"After what you did--those crippled airlocks?" The captain's laugh was curt and mirthless. "They'll have the whole Federation fleet out hunting for us. The only chance we've got is to find cover." "And even if we do, we'll still be outlawed?" "That's right." The captain shrugged. "So far as I'm concerned, I might as well tear up my ticket." "But if we get mekronal and chandak--" "That's why I chanced it." Boone's backbone prickled. He stared at the screen in aching silence. Overhead, the com-box crackled: "Detector room reporting. We are getting blips off Ceres." "The asteroid station," the captain muttered. He turned to Boone. "You may as well know: I doubt we'll make it. Because the Cartel ships will hunt us, right along with the Federation fleet. The Europa units, Ganymede, Callisto--they'll all be out. With that many ships, they can set up a screen and follow us on their detectors. Even though we sneak through, they'll still track us and close in as soon as we grav down." Boone remained tensely silent. Now the microreel image showed Saturn rising. Saturn, mother planet of bleak Titan. Somewhere in the shadow of those vast, shimmering rings Hyperion, too, moved in its orbit. Hyperion: Another potential source of the precious mekronal and chandak. Another world of strange domed Helgae cities. Only Hyperion was turning out to be a trap, not refuge. With Cartel and Federation ships alike spread out in a filter-screen across the void, there'd be no chance for this lone Independent ship to land or hide there. Unless-- * * * * * Boone all at once was rigid. "Captain," he asked, "could you run to Uranus?" "Uranus--!" The wizened officer swung, stared at him. "Are you crazy, man? Why would anyone in his right mind want to go there?" "That's not the question. Could you make it?" The other's eyes narrowed. "Yes. I suppose so." "And could you think up a reason for it--some excuse that the Fedfleet might find convincing?" "Maybe." Boone drew in a breath. "Then start getting your story together." He strode to the screen, traced a course with his finger. "If you arc it right, we'll pass through Hyperion's field of attraction. When that happens, you can shoot a handful of us down in carriers without even stopping. You'll take the ship on towards Uranus. The Federation, the Cartel, won't even know we've left you." The captain rocked. "Boone, you _are_ crazy!" "No!" As if by magic, the chill had left Boone. He burned with sudden, feverish excitement. "The only trick will be to breach the ice-shell. For that, you can rig an unmanned carrier or two with warheads. They'll blast a hole. The rest of the party can go down through it." "But why?" the captain spluttered. "Why Hyperion, of all places? I've come this far because my orders from Terral were to do exactly what you wanted. But this--this gibberish about an ice-shell--"