Hendall continued: "I believe that something never before tried is being attempted. I am forced against my better knowledge to believe that some agency is trying to make contact with us; a spaceship in flight! This is unknown in the annals of space flying and is, therefore, indicative of something important. It would not have been tried without preparations unless an emergency exists. "However, the requirements of an officer of space do not include a knowledge of code because of the lack of communication with the planets while in space. Therefore, I request that any person with a working knowledge of International Morse will please present himself to the nearest officer." Minutes passed. Minutes during which the flashing lights continued. Then the door of the bridge opened and Third Officer Jones entered with a thirteen-year-old youngster at his heels. The boy's eyes went wide at the sight of the instruments on the bridge, and he looked around in amazed interest. "This is Timmy Harris," said Jones. "He knows code!" "Go to it, Mr. Harris," said Hendall. The boy swelled visibly. You could almost hear him thinking: "He called me 'mister'!" Then he went to the table by the speaker and reached for pencil and paper. "It's code all right," he said. Then Timmy winked at Jones, "He has a lousy fist!" Timmy Harris began to write. "--course and head for Terra direct"--the beam faded for seconds--"Venusian fever and you will be quarantined. "Calling CQ, calling CQ, calling CQ. Calling _Empress of Kolain_ ... empowered us to contact you and convey ... message--you are requested to correct your course and head ... a plague of Venusian fever and you--Johnson of Interplanet has empowered us ... the following message: 'You are requested to correct your ... head for Terra direct.' Calling CQ...." "Does that hash make sense to you?" asked Jones of Hendall. "Sure," smiled Hendall, "it is fairly plain. It tells us that Keg Johnson of Interplanet wants us to head for Terra direct because of a plague of Venusian fever that would cause us to stay in quarantine. That would ruin the Line Moss. Prepare to change course, Mr. Jones!" "Who could it be?" asked Jones foolishly. "There is only one outfit in the Solar System that could possibly think of a stunt like this. And that is Channing and Franks. This signal came from Venus Equilateral!" "Wait a minute," said Timmy Harris. "Here's some more." "'As soon as this signal--intelligible--at right angles to your course for ten minutes. That will take--out of--beam and reflected--will indicate to us--left the area and know of our attempt.'" "They're using a beam of some sort that indicates to them that we are on the other end but we can't answer. Mr. Jones, and Pilot Canton, ninety degrees north for ten minutes! Call the navigation officer to correct our course. I'll make the announcement to the passengers. Mr. Harris, you are given the freedom of the bridge for the remainder of the trip."