kind, but no one could ever be so beautiful as Cecelia, never. No, she wasn't Cecelia, yet in one way they were the same, that same smallness and frailty against the backdrop of a cruel space ship and its even crueler Captain. He took a deep breath and straightened himself resolutely. "Wait here," he whispered hoarsely, and he quickly backed down the ladder to the companionway. * * * * * As Brace entered the control room, Barrows looked up. "We've been stalling that space-rat." "Who?" "Gartland!" Brace stared at him blankly for a moment. "Well, you shoved her out, didn't you?" Barrows asked, annoyed. Brace pushed past him and walked to the communication panel. "Put him on, Sparks." The communication officer pressed the key before him several times. There was a pause, then the opaque panel lit up with the thin face of Gartland. "Ah, Captain Brace. I thought you might miss our little rendezvous. We had quite a time finding you." "Well, I'm here!" Brace snarled. He didn't like him. It even made him feel dirty to talk to him. "I imagine you're a little surprised to see me." "Hmmm," Brace murmured. "Yes," Gartland continued, "I'm a little surprised myself. Well--the S.P. and I were going to have a little trouble so--I decided to move. If I'd known it, I could have--ah--removed your cargo on Titan." Brace grunted at the face on the panel. "I'll bring it to you in a life craft." "Oh, that won't be necessary, Captain Brace." "I WANT it that way!" Brace snapped. Gartland shrugged. "All right, then. We'll hold our position. We're about a thousand kilos sunward. Maybe I'll offer you a drink, if we've got anything strong enough." Brace cut the switch without answering and scowled. "Hold your position!" he snapped to the pilot. He then looked at the impassive face of Barrows, studying him. "You're in command," he said finally. Ignoring the mate's curious stare, he turned and left. * * * * * Brace stood by the iron ladder in the companionway. "Come down, girl!" he called.