Following this embarrassing episode, Stern tried several times to explain what he had been doing but was perfunctorily rejected in each attempt. The days hung heavily as more and more crew members, deciding to play it safe, imitated their chief and treated him like a pariah. Most even refused to exchange brief comments about the _Probe's_ navigational progress across the Galaxy, the spaceman's polite equivalent of the landman's time-killing rehashes of the weather. Eventually Crawford alone was left among those indifferent to Linder's wrath and Barnes' prying. * * * * * "It's an utterly ridiculous situation," Stern protested one day when Crawford came by. "I know it." "What's he going to accuse me of when we reach Terra--secret communication with the enemy?" "Practically. You'll be tried on suspicion of that possibility." "And acquitted of it. He'll look plain silly after the hearings." "I suspect that too. But don't forget he's been made to look very silly--a grown man getting spanked!" "You went through the same indignity and still managed to be philosophical enough to talk to me." "Stern, _you_ didn't have to be philosophical at all. Frankly, even I feel puzzled by their discriminating against the rest of us like that." Stern shrugged. "I think they realized I already had a tiny inkling of what was up while the rest of you, Linder and Barnes especially, were arrogantly rubbing them the wrong way. You see, if there's any condescending to be done, they're the ones who've earned the privilege now." Crawford's brow wrinkled thoughtfully. "You _do_ have some kind of inkling!" He considered the portable electromagnetic projector at Stern's elbow. "You were working that before I came in, weren't you?" The older man strummed the arm of his chair. "It's not good enough for the final proof. I need the main projector in the Commander's quarters." He slammed the arm with sudden vehemence. "I've had enough--he's going to listen to me before it's too late for him! He's too good a spaceman to ruin his career the way he probably will if the hearing against me gets going. They'll put him down for an obstructive old fool and never let him make a solar system run again!" Crawford considered him for a long second. "You're really serious, aren't you? What makes you so sure you could convince him?" "I only suspect I can. But I'll need the projector for it." "Well, I still don't see how, Stern. You ought to hear him talking about finding you playing some kind of kid's game, moving your hands like crazy. What do I say if he brings that up again?"